Chamber honors will be announced

A Rusk business man and woman of the year will be announced at the Rusk Chamber of Commerce banquet, planned for Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008.

Outgoing members of the chamber board set the criteria and nominated nine business men and nine business women for the year 2007. Ballots were to have been returned to the chamber office Thursday, Nov. 8. Outgoing board members looked back over the past three years and recommended the nomination of those who had worked with them side by side on chamber functions. Ballots for election of the business man and woman were sent to members. Also, chamber members were asked to elect eight new board members from a list of 30 candidates.

Nominations for the business man of the year award are Austin Young of State Farm, Bob Francis of Bob Francis Ford, Gary Epperson of GNE Services, Greg James of Greg James Country Motors, Larry Sinclair of Cox, Sinclair & Sheridan, Louis Caveness of Arrowhead Realty, Beans Creek Bed 'n Breakfast and Bee Sweet Antiques & Surprises, Monte Ethington of Chapman Pharmacy, Russell Turner of All-Star Bar-B-Q and Walter Preble of Rusk KOA Campground.

Business woman of the year award nominees are Anita Woodlee of Anita Woodlee CPA, Carol Preble of Rusk KOA Campground, Leslie Hassell of Longaberger, Marie Whitehead of Cherokeean Herald newspaper, KTLU-KWRW Radio and Whitehead Cattle Farm, Michelle Brannon of Iron Horse Mercantile, Molly Ethington of Chapman Pharmacy, Nell McNatt of Flowers 'n Things, Southwestern Abstract Co. in Rusk and Jacksonville, Sarah Welch of Classic Cruises & Tours and Toni Meador of Texas National Bank and Rotary president.

Candidates for the board of directors are Amy Derrington of Greg James Country Motors; Anita Ocker of Jerry Ocker Dentistry; Arlene Frazer of United Country- Frazer Realty; Austin Young of State Farm Insurance; Bill Fountain of Arrowhead Creek Realty Inc.; Brent Duncan of Weston Inn & Suites; Chris Holcomb of Cherokee Animal Clinic; Cookie Crawford of Cherokee County Electric Coop; Debra McCormick of Christ the Redeemer Church and Christian School; Don Jones of Tosh Insurance; Harl Brannon of Iron Horse Mercantile; Hue Adams; Janae Halbert of Flowers by Janae; Janet Cavazoz of Southern Cherokee Federal Credit Union; Jeff Ghiringhelli of Almost Heavinn Bed and Breakfast; Jerry Jordan; Julie Vining of Trinity Mother Frances in Jacksonville; Kay (Baby) Epperson of Good Samaritan; Keith Isaacs of Isaacs Wrecker Service; Kelly Wilcox of Cherokee County Teachers Credit Union; LaRetta Britton of Britton Motors; Larry Long of Austin Bank; Lesa Jones of Rusk ISD; Mark Dotti of Cherokee Trace Drive through Safari; Myra McCreight of Myra K's Family Salon; P.O. Ford of Cingular/Chapman Pharmacy; Peter Fay of "R" Place RV Park & Campgrounds; Randy Allison of Lexington Place Nursing and Rehabilitation; Rita Desai of Southern Motor Inn; Roger Huffman of Rolling Hills; Sandra Sanders of Whistle Stop; Sarah Jo Clayton of State Farm Insurance; Steve Norton of The Woods at Jacksonville; Steven Berry of Berry and Clay; Stoney Thompson of Wallace-Thompson True Value; Tina Baggett of Franklin Bank; Traci Norton of The Woods at Jacksonville; and Wally Walker of A Cut Above.