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BP Chamber banquet awards top honors

Blooming Prairie Chamber Awards, 2024
By
Kay Fate, Staff Writer

From a baby-faced police officer to a business that’s been operating for more than four decades, the Blooming Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce honored its own.

Dennis and Carol Heimerman founded Metal Services in 1984 as a welding repair shop, their son, Ryan, told guests at the BPACC annual banquet last week.

His parents, he said, had a goal of providing the Blooming Prairie area with a place they could call on to repair farm and industrial equipment and provide fabrication service.

“What started as a small, two- or three-person repair shop has grown into a company that employs 43 people and manufactures parts for companies throughout the United States,” Heimerman said. “I don’t think Dennis planned on it being this big … it was going to be two or three people, and he was happy with that.”

Along the way, Metal Services “has left its mark on places like Victory Field, with its sign; St. Columbanus Church with its cross; at the Oaks Country Club in Hayfield with its bridge,” and the list goes on and on, said Becky Noble, a longtime friend of the Heimermans.

“I have known you both so long, I knew Carol when she was a Walsh,” Noble said during her introduction of the company as the 2024 Chamber Member Business of the Year.

“Not only have you done well with your business,” she said, “but you have helped out a lot of nonprofits in our community through donations of time, talent and money. It shows you have always cared about the community and about giving back.”

Ryan Heimerman, vice-president of Metal Services, spoke on behalf of the company, his parents by his side.

“Dennis did such a good job, and people kept bringing work … so he grew the business,” Ryan said of his father, now semi-retired.

“The success and growth of Metal Services over the years is a testament to the loyalty of our customers,” Heimerman said, “but most importantly, our team of employees. It’s their dedication to our customers that continues to drive us to be successful.”

BP Police Officer and EMT Dan Peach was named the 2024 Citizen of the Year, introduced by BP Police Chief Greg Skillestad, who hired Peach 10 years ago.

In addition to law enforcement, the pair have played the roles of Santa Claus and an elf, traveling to homes of families in need to deliver toys to children.

One year, a 911 call came in during the event.

The pair “responded with lights, sirens and bells on,” Skillestad said. “We defused the situation … but you should have seen the look on their faces when we arrived to see who was naughty or nice.”

Peach happened to be in uniform, instead of his customary elf tights – though Skillestad was wearing his red suit and beard.

“We live in a really great town,” Peach said upon receiving the award. “I’m just one person on a team of a great police department and ambulance service. I appreciate everyone coming together and making Blooming Prairie as great as it can be.”

It was the Blooming Prairie Ambulance service that took home the 2024 Chamber Member Nonprofit of the Year.

“Every day, members of this heroic team rise to the call of duty,” said Karen Peterson, executive director of the BPACC, “their smiles symbolizing comfort in times of crisis, their expertise transforming panic into assurance.”

Tyler Wilson, ambulance director, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

“I just want to thank everyone who has put their faith in us in their time of need,” he said. “It’s such an honor to be part of this great service.”

A new training class begins this week; the crew will soon have 19 responders.

In 2024, the members put in about 3,000 hours of volunteer service, between training and calls, Wilson said.

“It’s just a really good team effort, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

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