While the people in Andalusia may have the trademark on domino tournaments, we in Carnegie have been hosting our Championship Tournament since 1944, long before they even thought about having a tournament. Sports Illustrated even printed an article in 1967 issue detailing the atmosphere and results of the tournament. This year will mark our 68th annual tournament, which brings domino players from around the local area, state and region. There is no fee to enter, and the only prizes are bragging rights the “world” over. Come join us on Saturday, February 11 at the Carnegie Town Park’s Vernon Crose Building for the right to be known as a world champion! The competition begins at 10 AM, registration opens at 8 AM. If you don’t have a playing partner, we can find one for you the day of the tournament.

The Chamber of Commerce presented the annual Citizen of the Year award to the Carnegie Fire Department on Monday night, recognizing their service to the community during the last year. The B.W. Jolly Citizenship Award was presented to two individuals, P.K. Hurt and Kelly Williams, to recognize their role in the community over the course of several years. Jon Hansen, who was the assistant fire chief of Oklahoma City in 1995 when the Murrah Building was bombed, spoke to the audience in the keynote address. We would like to thank everyone who attended the event and has helped support the Chamber of Commerce over the years.

The chamber’s annual banquet will be held Monday, January 16 at  6:30 PM at the elementary school’s Multi-Purpose Building. Tickets are available the door. This year, the chamber is honoring the Carnegie Fire Department for

The Carnegie Fire Department will receive this year's Citizen of the Year award

their tremendous service and sacrifice throughout the past year. 2011 broke every record on the book, from record heat to record drought, and with them came a record number of wildfires. The chamber unanimously voted to present the Citizen of the Year Award to the 19 volunteer members of the Carnegie Fire Department.

Jon Hansen will speak at this year's banquet

The featured speaker at the banquet is John Hansen, who served as the assistant fire chief of Oklahoma City in 1995, when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was destroyed by a bomb. Few in Oklahoma can forget that fateful day when so many Oklahomans were killed. He will share his experiences in the aftermath of that day, as well as his life as a firefighter and later as fire chief of Oklahoma City.

The event will also honor this year’s winner of the B.W. Jolly Annual Citizenship Award, which recognizes those individuals in the town that have given many years of service to their community.