Staff Reports

The plans for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner and awards have been adjusted in light of the current public health situation.

Instead of the event being held at Pewter Hall in Brownstown, it will transition to a drive-in event at the Aerial Farmer hangar, 1155 A Ave., at Freeman Field in Seymour. It will still start at 6 p.m. Sept. 16.

Chamber members interested in participating can register online at jacksoncochamber.com. The cost is $45.

Participants will be asked to approach the hangar area from D Avenue West, which runs between Kocolene/Ranger and Lannett. They will be welcomed to the event, given a boxed meal and directed to the parking area in front of the hangar. A stage will be set up just inside the hangar, and participants will be asked to remain in their vehicles during the program.

Pewter Hall will still be providing the meal for the evening, and some fun elements have been planned, including a disc jockey, an auction and some ‘90s trivia, to help celebrate the chamber’s 90th anniversary.

The program portion of the event will include awards to recognize the chamber Teacher of the Year, Business Hall of Fame inductees, Spirit of the Chamber award and Jackson County Young Professional of the Year.

“Even though adjustments have had to be made, we can’t wait to see everyone and celebrate some of the great things that have happened in our community,” said Sasha Norman, event and marketing coordinator for the chamber. “Who knows? We may go down in history as the first chamber to ever hold a drive-in awards event at an airport hangar.”

This will be the first chamber annual dinner and awards event since March 2020.