—————
Dear Friends of Education:
The Society for Academic Excellence invites students who have achieved a 3.5 or higher grade point average during this school year to be recognized. Last year, 303 students were honored, including 40 graduating seniors who maintained a 3.5 GPA each year throughout high school. In addition, four seniors from Clinton High School and one senior from Clinton Christian Academy received $500 scholarships. We invite you to join other individuals and businesses in the Clinton area to help honor the scholastic achievements of Clinton High School and Clinton Christian Academy students.
This year marks the 37th anniversary of the Academic Excellence Program, all because of our supportive community which has taken an interest in education for the youth within our school districts. Our program this year will be focused on providing a quality experience for our students and an opportunity for the graduating seniors to be recognized with scholarships to encourage furthering their education.
The consistent support of the program from sponsors like you have allowed the Society to provide this recognition for our top performing students and their families. Your contribution of $50.00 as a Silver Sponsor or $100.00 as a Gold Sponsor will benefit the students as they receive their official Academic Excellence medals and ribbons. For your support, you will receive the following:
1. Recognition in the CHS Academic Excellence Ceremony’s program with that ceremony being held on April 16th. CCA includes A.E. as part of their year-end ceremonies, and you will be recognized there as well.
2. Listing as a Silver or Gold sponsor in Chamber of Commerce Facebook posts before and after the CHS and CCA ceremonies.
3. Either a walnut plaque as a first-year sponsor or a 2025 date plate as a returning sponsor.
4. Satisfaction from supporting our youth in Academic Excellence as a partner in education.
Also, many continuing sponsors may need a new plaque for additional year bars. Let the office know when you send your sponsorship. Please make your checks payable to Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce with a memo for Society for Academic Excellence. Checks can be mailed or delivered to the Depot, 200 South Main, Clinton, MO 64735. Your Chamber will also pick up checks if needed. Please respond by April 7th.
Thank you for your consideration and support of our youth and education.
—————
The Clinton Chamber and Clinton Main Street will join for one banquet this year. New for 2025, we are moving our annual banquet to March (the 13th to be exact). We will have food, awards, entertainment and, also new this year, we have invited Clinton Main Street to host their annual banquet with us! Its two banquets for the price of one at the Benson Center. The evening’s theme will be ‘Cruise Into Spring’. The Social starts at 5:30pm with dinner starting at 6pm. Entertainment by Dennis Laffoon-The Piano Man. Recognition awards will be handed out…a review of 2024 and look ahead to 2025…and more. Tickets are $25 for a Chamber member, get a free ticket if you buy a table for 8, and non-members are $35. RSVP by March 6th. 660-885-8166 for details.
—————
We’ve had people come into the Chamber over the years wanting some item with Clinton on it…either as a souvenir, gift, school project, etc. We’ve had some items, but never before…magnets. Well, here they are! $5.00 at 200 S. Main St. M-F 8am-4:30pm.
—————
We are now less than four months away from Olde Glory Days 2025! Yes!!
The bands, other entertainment, carnival, stage and sound, fireworks, etc…Those contracts were signed last fall, so they are ready to go.
We will of course feature the Veteran’s Dinner and so many of your favorites from the past, and new items for this year.
Mark your calendars for Olde Glory Days 2025, July 3rd-6th.
—————
This week, we continued our “Featured” segments on the Chamber’s Facebook page. We are now taking text and images from our member’s websites, Facebook pages, Google searches, etc. and combining them into posts on our Facebook page. “Featured with the GCACC”. It gives the viewer a “one-stop shopping experience” for each of our Chamber members. We have a lot of Chamber members so getting every business on our page will take quite a while, but we think it’s well worth it! It’s just another service from YOUR Chamber of Commerce. This week, we “Featured” A & K Railroad…Zollicker Oil Co…World Finance…AA Mechanical…AAA Property Management…Wizard Lawn and Landscaping…Wilder RV…Adair Village…A.I. Bottling…Whitehead Consultants.
—————
Help Wanted? Of course we can do that.
If you are a member of the Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, remember that we will post your job openings for free on our Facebook page. If you post them on your Facebook page and we see them, we will share it to our page. However, we’re sure we don’t always see those posts, so send those openings to us. You can tag us in your post of just email david@clintonmo.com or joyce@clintonmo.com.
We can also post job openings for non-members as well, but there is a small fee.
