The folks at the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce are always busy developing programs that benefit its members, non-members and the community as a whole. Garrick Combs, Kay Burton  and Pam Cartwright do a great job building on and strengthening the quality of life for Brookhaven and Lincoln County and its residents ….

Score for Brookhaven!

Brookhaven Day at the state capitol in Jackson is a good example of the many programs that spread the positive word about this area we call home. I attended this event for the first time Tuesday, Feb. 4, and was very impressed with the dedication of the local volunteers that took of their time (and with support of their employers) to help present Brookhaven and Lincoln County as the best community anywhere. They were quite successful.

I have attended many of these over the years and must say “Brookhaven Day” had the most focus and purpose of any that I have attended. To say the community was well represented would not be giving sufficient recognition, and thanks are in order to those who took the time to attend.

Score for Brookhaven!

Helping make the day a memorable one for state Rep. Becky Currie, state Sen. Sally Doty, the governor, and lieutenant governor and many more state officials that dropped by the booth in the Capitol Rotunda were the always loyal chamber ambassadors, Jason Snider, Kim Bridge, Wendy Smith, Shelia Burd, Imogene Ryan, Catherine Dickey, Ora Franklin and Ambassador Chair  Brenda Henderson.

Score for Brookhaven!

Representing the future of Brookhaven was Becca Harvey, chair of the Chamber’s Youth Advisory Board. Becca, who Kay Burton describes as a worker bee, is a junior at Brookhaven Academy and leads a board of talented students that must be recommended as leaders in order to serve.

Mississippi School of the Arts executive director Suzanne Hirsch and Jennifer Jordan brought students Jamie Lee, Katie Pinkard, Elsa Schmitz and Tyler Lynn.

I must say that these students represent Brookhaven and their school very well. I overheard many state representatives and senators, while stopping in to enjoy a sample of ice cream courtesy of  Mark Crosby’s Mississippi Ice Cream factory, comment on how impressed they were with these young men and women.

Score for Brookhaven!

Business and community leaders taking time away from their day included  Bill Sones and Shannon Aker, Bank of Brookhaven; Stan Foster and Dustin Walker, State Bank; Mark Lewis and Mark Mathis of Trustmark; Alvin Hoover, King’s Daughters Medical Center; Bill Jacobs, IDF president; Quinn Jordan, Lincoln Civic Center; Cal Hodges and John Shappley, First Bank; and Stan Patrick, Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Score for Brookhaven!

Local elected and government officials included Brookhaven Mayor Joe Cox; Eddie Brown, president Lincoln County Board of Supervisors; Tillmon Bishop, chancery clerk; Michael Jinks, city clerk; Ryan Holmes, Dungan Engineering; and Evan Gardner  of U.S. Rep. Greg Harper’s office.

State Rep. Becky Currie  and state Sen. Sally Doty took time away from their legislative duties to welcome everyone and thank them for coming to Jackson.

Score for Brookhaven!

This program is important to Brookhaven and Lincoln County and it also shows our elected officials’ community appreciation and support.

For those wishing to witness united community support, this trip provided a good look at why Brookhaven is considered among the best small cities in Mississippi and the nation.

This column is not a solicitation for chamber membership (but if you’re not a member you should consider), but rather to show that a united community helps improve the quality of life for all.

Brookhaven Day at the Capitol provided a moment for Brookhaven-Lincoln County to shine. Even through ice cream and ice cream floats, we really shined!

Brookhaven outscores ’em all!

Otis Raybon is the publisher of The Daily Leader. Contact him at otis.raybon@dailyleader.com or (601) 833-6961.