Highlands Lynchburg Chamber-Weston Cotten receives Terry Davis Award

WESTON COTTEN receives Award from Chamber Chair Jim Wadzinski

HIGHLANDS – Almost 150 of this community’s citizens gathered at the Monument Inn last Thursday night, to install the new Chamber of Commerce board, and give out Community Awards.

Emceed by Traci Dillard, the evening was filled with fun, jokes, and fine food.

The top award, for unselfish community service, is known as the Terry Davis Award and went to attorney Weston Cotten.

It was presented by previous winner Jessica Woods, with the help of Chamber President Jim Wadzinski. She explained that the awards this year were given in the winter, instead of at the end of summer.

Other awards that were given: Outstanding Business, Woodforest National Bank; Outstanding Constable’s Deputy, Mike Parson; Outstanding Sheriff’s Deputy, Anthony Aulds; Outstanding Firefighter, Chief Harvey Little.

The new board was sworn in by Judge Don Coffey, using a new text with a mix of humor and seriousness.

Returning board president Jim Wadzinski gave a talk on past accomplishments of the Chamber, and his goals for the coming year.

He noted 5% growth in membership, a successful holiday food drive that served 106 families at Thanksgiving, and economic growth in the area including the refineries in Baytown and retail build-up along I-10 near Highlands. These include a new Bucee’s truck stop, and a new Wal-Mart at Highway 146.

Wadzinski promised more accomplishments for the new year, including 41 streetlights installed in Highlands, a traffic study on Main Street, a traffic light at West Houston and Main, a Sheriff’s substation located in the Woodforest Bank building, and close working relations with the Port of Houston, Lee College, and San Jacinto College.

He also expects membership growth to reach 25%, and rebuilding of Main Street to 4 lanes plus a turn lane.