Springville residents honor their own

Members of the Springville community gathered Saturday night at River Island Country Club to celebrate the best of the best at the annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet.

The night began as attendees perused the silent auction items, which included a glass fairy lantern donated by Frances Pyle, a Woman of the Year nominee.

According to the description, the lantern is a fused glass piece with a wildflower burnout.

The categories for the awards were Business of the Year, Organization of the Year and Person of the Year. According to Brooke Holve-Grigsby, chairman of the Awards Banquet and a Chamber of Commerce board member, the latter award was divided into two categories — Man of the Year and Woman of the Year.

After dinner and an acknowledgement of each nominee by Holve-Grigsby, the winners were announced. Humbleness seemed to be the sentiment of the night as the recipients expressed their feelings.

The Business of the Year Award went to Balch Park Pack Station owned by Tim and Dianne Shew, for their great customer service.

“I was really honored that they would pick me over all the other businesses here, because they are all so great.” Shew said.

According to Shew, the company provides pack trips and horseback riding trips through the Sequoias at 6,500 feet for a variety of outings, including one-day excursions and all-inclusive trips. The couple is actively involved with the Springville Mountain Lions and the Springville Women’s Club. For the past three years, they have represented the Springville Chamber at the Los Angeles Travel and Adventure Show.  

The winner of the Organization of the Year was the Sierra Youth Athletic Association, which was recognized for donating thousands of volunteer hours, over many years, through fundraising, constructing and maintaining a lighted field so that the younger generations of Springville could participate in a baseball program.

Accepting the award was President Trent Jones.

Said Jones: “It is really nice to get the award for the organization.”

Deputy Ron Crouch was named the Man of the Year.

“I was extremely honored to receive this award, bestowed upon me by the people that I am sworn to protect and serve, so it was a great honor for that,” Crouch said.

Crouch and his wife have lived in Springville for about three years since he received his assignment. He is the resident deputy and serves the Springville and Camp Nelson communities.

As a team leader for the Tulare County Search and Rescue Team, he has used his expertise, in the area of SAR operations and in local mountain geography, to locate many individuals without the need for other SAR resources. This is just one of his many accomplishments.  

The last award of the night was presented to Norma Inabinette, who received the Women of the Year Award.

“I am honored, truly honored. There are so many wonderful people in this community. I am overwhelmed that I got it,” Inabinette said.

She is involved in many organizations and projects in the community including the Springville Community Club, which is the parent club to many events including the Apple Festival, and the Sequoia Foothills Art Show; the Angel Tree; and the Chair of PALS, or the Partners at the Library in Springville, which is the Friends of the Library group. Inabinette believes that helping others benefits all.

“It is a tremendous reward with tremendous, positive feedback from people and it just makes you feel good,” she said.