Martin receives Concordian of the Year Award; Businesses, individuals honored during annual chamber event

Published 10:35 pm Thursday, September 19, 2024

By Sabrina Simms Robertson

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VIDALIA, La. — The Concordia Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Annual Awards Dinner Celebration on Thursday evening was one full of smiles as outstanding individuals and businesses were honored for their community contributions.

Joey Martin, a good-humored journalist of the Concordia Sentinel, was among the honorees as he was named the 2023 Concordian of the Year. Martin said the award was an “honor and a blessing.”

“I love this parish, I love this community and I love the way this community rallies behind somebody when they’re down and need lifting up. There is no place I’d rather be than this parish,” he said.

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A lifelong resident of Concordia Parish, Martin grew up in Vidalia and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1975. He worked 25 years for The Natchez Democrat before becoming sports editor at The Concordia Sentinel in 2002. Martin also serves as Vidalia Lions Club President and is cohost of Miss Lou Champion’s Spotlight. In 2008, he was honored by the Concordia Chamber as Vidalian of the Year.

“I realized very early I was better at writing about sports than playing them,” Martin said. His coach, Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Famer Ken Beesley, went 0-19 with Martin as a player, Martin said. “I don’t know who was more happy to see me graduate, my parents or Ken Beesley. But I was a valuable member of that team. After every game, he handed me the scorebook and said, ‘Call that in to the paper.'”

In other evening highlights, the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office was honored with the Large Business of the Year Award and Book’s Pharmacy with the Small Business of the Year Award.

Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office is recognized for not only working to fulfill its duty to provide public safety but also for working to improve the daily lives of the residents of Concordia Parish with community outreach and proactive approaches to crime prevention. Each year, with the help of community donations, the department gives Christmas gifts to approximately 150 low-income families in the parish. CPSO implemented the first-ever Memorandum of Understanding with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office to simplify collaboration and responses when criminals decide to cross state lines. They’ve also implemented a Cybercrime Unit to proactively identify predators who seek to exploit children online and a Victim Advocate to work directly with crime victims.

Book’s Pharmacy, a family-run pharmacy, began its journey in 2010 with the purchase of land in Vidalia and officially opened its doors six years later in January 2016. It provides pharmacy needs but also an assortment of home and gift items, baby and children’s clothing and personal care products.

More honorees of the evening include:

Rushing Boots & Shoe Shop — Fifty-Year Service Award

Jonathan Willard — Young Professional under 40

Ronnie Calhoun — Guy Murray Volunteer

Matt Taunton — First Responder of the Year

Ples Arthur — Farmer of the Year

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