The 32nd Annual Dinner for the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce was held last Thursday evening at the Worth County Community Center with dozens of chamber members and community leaders in attendance.
This year’s theme was “Extra Extra Read All About It.” The tables were decorated with newspapers and the backdrop for pictures was a newsstand and a bicycle for peddling newspapers. The pictures were provided compliments of Josh and Melody Beckstrom, owners of Sylvester’s Computer Guy.
Guests enjoyed a delicious smoked pork chop dinner with the fixings as well as performances from Southwest Georgia Harmonizers Shamrocks Barber Shop Quartet. Colors were presented for the evening by Worth County High School JROTC and members of the WCHS Jazz Band helped with serving.
The chamber gavel was passed down from Virginia Acord to Chris Shipp during the evening and a list of new ambassadors was presented among the event’s list of acknowledgements. The Master of Ceremonies was Mandy Gordon with Phoebe Worth Medical Center.
Near the end of the evening, awards were handed out for Business of the Year, Ambassador of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2013 Business of the Year honor went to Farm Commodities, a Worth County family-owned business that was established in the mid 1930’s. Present to accept the award was Peggy, Todd and Donnie Ford.
The 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient was John Porter with the Sylvester Local News. He has been involved with the Sylvester Local for more than six decades and almost a year ago became co-owner of the paper. According to Becky Geer, Porter beat the pavement as a reporter, photographer, and general “go to” guy during his many years of service with the Sylvester Local News. In 2000, he was recognized by the Georgia Press Association for 50 years in the newspaper industry. He and his wife Lucille have celebrated 50 years of marriage. They have two children, John and Carol, as well as five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Several of Porter’s family members joined him to celebrate his recognition.
The 2013 Ambassador of the Year went to Kyle Tomlinson of Snipes Piggly Wiggly. Kyle is a volunteer in the community with the schools, the sports programs, the Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club.
