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Mark McKinnon’s family and friends accept the Hometown Hero Award in his honor at this year’s Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet and Awards Dinner on Feb. 13. (BRANDY CLACKLEY | CONTRIBUTED)

Executive Director of the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Rachel Martin, left, presents Trae Caton with this year’s Chamber Champion Award. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Glenn McGriff was named the Distinguished Citizen of the Year by the Chamber and was presented the award by Judge Chris Speaks and Rachel Martin. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

David Clackley with The Clack Shack won the New Business of the Year Award for a business in the community that is less than three years old. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Mims Wrecker Service was named the Distinguished Business of the Year at the Chamber Banquet this year. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

The packed room inside 6th Street Warehouse for the annual Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet and Awards Dinner on Feb. 13. (BRANDY CLACKLEY | CONTRIBUTED)

Ann and Tommy Glasscock won the Community Spirit Award for Clanton. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Cheryl English won the Community Spirit Award for Jemison. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Dawn Smitherman won the Community Spirit Award for Maplesville. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Allison and Justin Hosey won the Community Spirit Award for Thorsby. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Amy Calloway won the Community Spirit Award for Chilton County. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Some of Chilton County’s most spirited businesses and residents were recognized at the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Membership Banquet and Awards Dinner on Feb. 13. Love was in the air at 6th Street Warehouse for local superstars and businesses as ‘Love Local’ was the theme behind the evening with the holiday the following day. Sponsored by First Bank of Alabama, the banquet handed out awards for community spirit, businesses and citizens of the year.

“I think it was a great turnout, and we always enjoy getting to get together with our members,” Rachel Martin, Executive Director of Chilton County Chamber of Commerce, said. “People do things in the community and they do not do it for recognition, they do it to just better their community. We love to be able to recognize them and let them know that we do see the difference that they are making and we appreciate all that they do within the community to make it better.”

Residents and delegates packed the ballroom at 6th Street Warehouse and were treated to a catered meal from Valle Grande Mexican Grill prior to the awards portion of the evening.

Community Spirit Awards were handed out to residents from Clanton, Jemison, Maplesville, Thorsby and Chilton County as a whole to start the evening.

Ann and Tommy Glasscock were awarded the spirit award for Clanton for being everyone’s cheerleader, promoting other businesses with their employees and being a supporter of growth in the community. Cheryl English’s work at the Jemison Public Library and her presence in the Jemison community overall won her the spirit award there, and Allison and Justin Hosey’s commitment to the Thorsby Dari-Delite after buying the establishment and turning it into a restaurant staple in the community won the couple the spirit award in Thorsby. Dawn Smitherman’s many years as the Administrator for the Town of Maplesville, being the aid to the mayor and putting the small community first earned her the spirit award for Maplesville. Lastly, Amy Calloway’s impact stretched to western North Carolina as she rallied the Chilton County community and donated numerous truckloads of supplies to aid the communities affected by Hurricane Helene last year, which earned her the community spirit award for the county overall.

The chamber handed out its Chamber Champion Award, an individual who goes out of their way to help the chamber with things throughout the year, to Trae Caton who helps the Chamber staff with everything from big events like the Peach Jam Jubilee to checking out weird noises coming from upstairs in the Chamber’s building.

Businesses in Chilton County were recognized as well, starting with the chamber’s New Business of the Year Award going to David Clackley and The Clack Shack, an award that goes to a business who has established itself well within its first three years open. Clackley started the online business on YouTube and grew a big following quickly, and he assists other businesses in the area who are in the same type of work. The Distinguished Business of the Year Award was presented to Mims Wrecker Service, an award that goes to one of the Chamber Business of the Month winners throughout the previous year.

The Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Glenn McGriff for his years of service in public office and his charitable work in Chilton County as he retired from the Chilton County Circuit Clerk position.

Lastly, Martin, Assistant Executive Director Brandy Clackley and Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims gave an emotional tribute to the late Mark McKinnon and honored him with the Hometown Hero Award for all of his contributions to the community during his lifetime. McKinnon’s family, friends and employees accepted the award on his behalf.

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