Chamber calendar
Thursday, April 26: Board of Directors, Huntington Bank, sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, noon.
Thursday, May 10: Young Professionals Network, "How to Make Your Website Google Friendly", by Vince Perhach of Opulent Source, 5:30-7 p.m., Chillicothe Country Club, $5 admission, no pre-registration required.
Monday, May 14: Legislative breakfast featuring Rep. Zack Space, D-New Philadelphia, 8:30 a.m., Chillicothe Country Club, $12 for members, $20 for non-members, payable at the door, Breakfast registration.
Wednesday, May 16: Business After Business at Nourse Auto Mall, 5-7 p.m., BAB registration.
What's happening this weekend? Check out the community events calendar.
Click above to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site for small business
Check out photos from chamber events at any time by going to www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com.
For previous newsletter editions, click here
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Copyright 2007
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
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No doubt about it:
Growth pains on Western Avenue
The newest figures from the state confirm what everyone knows: traffic on Western Avenue is growing at a rapid pace. In the past three years, traffic on that artery has increased by more than 20 percent.
Traffic counts by the Ohio Department of Transportation show Western Avenue traffic increased 23 percent as measured at the Polk Hollow intersection and by 22 percent near Dun Road at the top of Cabbage Hill. Surprisingly, though, is the count at the Main, High and Western intersection in Chillicothe which showed a 7.1 percent decline. At Paint Street, the decline was almost 3 percent.
Improvements to Western Avenue are emerging as the number one priority for the city and county as they update the Thoroughfare Plan for the first time in eight years.
The largest increase in traffic from 2003 to 2006 came on Bridge Street at the Riverside Street intersection. That count jumped 26 percent which could be in part from the re-opening of the bridge after a two-year rebuild.
The most traveled intersection in the county remains at East Main Street where U.S. 23 and 35 are combined. The count is nearly 44,000 vehicles per day. The intersection of Bridge Street at the U.S. 35 interchange is close behind at 42,970.
When comparing the 2006 figures with 1994, the effect of the completion of the widening of U.S. 35 in Ross County becomes apparent. The count at the Fayette County border increased 115 percent, going from 3,720 vehicles a day to 8,010. At Richmond Dale, the count zoomed 84 percent to 12,430 from 6,770.
Below is a chart of selected traffic counts in the county ranked in order of growth. The complete listing is available on ODOT’s website: Traffic counts.
Traffic count comparisons for Ross County |
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Intersection |
2006 |
2003 |
Diff |
Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Riverside Street |
32,950 |
26,190 |
25.8% |
U.S. 50 (Western Avenue) at Polk Hollow Road |
17,070 |
13,850 |
23.2% |
U.S. 50 (Western Avenue) near Dun Road |
20,150 |
16,540 |
21.8% |
U.S. 35 at Fayette County line |
8,010 |
6,760 |
18.5% |
U.S. 23 at East Main Street |
43,970 |
38,600 |
13.9% |
Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at U.S. 35 |
42,970 |
38,540 |
11.5% |
U.S. 35 at Richmond Dale |
12,430 |
11,690 |
6.3% |
Ohio 207 at Clarksburg |
1,540 |
1,460 |
5.5% |
U.S. 23 at Pike County line |
16,630 |
16,810 |
-1.1% |
Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Mall and Plaza entrance |
21,460 |
21,700 |
-1.1% |
Ohio 180 at Ohio 159 |
2,900 |
2,980 |
-2.7% |
U.S. 50 (Main Street) at Paint Street |
15,900 |
16,360 |
-2.8% |
Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Main Street |
17,870 |
18,570 |
-3.8% |
Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Hospital Road |
7,420 |
7,740 |
-4.1% |
Ohio 138 at Clarksburg |
1,060 |
1,130 |
-6.2% |
Ohio 159 at Kingston |
5,810 |
6,220 |
-6.6% |
Ohio 159 (Bridge Street) at Pawnee Road |
24,840 |
26,620 |
-6.7% |
U.S. 50 at Bainbridge |
3,940 |
4,230 |
-6.9% |
U.S. 35 at High Street |
29,710 |
31,900 |
-6.9% |
U.S. 50 (Western Avenue) at High and Main streets |
13,770 |
14,830 |
-7.1% |
Ohio 104 (High Street) at U.S. 35 |
18,100 |
19,530 |
-7.3% |
Ohio 104 (High Street) at Water Street |
5,710 |
6,400 |
-10.8% |
Ohio 104 (High Street) at Vine and Buckeye |
15,840 |
18,350 |
-13.7% |
Ohio 772 (Paint Street) at southern city limit |
6,920 |
8,170 |
-15.3% |
Ohio 28 at Maple Grove Road |
3,280 |
4,750 |
-30.9% |
Source: Ohio Department of Transportation |
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Big week ahead for downtown initiative
Dolores Palma and Doyle Hyett have been poring over all the information sent to them by the 23-member Process Committee in preparation for their research visit to Chillicothe next week. The HyettPalma firm from Virginia is meeting with several focus groups on Tuesday and will wind up the day by conducting a community vision session.
