Events showcase Sikeston, Miner

The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring our Spring 4-

County Job Fair on Thursday, May 10 at the Clinton Building from noon to 6 p.m. All prospective employees are welcome to come and speak to area employers about career opportunities.

We do ask that you dress appropriately and if you have a resume bring several copies, some employers will be taking applications on site. If you are an employer interested in participating you can contact the SACC offices and sign up. This event is sponsored by the Chamber and the Missouri Career Center Office in Sikeston.

I would also like to use this opportunity to thank the Annual Awards Banquet committee and the Redneck Barbecue committee. It was a big month for our Chamber and our volunteer committees putting on two very important community activities back to back. Both events were a success and really showcased our community and our residents.

Congratulations to our winners of the awards given out at the banquet April 12: Small Business - MikeRentals Inc., Business -- Food Giant Supermarkets, Civic Group - Sikeston American Legion Post 114, Citizen of the Year -- Mike Marshall, SACC Member of the Year -- Elizabeth Lorenz, Lifetime Achievement -- Duane DeCota, Community Volunteer -- Blair Moran, Law Enforcement Officer -- Greg Ourth, Educator -- Regina Guthrie, and Outstanding Jaycee- Lloyd Stoner Jr. It was a great evening celebrating the area's best.

After the banquet the next day Friday, April 13 the Redneck Barbecue kicked off to some cool and damp weather. Despite the less than desirable conditions we had 32 barbecue teams entered and ready to compete.

As one experienced team put it "if you can't cook in this you have no business cooking" and cook they did. We witnessed some amazing rigs and outstanding food. Our barbecue committee did a great job showing our teams and judges our famous southern hospitality.

We had teams come in from Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, as well as Missouri. We also had KCBS judges travel in from all over including Nashville, Tenn., and Cincinnati, Ohio. As a Chamber director it made me proud to receive compliments from our out-of-town guests about how nice and helpful the people in Sikeston and Miner were.

A big thank you to the Sikeston Jaycees for allowing us to use the Rodeo Grounds again this year. The teams really liked the layout and were grateful not to be sitting in mud after the Friday night rains.

The Redneck Barbecue committee included: Boyd Green, Dr. Leslie Winchester, Elizabeth Lorenz, Shawn Kelly, McKenzie and Lincoln Scherer, Kathy Medley, Linda Lowes, Robin Pace, Lisa Grissom, Laurie Burch, Ron Baker, Debbie Glenn, Charles Michael, Sikeston High School Student Chamber of Commerce, Karen Henzi, Nancy and Gary Galemore and Tracy Cookson. If you know any of these individuals congratulate them on a job well done.

Last but not least I want to thank all our sponsors who are listed in our barbecue information and on our T-shirts. You all made it one of our best barbecues ever and your continued support of the Chamber is greatly appreciated.

With the events over for 2007, the committees will be meeting to evaluate and begin plans for next year's 58th Annual Awards Banquet and the 14th Annual Barbecue. If you are interested in helping with either of these SACC events contact the Chamber at 573-471-2498 or go to our Web site at www.sikeston.net for more information.