Citizen of the Year Emily Williams with husband Ryan and daughter Hadley.
At the Carmi Chamber dinner, Luke Sailer shared a letter from former Carmi Mayor Bill Stendeback before the night got underway.
Stendeback resigned on Monday morning and did not attend the dinner to give the State of the City speech.
In the letter, Stendeback shared his family’s experience living in Carmi and owning a business for 22 years, when he and his wife retired from Stendeback Funeral Services. After four years of retirement, Stendeback decided to help serve the citizens of Carmi and run for Mayor.
“I knew with the help of the staff there, that we could work together to improve things for the community and feel like we had several positive changes. Until recently, I thought along with my coworkers we were doing just that. The stirrings that have shaken the town have become out of control and have created unnecessary havoc. Because of it, the truth is being ignored. I will no longer put myself or my family through what is going on. Therefore, after one year and three months, I am resigning from my position as Carmi Mayor. I apologize, but even though I love Carmi and had its best welfare at heart, I will no longer succumb myself to false accusations and wrongdoing.”
With that in mind, the Chamber concluded the night with a cheerful award to a very deserving individual who brings growth and positivity and represents the community with her talents, optimism, and love for all. From helping with the PAWS Program and story hour under the tree at the Carmi Library to swimming lessons, PTO, Kiwanis Club, pageants, and raising money for organizations like the White County Senior Citizens Center, Guardian Center, We Love White County, and so much more. She stretches herself and always makes time for others.
Beth Conner shared her thoughts and a nomination from a “faithful friend.”
“This person doesn’t just participate in our community; they invest in it, and they also do it in more ways than most of us probably even realize. She serves in numerous capacities, many of which are behind the scenes. I think that’s an important observation because our winner isn’t someone who serves because she needs to be recognized. She serves because she sees something that needs to be done, and she does it.”
“Despite the countless requests, last-minute needs, baking orders, children to shop for, and activities to coordinate, she has never heard her complain. She has often said that she loves giving back to a community that raised her with so many unsung individual role models, and I think that’s exactly what she has become herself, an unsung role model. Someone our children are watching, someone our families can count on, someone our organizations can call, and most of all, someone who reminds us that you don’t have to hold a particular title to make a difference.”
The 2026 Citizen of the Year was given, with a standing ovation, to Emily Williams.
Williams expressed her immense gratitude,
“Dolly’s one of my favorite quotes, ‘Find out who you are and do it on purpose.’ So each day I try to find out who I am, and that is a member of this community, and I do it on purpose. So thank you for supporting me. Thank you for giving me this wonderful place to live and grow and thank you to everyone.”