All Harlan County coal miners, active and retired, will be recognized by the Harlan County Chamber of Commerce as the recipients of its most prestigious award, Harlan Countian of the Year, at the Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet on Dec. 3 at the Harlan Center. A social hour with entertainment will begin at 5:30 p.m. The awards program and dinner will start at 6:30 p.m.

“This will be a great evening to recognize some of the finest of our county and to celebrate the accomplishments they have achieved to make Harlan County a better place to live,” said Chamber President Dan Mosley.

An award recognizing all Harlan County Coal Miners as the winner will be unveiled at the banquet. It will then be showcased in a community facility. The Chamber of Commerce encourages all coal mines to be represented at the banquet.

The Harlan Countian of the Year is traditionally also the grand marshal of the Harlan County Christmas Parade, and all coal miners are invited to participate in this honor. The parade will be at 6 p.m. on Dec. 5 in downtown Harlan.

“We are asking all county coal miners to come in full uniform and march as the grand marshal of the parade. This will be an excellent opportunity for our community to recognize these wonderful people for the job they do on a daily basis. Their livelihoods have been under attack this entire year, yet they get up and go to work every day to provide energy for the world and to place food on their families’ tables,” said Mosley. “That speaks volumes of the character instilled in these hard-working individuals, and they are very deserving of this honor.”

Other awards that will be presented at the banquet will include:

n Lifetime Achievement Award: E.R. "Doc" Gray, long-time educator and coach at Harlan High School and Rosenwald School;

n Educator of the Year: Michael Hensley, mathematics teacher, Harlan County High School;

n Healthcare Professional of the Year: Delores Engle, CNRA, Britthaven of the Tri-Cities;

n Public Service Provider of the Year: Harlan County Fiscal Court;

n Business of the Year: Donell's Pharmacy;

n Business Achievement Awards:

n Harlan High School — 100 years of service;

n The Bank of Harlan — 75 years of service;

n Harris Insurance Agency — 75 years of service;

n Sid Douglass Law Office — 25 years of service;

n Movies to Go — 25 years of service;

n Scott-Gross — 25 years of service;

n President's Award: to be announced at the banquet.

A new annual award will be given in memory of our long-time executive director, Gladys Hoskins, and longtime chamber ambassador, Gayle Lawson.

The Lawson-Hoskins Dedication Award will be bestowed on a person or group that has demonstrated commitment to and completion of a project benefiting Harlan County. The recipient will be announced at the banquet. Several other special awards will also be given during the program.

“We had some wonderful nominees this year, and we appreciate all who submitted nominations. I invite everyone to come and celebrate the accomplishments of our citizens, businesses and organizations at the banquet,” said Mosley.

Tickets for the banquet are available at Shear Inspirations, Harlan Daily Enterprise, and Southern Wholesale for $35 each or $250 per table.

The keynote speaker will be Kentucky State Legislature Speaker of the House, Greg Stumbo, of Prestonsburg.

For More Information, contact Mosley at (606) 521-6624 .