WESSON — Residents, town officials and chamber members aregetting ready to hear a special message from Gov. Ronnie MusgroveThursday at the Wesson Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet.

“The chamber is very excited about Gov. Musgrove accepting ourinvitation to be our guest speaker,” said chamberSecretary-Treasurer Joy Wesbrooks. “Our ticket sales have increaseddue to the governor coming.”

The banquet will begin at 7 p.m. at the Thames Conference Centeron the campus of Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Wesbrooks believes the banquet will be entertaining andinformative for residents and town officials.

“Our people are very interested in the governor’s issues andwhat his plans are for the upcoming legislative session,” shesaid.

Gov. Musgrove was instrumental in working with Mayor Bill Tignerto obtain a grant for the Old Wesson School restorationproject.

The banquet will also give those attending a chance to speakwith other area officials.

“We are expecting area senators and legislators, local businessleaders and chamber members to attend,” Wesbrooks said, pointingout that the mayor, some board of aldermen members and Co-LinPresident Dr. Howell Garner will also attend.

Wesbrooks said the banquet will also be especially interestingfor local residents because several awards will be presented.

“There will be lots of surprises, and we look forward to thisbeing one of the best banquets we have had in several years,”Wesbrooks said.

Those awards include outstanding citizen of the year, educatorsof the year, community service awards and business of the year.

Entertainment for the event will follow a patriotic theme withHebert Greer singing a patriotic song. Charles Langley will leadthe Pledge of Allegiance.

New chamber officers will also be introduced during the banquet.They include Nancy Ables, president; Scott King, vice president;and Wesbrooks, secretary/treasurer, along with a new board ofdirectors.

Tickets for the banquet are available at Copiah Bank andTrustmark Bank in Wesson.