The Emergency Personnel Banquet will be held Saturday and the memory and great heart of the late Judge James Pasket of New Waverly lives on with the event.

In 2001, Judge Pasket initiated the banquet that has officially become a tradition for the community, recognizing all the men and women who risk their lives for public safety.

Emergency personnel in all areas of the community, along with their families, will gather at the Walker County Fairgrounds from 6 to 8 p.m. and the community is invited to join the celebration to dine on barbecue, socialize, honor emergency personnel and enjoy a spectacular laser show, by Laser Spectacles Inc.

Laser Spectacles has performed all over the nation, but this is their first performance in Huntsville. Sigma Phi Fraternity at Sam Houston State University is helping make the show possible through a sizable donation to the cause, partnering with the chamber of commerce, KSAM Radio-AM 1490 and the host steering committee.

The steering committee includes people from Gulf Coast Trades Center, the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce, Sam Houston Funeral Home, Victoria Bank of New Waverly, KSTAR Radio, and Walker County elected officials.

Pam Upchurch at Gulf Coast Trades Center is selling the sponsor tables, but individual tickets can be purchased at the door.

Reservations can be made by calling Upchurch at (936) 344-6677.

For a $250 donation, a company or individual may underwrite tickets for our honored guests and receive two tickets to dine with them.

Every year, the banquet has grown. More and more businesses and individuals are coming out to celebrate the great job these men and women do on a daily basis. This year, emergency personnel gave 110 percent, as the community helped to house evacuees from hurricanes Rita and Katrina, in addition to their normal workload. There is even more reason than ever to celebrate these fine people.

At the sixth annual banquet, a barbecue dinner will be served by the community’s elected officials and hometown celebrities.

Individuals may be purchase tickest at the door for $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

For more information, contact Dee McFarland at (936) 295-8113 or (936) 661-0768.