Cheney Free Press -

AIRWAY HEIGHTS - The West Plains Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Best of the West Awards gala on the evening of November 1, bringing together hundreds of area residents at the Northern Quest Resort and Casino.

The event, a showcase of community, bravery, and the triumph over adversity, is a time-honored tradition that typically raises funds for the chamber’s activities.

However, this year’s gala took on a special significance as it channeled its resources into supporting recovery efforts from the Gray Fire, a devastating wildfire that had swept through the region earlier in the...