(Photo: Bruce R. Partain)

Citizens 1st Bank presents the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce with a significant donation this past Thursday. Among those pictured are bank president James I. Perkins, far left, and Nacogdoches bank executive vice president Kim Luna, holding the oversized check's left side.  Chamber Facilities Task Force Chair Paul Smith III also holds the check as bank employees show enthusiasm and support of the Chamber.

The big check symbolizes the $5,000 donation the bank has made to the "Home Base Project," which is the Chamber's campaign to buy its building at 2516 North Street.

A total of $185,000 has been raised. The campaign continues through the fall. 

"We're accepting donations between $10 and $150,000," said Smith, who serves as chair of the Chamber's Facility Task Force.  "We are hoping to raise at least another $100,000," Smith said. "If we can raise that much - or more - we can begin our ownership debt-free and able to do some needed maintenance."  The Chamber has rented the building since 2003 from BancorpSouth.  The Chamber plans to use $100,000 of its own reserves as part of the purchase.