PRIDE lining up PRIDE Day projects and Chamber finalizing events for the annual Peony Festival
The Stockton PRIDE organization met on Tuesday, March 10th in the Chamber Office during the noon hour. After President Amber Muir opened the meeting, and Chelsey Peterson read the February regular minutes for approval, the focus was on the Committee Reports.
PRIDE Day will be held on Wednesday, April 29th in the morning with the Stockton High School students helping with the list of work projects. Muir presented those present with the list of projects to be completed on that day. Anyone having a cleanup project they need help with should contact one of the PRIDE members as soon as possible. To coincide with PRIDE Day the City of Stockton will sponsor a citywide cleanup the first week of May with the trash truck to pick up the items during its normal weekly route. Tires can be picked up during this time.
Next, Kayla Hilbrink reported that a few people have signed up to plant flowers in the Main Street planters. If anyone wants to do so, they are to contact her at the City Office. Also, volunteers are signing up to help with the watering of the plants throughout the summer. Anyone wanting to volunteer can call the City Office to be put on the list.
The planting of flowers by the new bridge at the City Park will be done on PRIDE Day. They will use the mulch from the tree dump. Volunteers are donating flowers for the project.
During Old Business, Hilbrink presented the cost for two metal sandwich signs for the monthly PRIDE award signs. The members present voted to purchase the two signs for $65.00 apiece.
Chelsey Peterson talked about the softball tournament, and after a short discussion, it was asked if she could look at dates in late April for the event.
Since there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m. with it noted that the next regular meeting would be held on Tuesday, April 14th at the Chamber Office at noon.
At the Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce meeting, which was held at Heritage Insurance Group at 5:15 p.m., Mark Lowry presented a program on the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. (NWKEICI), which works with non-profit entities for economic development.
After his very informative talk, Chamber president Chris Sander presided over the regular meeting. The March newsletter went out and the new feature of “What’s There To Do Around Here?” featured Webster State Park
It was decided that Olde Tyme Christmas would remain on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Plans are progressing for the upcoming Peony Festival with a free pancake feed to start the day. There will be a parade, garden tours and a sidewalk chalk contest. The annual Spring Shoot Out will take place in the eve-ning at the Rooks County Fairgrounds. Anyone wanting to order t-shirts for the occasion should contact Libby Kester. The Garden Lady Contest will be held again this year.
The Chamber is moving forward with the “What’s There to Do Around Here” brochure for Stockton. Bobbi Basart’s high school media class will be putting it together for the Chamber.
Jon Schallert from Destination Boot Camp will be in Stockton on Wednesday, March 25th.
Stockton school librarian Terri Bennett is working on another D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) event for April 8th. Any business that would like to participate and read to a group of kids at a designated time during the day needs to contact Bennett or the Chamber Office.
The Highway 24 Garage Sale will be held the first weekend in June. Chamber members will be included on the map for free.
RookStock 2020, the fundraiser for the Rooks County Health Center, has been set for Saturday, May 2nd.
It was noted that the Chamber Office will be closed March 23rd to March 27th.
The next monthly Chamber meeting will be at Farmers Union Elevator on Tuesday, March 14th at 5:15 p.m.
