Tickets for the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards banquet are available for purchase until Thursday evening.

Chamber board president Gerald Cruthird said the Chamber is attempting to sell about 50 more tickets before the close of business on Thursday. The banquet will honor this year’s citizen, volunteer and civic club of the year. A special prize, the Pride of Picayune award, will also honor Johnny Baker.

Cruthird said Baker is a former band director for Picayune High School and is currently directing Picayune’s Community Band.

Winners of the other three awards will be announced the night of the banquet.

Other activities scheduled to take place at the banquet include recognizing the five new board members elected by chamber members and recognizing the five outgoing members.

The five outgoing members include, Jesse L. Morris with Mississippi Power, Stuart Huey with First National Bank, Nickie Smith with The Furniture Store, Steve Grimm who is the former administrator of Highland Community Hospital and Ina Legg with Bank Plus.

Cruthird said there are 15 board members who serve three year terms. There also are ex-officio members who represent city and county officials. Current ex-officio members include Picayune Mayor Ed Pinero Jr., City Manager Harvey Miller and District IV Board of Supervisors member Patrick Lee.

Tickets to the event are available at the Chamber of Commerce office on U.S. 11 across the street from the post office. They $30 per person.

“We’re excited to host the annual banquet and awards meeting at the First Baptist Church of Picayune’s new facility, the Link. We believe members and guests will enjoy the food, entertainment and overall ambiance of this new venue,” Cruthird said.

First Baptist Church of Picayune is on Goodyear Boulevard across from Jack Read Park. The banquet is 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19.

Cruthird said the Chamber of Commerce is an organization that was formed by business, retail and merchant professionals in the Picayune area. The goal of the Chamber is to promote successful business opportunities for the organization’s members and improve the area.

This year’s guest speaker will be Mississippi Treasurer Tate Reeves, who is the state’s 53rd treasurer. He was first elected to office in Nov. 2003 and for a second term in 2007. Historically he is the state’s first Republican treasurer and has a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Cruthird said the Chamber has had a history of attracting state and regional personalities to be guest speakers at its banquets, including Gov. Haley Barbour, Archie Manning, former Gov. Kirk Fordice and former Sen. Trent Lott.