Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gov. Huckabee To Speak At Annual Banquet

Gurdon's Chamber of Commerce Banquet, scheduled for Monday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., will feature Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the featured speaker.

Last year, local talent was utilized by the Chamber for entertainment.

Again this year, the banquet will be held in the cafetorium at Gurdon High School.

Tickets are already on sale, and, according to Anita Cabe, Chamber president, a large crowd is expected.

The teacher and citizen of the year will also be named at the banquet. Nominations for teacher and citizen of the year need to be made by Feb. 2. These nominations can be made by mailing them to P.O. Box 187, Gurdon, Ark. 71743.

"The Chamber realizes what a special place Gurdon is, and we feel like the citizens are what make Gurdon such a unique and wonderful place to live," Cabe said.

"Our teachers make a tremendous contribution to our children, this award is our way of letting them know how much the community appreciates them," she added.

Tickets for the banquet will be $12.50, and can be purchased at the Cabe Land Company, Horizon Bank of Gurdon or First State Bank of Gurdon.

For more information, call 353-2661.

Gov. Huckabee has put together a long list of achievements as governor. During the 1997 legislative session, a comprehensive welfare reform measure was passed that will help move Arkansas from welfare checks to paychecks.

Huckabee also created ARKids First, a landmark program to provide health insurance for every child in the state. Bills were also passed to increase the rate of childhood immunization, a major tax relief package was passed and the car-tag renewal process was simplified.

The son of a fireman and office worker, Huckabee is a Hope native and graduate of Ouachita Baptist University. In 1993, when he was elected lieutenant governor, he became only the fourth Republican elected to statewide office in Arkansas since the reconstruction.

The governor and his wife, Janet, have three children, John Mark, David and Sarah.

"We are excited to have the governor speaking at our banquet," Cabe said. "I think this is an exciting time for the City of Gurdon."