WEEKLY UPDATE FROM THE GREATER CLINTON-AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/BY DAVID LEE-DIRECTOR: 5/3/24

The All American Kayak Classic and Romans Warrior Foundation are locking shields!! Together and because of the hard work by the Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, a unique opportunity is about to take place in Clinton, MO at the Benson Convention Center, May 3rd and 4th!

Each year the All American Kayak Classic hosts its annual event that sees some 200 plus kayak anglers from around the nation, descend upon Truman Lake. The prize, a $10,000.00 dollar first place check. In addition, the AAKC also crowns a top club from around the Midwest with a $5,000.00 dollar prize on the line. Not to mention, bragging rights for a full year. This year, there’s an even bigger prize that will be on display for the Greater Clinton area citizens to visit and experience. The Global War on Terror, Wall of Remembrance.

The Romans Warrior Foundation will be bringing this mobile memorial and putting it on display for all to experience while the AAKC is taking place. Both Friday and Saturday the Wall will be on full display at the Benson Convention Center. The Wall is roughly 120’ feet long and has two viewable sides. One side is the Education element where visitors can see when the Global War on Terror actually began and a timeline is in place for them to learn what has happened over the past 40 years. The other side is the Honor side. Our brothers and sisters names that have fallen to the GWOT are etched into the frames and their memory and legacy will carry forward with each stop and event, the Wall experiences. For some, this will be an experience they will never forget. For others, perhaps learning about the GWOT from a perspective of no politics and no bias. Just real information. And for others, this wall will give them a chance to see names and read those names aloud to honor their fallen friends and family.

“The ability to bring healing and comradery to our nation’s warfighters is a task we are very excited about!” said Gene Campbell, Program Manager for the Romans Warrior Foundation. “The Wall is a critical memorial for our generation and it allows communities to experience a healing that can’t be found elsewhere.”

The GWOT Wall is the only mobile memorial in the United States that is dedicated to this era. It’s because of like-minded organizations that this opportunity will be on display. The All American Kayak Classic, the Romans Warrior Foundation, and most of all, the Greater Area Chamber of Commerce have all made this possible. Locking Shields for the purpose of bringing healing to the Greater Clinton area is the drive and it’s about to take place on May 3rd and 4th!!

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity as this is free and open to the public from Friday morning all the way through Sunday Morning.  For more information on the Romans Warrior Foundation  www.romanswarriorfoundation.org  FB: @RWFretreat FB: @GWOTwall

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Clinton Main StreetTo celebrate Historic Preservation Month, Clinton Main Street hosted 4th-grade students from Clinton Intermediate School and Holy Rosary Catholic School on Wednesday, May 1st. The students were given a historical tour to learn about our monuments around the square. They toured the bandstand, the Soldier’s Memorial, the Humane Fountain, and the 9/11 Memorial, and they ended at Henry County Museum, Clinton, Mo., to visit the Dog Trot and the Schoolhouse. Thanks to the Clinton Main Street Board members and volunteers, David Lee at the Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Museum, and the Clinton, Missouri Fire Department for all your help!!   *Events like this are made possible with the support of our Downtown Champions and Investors: Hawthorn Bank, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, Champion Brands, C Squared, Sherman Plumbing & Heating Co., Mills & Son’s Insurance, Hampton Inn, and Equity Bank.

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Mark, Joyce and I met Monday with Jahala Meyer and Abby Tribble, Employment Specialists with Compass Health Network. They told us how IPS (Individual Placement and Support) helps people with mental illness work at regular jobs of their choosing. Compass Health, the Chamber and others are working to help get people into jobs. More on this collaboration in the future.

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Exciting News from the Henry County Museum!  We’re thrilled to unveil our new weekly schedule starting next week, packed with engaging content for history enthusiasts like you! Here’s what you can expect:

-Tuesdays: Get ready for exclusive sneak peeks and insider info! We’ll be sharing advertisements for upcoming events, exhibitions, and special promotions, so you’re always in the know about what’s happening.

