The Kennett Image Committee of the Chamber of Commerce presents Darren Harris of Harris Pharmacy at Kennett with the Kennett Image Maker Award. Image Committee members Will Mobley, left, and Freddie Graham, right, present the award to Harris. [Click to enlarge]

According to Freddie Graham, a member of the Image Committee, the Kennett Image Maker Award recognizes a business, individual, organization, or entity, that has made a significant contribution to the appearance of Kennett during the first quarter of 2008.

The award, which is sponsored by the Image Committee, is a new initiative that will continue quarterly with the aim of promoting community pride in the appearance of buildings, streets, and grounds.

The Image Committee is a committee for the city of Kennett that works closely with both city government and with the Kennett Chamber of Commerce.

Harris Pharmacy, which is owned and operated by local resident and Pharmacist Darren Harris, was selected for the newly developed and prestigious award because the committee determined that his business met the Kennett Image Maker criteria.

In developing the criteria for the award the committee agreed that:

* The award would represent the current quarter, with at least 90 percent of the improvement in question being completed within the second quarter.

* The improvements considered for the award may be to either private or public spaces, and nominations may be private businesses, clubs and organizations, individuals or other entities.

* Anyone can nominate an entity to receive the quarterly award and the Image Committee will consider each nomination on its merit.

In May 2007, Harris announced his plans to build a new version of his existing pharmacy in Kennett.

What was formerly Jiffy Jim's, also known as the "Shell" fuel and quick mart in Kennett was to become home to the new Harris Pharmacy.

Harris announced to the community then that he was preparing to begin construction at the location, with support from his mother and father-in-law, Eky and Jerry Paul Combs, and the rest of his family.

He said he estimated having his new business location open around the first of the new year.

Although Harris said his former location had met his needs for the past 11 years, he also recognized that it was no longer very conducive to the businesses growth and heavy work flow.

"The new business is going to give us everything we need in order to better serve our customers, providing them with an area which will provide ample parking, in addition to keeping our same customer service for our drive-thru customers," he said.

On Thursday, Graham and Will Mobley, also a member of the Kennett Image Committee, announced that Harris Pharmacy was the ideal recipient for the Kennett Image Maker Award and that they were honored to present Harris with the notable award.

Harris, emotional over the accomplishment, stood up to receive the award as it was presented to him by Graham and Mobley, and publicly thanked the committee, his family, and the community for the ongoing support he has received since establishing a business in the area.

Anyone who would like to make a nomination for future Kennett Image Maker Awards are encouraged to contact the Chamber of Commerce at (573) 888-5828.