May 11, 2023, marked the final awards luncheon for the MidValley Association of Realtors, bringing the organization to a close after 56 years. The event was held at the Downtown Eatery in Kewanee, and local realtors were presented with 2022 year-end awards.
Receiving honors were Mary Jo Gibson, Eve Anderson, Jodi Looney, Debbie Wright, Tracy Interial, Mark Guthrie, Nancy Sutton and Dianne Perkins DeDecker.
According to Sutton, the original MidValley Board of Realtors was chartered by the State of Illinois on Nov. 15, 1967. Early membership included seven offices and over 50 members. There are currently three offices and 17 members making MidValley the smallest MLS in the nation.
As the state added more requirements and restrictions in an attempt to consolidate MLS regions down to one statewide MLS system, MidValley’s Administrator Bunne Baum continued to work to keep the organization going. When Bunne died earlier this year, MidValley was left without a champion, and the office at the Senior Citizens Center on South Street was recently vacated.
A representative from the Quad City Area Realtors, Sharon Smith, spoke at the luncheon about the move to affiliate with the Quad City Association. The move will be completed by July 1, 2023.
“We wish to thank all the people in Kewanee, Galva and the surrounding communities that have trusted Mid Valley Association members for 56 years,” said Sutton.
