Members bid a fond farewell to chamber director

Friends and business associates ham it up during a reception saying farewell to Nevada/Vernon County Area Chamber of Commerce Director Kathi Wysong, center, as Wysong prepares to wield the star of chamber ribbon cuttings -- a giant pair of wooden scissors crafted by Nevada's own Quality Products. Leslie Carroll-Bartlett holds the handles while Cindy Johnson demonstrates that the implement really isn't sharp. There are two scissors, identical twins, that are used at ribbon cuttings and grand openings in the area. --Photos by Lynn A. Wade/Daily Mail

Thursday afternoon, a steady stream of area residents enjoyed an open house reception in honor of Vernon County Executive Director Kathi Wysong, whose retirement became official that day.

Although her retirement begins today, Wysong said with a smile, "I haven't cleaned my desk out yet. They haven't asked me for my key, yet, " and she knows that even though the next chapter in her life will take her out of town for spans of time, she said she plans to remain involved in the community in many ways. In fact, she'll return for a Cottey board meeting in just two weeks.

Wysong greeted each guest with a smile and more often than not with a hug, while guests mingled about, many of them sharing their favorite memories of Wysong's tenure as director. One spoke of the many times she's taken part in announcing for the popular Taste of Home Cooking School, which has come to Nevada every two years for the past several years. Then there's the virtual parade. The annual Bushwhacker Days parade was rained out, and there could be no live parade. A virtual parade would have to do.

Wysong announced the entries over the PA system with all the gusto and enthusiasm that would have been part of the show if the entries had been passing by, even though the streets were virtually empty.

Glenda Crowder, tourism director, said that some vendors returned this year, still talking about the virtual parade, and commenting that they'd shared the tale of the virtual parade held in Nevada, much to the entertainment of vendors elsewhere.

"She'll be missed. In a lot of ways, she'll be missed," Crowder said.