Mark the last two weekends in February on your calendar today so you won’t miss this year’s Blast from the Past performance at Chilton County High School. The annual variety program features CCHS high school students performing songs that span several decades.

Those who attended Thursday night’s Chilton County Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet were given an early preview of what we can expect from this year’s performances. As always, I was impressed with the talent of the students and really enjoyed the songs they sang, especially those from the 1960s.

Ricky and Sherri McKee, CCHS teachers who serve as faculty advisors for Blast from the Past, do a remarkable job each year helping the student singers (and all the others that take part in making the Blast a success) prepare for the performances. The students and the McKees have made Blast from the Past a must-see performance in Chilton County over the years, and from what I saw and heard Thursday night, this year’s performance will be the same.

Congratulations are in order for C&C Trophies, which was named Business of the Year at the banquet Thursday. The Chamber of Commerce selects a business each year to recognize for the civic role it plays in our county.

Congratulations are also in order for Clanton resident Ann Baker, who was presented a resolution from the Alabama Senate for her many years of service on the Clanton City Council and many other civic organizations. State Senator Hank Erwin presented the surprise resolution to Ann at the banquet.

Abigail Dy, a student at Chilton County High School, was named the Chamber’s Youth Citizen of the Year during the banquet. Abigail was competing in the Alabama Junior Miss Program and was unable to attend Thursday night’s banquet.

Carl Mims was installed as president to lead the chamber in 2009, and Brent Culpepper was named president-elect. Ronnie Porter and Maurice Lyn were installed as members of the board of directors.

The overall theme of the banquet was based on the old Gilligan’s Island TV series. Several people in attendance followed the chamber’s request and dressed like cast members of the comedy did on the program. It was a lot of fun.