Tate County Economic Development Foundation and Senatobia Main Street held the 24th Annual Meeting and Banquet celebrating local leadership and accomplishments Tuesday, June 21, at the Haraway Center on the campus of Northwest Mississippi Community College.
With 175 business and political leaders in attendance, Sybil Canon, 2021 TCEDF President, opened the program with a message of positive growth and accomplishments of the community through the past year.
The positivity continued through the evening as attendees also heard from Dr. Michael Heindl, NWCC President; Reverend Michael Garrett, West Looxahoma Church of Christ; Jamie Sowell, Community Development and Main Street Director; Mollie K. Spencer, Senatobia Main Street Chairman; Britt Herrin, TCEDF Executive Director; and Thomas Givens, 2022 TCEDF President.
The mood shifted when keynote speaker and Mississippi Department of Transportation Northern Commissioner John Caldwell took the podium.
Caldwell, painted a stark image of how the budget for MDOT hasn’t increased in years yet inflation has continued to rise.
“We’re still working with a budget of $1.2 billion,” said Caldwell. “There’s only so much we can do with the funds. There’s no way to paint that as a pretty picture.”
Despite the tight strings on funds, Caldwell said road and bridge projects in Tate County were progressing on schedule.
TCEDF recognized several locals, businesses and educators for their achievements from the past year. Dr. Brant Kairit was named Citizen of the Year. The award for the Business of the Year went to Delta Health Highland Hills with hospital administrator Josh Hammons accepting the award. The award for Agribusiness of the Year went to Mississippi Land Bank with Mathew Raft accepting the award on behalf of the bank.
Local educators were also recognized for their outstanding achievements in and out of the classroom. Awards for Educator of the Year went to Netta Davis of the Tate County School District; Courtney Haas, Senatobia Municipal School District; Dr. Marvin Lishman, Magnolia Heights School; and Sandra Smith, NWCC.
Senatobia Main Street also awarded Star Awards for exceptional leadership in the community. Sweet Home Realtors, LLC was named as the Best Renovation Project. The award for Best New Adventure went to Westmoreland Properties, LLC.
Showing first-rate leadership, Hammons of Delta Health Highland Hills was honored as the recipient of the Community Leadership award.
New Hope Assembly of God pastor Del Ray Hayes and his wife, Dawn Hayes were awarded the Unsung Heroes designation for their willingness to help contribute to various projects to benefit the community.
Also receiving the Unsung Hero award was Ward Taylor, a master gardener who never hesitates to offer his skills to help with landscaping and beautification projects around Senatobia.
The event was made possible by the following sponsors: Delta Health Highland Hills, NWCC, The Baddour Center, Community Pharmacy, Mac & Charlies Soda Shoppe, Sycamore Bank, ABB, Prime Manufacturing Services LLC, Zaxby’s, William & Julie Correro, Caldwell Insurance and Yard Emotion.