For more details, you can also call us at 660-885-8166 or stop by 200 S. Main St.
—————
Are you needing a meeting space in Clinton? If so, the Chamber of Commerce may be able to help you out. The Chamber of Commerce building at 200 S. Main St. features a conference room with a table and chairs for about ten people, possibly more if needed. The room features a big screen TV with access to Internet, zoom and more, a sink, coffee pot, microwave, refrigerator, and restrooms. This room is available to members of the Clinton Chamber free of charge. It is also available to those that are not members of our Chamber, however there is a fee. The room can be used during business hours from 8am till 4:30pm Monday through Friday. After hours and weekend hours can be discussed. For more information, call, email, or stop by. 660-885-8166, david@clintonmo.com or joyce@clintonmo.com. Our Chamber reserves the right to accept or deny meetings.
—————
Kaysinger Basin Regional Planning Commission—WE’RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!
Kaysinger was awarded the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant. This program is a subgrant opportunity that allows Kaysinger to develop a regional grant program that will be available to all 7 counties in our region (Bates, Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, St. Clair, and Vernon) for historical property renovations that will foster economic development, tourism, and workforce development. As of right now, Kaysinger’s application and guidelines are in the queue to be reviewed and approved by the National Park Service. While we await their feedback, we are building two teams to assist with the subgrant process. If you are interested in helping to preserve our region’s IMPORTANT and VALUABLE history, then this request is for YOU!
Below are the teams that need volunteers:
Grant Application Assistance – Since Kaysinger Basin RPC is managing this subgrant program, our staff are not able to provide direct application assistance. If you have grant experience, or simply enjoy helping people walk through applications, then this team is for you!
Grant Review Committee – Kaysinger is seeking a robust and varied group of regional community members to review and score the applications. If you are a business owner, historical professional or enthusiast, dabble in tourism, economic and workforce development, architecture, etc….we have a seat for you at the table!
If you would like more information about this program or are chomping at the bit to volunteer for either of these opportunities, please contact Shannon Stewart at sstewart@kaysinger.com or 417-298-6070.
—————
Clinton Animal Shelter—Our small rural shelter runs primarily on volunteers, and we need more help. Most all our money goes to the care of the homeless pets that we take in. We only have two full-time employees and a handful of part-time employees. We literally pretty much function with volunteers and with all the donations that are received by our awesome supporters and some funds from the City of Clinton. Sadly, because of the high number of homeless pets we just don’t have enough volunteers. People to socialize with the pets is so important. A walk, car ride or just hanging out in the play yard or cat room is vital to their well-being. We also have other things volunteers can do such as laundry, dishes, cleaning and more. If you can help an hour a week or even a couple hours a month, please let us know. Call 660-885-7999 or stop by the shelter. You can also email carevolunteerprogram@gmail.com.
—————
Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce–Be sure to check out our community calendar at https://clintonmo.com/clinton-chamber-of-commerce/calendar/
—————
VFW Post 1894, Clinton MO GVMH Hospice is sponsoring our Free Veterans Breakfast this Sat March 8th between 8-10 AM at 510 West Allen Open to the public! Any veteran and their family are welcome to join us!!
Come on down!!!
—————-
Clinton Animal Shelter Adoption Event Big Adoption Event for the Clinton Animal Shelter pets at Max Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Clinton Saturday, March 8th 10am to 3pm. Come meet our dogs & cats! You might just meet your new best friend & family member! If you are thinking about adopting fill out your adoption application ahead of time by emailing clintonanimalshelter@yahoo.com.
—————-
Clinton Schools—A CARDINAL CALLING The Clinton School District is looking for dedicated educators to join our team! Come learn about exciting opportunities, meet our staff, and discover why Clinton is the perfect place to grow your career in education! All current and future educators, interested in learning more about a career in the Clinton School District, are encouraged to join us for A CARDINAL CALLING on March 13th.For more information and to RSVP, check out our Facebook event-https://www.facebook.com/events/9094995413918772
—————
The Henry County Library is pleased to announce that local author Tanya Cooper will be a special guest at Storytime in Clinton on Tuesday, March 18th, at 10:30 a.m. and in Windsor on Thursday, March 20th, at 10:30 a.m. Tanya will be sharing her children’s book, The Bear Who Didn’t Care, which relays the story of a bear who learns the importance of hygiene and taking care of himself. Please join the library in welcoming Tanya to Storytime. Limited copies of The Bear Who Didn’t Care will be available for purchase and signing for $12.95 (cash/Venmo/Cash App/Pay Pal) during each of her visits. For more information, please contact the library at (660)885-2612.
