Campbell County’s Postmark LaFollette was chosen as a 2020 region Strong award recipient by the Cumberland Gap tourism Region association. Postmark’s JoAnne Myers and Tony Branam accepted the award from CGRTA’s Brad Smiddy and Kimberly Kotlar.

By Charlotte Underwood 

CUMBERLAND GAP, TN (WLAF) – Postmark LaFollette is the 2020 Region Strong award recipient for Campbell County. 
The Cumberland Gap Region Tourism Association held it’s annual award ceremony Tuesday evening for the 2020 Region Strong recipients in the 10 counties it serves.

The awards ceremony was held in Buerkau Park in Cumberland Gap. Each year, one individual or organization in each of the ten counties served by the Cumberland Gap Region Tourism Association is awarded the Region Strong recognition for “exceptional contributions in their community.” 

Postmark LaFollette Arts, Culture and History Center is the recipient of the 2020 Region Strong Award for Campbell County. 

Postmark LaFollette Co-chair JoAnne Myers accepted the 2020 Cumberland Gap Region Strong award Tuesday evening. Co-chair Karen Cumorich was unable to attend.

According to the Cumberland Gap Region Tourism Association board members, the Region Strong awards go to community leaders within the Cumberland Gap Region for their “contributions in helping to make the Cumberland Gap Region a vacation destination.”

Postmark LaFollette Co-chair JoAnne Myers accepted the award, along with Postmark’s Tony Branam. 

Postmark was recognized for their many contributions, grant programs and community and school outreach projects in Campbell County.

Part of the awards ceremony included the history of the Cumberland Gap and how it was the “westward gate that led to western settlement.”

“This was the passage way to the western frontier. The generations of our families walked through the Cumberland Gap and many of them settled in these areas; they were your ancestors,” said Carl Nichols, director of the Cumberland Gap Region Tourism Association.   

Cumberland Gap Region Tourism Association board member Bradley Smiddy said the association brings together 10 counties in three states who all have the same mission of “bringing tourism to the area and uplifting communities.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/26/2021-6AM)