The Kershaw Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet, a gala occasion, on March 26, with a dinner, guest speaker and award presentations.
Mel Geddings played and sang as the guests arrived at the Kershaw Country Club. Tommy Baker started the program by introducing the distinguished guests.
The Rev. Dennis Miller offered the invocation, followed by a delicious buffet meal prepared by Jean Robinson Hegler, a hometown girl from Kershaw, and her staff.
The guest speaker, Mark Keel, director of the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED), was introduced by Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile. Keel’s talk on SLED and South Carolina was inspiring and everyone’s ears were very attuned to all he had to say. He gave a wonderful, informative insight into this very important unit in South Carolina.
Chamber President Sheila Hinson shared chamber news and views before presenting the President’s Award to John Douglas, Kershaw’s town administrator. She said Douglas had “fit into our town” and started endless programs to bring our town together.
“The town of Kershaw is a better place because of what Douglas has brought to the town,” she said.
Wade Hunter presented the John T. Stevens Impact Award to Second Baptist Church of Kershaw for its love shown to the community as its members have ministered in word and deed.
Chamber board member Amy Eubank presented the Young Entrepreneur of Kershaw Award to Dylan Robinson. Hinson noted how much he deserved to receive this award. He just opened Midtown Storage, bought and renovated a laundromat, works with his dad in Kevin Robinson Heating & Air, and owns rental property, she said.
Tammy Reynolds recognized new businesses in town that have started up in the last year. They included Plaza Maya, a popular Mexican restaurant; Kershaw Services & Repairs, owned by Reggie and Adam Eubanks; and Studio 112 Hair Salon, owned by Hayley Payne. Others recognized were Barry and Carrie Ford for their Horse Rescue farm, and Heather Knight and Jake Faulkenberry as young business leaders in Kershaw.
Kershaw House of Pizza owners Alan and Christina Sims received the Business of the Year Award.
The highest award and the one everyone was waiting for — the Citizen of the Year Award — went to Karla Knight Deese for her role as Lancaster County coroner. Hinson thanked Deese for a job well done for Lancaster County.
The night ended with door prizes and much love for the town of Kershaw, Hinson said.
