The stage at The Club on Alabama Highway 21 was full Thursday night as many employees from Pepsi Cola Bottling Company/South Alabama Vending congregated to accept the award for Business of the Year at the 67^th annual Chamber Banquet.

Also honored at the event was Dr. Jonathan Yoder, who was named Citizen of the Year by the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to the naming of this year’s award recipients, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox took the stage as this year’s keynote speaker. Maddox spoke of the challenges that continue to face Tuscaloosa following the tornadoes that struck the city on April 27, 2011.

For the complete story on Thursday’s banquet, see the Saturday, Feb. 23 edition of The Atmore Advance.