Adair gathers to honor Sue Stivers

By Drew Bergman 
Editor

Members of the Columbia-Adair County Tourism Commission gathered alongside family and friends to honor Sue Stivers for her years of service to the commission and to the Adair County community.

Sue had been the leader of the tourism commission since its inception, helping to spread the name and imprint of the county for decades.
The board presented Sue with a glass plaque commemorating her leadership and service and Columbia Mayor Pamela Hoots presented Sue with a certificate naming her honorary mayor.

“We’re gathered here today to honor Sue and her many, many contributions to the city and county over the years,” board member David Butler said. “The tourism board began when Sue was still involved with UK and the extension office. She and some others decided that the county needed this board and right away knew that Sue was the leader in all of it. She still is.”

Butler credited Sue with bringing together the very training and development center building that the tourism board calls home. “Sue could pick up the phone and call somebody in Frankfort or Washington and say, ‘Look, we need this. We want this county and city to grow and be prosperous,’ and she’d find a way to get it done.”

Apart from Butler, board members Marla Shelley, treasurer Pam Hancock, Amy Mitchum, Danny Reeves and Caleb Irvin were on hand.

Irvin, who works at Brown and Brown Insurance and is a photographer and graphic designer, is the new commission director tasked with continuing Stivers’ legacy.

“You could come by here almost any time day or night and her car would be sitting out there,” Butler said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have her in this community. She has been a great asset.”

Looking ahead, next Saturday, October 24, the tourism board will be hosting the Crappie Fishing Tournament at Holmes Bend Marina.