A look back at last year’s Mandan’s Winter Business Award winners

MANDAN, N.D. (KFYR) – The Mandan Winter Business Awards are back for a third year.

The categories are the Winter Decorating Award and the Golden Shovel Award.

Railway Credit Union won the Winter Decorating Award last year.

They were recognized at a Mandan City Commission meeting with a small version of The Christmas Story’s iconic leg lamp.

“For us to take part in something like this, to bring some joy to people around the holidays, and have people appreciate what we do, as far as the decorating. And being part of a tradition, basically, of decorating Mandan,” said Railyway Credit Union’s Vice President of Asset Protection, Dustin Bitz.

The traveling Golden Shovel Award goes to the business that best keeps its section of sidewalk and adjacent sidewalks clear of snow and nice.

Last year’s winner, Jon Gross, owner of the winning Nardawahls Tattoo Emporium, grew up in a family dedicated to keeping ice and snow at bay.

“I always say, my father was a snowplow man, and so I kind of inherited — make sure that snow is gone,” said Gross.

The nomination period for the Winter Decorating Award has closed, and a public voting announcement will be made later this month.

Nominations for the Golden Shovel Award will be accepted through Feb. 1.

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