Several Harlan Countians will be recognized for their contributions to the community during the second Harlan County Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner on Nov. 18.

The chamber is taking nominations for Educator of the Year, Public Service Provider of the Year, Health Care Professional of the Year and Harlan Countian of the Year and the awards to be announced during the dinner. The chamber will also be recognizing an individual for the new Harlan County Lifetime Achievement Award voted on by members of the chamber.

The chamber will also be recognizing business that have been in business for 25 years or more, and two business which passed the 75-year mark BellSouth and Johnson Funeral Home.

The guest speaker for the event will be Rodger Bingham, better known as Kentucky Joe from the reality TV show "Survivor."

Kyle Burnett will be the master of ceremonies.

Lonnie Milwee will be providing musical entertainment during a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m., when a silent auction will be held.

Kathie Jones, a member of the chamber's executive committee who is organizing the event, said the silent auction will include "very interesting and what might be considered priceless things," including items from "famous or infamous Harlan Countians."

She invites the public to donate items for the drawing such as framed prints, Harlan historical items, hand-made items or business or personal services. The auction is a fund-raising event to support the chamber.

Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., with gourmet desserts following. Raffle tickets are available for $5 each, and the grand prize will be half of the pot. Smaller prizes will be available courtesy of chamber members and businesses.

Chamber of Commerce President Roger Fannin said the awards banquet is something the chamber intends to do every year.

"It should be a very special event for this community. We hope this will start a very long tradition," he said.

The deadline for tickets, including raffle tickets, is Nov. 1.

Nominations must be received by Oct. 15.