John and Harriet Pedley received the “Citizens of the Year” award during the Chamber of Commerce Christmas party and award night held at the Sportsmen’s Lounge Monday evening, December 7.

Chamber President Mike Ernst delivered the tribute – and sometimes roast – highlighting the many community involvements of the couple.

He pointed to the 21 years Harriet worked with the Richland County Zoning Administrator office. She has now retired from that position. She now serves as a trustee on the village board, including being on the Mushroom Festival Committee, sometimes as chairperson as that annual event was planned.

Harriet has been active with the Friends of the Library as they work and plan for the new library. Her interest in the appearance of the community is apparent in the neat and colorful Pedley Iowa Street home and yard. As a Master Gardener she enjoys raising organic vegetables and selling them at a Farmers’ Market. She has been active with the Leading Ladies as they strive to beautify the community and make it a better place in which to live. She and John, representing J & J Plumbing, sponsored the kiddies’ tractor pull during the Mushroom Fest for two years.

John’s involvement in the community spans 40 years. Ernst stressed John’s concern for his customers, remembering a time when he came to the Ernst home on Christmas Day, leaving his own Christmas dinner, to revive the furnace in the home. John’s willingness to answer the call to fix mechanical problems at St. John’s Parish property was also noted.

John is an army veteran, having served in Vietnam. Following active duty he was a member of a National Guard engineer unit at Richland Center. He was instrumental in getting that unit to build gazebos in Muscoda’s parks.

Both John and Harriet were involved in promoting fundraising to finance construction of the local Veterans’ Memorial. John has been active in Legion affairs and served as Commander of the Muscoda post. When the Chamber renovated the small restroom in Riverside Park, John’s plumbing talents were an integral part of the effort.

The Pedleys admitted they were completely surprised Monday evening when they entered Sportsmen’s Lounge and faced a room filled with relatives and friends. Bob Dobson, Harriet’s son and co-plumber of John, used the ruse that there was a plumbing problem at the tavern to get his boss on the scene.