The Kentucky Lake Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual dinner on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 5-8 p.m. at the Lakeland Event Center in Calvert City.
This year’s event is themed Big Band Business and Brass and will feature the music of Todd Hill Jazz Quartet, with dinner catered by Patti’s 1880’s Settlement.
During the program, several local residents and businesses will be honored for their contributions to the county and region.
Business of the Year honors go to J&R Pharmacy, who last year celebrated 65 years of business in Marshall County, while also breaking ground on a new Draffenville location, expected to be complete later this year. The new building in Draffenville will also house a Mercy Health Walk-in Clinic and Chickn’Cone Restaurant.
Benton Wood Products will be recognized as Industry of the Year. The stave mill, which manufactures oak bourbon barrels opened in 2017. Benton Wood Products is operated by Independent Stave Company which has locations on six continents across the globe.
Citizen of the Year is Dr. Joe Ellis. Dr. Ellis is an optometrist with Eye Care Associates of Kentucky in Benton. He has served as on the board of the Marshall County Health Department for many years and as a member of the Benton Lions Club. In 2014, Ellis was named Optometrist of the South by the Southern Council of Optometrists and has also served as president of the American Optometric Association.
A journalist whose career has spanned five decades will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Bobbie Foust, who has served as a reporter for The Paducah Sun, The Herald Ledger in Lyon County and as an editor of The Tribune-Courier remains active in the community, most recently as a freelance contributor to several local publications and as a regular guest of Coffee Call on WCBL.
Finally, Dallas Jo Young will be recognized with the inaugural Young Professional of the Year award. Young is employed by CFSB and has been instrumental in organizing the Chamber’s Young Professionals group.
