Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Update    February 21, 2003

LAST WEEK TO SPIFF UP FOR OUR VISITORS: The preliminary weather report for Statehood Day calls for cloudy skies, temperatures in the 40s and no precipitation. If that prediction holds up, then we could be looking at upwards of 13,000 visitors for the kickoff of Ohio’s Bicentennial celebration on Saturday, March 1. Bicentennial Coordinator Scott Graham and his legions of volunteers have everything in place for the weekend. Now it’s up to all of us to make sure our visitors (many of whom will visit the new Visitors Center at Adena, shown in the photo) are greeted with enthusiasm and our very special brand of hospitality that makes us the unique community we are. For all businesses, that means making sure our buildings and grounds are as spotless as possible, which won’t be easy given recent weather. Now also is a good time to determine your own personal schedule to enjoy the weekend activities. For a complete listing, check out Statehood Day schedule. Especially not to be forgotten is the Ohio Village which will be in Yoctangee Park most of the time. A walk there with the myriad artisans and period vendors will be like a step back -- about 200 years -- in time.

GOOD RESPONSE TO LOCAL ECONOMY SURVEY: More than 70 responses had been received by noon Friday on the chamber’s first local economy survey. If you haven’t completed it (and please don’t more than once), here’s another chance by clicking on this link: Local economy survey. The deadline for submissions is noon Monday and results will be available by no later than this time next week.

OU-C ENROLLMENT NEARS 2,000: The official fall enrollment number for students at Ohio University-Chillicothe’s campus was 1,999. That was a 21.9 percent increase from the previous year and was the largest of any of OU’s regional campuses.

MEADWESTVACO HITS GOAL: Employees at the local plant recently were treated to a special lunch and given a gift in recognition of attaining the company’s goal for safety numbers in 2002. That’s setting a great example!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: The Safety Ecology Corporation, a safety and radiological service working with Bechtel Jacobs in Piketon, and DeGarmo’s Canal House Pastas at Mulberry and Water streets are the newest members of the chamber.

INCUBATOR HAS BOSS: Steve Shepherd, a Pike County native, has been named the manager for the new Business Incubator Center at the Ohio State University’s South Centers near Piketon. He formerly worked for Adelphia Communications in Chillicothe and at Mill’s Pride. He will be in charge of the new two-story structure off Ohio 32 at Shyville Road when it opens. Shepherd can be reached at 740-289-2071 or at shepherd.156@osu.edu.

BIRTHDAY CARD NEEDS SIGNATURES: The Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau is inviting everyone to sign a life-size birthday card which will become part of a hoped-for display of cards from all 88 counties. The card is available at the bureau’s new visitors center at 150 E. Second St. until Thursday. Cards from the various counties will be on display at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church during Statehood Day weekend.

BAB WAS SWIFT: The inside of Club Rush was nice and cozy for Wednesday’s Business After Business sponsored by TPR Personnel. Tim Robison (center in photo), his staff and the club’s AJ provided some good food, good music and good hospitality. And chamber board member Rob Robson, at right in the photo, was the lucky winner of the door prize, a football autographed by Ben Hartsock. The next BAB will be at the Pump House Center for the Arts on March 19 sponsored by the United States Enrichment Corporation.

GOLF OUTING BENEFITS SCOUTS: Chamber members dominate the committee putting together the Friday, June 13 golf outing to benefit the Simon Kenton Council of the Boy Scouts. The event is looking for sponsors and players alike. For more information, get in touch with Henry Thrapp at 774-2148.

NEW ISSUE ON NEWSSTANDS: The Spring 2003 edition of “Over the Back Fence” is now available. The edition has tips for gardening from the American Nursery and Landscape Association and an item on the Shoot the Hills camera competition in the Hocking Hills. It is available at various locations in Ross County.

PARENTING WORKSHOP AVAILABLE: Parents in the Chillicothe school district are invited to a free workshop Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. “Strategies for Helping to Develop Responsible Children” will be the topic of speaker Spencer Henry, a 33-year educator and author. It will be held in the library at Chillicothe High School. A light supper and child care will be provided.

This newsletter goes weekly to more than 370 chamber members and their employees for whom we have e-mail addresses. If you have an item you’d like to include, e-mail Executive Director Marvin Jones at mjones@chillicotheohio.com. If you or your company is a chamber member and this was forwarded to you and you would like to be included in the original mailing, reply to this e-mail. If you’d like to be omitted from this mailing, reply and ask to unsubscribe. To stay abreast of chamber activities, make sure to visit www.chillicotheohio.com frequently.