nominees are submitted by the newcomers/longtimers membership. All of the winners this year, won
with a unanimous vote.
The criteria used for judging includes:
- Overall appearance provides a positive contribution, structural conformation to the area and
purpose, appropriate colors & textures.
- Maintenance is in a general state of repair, clean & uncluttered
- Surroundings, including parking areas, are safe and accessible, signs are useful & limited to need,
clean & neat.
The winner in the Commercial All Volunteer category was Wilmore Lodge. This historic log building
was completed in 1930 for Union Electric, by Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation and
designed by Louis La Beaume, a noted St. Louis architect and partner in the architectural firm of
La Beaume and Klein. La Beaume's resume’ included work on the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (the
1904 World's Fair), being a member of the St. Louis City Plan Commission and president of the St.
Louis Art Museum. His design and plan was two years in the making and was approved by Union
Electric President Louis A. Egan, whose name the lodge informally bore in its early years. Early
documentation refers to the lodge as an administrative building, although the amenities and interior
layout indicates a plush retreat and entertainment facility for Union Electric during the early years of
the Great Osage River Project.
Now the Wilmore Lodge houses a fascinating museum on the history of the making of the dam, is
home to the Chamber of Commerce and can be rented for special occasions such as weddings, parties,
even funeral services.
The Shawnee Bluff Winery received the award in the Small Business category, all though at this point
they may have out grown that category. Shawnee Bluff Winery took a vintage lake property that was
rapidly deteriorating and turned it in to a place everyone wants to go. In addition to daily wine
tastings, you can reserve the property for special events. It has a lovely view of the Lake and a
swimming pool!
The 2015 award for Big Business goes to Lake Regional Health Systems. Lake Regional Hospital, a 501
(c)(3) corporation, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is a three-time recipient of the Missouri
Quality Award. The 500,000 square foot, 116-bed hospital is designated by Medicare as a Regional
Referral Center.
The facility features private patient rooms, a large Outpatient department and a 35-bed Emergency
Department. The ED is a state-designated Level III Trauma Center that treats more than 36,500
patients annually. The hospital also features an 18-bed Intensive Care/Cardiac Care Unit and a 22-bed
Stepdown Unit for patients progressing in their recovery from the ICU/CCU.
More than 100 providers care for patients at Lake Regional, including specialists in cardiology, cardio-
thoracic/vascular surgery, gastroenterology, medical and radiation oncology, occupational medicine,
ophthalmology, orthopedics, pulmonology and rheumatology.
Completing the health system are seven freestanding primary care clinics, 17 specialty clinics, two
urgent care clinics, four satellite physical and cardiac rehab therapy sites, three retail pharmacies and
home health services. A freestanding imaging center also was added to the hospital campus in 2006.
It is not however the fact that Lake Regional is so outstanding that newcomers/longtimers is
presenting the Big Business Award, but the fact that the buildings and grounds are absolutely
gorgeous in any season and year after year there seems to be something new outside.
The prestigious Legacy Award has only been given 3 times prior to this year. One of the requirements
to receive the Legacy award is that the recipient must have been in business for at least 2 decades.
This year’s winner has a name taken from a prestigious British automobile and has evolved into a
prominent family-owned restaurant for 40 years, withstood the test of time at the Lake of the Ozarks
and become a landmark in the Lake area. The exterior has been delightfully enhanced by huge pots of
red geraniums and other plantings, lighting along the entrance, and the addition of a beautiful outdoor
patio complete with a huge wood burning fireplace. It is newcomers/longtimers pleasure to present
the Legacy award for the 4th time to Bentley’s Restaurant & Pub.
|
|
