PINEVILLE —The Bell County Chamber of Commerce held their annual chamber dinner recently at Pine Mountain State Park and Resort. The audience was entertained by the musical talent of David Crone, a Frank Sinatra tribute artist, and the comedy of Matt Snow.
Crone performed a variety of Sinatra tunes for the crowd during the reception prior to the dinner. He was even able to get some of the ladies from the crowd, including Bell County Chamber Director Candice Jones, up to do a little bit of dancing.
Snow followed by bringing laughter to the audience with multiple stuffed characters. He also got the crowd involved by bringing a select few members of the crowd on stage. He performed magic trips using some of the audience members including Middlesboro Mayor Bill Kelley and Bell County Chamber President Richard Smith.
Several awards were also presented at the dinner by Smith.
The awards included the following:
Ina Robbins received the Community Appearance and Beautification award. She received the award for her work with the city of Pineville. Robbins has done work on renovations throughout the city, and has also work with the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. She is currently working on getting a new street department building in Pineville.
Bell-Whitley Community and Action Agency received the Community Development award. Janet Jackson accepted the award on behalf of the agency. Bell-Whitley helps the community in several ways with multiple programs to help low-income families.
Middlesboro Mayor Bill Kelley received the Leadership Award. Kelley helped lead the community during a terrible floods that overwhelmed the city in June of 2011.
Food City was awarded the Industry Business Appreciation Award. Food City helps many local schools. Food City has awarded nearly $14 million dollars for educational tools and equipment. The organization also participates in Relay for Life, Race Against Hunger, CCM, and many other programs.
Jay and Kelly Shoffner were awarded the Historical Preservation Award for their efforts in renovating the old Corky’s pool hall building. The Shoffners bought the building in 2009. When completed, the lower section of the pool hall was transformed into office spaces and two conference rooms, and the upper section was transformed into apartments.
Brian O’Brian received the Volunteer of the Year award. O’Brian is the current chair for Relay for Life. He also volunteers by reading to area school children and by helping raise money for different charities.
Adrian Twinney was awarded the Humanitarian Award for his work in the Salvation Army. Twinney has done plenty of work to renovate the building after it was flooded. He was also instrumental in bringing a mobile canteen to Bell County.
The Community Service Award went to Norman Cornelius, who serves as director of Bell County Repair Affair. Through Repair Affair, volunteers take one Saturday and go out into the community to perform repairs and odd jobs for the elderly and disabled. He is currently completing projects for the flood victims in Middlesboro.
Teresa Francis, who served as president of the Chamber prior to Smith, was presented a plaque of appreciation for her service to the organization.
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