Attendees at Price City’s Culture Connection Thursday evening were met with a stage full of lights, microphones, a drum set and a podium.
The podium was not to be used by the band, however, it served as the place where several local members of Carbon County would be honored as the annual International Days celebration kicked off.
Event chairperson Kathy Hanna-Smith welcomed those in attendance after which the Price American Legion Post #3 and the Price Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2379 presented a flag ceremony while local vocalist Jennifer Lopez sang the National Anthem.
After the posting of the colors, Price City Mayor Joe Piccolo as well as Price’s First Lady spoke to the public about Price and the event, which is a long-standing tradition in the area.
The Grand Marshal of the event, Tony Basso, was honored as well as the Jr. Grand Marshal, Quade Jones. Basso is a well-known native to the area whose business history started in a high school debate class by selling goods to fellow classmates. He has helped the community of Price through his competitive business mindset as well as his various monetary and personal donations.
Jones, a student at the Castle Valley Center, was honored due to this friendship and warm personality that influences all he meets and with whom he interacts.
The Citizen of the Year award went to Castleview Hospital’s Mark Holyoak. Holyoak, a transplant to the area, has worked tirelessly during his year’s as Castleview Hospital’s CEO to bring several state-of-the-art technologies to the area.
The Chairman’s award went to Megan Marshall as well as the Price American Legion Post #3 and the Price Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2379. Marshall has also done much good in the community, notably starting the local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club to the area.
The Carbon County royalty next took the stage where Miss Carbon County Aajah Breinholt spoke a few words after which Jeff Keele was invited to take his turn at the podium where he gave background information on a first for those in attendance: the chance to hear the Price City Theme Song.
Keele, along with other locally-grown talent, was able to write and record the song, which featured many highlights of living in Price as well as a blend of several musical types. The song was played for those in attendance after which the weekly concert followed featuring the Metro Music Club.
