Volume 2, Issue 35                           Friday, May 7, 2004

PLANS GOING BEFORE COMMISSION: Next Wednesday's meeting of the city Planning Commission could see lots of visitors as three major projects are being reviewed. The meeting will be 4:30 p.m. in the Municipal Court building at 26 S. Paint St.:

HOSPITAL CEO A TRUE LEADER: Allen Rupiper's leadership of the Adena Health System the past 11 years helped transform a small-city hospital into a dynamic regional medical center that serves well the people in Ross and all surrounding counties. As a community, we have been blessed to have such a visionary and we will continue to be blessed since he and his wife Pat plan to remain in this area after he retires a year from July. Allen served as chairman of the chamber Board of Directors in 2000 and is shown at right addressing last year's Pathfinders Leadership graduating class.

COULD BE NICE DAY FOR A DRIVE AND A BAB: Tuesday's special Business After Business at the Deer Creek Resort and Conference Center promises to be a good one and nice opportunity for local business people to mingle with those from Fayette and Pickaway counties as those chambers also are co-sponsors. The event will be in the shelterhouse next to the lodge (unless it rains and then it moves to the lodge) and will feature food prepared by the resort's award-winning chef. The affair starts at 5:30. To get there, take Ohio 104, turn left on Ohio 207 before the fairgrounds, go through Clarksburg, across U.S. 22 and follow the signs to the lodge. It'll take about 35-40 minutes. To register, click here: BAB registration

PATHFINDERS DEDICATING BENCH: A bench dedicated to the military veterans of Ross County will be unveiled in a ceremony Monday at 8 a.m. at Camp Sherman Park off Ohio 104. The bench is a project of this year's Pathfinders Leadership class. The class holds its final session Wednesday and that evening will have a graduation ceremony in the RiverView Conference Center. All alumni of the program are invited and encouraged to register by calling Jan at the chamber at 702-2722. The cost is $15.

FARMERS MARKET OPENS FOR SEASON: From 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday until October, the Chillicothe Farmers Market will be doing business in the parking lot of the Ross County Service Center on Western Avenue. Vegetables, fruits, baked goods and other locally grown or made items are for sale. To check into spots, give Bart Henshaw a call at 773-6702.

LOCAL VA ON SOLID FOOTING: The biggest reorganization in the history of the federal veterans health system apparently keeps the Chillicothe VA Medical Center on secure footing. In the announcement of closings, consolidations and future plans, the local VA appears not on any list, including as a site to be considered in the future for closing, “further study”, or for alternative uses because of much vacant space.

DIRECTORY NOT ENDORSED BY CHAMBER: If you get a call or visit from someone wanting to sell you an ad in a local directory called “The Local Pages”, please be advised they do not have the endorsement of this chamber.

STATE TAX RANKING CLIMBS: Ohio now ranks behind only New York and Maine in the burden of paying local and state taxes. The Tax Foundation issued its latest rankings and showed Ohio moved from 13th a year ago to third this year, thanks in large part to the 1% increase in the sales tax.

JAYCEES, CLASSIC BRANDS SET TOURNEY: More than $13,000 in prizes will be awarded in the 15th Annual 2004 Michelob Ultra Scramble golf outing sponsored by Classic Brands and the Chillicothe Jaycees on Sunday, June 6. The cost is $55 per player and is limited to the first 36 paid teams. Information is available at www.chillicothe.com or by calling Justin Long at 701-5060.

MARINA UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP: The Lake White Marina was purchased Friday morning in a Pike County Sheriff’s sale by three chamber members -- Rob Robson, Steve Houseman and Lance Vallery. The marina is about one-fourth mile down from the Lake White Club.

THE DAYS THE EARTH MOVED: All that activity on North Bridge Street across from Tire Discounters actually is for two projects. The earth being removed from the site is being trucked to the site of the 80,000-square foot expansion of the Wal-Mart store while the remaining level land then becomes available for future commerce sites.

WORK ZONES THE TOPIC: A representative from the Ohio Department of Transportation will discuss setting up highway work zones and how to be safe in one at Thursday's luncheon of the Ohio Valley Safety Council. The event starts at 11:30 and will be at the Ross County Service Center. The cost is $8. In the next month or so, look for some big announcements concerning the safety council that could results in big savings in your company's workers' compensation premiums. To register for Thursday's luncheon: Safety Council luncheon

NOW A LAWYER: Congratulations to Anna Jenkins who learned recently she had passed the Ohio Bar Association exams and now is a licensed attorney. Anna is a former member of the chamber board and is the wife of chiropractor Brian Jenkins.

SPONSOR A BED: The Chillicothe Jaycees and Sherman Haus are teaming to present the First Annual Charity Bed Race. It will be July 3 on Second Street from Mulberry to Paint streets. All benefits go to the Jaycees. Sponsors are being sought for the event. These will include a banner beneath the Majestic Theatre arch, T-shirts and other banners. For more details, e-mail Adam Arredondo at shermanhaus@yahoo.com.

 

NEW MEMBERS: Joining the chamber recently was:

DOING BUSINESS WITH THE GOVERNMENT: A seminar is set for Wednesday at Ohio University-Chillicothe to familiarize small businesses with the processes needed to do business with federal and state government. The certification process will be one topic. It is being sponsored by the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation, the SBA, OU-C and other agencies. It runs 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and lunch is provided. There is no cost. To register, e-mail Kelly Lawhorn at klawhorn@zoominternet.net or call her at 740-377-4550.

 

MARKETING BY E-MAIL: The Small Business Administration is hosting a live, 60-minute webinar on e-mail marketing strategies. It is intended for retailers and marketing professionals as well as e-commerce web sites of all types. It will start at 2 p.m. Wednesday. To register, click here: SBA E-mail Marketing webinar

 

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

CHAMBER CALENDAR: