Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Chamber Banquet Is Saturday Night

Those attending the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Banquet Saturday night had better bring their wallets.

This is because the Chamber auction will get the festivities kicked off once everyone has been through the buffet line and been fed.

The banquet will be different this year as it will be a more casual affair. With the theme, "Hitch Your Wagon To Our Rising Star," patrons are urged to dress in western motif or casually.

The Mike and Kayla Chambliss catering service will provide a barbecue dinner with all the trimmings. This will include barbecue brisket, potato salad, baked beans, Texas toast, tea and a dessert of cobbler.

Patrons will enter and immediately be in the buffet line to be served and seated.

Then the fun begins as the auction gets underway with Master of Ceremonies Chad Cornelius also acting as the auctioneer.

Some of the items to be auctioned off include: certificates from area restaurants and convenience stores for meals and gasoline; an autographed Arkansas Razorback football; a Brinkman's smoker; a framed print; a ceramic angel; a gift basket of hair care products; a Hal Sutton autographed Strata golf ball; a wooden shelf and miniature log cabin; a membership to the Nevada County Ambulance Service; a dozen caps with the choice of screen printing; a Spot Daniel original of Arkansas Football Coach Houston Nutt on barn wood; jewelry; flower arrangements; and others.

Honors bestowed during the banquet will include the Past President's Award; the Nevada County Farm Family of the Year; Treasure of Gold, Educator of the Year for the three school districts; Chamber Volunteer of the Year; and Citizen of the Year.

Gary Benson, of Arkadelphia and a referee in the National Basketball Association, will be the featured speaker.

Benson is the only official to have ever ejected former Chicago Bull-great Michael Jordan from a game.

Eric Shipp will provide the entertainment. He's been singing a little more than a year now professionally, but has enjoyed success in this venture.

Shipp has sang at various places in Arkansas and Texas.

He has performed at the Oaklawn Opry, the Ashdown Jamboree, Magnolia Union Station and the Jonquil Festival. In Texas he has sang at the Mt. Pleasant Opry.

Shipp has a full schedule on tap for the remainder of the spring, as he will be making the rounds in Texas and Louisiana.

He's won several awards for his vocal talent, including the Four States Fair talent contest, the Miller County Fair talent contest, made it to the semifinals of the Third District Livestock Show and Rodeo and earned the Bob Evans Award.

Another detour from the norm at this banquet will have roasted peanuts on the tables. These peanuts are there to be eaten by the guests as they bid on items during the auction and enjoy the rest of the evening.

The banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the McRae Middle School cafeteria, with a PowerPoint presentation planned.

Money raised by the auction is used to help fund other Chamber events during the year.