-Thursdays: Prepare to embark on a journey through time with our brand-new column, “Echoes of History.” Inspired by Kay Miles’ Daily Democrat Column “Bits and Pieces,” where she shared fascinating snippets from days or weeks, we’ll delve into the rich tapestry of our museum’s past. Discover intriguing tidbits, captivating stories, and fascinating photos from our county’s history, all stemming from Kay Miles’ legacy.

-Saturdays: Dive deeper into history with our “Historical Spotlight” series! Every Saturday, we’ll shine a light on significant historical events, providing in-depth context and showcasing captivating photos that bring our county’s history to life.

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Be sure to like https://www.facebook.com/oldeglorydays and you’ll know exactly what’s going on when we get to the first of July this year.

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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

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Greater Clinton Area Chamber of CommerceBe sure to check out our community calendar at https://clintonmo.com/clinton-chamber-of-commerce/calendar/

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CHANGE OF DATE:  Seeds of Faith Carryout Fried Fish Dinner.  Now scheduled for May 3rd, 4:30-6:30pm.  215 North 7th St.  $12 Adults, $6 for Children ages 3-12.  Adult and kids menu.  660-383-1420 to schedule delivery inside Clinton city limits. 

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The Friends of the Henry County Library Group will be holding a spring book sale and membership drive from April 29th – May 4th in the Friends Room of the library located at 123 E. Green Street, Clinton, MO. The sale hours are as follows:  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on April 29th – May 3rd  8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on May 4th  Membership Drive and Pre-Sale Event  New this year is the addition of a membership drive and pre-sale event which will be held on Saturday, April 27th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Those purchasing a Friends of the Library Group membership will be allowed entry to the pre-sale and receive a discount on all purchases. Please stop by and grab some good reads at GREAT prices! All proceeds help support the programs and services at the Henry County Library. For more information, please contact the library at (660)885-2612.

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Clinton, MO Parks & Recreation·May the FORTH be with YOGA!!!  Saturday May 4th at 8 am we are having a special outside session with Georgette.  Cost is $6  Please register at clintonparkreconline.com  Go to Activities, select Drop In Classes, select Saturday Morning to register and pay for the class.   Check in at the Front Desk of the Comm. Center before class that morning.

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Clinton Animal Shelter·Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Garage Sale benefiting the Clinton Animal Shelter to help with the vet bills and canine training. Saturday, May 4th – 8am to 3pm -The 1311 Event Space-1311 N Washington St Clinton. Please stop by and help our homeless pets. Some items are marked and some are for donation sale.

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C.H.A.R.T. 2nd Annual Golf Tournament, Sat., May 4th at Clinton Country Club.  Proceeds go towards Henry Co. Citizens Healthcare and Wellness Needs.  Tee time is 8:30am for four person scramble format.  $340/team.  Sign up at the Club or contact Tyler at 660-223-3210 or tyler.pulcini@lpha.mo.gov    Golf and other games included.

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Henry County Memory Fund – Big Purple Party is Coming Up    On May 4, 2024, the Henry County Memory Fund will host their 10th Annual Big Purple Party! It will be held in Hawthorn Bank’s parking lot at Old Country Club Park with registration at 9:00 am and the ceremony at 9:30 am. All contributors will be on site with information and giveaways during the ceremony to honor our friends, family and loved ones that are currently struggling with or have lost to Alzheimer’s and Dementia.  All money raised will now be distributed locally to caregivers or to those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Money is provided through an application process for living expenses, medication, medical equipment, respite stays and other uses. We also send a percentage each year for research.    Please contact hcmemoryfund@gmail.com, Christa Atchison 660-525-1338 or Ranae Walrath at GVMH at 660-890-7294 for questions.  Are you interested in supporting this worthy cause? Donations can be made online at http://cfozarks.org/donate, at the bottom of the page, type Henry County Memory fund into the box and select it when it pops up. It will take you to a new page to donate. If you would like to donate by check please make it payable to Henry County Memory Fund and mailed to PO Box 741, Clinton, MO 64735.

