City holds Christmas party for employees

PRESCOTT – It was party time for employees of the City of Prescott Monday afternoon.

This was the annual city Christmas party for city employees, held at the Youth Center. Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver said a new award was added this year because of the number of employees who retired and had to be replaced. This was the newcomer of the year award, which went to Eric Stovall.

Oliver told the employees he didn’t have a long speech prepared this year, though he did tell several “dad” jokes. He went through a list to see who has been with the city the longest and it was no surprise when that turned out to be Perry Nelson, who’s worked with the city for 48 years.

Oliver also ran through past employee of the year winners. They were: Charles Ledbetter, Larry Jones, Jr., Jake Cornelius, Larry Jones, Jr., Chris Hopper, Cornelius, Hopper, Ann Jordan, Bruce Bean, Jordan and, last year, Pookie Gillard.

This year he announced the top 10, but gave out 11 names. They were: Alicia Page, Ricky McAnalley, Shanta Wiley, Austin Beavers, Jordan, Ledbetter, Mark Burnside, Francisco Chavarrio, Quinn Hastings, Larry Walker and Jeremy Loe. From there he named the top three: in third was Walker, followed by Burnside and the employee of the year for 2023 is Wiley.

Oliver pointed out the city will close at noon Friday, reopening Tuesday morning and trash pickup will be Wednesday for both sides of town.