First Lady highlights annual chamber banquet, Pugh, Vares named top citizens
The Newton Chamber of Commerce took time to celebrate Thursday night during its annual chamber banquet and meeting at the historic depot.
This was the first banquet since 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled last year’s banquet along with the 2020 Loose Caboose. However, the festival returned in 2021 along with the chamber banquet.
Mississippi First Lady Elee Reeves was the keynote speaker. She saw the issues firsthand. She knew that the last year and half was one of the most trying times in our country and state.
She has seen it being the wife of Gov. Tate Reeves, but she has also seen some good with it.
“Last year, our world and many lives came to a halt, and let me tell you all, my 16 year old, she told us during one of the times that we were quarantined, ‘Mom, if I could just talked to some people not named Tate, Elee, Tyler and Maddie,’” Reeves said during her speech Thursday. “I believe in the last year, many, many, and one of my biggest takeaways from 2020 has been adapting to situation outside of my control in order to best navigate unchartered waters. And I don’t know, I’m sure we all have learned many different things about ourselves last year. I think one of the very best of those things that they’re adapting to situations beyond our control. With all the challenges throughout 2020, I really felt incredibly inspired seeing how our leaders, doctors, nurses, teachers, and so many others learn to adapt in order to meet the need.”
Reeves encouraged the group to continue to volunteer their time and to keep Mississippi beautiful. She helped lead a group of volunteers to clean up one of the “most heavily polluted areas” of the state and helped lead the Great American Cleanup efforts around Jackson.
“We continue to have a beautiful state abounding with wildlife,” Reeves said. “And it is our responsibility together to help maintain the beauty of our state.”
During the chamber banquet, the chamber also announced its man and woman of the year. Don Vares, retired owner of Zack Garvin’s and former alderman, was named the man of the year while Emily Pugh, the former chamber director who is still heavily involved with the chamber, was named the woman of the year.
