Volume 2, Issue 34                                                     Friday, April 30, 2004

FIRMS HONORED FOR SAFETY RECORDS: PPG and American Electric Power won special awards at Thursday’s annual luncheon of the Ohio Valley Safety Council. The companies were three of many that received awards at the Chillicothe Country Club ceremony featuring Mayor Joe Sulzer. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation determined the awards based on reports filed by the firms. Shown at right are Carol Morris of the BWC, Bill Fetters of AEP and Marvin Jones of the chamber. (PPG did not have a representative present.) Beginning in July, the bureau is offering incentives to businesses to join the safety council. Details will be made available shortly. A full listing of who won awards is available on the safety council web page as well as a link to photos of the winners: Safety Council awards and photos  

KENWORTH COMPANY ON A ROLL: Paccar, the Seattle-based parent of the Kenworth Truck Co. posted a 64 percent increase in its quarterly profit, blowing away analysts estimates. Net income was $182.2 million, or $1.03 a share, the first quarter vs. $110.8 million and 63 cents a share last year. The local Kenworth plant now has about 1,600 employees, nearly what it had before layoffs a couple years ago. And more major improvements are on the way.

WEAR-EVER BUILDING ON THE BLOCK: Following years of an environmental cleanup, the former Wear-Ever building on Eastern Avenue is now being actively marketed for a new tenant/owner. Alcoa hired a national real estate firm and the building is listed on Ohio’s website. Dona Smith at the CIC has brochures for when companies come calling locally.

HIGH STREET ACTION: Word is that BP will be building a new station complete with a Duke/Duchess Shoppe at High and Orange streets that will stretch to Buckeye Street.

DOWNTOWN ACTIVITIES SET: The historic downtown business district has several events lined up in the next two months where merchants could take advantage of the extra traffic. These are in addition to the usual big draws of the Feast of the Flowering Moon (May 28-30) and the Gus Macker basketball extravaganza (June 11-13). They are:

IS YOUR COLLEGE KID LOOKING FOR AN INTERNSHIP?: Then you might want to check out a program run from the Ohio State University South Centers in Piketon. There are about 20 openings available, but apparently a dearth of applicants for the manufacturing, engineering and information technology positions that pay up to $13.20 per hour. Applicants must be a sophomore or junior and attending a university in Ohio. For more information, check out our Job Bank.

 

NEW MEMBERS: Joining the chamber recently were two businesses owned by Jubal and Cindy Davis:

BAB LOOK AHEAD AND BACKWARD: It's not too early to register for either Business After Business in May. And if you had fun at the USEC/Citizens National Bank BAB on April 21, your picture just might be on our website now. Check them out here: April BAB photos. And don't forget you can always view photos from previous BABs by going to our home page and clicking on the BAB link on the left side. In May, we're having the three-county event at the Deer Creek Resort and Conference Center on Tuesday the 11th and on the regular date of the 19th, the affair will be at Planned Parenthood of Southeast Ohio on West Second Street. BAB registration

TOURISM IN FOCUS: Lissa Cleary of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau explained to the Networking Luncheon crowd Wednesday the importance all of us play in ensuring we make a good impression on our guests. She also outlined some of the new activities in the area this year, such as History Day and the Hover Craft Rally. For photos of the luncheon, check out: Networking Luncheon photos

A VISUAL EXPERIENCE: CHS TV is inviting chamber members to its new showroom on 72 N. Walnut St. that features a 9-foot Cinema Screen I. Members also are eligible for a drawing monthly of an electronic prize by dropping off your business card. To learn more about the business, check out its new website at www.chillicothehometheater.com.

AWARD-WINNING MEMORIES: Amy Mears walked off with five honorable mention awards in the Premier category of the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Awards of Excellence Print Competition earlier this year. Hers were among 2,000 entries in 17 different categories from professional photographers from all over the world.

PUTTS FOR VOTES: To raise funds for the next campaign to pass a tax levy, the Pickaway-Ross JVSD Levy Committee is holding a golf outing Saturday, May 22 at the Jaycee Golf Course. The four-person scramble starts at 9 a.m. and costs $200 per team or $50 for an individual. For more information or to register, call Neal Senff at 772-4896 or Roger Smith at 775-4837.

MAKING SENSE OF THE NEW DRUG PROGRAM: Rep. Bob Ney will be on hand when changes in the new Medicare program are discussed with seniors citizens on Monday, May 17 at the Ross County Service Center. Also on hand will be a representative from the Ohio Department of Aging and three drug program agencies. It will run 9-11 a.m. For more information, contact Christina Tinker at Hopeton Terrace at 773-0517 or at 0156sc@ncr.org.

VENDORS LICENSES: Here's who's received licenses recently from the Ross County auditor:

CHAMBER CALENDAR: