![Article Image Alt Text]( "Renowned journalist and former Progress reporter, Lorraine Bennett receives appreciation for her role as an initial advocate. Becky Long - Clay County Progress")
Renowned journalist and former Progress reporter, Lorraine Bennett receives appreciation for her role as an initial advocate. Becky Long - Clay County Progress
Historic Hayesville Inc. hosted a volunteer celebration dinner, Aug. 22 at Hinton Center, bringing the community together for a time of appreciation and fellowship.
Guest speaker Billy Parrish, representing N.C. Small Town Main Street, acknowledged the more than 80 guests, volunteers, businesses, board members and Mayor Harry Baughn, who filled the room and how they had made a difference in the six years since Hayesville was accepted into the Small Town Main Street program.
“I have been blessed to be a part of this Main Street thing from the beginning. In my travels, what I’ve come to realize is that is the greatest thing about this country is the people in this room right now — people in a small town,” Parrish said.
He went on to underscore the accomplishments of HHI, their army of volunteers and sister organizations who had brought about positive change in Hayesville and surrounding communities.
Noting the changes in town, Parrish said, “I’m amazed at the transformation. In seven or eight years, it’s a different Hayesville. “
Through the work of HHI, partner organizations and businesses, Parrish said there had been 39 full-time and 92 part-time jobs created in Hayesville. He said the past two fiscal years reflects a $5.3 million investment in our town from the public and private sector, noting that $4.7 million of that came from private investments.
“This amounts to 42 percent of all N.C. Small Towns in North Carolina,” Parrish said.
In addition, he spoke of the 16,000 hours that HHI volunteers logged. “Tonight is a celebration of being part of a movement and a celebration of your part of that movement,” said Parrish.
He had toured Hayesville earlier in the day and was impressed.
“What I saw, what I felt, was a tremendous sense of history and pride,” Parrish said. “Here in Hayesville and Clay County, you all speak community. I’ve never seen this much community wherever I’ve been.”
As HHI Board chair Sandy Zimmerman and secretary/treasurer Deborah Nichols prepared to dole out certificates and plaques of appreciation, Parrish noted to the volunteers, “It’s all about you, your work, your vision, your ability to get things done.”
Zimmerman and Nichols proceeded on to the recognition presentation:
HHI Hero Awards: Clay County Progress, publicity; Moss Memorial Library, technical support; Ron Wallace, photography; Beverly Adkins and John Adkins, Barn Quilt project; and Marie Thompson, Web design.
Nonprofit partners, certificates of appreciation: Clay County Communities Revitalization Association, Inc.,; Clay County Historical & Arts Council, Inc.; Clay County Chamber of Commerce; Clay County Lions Club; and Clay Lodge #301.
Awards of Excellence: Larry and Karyl Davis, Tommy Davis, Tolliver Rivers and M.C. Brooks, Julie Shaw, Jodi Sullivan, Richard Kelley and Rob and Holly Tiger.
Business sponsors: Signs Fast, Inc., Prints Plus, Tri-County Office Supply, Inc., Sonja Silvers Realty Group, Mountain Streams Real Estate, Advantage Chatuge Realty, Morning Song Gallery, Molly & Me Antiques, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Carl Patterson Flooring.
Meritorious Service, volunteers with five years or more of service: Carleen Brock, Paula Walters, Linda Davis, Roni Davis, Vicky Donaldson and Beverly Adkins.
Initial advocates: Lorraine Bennett, Bob Hanson, Philip Moore, Janice and Paul Harwood, Janice Hicks and Margaret Armstrong.