Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley of Nettleton was guest speaker at the CEDA Banquet held last Thursday night at the Bruce Museum.
“You can’t build and sustain and grow a community without dedicated citizens. This county has bucketloads of leadership,” he told the large crowd in attendance.
About growing and progressing as a community, he said, “The test is whether we have those problems again and again, or are we doing something about our problems?” “Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees. No pun intended here,” he said.
CEDA Banquet guest speaker Brandon Presley was presented a Little Birdie “Hail State” and a “Hotty Toddy” pillow by director Sheila Freely.
Three things he mentioned of importance to his office are:
1) High speed internet they “want to bring to every nook and cranny”;
2) Natural gas service, mentioning the 10,000 miles of pipeline in Mississippi;
3) Atmos has a “most successful program” for small businesses, which also applies to existing businesses who want to expand.
“We want to provide a brighter future and use every tool available to us... Light a candle where you are instead of staying in the darkness.”
A portion of the quote he ended his speech with said, “...the future is a place we are creating...”
Mayor awards were presented to Bruce Police Chief Stan Evans by Rudy Pope; Susan Hardin of The Little Birdie by J.R. Denton, and Vardaman Police Chief Kenny Scott by James Casey.
Outstanding Economic Contributions Awards were presented by Sheila Freely to Sweet Potato Sweets’ Daphna Cook and Karen Wright of Vardaman, Alison Nichols of Kidz World in Calhoun City, and Jennifer Rogers for the late J.B. Rogers, District 2 Supervisor and Chickenbone Fire Department member.
Special guests recognized by director Sheila Freely included Presley, Judge Jimmy Maxwell and wife, Cindy Maxwell, of Thad Cochran’s office; Willie Weddle from Trent Kelly’s office; Danny Lyles, MDA; Calhoun county supervisors Barney Wade, Earnest Fox, Tony Morgan and Jennifer Rogers.
Welcome and closing were by board president Bob Wells and prayer was by Circuit Clerk Carlton Baker. Bruce Juniorettes, and members of Calhoun City, Vardaman and Calhoun Academy BETA Clubs were servers for the event.