KEWANEE WEATHER

Chamber seeking Citizen of the Year nominations


By Michael Berry    January 9, 2026
Bill Breedlove, the 2025 Citizen of the Year, receives the award from Dave Harker of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce. [Photo by Michael Berry]

The Kewanee Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 2026 Citizen of the Year award.

Nominees must be residents or former residents of Kewanee. Their areas of the service should be well-known to the community.

Personal areas of service include education, charitable work, business, government, chamber of commerce, senior citizens, youth, disabled, environmental, economic development, community relations and heroic acts.

Service may be been demonstrated by solving a significant problem, longevity of excellent service to the community, helping others (youth, seniors, disabled, etc.), improving understanding of community concerns or exceptional efforts in community service.

A nomination form is available on the chamber’s website, www.kewanee-il.com. Click on the “Events” link.

Recent Citizens of the Year include Bill Breedlove, Dave Clarke, Bud Johnson, Dianne Packee and essential workers during the Covid pandemic.

The first winner of the award, in 1976, was Gust “Brick” Lundberg.