An Evening That Felt Just Right
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Chamber Report
By Jessie Gurner
Some evenings just feel good from the moment you walk in the door, and this year’s Chamber Reception was one of them. There was a steady hum of conversation, people catching up, chairs filling, and that familiar sense that you were right where you were supposed to be, surrounded by folks who care about this town as much as you do.
Guests were welcomed by Watermelon Queen Preslee Fischer alongside Chamber board member Linda Maynor, and between the warm smiles and that unmistakable crown, it set the tone right away. And truly, that crown deserves its own introduction. It doesn’t just sparkle, it makes a statement.
Mayor Tommy Reynolds followed with the State of the City, delivered the way folks here appreciate most. Steady, straightforward, and thoughtful. The kind of update that lets you feel both the weight of the work and the pride in how far things have come.
Then Matt Laubhan took the mic and brought his signature energy into the room. He had folks laughing, nodding along, and seeing the weather just a little differently than when they walked in. At one point, he paused and led the crowd in a standing ovation for the linemen who worked through the ice storm, a moment that felt just right. And the fact that the weather behaved well enough for him to be there in person didn’t go unnoticed.
And in true Matt fashion, he didn’t make a quick exit. He stuck around after the program, smiling for a few of his now-famous selfies, making sure folks had a little something to take home besides just a good evening.
The evening itself felt especially welcoming, helped along by a wonderful meal from Six Peas Catering and beautiful table arrangements by GG’s. Those flowers didn’t go unnoticed. They were a quiet, thoughtful touch, and more than a few people couldn’t help but think of how Zandra Walker always made sure a room felt just right.
The Braswell Hatcher Community Service Award always brings a quiet kind of anticipation. It’s the moment where the room leans in without being asked. When Tommy and Linda White were announced by Clint Faust, it felt like a shared understanding passed through the crowd. Some people just give to a place in ways that are steady and lasting, and it was good to see that recognized.
The scholarship presentations carried a little more weight this year. Drake Mabary received the Elliott Scholarship, presented by Clint Faust, and then came a moment that felt especially close to home. The first Zandra Walker Heart of Water Valley Scholarship was presented to Drake during an emotional tribute led by Tyler Hill, Jessie Gurner, and Tonya Eubanks. It wasn’t just a presentation. It was a reminder of the kind of quiet kindness that shapes a town over time.
Another surprise followed with the announcement of Business of the Year. The North Mississippi Herald. You could see the reaction ripple when it was called, especially from editor David Howell, who looked genuinely taken aback. It was a fitting recognition for a paper that has spent generations keeping track of the people and moments that matter here.
Before the evening came to a close, incoming president Andy Parrish announced the incoming board members and also recognized outgoing president Curtis Todd with a plaque of appreciation. It was a simple, meaningful moment, the kind that reminds you how much of this work happens quietly, behind the scenes, carried by people who care enough to keep showing up.
By the time folks began to gather their things and drift back out into the night, it felt like more than just a program well done. It felt like time well spent together.
