Lamar County Recognition Dinner

[lamarrebel]

The Lamar County Republican Party is pleased to announce the Lamar County Recognition Dinner to be held on Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church on Old Hwy 11 (almost directly across the road from the Oak Grove library). This non-partisan event recognizes outstanding Lamar County citizens through the following awards: Lamar County Citizen of the Year, Law Enforcement Officer of Year, Educator of the Year, Volunteer Fireman of the Year, and County Employee of the Year. Governor Haley Barbour is scheduled to be the keynote speaker. Tickets to the dinner are $15 and can be picked up by contacting this author, or Cheryl Cranford at the Remax office. Nominations are due by Monday, October 24 and can be sent to P.O. Box 1900, Purvis, MS 39475.

[lamarrebel]

There's good news and bad news to report about the Recognition Dinner. Governor Barbour's office informed us yesterday that he will be unable to attend, as he has been called to Washington to fight for Katrina relief. However, we are able to announce that Chief Justice Jim Smith of the Mississippi Supreme Court will be our keynote speaker in his place. Smith has served on the Court since the early 1990s (ran and won as a Republican before judicial elections became non-partisan) and is one of most conservative members of the Court. He's an excellent speaker and we are very glad to have him, and grateful that he is coming on short notice.

At the banquet, we'll also be recognizing Lamar County's Citizen of the Year, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, County Employee of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Volunteer Fireman of the Year.

Tickets are still $15, and this is a non-partisan event. It is this Thursday at 6:30 at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church just past the new Oak Grove Library on Old Highway 11. Everyone, even the most open liberals like Hillary, is welcome! The Front Porch is catering the event and the cost is only marignally more than you'd spend to actually eat there.

[lamarrebel]

I'm afraid so, but I'll be sure to send you an invite next year -- check out this weeks' Lamar Times and Indpendent for the recap of the dinner. It was a good dinner, some outstanding citizens were recognized, and Chief Justice Smith gave a tremendous speech.

[lamarrebel]

Actually the local papers are notified each year when nominations are opened up for the civic awards presented at the dinner. In fact, your buddy Kyle Hill was recognized last year. The Lamar Times, particularly, has given this dinner excellent coverage, and WDAM has run stories each year about the dinner as well.

I've attended the dinner each year since 2002 and these have been the keynote speakers:

2005- Hon. Jim Smith --- Chief Justice Mississippi Supreme Court
2004 - Phil Bryant -- State Auditor
2003 - Trent Lott -- United States Senator (the same night President Bush campaigned in Gulfport for Haley Barbour -- both Senator Lott and I made both events, me taunting the Mississippi Highway Patrol to get back to Lamar County)
2002 - Sid Salter -- syndicated columnist

I believe the speakers in 2000 and 2001 were then-Chief Justice Ed Pittman, Sr. and Senator Thad Cochran.

This year, possible speakers include, among others, Governor Barbour and Senator Bill Frist.

[SoMissTV]

Get John McCain. He's about the only one with any sense.

[lamarrebel]

McCain was in Mississippi pretty recently at a similar dinner in Madison County. I doubt he could be brought back here this quickly.