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The Best of Pinckneyville

By Adam Testa, The Southern

Monday, March 10, 2008 11:06 PM CDT

PINCKNEYVILLE - A lifelong Pinckneyville resident and a relative newcomer to Southern Illinois are joining together in celebration.

The Chamber of Commerce recently announced Toni Engelhardt as the winner of the annual Citizen of the Year award. The Pinckneyville native serves as treasurer of the chamber, chair of the retail committee of the Strategic Planning Committee and has co-owned a flower shop for 28 years.

"I'm very concerned about Pinckneyville, where it's going and what's going to happen with it," she said. "I feel like it's every one of our responsibilities to get out there and help, and that's what I want to do."

While Engelhardt said the announcement of her honor shocked her, she's not a stranger to the chamber's spotlight. The Flower Patch, which she owns with Deborah McCune, earned the chamber's Business of the Year award in 2005, during the shop's 25-year anniversary celebration.

This year's top business honor went to Red Hawk Country Club, located on Illinois 154 between Pinckneyville and Du Quoin.

Dan Breslin, director of golf and managing partner of the business, expressed extreme gratitude for the award - especially since he's only lived in the area for two years. He came to Pinckneyville from Tampa, Fla., in April 2006 to become a partner in the organization.

Red Hawk offers a scenic 18-hole, 1,655-yard golf course to the people of Southern Illinois. In addition to the golf course, the facility also includes a pro shop and a club house, which hosts events for many community organizations and private parties.

Breslin said showing this support to the community has been an important part of his philosophy in running the day-to-day operations of the company.

"We've tried to be a good neighbor in the community," he said.

The move from Tampa to Pinckneyville has been a welcome adjustment, Breslin said. The attitudes of local residents and the philosophies of life in the region continue to impress him.

"As a family, and as a business owner, we love Southern Illinois," he said.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

351-5031