The session will explore what citizens want for the future of their downtown. It goes from 7-8:30 p.m. in Trinity United Methodist Church at Main and Mulberry streets. No pre-registration is required.
From all of the information and opinions, HyettPalma will present in May to the community a five-year economic enhancement strategy to improve downtown Chillicothe. The date for that meeting will be decided at the end of next week.
To learn more about the initiative: www.downtownchillicothe.com.
SHRED THOSE OLD DOCUMENTS: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. is Shred-It-Day in Yoctangee Park where you’ll have the chance to see any of your old records and sensitive documents shredded before your eyes, and at no charge. The project is the one selected by this year’s Leadership Chillicothe Ross class of the chamber. Donations of diapers and other items are encouraged as any proceeds are going to Elizabeth’s Hope pregnancy resource center.
BREAKFAST WITH THE CONGRESSMAN: Chamber members and their guests are invited to breakfast on Monday, May 14 to hear from our newest congressman, Zack Space of New Philadelphia. He’ll talk about the issues he’s facing in Congress this session and you’ll have an opportunity ask questions. The breakfast runs 8:30-9:30 at the Chillicothe Country Club and costs $15. Registrations are now being accepted: Legislative breakfast
USEC LICENSE A BIG STEP FORWARD: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s license to USEC last week means the American Centrifuge Plant is one step closer to turning out enriched uranium to be used as fuel in nuclear power reactors. The $2.3 billion plant in Piketon is expected to employ 400 when operational, expected in late 2009. Already, more than 500 are working on the project, including subcontractors such as Honeywell and Fluor.
BOY SCOUT INVASION IN TWO WEEKS: More than 12,000 Boy Scouts are expected to descend upon the Ross County Fairgrounds May 4-6 as part of the Simon Kenton Council’s Centenary Celebration. Chamber members can become a vendor for $50 which gets you an 8-foot table. For more information, contact Jeff Lockhart at jlockhar@insight.rr.com.
ONLY 12 SPACES LEFT: The chamber’s new city and county map, which goes to local motels, real estate agents and the many visitors to the Welcome Center as well as those who request information on our area, will be available in September, but only 12 spaces for advertising remain from the 78 that are available. If you want to learn more about rates and the special online feature available, contact Tommy Thompson of NovoPrint at 937-475-4597.
NOURSE TO HOST NEXT BAB: The Nourse Auto Mall on Bridge Street is hosting the May 16 Business After Business. More than 150 attended this week’s BAB at Herrnstein Hyundai on River Road that was co-sponsored by Classic Brands and Chillicothe Pepsi with food from the Old Canal Smokehouse. Check out more photos from the event: www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com
HONOR YOUR ASSISTANT: Next Wednesday is Administrative Professionals Day and several chamber members are offering specials for the event. It’s a great time to let them know how much their work is appreciated.
ANNUAL HEIRLOOM PLANT SALE NEAR FOR ADENA: Vegetables, flowers and other plants go on sale April 28 for the event where the profits benefit the Adena Mansion and Gardens. The sale ends May 6. There is no admission for the plant sale. For more information, call Richard Warnock at 772-1500 Ext. 101 or email him at rwarnock@ohiohistory.org.
NEWEST MEMBERS: Joining the chamber recently:
- Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, by Preston Stapleton.
VENDORS LICENSES: Here’s who’s received licenses recently from the Ross County Auditor:
- Angela McFarland, 12 Health Drive.
- Premier Locations, 1080 N. Bridge St., by Catalyst Marketing Enterprises.
- Emily’s Cakes for Occasions, 129 Applewood Drive, by Emily Elliott.