News Editor

Feb. 12, 2000 10 PM

The Brundidge Business Association will hold its annual banquet Thursday, Feb. 18, to celebrate the accomplishments of the businesses in Brundidge last year.

Jimmy Hollis, outgoing president of the Brundidge Business Association, said the event is more of a meeting than a banquet or program since it is not a formal occasion, and different committees share information with the business people.

"We have reports given by various entities of the community," said Hollis. "there will be a report from the Industrial Development Board, the city of Brundidge, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce and internal reports from the BBA. There will also be several awards presented."

Some of the awards that will be presented will be Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, and Business or Organization of the Year.

Guests will include a representative from South East Alabama Gas District, who will present a cash grant to the community, and Beverly Helton of USDA Rural Development who will present a cash grant to the Industrial Development Board. The USDA grant will assist the city of Brundidge in financing an industrial park.

New officers will be installed at the annual meeting, including new BBA President David Hester, owner of Diamond Fantasies.

At the end of the meeting door prizes will be given from local businesses.

"The door prizes are the fun time of the whole meeting," Hollis said. "The meeting is a time of fellowship and sharing what we have done and what we plan to do."

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Pike County High School cafeteria.

Rue Botts, Brundidge business person, said the banquet will be catered by Garrett’s IGA in Brundidge, and about 200 people are expected at the banquet. Botts is being held at the high school lunchroom to recognize the PCHS students who painted murals on the walls.

"The arts students are really talented," Botts said. "We try to support the art classes, and there is a lot of room in the cafeteria. It gets the businesses involved with the school and the school involved with the businesses. And that’s what we try to do.