"Best of the River"

The mid-River area can boast that the top voter-getters in all three categories are located there this year.

Topping out the Man of the Year category was Joel Zeni of Vida, who, as an engineer with a construction contractor for several ODOT projects, donated six-speed feedback signs to alert drivers entering 45-mph zones along Hwy. 126 in 2023. A 2009 graduate of Thurston High 2009, he started volunteering with Lane County Search and Rescue when he was 15, joined McKenzie Fire and Rescue at 17, and was selected as Chief of the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire District in 2024.

Some of the people who nominated Joel said they had memories of fatal accidents within the speed reduction zones in the past and were truly appreciative that they had been installed. Others mentioned his “leadership and business qualifications,” being “famous for going the extra mile to help people,” and how crews from his company plowed snow to open roads for access to Thurston Middle and High during last year’s ice storm.

Other nominees included Rick Williams, Rick Smith, and Devon Lawson.

Vida is also home to Shelly Pruitt, named Woman of the Year by readers of River Reflections. Long known for the “extra measure of love” she puts into the treats coming out of her Soft Peaks Bakery, people also mentioned they appreciate the knowledge she’s freely shared about her family’s long-time connections with Oregon’s river-guiding community and the history of the McKenzie Valley.

“She’s not a bureaucrat, but a real person we can talk with,” was part of a note from someone who first met her through the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program. “Shelly lost her home in the Holiday Farm Fire, just like we did, so it was reassuring to work with someone who knew what we were dealing with,” they added. “After talking with her,” another says, “we don’t feel like we’re all alone.”

The other women people feel are noteworthy include Gerry Aster, Val Rapp, Melissa Norlund, Connie Richardson, and Brandi Crawford.

“I’ve never seen the driveway that empty!” was one description given for their vote recommending Jake’s Auto Repair of Leaburg as Business of the Year. He pointed out that vehicles in the driveway to the shop“Keep changing - they’re being repaired, not just parked there.” And his work inside the shop has earned him a reputation, as another supporter says, as a “great mechanic who knows what he’s doing and doesn’t overcharge.”

Besides working on everything from passenger cars, another supporter says that owner Jake Lawson “has been invaluable to our community, sponsoring school sports events, doing toy drives, and sponsoring the Springfield Christmas Parade.” He’s also a key member of the Oregon Rider Society, a group that not only sponsors the parade but also works tirelessly to help children and families in need.

Other businesses suggested for an award were Everyone’s Market, Mather’s Market, the McKenzie River Clinic, and the Tokatee Golf Club.