Saturday night was the 2025 Community Awards Banquet hosted by Ivory Curry of Curry’s Cummunity Outreach Ministries in the junior high cafeteria on the Prescott Public Schools campus. The evening was taken up with a fine Thanksgiving meal of a pork chop and turkey with dressing and several trimmings as well as an auction to help raise funds for the ministry’s work as well as the recognition of several groups and persons who helped lift up their community over the past year.
Among the speakers were Mount Ephesus Baptist Church Pastor Joseph Tyree, who gave the opening prayer, Frank Henson of First Baptist Church, PHS Agri Teacher James Cannon and Coach John Ware. In keeping with the theme of the evening, Focus on the Children, many of the speakers, including Ivory Curry, shared their experiences acting in guidance of young people.
Then came the auctioning off by Lynn Vandermeer of several donated items, including a 50” Smart TV, a vividly red and white afghan, a radiant quartz heater, a porch swing constructed by James Cannon, a red light thermal mask, a Christmas wreath, a set of wrenches and a tool box. Sophia Dunn sang two gospel songs.
The Awards Recipients had their names read and were called to the podium to be introduced by their spouses or co-workers. The winners were as follows:
Small Business of the Year: HayBarn Championship Wrestling/Automotive
Citizen of the Year: Prescott High Football Coach Brian Glass
Outstanding Ministry of the Year: Ko-Fields Restaurant Team
Public Servant of the Year: Ashley May
Lifetime of Community Service Award: Vera Austin
Law Enforcement of the Year: Eighth District North Prosecutor Ben Hale
Organization of the Year For Youth Education in Agriculture: OYEA.
Above photo: Citizen of the Year Coach Brian Glass with his wife Jill.
IMG_5569.JPEG1.6 MBAbove photo: Ivory Curry is at the podium while Joseph Tyree stands at left.IMG_5571.JPEG890.24 KBAbove photo: Joseph Tyree gives the opening prayer.IMG_5574.JPEG1.77 MBAbove photo: Lynn Vanderveer inspects the donated items he will be auctioning off in a few minutes.IMG_5577.JPEG1.23 MBAbove: Sophia Dunn sings.IMG_5595.JPEG1.29 MBAbove photo: Frank Henson of Prescott's First Baptist Church speaks.IMG_5608.JPEG1.04 MBAbove photo: Another speaker who addressed the evening's theme, Focus on the Children, John Ware.IMG_5613.JPEG1.34 MBAbove photo: Lynn Vanderveer sees a high bidder at Saturday evening's auction.IMG_5620.JPEG1.59 MBAbove photo: Haybarn Wrestling/Automotive wins Small Business of the Year.IMG_5624.JPEG2.09 MBAbove photo: Jill Glass introduces husband, Citizen of the Year and Prescott Football Coach Brain Glass.IMG_5625.JPEG1.6 MBAbove photo: Citizen of the Year Coach Brian Glass with wife Jill Glass.IMG_5628.JPEG1.74 MBAbove: Winners for Outstanding Ministry of the Year Ko-Fields Restaurant Team.IMG_5637.JPEG2.4 MBAbove photo: Ko-Field's Restaurant Team.IMG_5638.JPEG2.16 MBAbove photo: Public Servant of the Year Brian VanHook.IMG_5643.JPEG1.87 MBAbove photo: Satarra Williams introduces Rising Star of the Year Ashley May.IMG_5645.JPEG1.69 MBAbove photo: Ashley May, Rising Star of the Year. IMG_5647.JPEG1.28 MBAbove photo: At left Satyra Riggins, with her father Howard Austin. The two accepted the Lifetime of Community Service Award for Satyra's mother and Howard's wife, Vera Austin.IMG_5654.JPEG1.8 MB
Above photo: Law Enforcement of the Year Eighth District North Prosecutor Ben Hale. His wife Lizzy holds their son.
IMG_5656.JPEG2.24 MBAbove photo: Fred Harris at podium speaks to members of Prescott Public Schools' Agri education organization OYEA.IMG_5659.JPEG1.65 MBAbove photo: Members of OYEA, which won Organization of the Year for Youth Education in Agriculture Saturday night.