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Event by Mid-Day Optimist  Clinton Country Club  Save the date for our annual Brunch & Bubbly! Bring your mom, sisters, aunts and girlfriends to enjoy a morning together. There will be mimosas, brunch, silent auction, ELLO links and Rider Smith Entertainment! Sat., May 4th, 10am-12pm

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May Day, Sat., May 4th 2 till 4pm.  Henry Co. Museum, 203 West Franklin.  A Ladies Tea hosted by the Henry Co. Historical Society and Museum.  Tickets available at Museum annex.

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Clinton High School·You won’t want to miss the RETURN of the spring Art Show at CHS on May 4th from 6-8 pm. This event will be held along with the CMS/CHS Spring Instrumental Music concerts. We hope you can join us to see the creative talents of our high school artists and musicians!

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The Clinton Technical School Car Show will be held in the Technical School parking lot on Saturday, May 11th, 2024. The proceeds from the show will support students in SkillsUSA, our Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).

Show-day registration is $40 from 8-11 am. Judging begins at noon. Awards begin at 2 pm.    There will be food available for purchase the day of the car show as well as corn hole, face-painting, music, and more.    There will be 10 categories.  There will also be prizes given to the top three student vehicles as well as a crowd favorite. This brings us to a total of 17 awards/prizes that will be handed out on the day of the show.    Please register using the registration form in the pictures below or by clicking on this link:     https://docs.google.com/…/18FnVhSjuwUwYN12KZ…/edit

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Cruise to Clinton Cruise Night is a cruise-in held on the Clinton, MO Square, from 4pm till 7pm on the 2nd Saturday of the month from May thru October.  Plenty of shade and parking available, with food vendors on site and a DJ playing music and giveaways. After several cruise nights there will be an actual short cruise.  All rides welcome…50/50 raffle…For all the details, check out Clinton Cruise Night on Facebook or email mattwray1968@gmail.com.

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Clinton’s Shop Small Crawl.  Sat., May 18th 10 till 4   A group of boutiques, home decor and specialty shops have joined teams to host Clinton’s first ever boutique crawl!   How it works:  Pick up your passport/map at the first participating business you visit. Get your passport stamped at ALL participating shops. Turn your card in to the last shop you visit and be entered to win CASH prizes! No purchases necessary to be stamped.  1st prize: $500    2nd prize: $300    3rd prize: $200    Winners will be drawn LIVE around 4:30pm on Facebook and in person.

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Hats Off For Hot Meals, Kickin’ Chicken Dinner and Hat Auction.  May 19th.  Lunch from 11 till 1, hat auction at 1:00.  A great meal and a chance to bid on a large collection of vintage and modern hats for both men and women.  Meal price at the door is $15 for adults, $10 for kids under 12.  This event is open to the public and will benefit the programs at Care Connection/Clinton Senior Center. 

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AMERICAN PICKERS to Film in Missouri-The American Pickers are excited to return to Missouri! They plan to film episodes of The History Channel hit television series throughout your area in June 2024.  AMERICAN PICKERS is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on The History Channel. The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques.  The American Pickers TV Show is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a unique item, story to tell, and is ready to sell…we would love to hear from you! Please note, the Pickers DO NOT pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums, or anything open to the public. If interested, please send us your name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with photos to:  americanpickers@cineflix.com or call (646) 493-2184 facebook: @GotAPick

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Rustic BridgesAttention crafters and artisans!!    Booking vendors for our 4th Annual On the Farm, Saturday June 8th. We’re looking for vendors from all around who specialize in handcrafted items, repurposed goods, boutique clothing and accessories, antiques and vintage item vendors, metal workers, ceramics/potters, wine, beer/spirit crafters and many other specialty items. Limited spaces for direct sales. This is a family friendly event where people come together to shop your amazing products in an open air style market. If you or anyone you know is interested in being a vendor please reach out to Matt & Halley Bridges via messenger or email rusticbridges@gmail.com.

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The Pediatric Place · The day has finally come. The Pediatric Place is delighted to extend a heartfelt invitation to join us in commemorating the grand opening of our Autism & Neurodevelopment Center.  We invite all to join us on June 21st from 10 am to 1 pm, where we will showcase the state-of-the-art center, the range of exceptional services we offer, and introduce you to our dedicated and compassionate staff.  We hope to see you there!