By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce honored C&C Trophy and Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center during the awards portion of the annual banquet on Jan. 26.

C&C Trophy was named Business of the Year, and Butterfly Bridge was presented the Community Spirit Award.

While presenting the Business of the Year award, Ricky McKee recounted some of the history of the business and his personal experiences as a customer at the family’s previous store Carter TV and Radio.

“They treated me like gold, just like they would any customer,” McKee said.

McKee said a good business treats customers well and honestly, while being invested in the community. McKee said this is true of C&C Trophy.

C&C Trophy opened as a frame shop in 1996, owned by Tim and Danny, the sons of the owner of Carter TV.

Signs and trophies were added to the business a few years later.

In 2001, the store was moved to the former Carter TV building. McKee said the building had needed work, but Tim had a vision of what it could be.

“The beautiful building they had envisioned has become a reality, and they use the good old-fashioned family values that were good back then, too, that they learned from their dad,” McKee said.

Owners Tim and Darlene Carter, Danny and Jennifer Carter received the award amidst rousing applause.

The Carters expressed their gratitude for the recognition.

The Community Spirit Award was announced by J. Sam Johnson. Johnson said Butterfly Bridge had “been on the Chamber’s radar for many years.” He said it was nearly 10 years ago a group of concerned people began working to provide Chilton County with its own place for child abuse victims to receive services and be interviewed for law enforcement.

“Previously, those children had to travel to Montgomery to receive services,” Johnson said.

In 2011, an independent, Chilton County office became a reality, after having been a satellite office of Montgomery’s Child Protect for two years.

Today, Butterfly Bridge also has an office in Elmore County and another in Autauga County.

“Butterfly Bridge is a trusted support system for those children going through such very trying times,” Johnson said.

Applause filled the room as executive director Jana Zuelzke and staff members walked to the stage to receive the award.

Zuelzke thanked the Chamber for the recognition and the community for its ongoing support, which makes Butterfly Bridge possible.

A brief Chamber business meeting was also held during the event.

Brad Carter will serve as the 2018 chamber president, and Jason Calhoun will be the chairman of the board of directors.