—————
Heartland Community Theatre of Clinton MO—Get ready for Heartland Community Theatre’s latest production, “Queen of the Silent Scream,” a thrilling murder mystery whodunit, taking place on March 21, 22 at 7pm each night, and 23 at 2pm, ensuring an unforgettable evening of laughter, suspense, and intrigue until the very end. Tickets are $15 at the door at 108 N. Washington St.
—————
The Henry County Library in Clinton is pleased to announce that they will be hosting a book signing session for local author Randy Linss on Saturday, March 22nd, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the library gallery.
About Randy Linss: A retired Midwestern baby boomer, Randy Linss was raised in the picturesque small-town German community of Cole Camp, Missouri – a town of just under 1,000 friends and relatives.
Much of his adult working years were spent in various free-spirited, entrepreneurial adventures which took him on extensive excursions throughout the upper Midwest and Tennessee Smokey Mountain regions.
Those years of growing up in a “Mayberry-type setting, ” as well as the experiences from his travels, have supplied Linss with much of the material he writes in his later years.
While always a writer, he never envisioned his works would be someday part of the twelve books he has penned. Linss is also the writer of a daily Facebook blog called “My Window To The World,” which became the title of his first book.
Although many of his stories are based on his hometown of Cole Camp, his stories are easily relatable to anyone’s recollections of their own upbringing, no matter where it might have been.
About Randy’s Books: Randy will be featuring his recently published book, Book of Dreams : Rhymes Without Reason, at the session as well as previous works. Each will be available for purchasing and autographing. Please join the library in welcoming Randy as he shares his stories with the community. For more information contact the Henry County Library at (660)885-2612.
—————
Clinton Schools–KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP
The CSD is excited to welcome a new batch of Cardinals to our family! If you have a child, or know of one, who will turn 5 on or before July 31, 2025, we invite you to Kindergarten Round-Up. When: Tuesday, March 27th, 5:30-6:30
Where: Henry Elementary
NO RSVPs NEEDED FOR THIS EVENT. Kindergarten Round-Up is the first of several upcoming events that will be held for next year’s kindergartners.
—————
The Annual Spring City-Wide Garage Sales will be April 12th. The Clinton Daily Democrat oversees this event so call them at 660-885-2281 for all the details.
—————
Spring Junkfest Saturday, April 26, 2025- Mark your calendars for Primitive Olde Crow’s annual Junkfest. Tons of local vendors, food stalls, antiques, pizza, winery, and bounce house for the kids. Free to the public.
Submit vendor applications to : https://form.jotform.com/241995131848062
—————
1st Annual Elijah Hurt Memorial Golf Tournament will be June 14th at Meadow Lake Golf Club. Proceeds to go to the Clinton Animal Shelter and a CHS Golf Scholarship. Sponsorship opportunities also available. For all the details, call Joey at 660-890-4029.
—————
Hello Community Support Team! We are looking forward to our third ‘Ladies Military Support Event’ October 18th, 2025, from 9am-1pm. We will continue to hold it at Clinton VFW Post 1894, 510 West Allen Street as long as we can. This enables us to continue to offer a free spot to our vendors.
We continue to look for better ways to get the word out about our event as well as veteran-owned businesses and businesses that support veterans! If you would like to have a table at our event, please reach out to Jennifer-Event Coordinator. Please share this information with any business you know of that supports veterans or is veteran-owned and have them contact Jennifer if they are interested or have any questions!
Once again, thank you for your support.
Jennifer Umland 660-525-0470, jennum68@gmail.com
—————
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry–Looking for quality health coverage at a reasonable price? Check out the Chamber Benefit Plan. Learn more https://mochamber.com/memb…/missouri-chamber-benefit-plan/
————-
Take advantage of the FREE job-related skills workshops offered at Missouri Job Centers. Don’t miss the opportunity to boost your career potential – register TODAY: buff.ly/3XvBTMu
Jobs Mo Gov·Are you interested in expanding your knowledge and skills? To learn more about online learning and training courses that are available at no cost, visit https://bit.ly/3U3YgGl