By Nicole Tull
The DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce banquet was held at the Clista Calhoun Center in Mansfield on Thursday, March 31. The banquet was to honor local businesses that are influential in our community.
Kathleen Davis accepted the Volunteers for Economic Impact recognition for her work in so many organizations in Grand Cane. BD Dorroh from Community Bank of Louisiana was chosen for the Emeritus Award. Outstanding Business Leader went to Chris Davis the COO of DeSoto Regional. 4C Coffee House in Grand Cane received the honor for Outstanding Business. Public Service Award went to Barbie Higginbotham at the DeSoto Parish Animal Services.
The Edna Thornton Memorial award was created for tourism impact to our community through volunteering. This year the award went to The Battle of Pleasant Hill. Katelyn Calhoun received the award and mentioned that the event has been going for over four decades and has double in recent years. The annual celebration of the Battle of Pleasant Hill (Held this past weekend) has brought in recognizable tourism for the parish.
Pam Hubier Rivers was recognized for her short term as President of the chamber. The last presentation was for the late Julie Rogers in recognition of her years of dedication and service to the parish at the Tourism Bureau. Catherine Rogers, Julie’s daughter, accepted a decorative cutting board that had pictures of Julie on it.
Raffle donations came from La. Plantation Pecan, Down Home Meats, Mansfield Drug, Sew Unique, Walmart, Big Zach’s Place, and BackAlley Theatre. Steven Chadwick won twice with his string of tickets and Martha Russell was determined to win something before the night was through. She mistakenly got her ticket colors mixed up but did win the coveted pecans after all.
