Chamber Banquet Will Be Monday Night.
SWOOPE
WATER VALLEY – The annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held Monday night, April 7, beginning at 6:30 in the Multi Purpose Building at Water Valley High School, according to Joe Newman, chamber president.
The slate of events includes announcing the recipient of the annual Braswell Hatcher Service Award and introducing new officers and directors for 2008-2009.
Speaker for the banquet will be Gray Swoope, Executive Director of Mississippi Development Authority. Gray is a West Point, Mississippi native and a fourth-generation Mississippian. Swoope joined MDA in 2004 bringing over 20 years of economic development experience.
As the head of the state’s economic development agency, Swoope has been instrumental in securing such recent projects as Toyota’s eighth North American automotive manufacturing plant along with five tier-one suppliers.
Prior to joining MDA, Gray served as president of the Area Development Partnership (ADP), a three-county economic development agency based in Hattiesburg.
The 2008 Braswell Hatcher Award will be presented to John K. (Jack) Gurner Sr. for his contributions to the city and especially area youth through the Boy Scouts as well as his work with the Casey Jones Railroad Museum, Newman said.
Musical entertainment will be provided by the Sharecroppers. Band members include Christi Hawthorne, Carl Few, Clay Ashford, Larry Tyler, and Daryl Burney.
Tickets for the banquet, which includes a steak dinner, are still available. They and may be purchased for $15 from any Chamber of Commerce director or at the Chamber of Commerce office on Main St. For information, call 473-1122.
