The Shadow
Highlands Community Bank conducted its 20th Anniversary Celebration at the Jackson River Sports Complex on Sat., Sept. 24.
The celebration festivities began at 4:00 p.m. and lasted into the night when the celebration ended with fireworks displayed under the supervision of Ray Keen, Jr.
The car show attracted dozens of antique and classic car owners who displayed their vehicles in three rows adjacent to the River Rock Amphitheatre where the Fender Benders opened for Crobar Cane from Salem, a five-piece rock band.
Inflated playground equipment was set up beside the permanent playground equipment, and many children were sliding down the inflated slides and bouncing in the bounce house while the music entertained those throughout the complex.
The concession lines were long, and the celebration drew many who brought lawn chairs and blankets to sit on in front of the bandstand.
Highlands Community Bank gave away free piggy banks, and drawings for prizes were held.
A free cornhole tournament with $2,500 worth of prize money set aside for winners was held along with a three on three basketball tournament for boys and girls.
Bryan Thompson, the president of Highlands Community Bank, has provided the leadership for the bank that began with $7 million of assets and 20 investors to grow to $200 million in assets.
Beginning in 2002 with only one employee working out of a trailer where Highlands Community Bank now sits at the Riverbend Shopping Center, the bank now employees 35, and 100 more investors have come on board. The bank has paid dividends to its investors for the past 13 years.
Highlands Community Bank has expanded its operations from Covington to other branches, one in Hot Springs and one in Clifton Forge.
