Business and Community Awards At Chamber Banquet

By Nicole Tull

The DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce banquet was held at the Clista Calhoun Center in Mansfield on Thursday, May 12. The banquet was to honor local businesses that are influential in our community.

Fran Norwood accepted the Volunteers for Economic Impact recognition. Katherine Freeman was chosen for the Emeritus Award. She was humbled and surprised as the room stood to honor her. Outstanding Business Leader went to Pam Hubier Rivers. With 25 years of service to our community, BNL Tire and Auto Service received the honor for Outstanding Business. Public Service Award went to CASA.

The Edna Thornton Memorial award was created for tourism impact to our community through volunteering. The Logansport Christmas Festival was the first to receive this honor. They have put Logansport on the map of places to visit for the light display on the riverfront.

Raffle donations came from La. Plantation Pecan, Down Home Meats, Mansfield Drug, Lisa Lobrano, Benwood’s Surely Southern, Sew Unique, Kickapoo Twist, Flowers & More, and The Flower Shop. Rose-Neath Funeral Home was the big winning table of the evening with 4 raffle winners. It was also Margaret Shehee-Cole’s birthday, making the event doubly special for them.