DSA reaches pinnacle, downtown gets the blues

Downtown Springfield reached a Pinnacle and sang the blues Sept. 6 at Nathan P. Murphy's, 216 S. Campbell. Murphy's was the site of a combined event for the Downtown Springfield Association's first ever Pinnacle Award, recognizing an individual for advocacy of downtown revitalization, and the Blues Society of the Ozarks' Ozarks Blues Achievement Award.

Above, Denny Whayne, the Cadillac of Springfield councilmen (if his hat is any indication), is surprised by the flash camera at the buffet table during the awards reception.

Springfield City Manager Tom Finnie was the recipient of the Downtown Springfield Association's Pinnacle Award in recognition of his dedication to the cause of improving the diverse historic, cultural, social and economic environment of downtown Springfield. Springfield will realize some of the fruits of his labors with the Sept. 22 public dedication of the Jordan Valley Ice Park. The weekend's events will include hockey demonstrations, public skating and more. At right, Finnie and Councilman Ralph Manley chat during the awards reception at Nathan P. Murphy's.

Greene County Presiding Commissioner Dave Coonrod strikes a GQ pose for the camera to the delight of Sam Freeman, left, Jeff Volkmer and, at right, Springfield Councilwoman Teri Hacker.

A fixture of the downtown Springfield music scene, bluesman-about-town Don Shipps, of Don Shipps and the Titanic Blues Band, was honored with the Ozarks Blues Achievement Award by the Blues Society of the Ozarks.