Chamber News

The Pit Stop Bar & Grill was presented with the 2014 Business-of-the- Year award at the Saturday Bessemer Chamber of Commerce membership banquet.

The Pit Stop was honored for being a mainstay in the Bessemer community for many years.

Melissa and Dan Whitburn were on hand to accept the award and were thanked for donating their resources and talents whenever asked by the Bessemer community. They offer their facility for events when needed and always go the extra step to ensure everyone feels welcomed. They have co-hosted numerous Business After 5 events and well as coordinating the annual 4th of July and Pumpkinfest poker runs, Dan and Melissa never say "No" when asked to help.

Cherokee Rice was honored as the 2014 Person-of-the-Year.

Cherokee has been a dedicated volunteer in the Bessemer community since moving to the area several years ago. Despite being just a teenager, Cherokee sets an example for everyone in the community to follow.

She has been a tireless volunteer with the annual Pumpkinfest helping with setting up the high school gym floor for the craft fair, baking for the Pie Social, cleaning-up after the Teen Dance, and bussing tables at the Pumpkinfest Dinner.

Cherokee also volunteers at the local VFW Post with many of their events.

Cherokee is an exception teenager and is well deserving of the award. The banquet was at the Bessemer VFW. A chicken and pork dinner was prepared by Larry and Veronica Miskovich.

The newly elected chamber officers consist of President Kathy Whitburn, Vice-President Melissa Whitburn, Secretary Bethany Ann Hellen, and Treasurer Donna Frello.

Tacconelli's to Go was presented with the 2013 Business of the Year award at the Saturday Bessemer Chamber of Commerce membership banquet.

Tacconelli's was honored for being a mainstay in the Bessemer community.

Peter and Vera Tacconelli were on hand to accept the award and were thanked for their consistent support of community events and being such "good neighbors."

Butch Semmerling was awarded 2013 Volunteer of Year honors for his support of many Bessemer events. "His love for the community is evident in all he does to make Bessemer a great place to live," said a spokesman.

The banquet was at the Bessemer VFW.

A pork dinner was prepared by Larry Miskovich and Grace Maki. The pig for the meal was purchased by the chamber at the Gogebic County Fair and was raised by Nikki Lekies, a junior at A.D. Johnston High School and a member of the 4-H Market Animal Club.

Lekies gave a presentation to the group explaining the process of raising a market animal.

Dick Steiger, treasurer of the Bessemer Historical Society, spoke about the 2014 Bessemer History Calendar.

A variety of local businesses donated items and a silent auction was held. Some of the items included smoked hams and bacon from Lekies' hog.

The newly elected chamber consists of president Veronica Miskovich, vice-president Betty Lou Miskovich, secretary Amanda Burrows and treasurer Donna Frello.

The new board looks forward to serving the community and businesses and will meet the first week in February, said a spokesman. The board thanked outgoing chamber president Linda Nelson and secretary Sue Wright for their dedication and hard work last year.

As seen on the website Holidays Central, Bessemer was named as having one of the five best 4th of July parades in the country, along with Bristol, RI, Alameda, CA, Washington DC, and Arlington, TX. Following is an exerpt from that article:

Nothing is more American than watching a Fourth of July parade in your hometown. If your town lacks this annual event or you want to see one of the bigger productions, head to one of these cities to view some of the best Independence Day parades in the country.

Bessemer, Michigan

If you find yourself in the upper mid-west for Independence Day, make your way to Bessemer for a celebration brimming with small-town charm. The festivities start on June 27th and culminate with fireworks on July 4th.

Throughout the week, enjoy a pig roast, golf tournament, mud run and 50/50 raffle, as well as other events. The parade starts at 7:00 P.M. on July 4th and begins with a flyover from a Duluth Air National Guard F16. The last float in the parade will announce the week’s 50/50 winner.

Chamber members were on hand to welcome Bessemer's newest business, Express Laundromat, to the community. The laundromat is located on U.S. 2 next to the Bessemer Car Wash and is open 24/7