Tickets still available for Marion Chamber Banquet

Tickets still available for Marion Chamber Banquet

Governor to deliver keynote at Friday night event

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion Chamber of Commerce is expecting a full house for its annual awards banquet which will feature Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson as the keynote speaker.

Director of Member Services and Events Tracy Brick said they should have about 300 in attendance.

'We're looking at a pretty good turnout,' Brick said. 'We'd like to sell about 50 more tickets and have a really full house to welcome the governor.'

This year's banquet will be held on Friday starting at 6 p.m. at the Donald W. Reynolds Center at ASU Mid-South in West Memphis.

Tickets are $50 apiece or $450 for a table of 10.

Brick said they are excited to have Gov. Hutchinson.

The governor is expected to speak about economic development, the area workforce, and tourism, notably the progress of the Sultana Disaster Museum.

'We are thrilled he is coming to the Delta,' Brick said. Brick said Dixie Carlson, a prominent local Republican, was instrumental in arranging for Hutchinson to appear.

'I had just finished last year's event and the pressure was on to figure out what to do for this year,' Brick said. 'She said 'would you be interested in getting the governor?' And I said 'well certainly.' She said she would help in any way she could and made the first phone call. We found out earlier this summer that he could get it in his schedule.' The Chamber will also be handing out several awards at the ceremony.

The recipients this year are: The Merry Magnolia for New Business of the Year; The Beauty Parlor for Business of the Year; Randy Sullivan of Arkansas Distributing as Chamber Member of the Year; and Norman Vickers, who will receive the Earnest Crawford Lifetime Achievement award.

'The winners are all voted on by Chamber members,' Brick said.

For more information or for tickets call 870-739-6041.

By Mark Randall