Chamber Business of the Year, Citizens of the Year honored

Sundee Hendren (left), treasurer of the Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce, and Fred Overstreet, Chamber president, posed with Tammie Loyd, owner of Sophie's Boutique, after awarding her a plaque honoring Sophie's as Business of the Year for 2016.
Sundee Hendren (left), treasurer of the Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce, and Fred Overstreet, Chamber president, posed with Tammie Loyd, owner of Sophie's Boutique, after awarding her a plaque honoring Sophie's as Business of the Year for 2016.

— A record crowd, about 300 guests, attended the fourth annual Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce banquet last Thursday. The event was held at Horton Farms on Bethlehem Road and the banquet room was almost filled with tables. Tables were decorated with arrangements of cotton bolls and other natural materials set on circular slabs of wood. The room was gaily decorated with burgundy, beige and white balloons.

Banquet guests enjoyed a social hour preceding the meal, visiting, bidding on silent auction items and submitting entries for several door prizes donated by area businesses and individuals. Tickets were placed in fruit jars beside the entrant's choice of prizes. Drawings were held and winners announced at the end of the evening. A wine tasting was sponsored by Just a Taste from Missouri, and wine for the wine pull was donated by MacAdoodles. A cash bar was provided by TNT Liquor Store of Decatur. Steve Huckriede, local photographer, had a number of his photos on display.

Fred Overstreet, Chamber president, welcomed guests and thanked the caterers, the disc jockey and all who helped make the banquet a success. He introduced special guests, U.S. Representative Steve Womack, state Senator Jim Hendren and Gravette mayor Kurt Maddox. He also introduced Chamber officers Steve Huckriede, vice-president; Amanda Gittlein, secretary; and Sundee Hendren, treasurer. He also reminded guests of the upcoming "Smoke on the Border" barbecue competition the Chamber is sponsoring April 1 and 2.

Impact awards were given to Harps Food Stores and to CV's $avers Club for their positive influence in the community. Harps opened its Gravette store Aug. 3 after the city had been without a grocery store for several months. CV's opened Nov. 9, giving the city a second grocery just prior to the holiday season.

A highlight of the evening was the announcement of Sophie's Boutique as Business of the Year and Mary Beth Mitchell and Amanda Gittlein as co-Citizens of the Year. Overstreet explained that there was a tie when members voted for Citizen of the Year. After learning the results and being told he was expected to break the tie, Overstreet announced he would honor both individuals.

Mitchell was honored for her efforts to get the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express train to visit Gravette. She worked for nine years to get the popular holiday attraction to town and was finally successful in securing the train. It came to Gravette on Dec. 13 and 2,832 persons were reported to have toured the train. Gittlein is secretary of the Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce and has devoted many hours in working to make Chamber events successful.

The banquet was catered by Steven Martinez and his crew at Hardluck Cafe. Diners were treated to appetizers of stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta and assorted fresh fruits. The main course, featuring an Italian theme, included braciole, grilled chicken osso buco, pasta bolognese and pasta primavera and side dishes of mixed green salad and breadsticks. Dessert choices, provided by Copeland's of New Orleans, included carrot cake, white chocolate bread pudding and a variety of cheesecakes and toppings.

Community on 02/15/2017