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Hein is 2019 Hoisington Citizen of the Year
GPS Kids and City also recognized
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Karen Van Brimmer presents the Citizen of the Year Award for Outstanding Community Service to Sheila Hein Monday night at the 63rd Annual Hoisington Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Each year, the winner receives the honor of leading the upcoming Hoisington Labor Day Parade. - photo by Veronica Coons

HOISINGTON  — For many years, the Hoisington Dispatch has presented the Citizen of the Year Award at the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce annual banquet.  Monday night, Sheila Hein became the latest recipient of the award for her outstanding community service.  

It was an emotional moment as the Dispatch’s Karen Van Brimmer presented Hein her plaque.  The long-time Hoisington OB-GYN nurse practitioner and community volunteer soon regained her composure and went on to praise the community she chose to make her home for many years.  

She shared how she and her husband came to the community many years ago, and after he died, she chose to stay. 

“This is a wonderful town,” she said. “We have so many wonderful wonderful citizens. We have good things in our community. I’ve seen some grow I have seen things kind of diminish. But most of all the people stay the same. There’s nothing like a small town where the people are so friendly, and so warm. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that Hoisington is a cold community. It is not.”

Hein listed the many attributes of the city and its people, from the efforts to pull together and rebuild after the 2001 tornado, the city’s commitment to keeping roads cleared in the winter, the caring hospital and staff that eased her husband’s final days, the businesses and finally the school system that has attracted students from outside the community. 

“Thank you so much for this wonderful honor, “ she said.   


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The Hoisington Chamber of Commerce awarded the Youth Award this year to the kids at GPS Kids Club for their involvement in the betterment of the community through volunteer service. One of the activities the kids take part in every year is preparing the Hoisington Cemetery for Memorial Day by placing flags for military service members.

Other awards presented at the 63rd Annual Hoisington Chamber of Commerce Banquet  included the Youth Award, presented to the Kids of GPS Kids Club, the Health Award, presented to Myrtle Whitmore, the labor manager at Clara Barton Hospital & Clinics, the Education Award, presented to Kim Specht, a transition kindergarten teacher at USD 431, the Business Award presented to The Farmhouse, and a special award presented to the City of Hoisington for the many improvements happening at Bicentennial Park. 

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A special award was presented to representatives of the City of Hoisington this year at the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce Banquet Monday night. The award was in recognition for the betterment of the community, particularly the many improvements to Bicentennial Park. In the past two years, donations and grants have been raised to install a pickleball court, a dog park and pavilion, new parking, and currently a major renovation to the baseball fields and associated amenities is underway.