Beckwiths are Soap Lake citizens of the year

SOAP LAKE — Burr and Eileen Beckwith received the Mid Kreider Citizen of the Year award Saturday.

The couple were given the award during Soap Lake’s Chamber of Commerce annual banquet and auction. Chamber President Denise Keegan said the couple had done a lot for the community, including launching the Soap Lake for Locals Web site and sending out e-mails for announcing events in the city.

“They just decided to do it on their own,” she said. “They are one of our biggest assets.”

Board member Chuck Fogerson echoed Keegan, pointing out the couple has been involved behind the scenes in helping the Soap Lake community. The Beckwiths were among the original members of the Soap Lake Revitalization Team and worked to incorporate it into the chamber meetings.

“They kept it going,” he said. “They also set up this Web page, Soap Lake for Locals. I funnel a lot of people who call about what’s going on to that Web site.”

Burr Beckwith said winning the award was nice, adding the decision to start the Web site came with a hope it would bring more people to Soap Lake.

“I worked with two other people to set up the site,” Eileen Beckwith said. “We found there was so much good stuff happening in Soap Lake … It’s important to tell Soap Lake’s story.”

Eileen Beckwith added receiving the award named after Mid Kreider, a business owner killed in a July collision, was a special honor.

Burr and Eileen Beckwith were among two of the roughly 80 people attending the event, which is the major fund-raiser for the chamber. The money raised goes into the day-to-day operation of the organization.

“We have more silent auction items than we’ve had in past years and we have 21 live auction items,” Keegan said. “We had a really good turnout in donations. I want to thank everyone who donated.”

Fogerson said the banquet was one of the better attended events, estimating it is at least in the top five he has seen.

“When we have really good years we can do more,” he said.