Othello Chamber hosts annual awards banquet

OTHELLO — Ken Johnson fought back emotion as he accepted the Citizen of the Year award, and Maria Montalvo almost didn’t believe it when the presenters gave her the Civil Servant of the Year award. The Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce presented those and other awards at its annual banquet Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Kix Stand Espresso was named Business of the Year during the event, with the final votes cast during the casino-night-themed banquet. Janette Zuniga-Gomez, a teacher at Lutacaga Elementary School, was the K-5 Teacher of the Year. McFarland Middle School teacher Regina Holmes-Zamora was the 6-12 Teacher of the Year.

The Chamber also gave a special award to the family of Mary Jo Harvey, an Othello School District teacher who passed away in January.

“It is very humbling to be recognized for something that I take for granted,” Johnson said.

Sharon Schutte nominated Johnson and said she wanted to recognize him for his efforts to help Othello and its residents.

“He’s a humble, quiet man with an open heart,” Schutte said.

Johnson said it’s a family tradition, noting that both his father and uncle had received the Citizen of the Year award for their volunteer efforts.

“I started community service when I was very young – I started on the Othello Fire Department when I was 15,” Johnson said. “Anytime you can, I would encourage you to get involved.”

He expressed gratitude to his children and other family members, who accompanied him on many of those volunteer projects. He fought back emotion as he paid tribute to his late wife Heidi.

“(She) stood beside me for 29 years,” he said.

The Othello Chamber announces most awards and congratulates the winners prior to the banquet, with their reactions recorded for a video played during the banquet. The exception for 2023 was the Business of the Year, and Chamber President Thalia Lemus said the organization wanted to give people at the dinner a chance to participate in the selection.

“I am blown away - I really am,” Kix Stand owner Kelly Carvo said.

“The community has been so awesome to us,” Carvo said. “We’ve got so many great things in this community.”

Othello Police Department dispatcher and Civil Servant of the Year Maria Montalvo had trouble believing it when Lemus arrived at the OPD with a bouquet of flowers and a certificate.

“No,” she said during the video. “Are you serious?”

Incoming Chamber president Heather Miller nominated Montalvo and said she started as a reserve officer before becoming a dispatcher. Montalvo’s husband also was in law enforcement, Miller said.

“Basically, her family and her life is dedicated to the community,” Miller said.

Zuniga-Gomez was moved to tears when Lemus presented the flowers and certificate in front of her students.

“Teaching is my passion,” she said, and she loves her students and loves to see them succeed.

Holmes-Zamora expressed gratitude to the administrators who nominated her for the award.

“It’s very humbling because I work with a lot of good teachers,” she said.

Harvey’s father Mike Ruble accepted the award for her family. Harvey was battling cancer and it was a struggle, Ruble said, but she kept going.

“It was because she loved the kids,” he said. Harvey also worked as a school administrator, but she returned to the classroom because she preferred to be with students, he said.

Following the awards, Lemus said 2022 was a good year for the Chamber. Its board was more active than it had been in a while, she said.

“Lots of new faces on our board and a lot of creative ideas,” she said.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.