Eversman, Teutopolis Firefighters Among Those Recognized at Chamber Gala

(MARY ELLEN EVERSMAN)

Mary Ellen Eversman has been named Effingham Citizen of the Year for 2024. The announcement came at Saturday night's annual Chamber Gala.

Eversman is a longtime volunteer in various endeavors, including the care of animals as well as literacy matters. The Citizen of the Year award is sponsored annually by the Effingham Daily News.

The 2024 Volunteer of the Year award recipient is the Teutopolis Fire Protection District. The award is chiefly the result of the department's work at the time of the crash September 29th east of Teutopolis that resulted in the release of a large amount of anhydrous ammonia. The incident resulted in several deaths and injuries, as well as the evacuation of a large portion of Teutopolis. The Effingham/Teutopolis News Report sponsors the Volunteer award each year.

The Chamber recognized its Excellence in Business recipients Pyramid Marble and Granite and Beanstalk Boutique and Humbled Soul, and also honored Steve Will as the Chamber Ambassador of the Year.