Local business people honored at luncheon

Brian Johnson

On Friday everyone that had to do with business in Nevada packed the Country Club for the annual luncheon to honor those who have helped this community the most.

The people who were honored were J.C. and Barbara Wiseman, Phil's Furniture Mart and Marie Wessley.

According to Vice President of the Nevada Chamber of Commerce Myles Miller, J.C. and Barbara have owned a business in this city since 1969 when they moved from Butler.

"They owned a total of six lumber yards in Nevada, Lamar, Eldarado Springs, Butler, Higginsville and Lexington," Miller said.

Miller would also list some of their achievements such as, being a part of the Nevada Roatory Club, Kiwanis, serving 18-years at the hospital board, several chamber of commerce committees and recently serving the city of Nevada appeals board.

Phil's Furniture mart have spent a 46-year dedication to Vernon County. At the luncheon they were represented by owners Larry and Martha Compton.

"Martha's parents Phil and Dorothy Koehler opened the business on Dec. 5, 1958, at 821 N. Osage," Miller said. "They started by selling new and used furniture out of a large front room in the building."

Later on they would have multiple renovations, the last one being in 1990.

The last member to be honored was Marie Wessley.

Wessley has served on the Nevada City Council for the last nine-years. But that's not all, she has also been Mayor, and Mayor Pro-Tem three different times, served as Vice President and president of the Missouri Municipal League and has served on the Governors Transportation Council.

Recently, Wessley was in Des Moines hearing President Bush speak.

"He was excellent," Wessley said. "Hey was very dynamic. It felt like he wasn't even giving a speech. He has a nice presence."

According to Wessley while in Des Moines she received a check for over $7,000 to help better Nevada.

The keynote speaker of the day was Precious Moments Chairmen Ted Easley.

In his speech Easley urged young people to get involved in helping your fellow man. But getting them to do it is easier said then done.

"Our major demographic is women," Easley said. "We try to get families that are young. To do that we need to give them a different message because they are different then their mothers and grandmothers."