WEEKLY UPDATE FROM THE GREATER CLINTON-AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/BY DAVID LEE-DIRECTOR: 8/25/23

Come join the Chamber’s Taste of Clinton event on Saturday, September 23rd from 9am till 3pm at the Benson Center.  This event has everything from food, retail, outdoor activities, health, self-care, etc. Come Shop Local with Us.  Free Admission.  For vendor information, call the Chamber at 660-885-8166.

The Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce 50th Annual Ag Appreciation Dinner and Sale was held Monday evening at the Benson Center. An estimated crowd of 400 enjoyed the pork chop dinner…music from the TLC Dulcimers…the guest speaker was Garret Hawkins, President of the MO Farm Bureau…they heard an update on the Clinton School Farm and various scholarship winners…the Henry Co. Farm Family for 2023 is the Smith Family (Travis, Whitney, Maverick and Tyson)…Fred and Aletta Swaters and Eric and Megan Warren were announced as 2023 Century Farm Families…Jim Raysik, Inc. was recognized as a 2023 MO 4-H Foundation Hall of Fame inductee…and Doug Wagoner of Farmers Elevator and Supply is the 2023 Ag Person of the Year. Of course, the Henry Co. Sale Committee conducted the annual livestock sale and the total invested in Henry County youth was $152,586.50. The Grand Champion Steer was shown by Adler Patrick was purchased by Jim Falk Motors. The Grand Champion Ham was shown by Lukas Moran and was purchased by Jim Raysik Auto Group. The 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale Committee and the 4-H and FFA members would like to thank all of the buyers for attending and purchasing their steers and hams and supporting the youth of our area. A special thanks to Scott Cook for being the auctioneer and Adam Cummings, Jim Huenefeldt, and Travis Smith for serving as ringmen.

Heartland Community Theatre is pleased to announce the latest edition of our upcoming Sunday monthly movie matinee at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 27th, 2023. This month’s feature presentation is “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955), in CinemaScope and WarnerColor, starring James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo. James Dean portrays Jim Stark, a rebellious young man with a troubled past, but being “the new kid in town” comes with finding new friends and new enemies. It is widely agreed that this is James Dean’s best movie performance!! Admission is always FREE for this monthly event, along with gourmet popcorn and beverages. Hope to see everyone at the Heartland Community Theatre, 108 North Washington, Clinton, for our movie matinee event this Sunday afternoon!!

My thanks to Tyler Pulcini for the invitation to attend Rotary Thursday. He knew I would love to hear from new UCM Athletic Director Matt Howdeshell and Head Football Coach Josh Lamberson. The Director of Development with the University’s Alumni Foundation, Billy Ukrazhenko and UCM’s Director of Football Operations, DeMarcko Butler also represented UCM at the meeting. Go Mules and Jennies and thanks again Tyler!

From Clinton Main StreetPICCADILLY 2023 Online Tickets: https://piccadilly2023.eventbrite.com  In person at Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce.  To buy a table, please call Amanda @ 660.885.2121.

The CHS Alumni Assoc. Homecoming Tailgate will be Sept. 29th at 6pm at Cardinal Stadium under the tent next to the fieldhouse.  It’s free to the first 75 CHS Alumni Assoc. members.  First come, first served and no RSVP required.   Meal provided by Huey’s Deluxe Catering.  Free admission to the Clinton vs. Versailles football game at 7pm.  Hear from coaches, administrators, cheerleaders and band.  All sponsored by OakStar Bank.  If you would like to join the Clinton High School Alumni Association, stop by C Squared on the east side of the Clinton Square and talk to Cindy or call 660-885-2447 or email sales@csquaredclinton.com. It’s only $20 for a lifetime membership. If you would like to get involved with the Assoc., contact Cindy, or David at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce (200 S. Main, 660-885-8166, david@clintonmo.com.)

The first annual Batting for HOPE Tournament will take place on September 30, 2023 in Clinton, Missouri! This softball tournament is in honor of raising money for two organizations Families for HoPE and Circle of Hope Foundation.  For more information on how to sign up for a team, donate, volunteer, or order a t-shirt follow the link below and visit their Facebook or Instagram account, Batting For Hope  https://fat-cat-design.printavo.com/merch/batting-for-hope/  #thepediatricplacellc #battingforhope #familiesforHoPE #circleofhopefoundation

Do you have a car and an hour? We could really use volunteer drivers at the Clinton Senior Center delivering meals to seniors. Whether you’re an individual or a business volunteering an employee for an hour, it would be greatly appreciated by us and the many relying on those deliveries. Commit to once a week, one week every three months, on call as needed, or whatever your availability and generosity allows, help us help them.  Call Kathy at 660-885-3482.

The Clinton Technical School LPN Program students will be selling tickets for a Blackstone Cooking Station to help raise money for the Clinton Animal Shelter! Keep an eye out for them or call Kayla at 660-351-2051.

The Annual Fall City-Wide Garage Sale will be Sat., Sept. 16th.  The Clinton Daily Democrat is in charge of this event each fall and spring.  For more information, call 660-885-2281 or stop by 104. South Main St.

Here’s a note to our Chamber Members and anyone and everyone looking for employment;  The Chamber of Commerce continues to receive calls…people come in…and email us about jobs that might be available in and around Clinton.  When we see our Chamber Members post information about job openings, we do share that to our Facebook page.  However, we’re pretty sure we don’t catch all of those job opening posts.    Please remember that YOUR Chamber is here for YOU. If you (a Clinton Chamber of Commerce Member) have any job openings that you are posting or if you want us to post it for you on our page, just let us know. Let us help you find employees!    Send your job openings to: david@clintonmo.com or joyce@clintonmo.com.  If you are not a Chamber member, we can still post your openings on our Facebook page for $25.00.  If you have any questions at all, email us or call 660-885-8166.

New Growth Community Development Corporation   We are excited to attend the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities – University of Missouri Extension conference Sept 20-21 in Benton County. New Growth’s Sheridan Garman-Neeman and Patty Cantrell will talk about building rural businesses with microenterprise financing and other support. Sign up now for early bird registration! https://web.cvent.com/…/bb7f7db7-ac4d-48f7-b508…/summary #CEC2023 #Entrepreneurship #CommunityDevelopment

The First Annual “It’s For The Kids” Motorcycle Rally will be Sept. 29th-Oct. 1st with gates opening at 10am.  Old Skool Band, biker games, poker run, vendors, beer garden and more.  Registration can be made at Boats N’ Hose General Store, aka Snyder’s Corner, 874 SE Hwy Z, Deepwater.  There will be admission and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Guardians of the Children.  For details, 417-644-7307 or https://www.facebook.com/BoatsandHoseGeneralStore

CHART (Community Health Assessment Resource Team) is also hosting a Pickleball Tournament Oct. 28th at the Artesian Park Tennis Courts (if raining, Clinton High School).  Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles.  Pool play followed by bracket style.  $80 per team with t-shirt included.  Cash prizes for first and second.  Proceeds go to support Henry Co. Christmas Angel Tree and Christmas Cheer Foundation.  Call Tyler at 660-223-3210 or tyler.pulcini@lpha.mo.gov for questions, to enter or to sponsor.