Kollodge: Citizen of Year

Deb Kollodge was named 1998 Citizen of the Year at the annual Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce banquet at Eagle Crest Resort Friday, March 19.

The chamber honored vitamin-manufacturer Metabolic Maintenance as Sisters' Business of the Year.

Gary Frazee received a special "Key to the City" award to honor his exceptional service to the community in his position as Sisters' Director of Public Works.

Jeri Fouts, last year's honored citizen, introduced Kollodge as "both a visionary and a doer," noting that finding both qualities in a single person is rare.

Kollodge was an instrumental member of the Sisters Elementary School Technology Team which won a grant to create a community technology lab.

She also contributed significantly to the Sisters streetlight project. As Fouts noted, she not only provided impetus to make the project happen, she and her husband also laid many of the pavers in the sidewalks surrounding the lights.

Kollodge is a founding member and current vice president of the Community Action Team of Sisters and has been involved in numerous other volunteer projects over a number of years.

Chamber vice president Jeff Jones presented Frazee with the Key to the City. Jones noted Frazee's dedication to "helping wherever it was needed" - well above the call of duty in his job as city public works director. Jones noted in particular Frazee's devotion to the welfare of Sisters' elderly citizens.

Frazee insisted on sharing the spotlight with his wife DeAnn, noting that, in his case, the saying that "behind every good man is a better woman," is accurate.

Kyle Bliffert, sales director for Metabolic Maintenance, accepted the Business of the Year Award. President Ed Fitzjarrel was out of town.

The vitamin manufacturer was honored as an innovative business whose presence in Sisters is helping bring the local economy into the 21st Century. Metabolic Maintenance is a significant local employer and, Jones noted, gives a great deal back to the community, particularly in its support of the Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation.