MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR SEPT. 28, 2015

From Ryan Craig 
Executive Director
Logan County Chamber of Commerce
ryancraig@loganchamber.com

QUIK FIT TO HAVE RIBBON CUTTING THURSDAY

Before we get neck-deep in all of the Tobacco and Heritage Festival events, I wanted to put the upcoming ribbon-cutting and open house for Quik Fit, a new 24-hour exercise facility in Logan Plaza that opened last week, on the top of the newsletter.

Quik Fit is owned by Nashville singer and songwriter Eric Beddingfield. Quik Fit is our newest Chamber of Commerce member and Beddingfield said he is excited to be in Russellville.

On Thursday (Oct. 1) Quik Fit will be having the open house starting at 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. Let’s all come out and support our newest business and member for its open house! For more information on Quik Fit you can contact the local Manager Tina Morre at 270-717-1121.

From right, Chasity Kaylynn Davidson, Breanna Elizabeth Baptiste, 2015 Queen Chelsey Autumn Hopkins, Clair Alexandria Wilson, Olivia Noelle Sigers and Loren Camille Hendley.

QUEEN’S PAGEANT A HUGE SUCCESS

Congratulations to Chelsey Autumn Hopkins, our 2015 Logan County Tobacco and Heritage Festival Queen. Autumn beat out 26 other candidates for the title last Thursday (Sept. 24) for the win and the $1,000 scholarship made possible by the Chamber, Amtech, Shaker Realty, Pioneer Credit Company and Trophies-To-Go.

Many thanks to Sharon Dockins, the Pageant Chair, for running as smooth as pageant this side of Miss America! Also, thanks goes to Brent Summers for being our emcee for the evening; just like the Emmy’s, Brent started the show with a musical number and never slowed down.

Thanks also goes out to the all of the contestants and the contestants’ sponsors, Richard Estes (who handled our sound), Eddie Brooks (lighting), the judges and volunteers, Oak N’ Ivy (decorating the stage) and the Russellville High School.

Here is your court for the 2015 Queen’s Pageant:

2015 Queen — Chelsey Autumn Hopkins

1^st Runner-up — Breanna Elizabeth Baptiste

2^nd Runner-up — Clair Alexandria Wilson

3^rd Runner-up — Chasity Kaylynn Davidson

4^th Runner-up — Olivia Noelle Sigers

Miss Congeniality — Loren Camille Hendley

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY EVENTS FOR FESTIVAL

While the Queen’s Pageant is the official kick-off for the 2015 Logan County Tobacco and Heritage Festival, one of the busiest two days that don’t have a parade are this coming Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 3 and 4). They include:

Oct. 3, 2015

·       • Jesse James 5K Run/Walk, 8 a.m.

·       • Golf Scramble, 8 a.m.

·       • Little Mister and Miss Pageant, 10 a.m.

·       • Road Rally, 10 a.m.

·       • Hometown History Day, “Homes With History” at 2 p.m. (Look for more on this item in Friday’s newsletter.)

·       • Color Splash Dash, 4 p.m.

Oct. 4, 2015

·       • Thunder on the Square Cruise-In, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

·       • Gospel Singing, 1:30 p.m.

·       • Ride of Champions, Bicycle Ride, 2 p.m.

·       • Historic Walking Tour, 2 p.m.

·       • Blessing of the Animals, 4 p.m.

I’ve also included a comprehensive listing of events for the rest of the week as well:
 

TIME TO SIGN-UP FOR THE PARADE

The packets for those wanting to participate in the Tobacco and Heritage Festival Parade are now available at the Chamber Office. Call us at 270-726-2206 for more information.

TASTER’S LUNCHEON DEADLINE FOR TICKETS

Tickets for the ever-popular Taster’s Luncheon at the United Methodist Temple to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6 are on sale. The tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Temple during the hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. There will not be any tickets sold at the door, so get your tickets now.

That’s all for this special-edition newsletter. Your regular newsletter this Friday will be full to the brim with Chamber and Festival news. Also, look for various reminder emails as we attempt to keep you up on the latest Chamber news!

Ryan

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR SEPT. 18, 2015

From Ryan Craig 
Executive Director
Logan County Chamber of Commerce
ryancraig@loganchamber.com

SIGN UP FOR YOU FAVORITE TOBACCO AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL EVENT!

In sports they call it crunch time. In bull riding they call it white knuckles. For Star Wars fans it is 10 minutes before midnight on Dec. 18 when the new movie is set to open as the Star Wars fan holds tight to his/her plastic light saber.

Basically, it is GO TIME. The last few days before the 2015 Logan County Tobacco and Heritage Festival.

The big event, the big enchilada, is soon approaching nigh and I'm more excited than a puppy lost in a fire hydrant factory!

If you are reading this on Friday (Sept. 18) then keep in mind this is the final day to turn in your child or grandchild's application for the Queen's Pageant set to take place on Sept. 24., which is next Thursday. Below, I'm going to put out the event schedule and how to get any form for any event that someone needs to sign up.

Here is the link to the sign-ups for the events:
http://www.loganchamber.com/logan-county-tobacco-heritage-festival

Here is the schedule of events:

An electronic schedule of events can also be found at http://www.loganchamber.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/2015%20Calendar%20of%20Events.pdf

FIRST SOUTHERN COFFEE AND NETWORKING

 

A big thanks to the staff of First Southern National Bank for hosting a Coffee and Networking event on Sept. 9. There was a good crowd, great food and even better fellowship.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP LOGAN HAS FIRST CLASS

The inaugural Youth Leadership Logan Class met Tuesday for the first class of the year. The theme was History for this month and the 20 sophomores from Russellville and Logan County high schools were given a great overview of history at the museum in Auburn and through a couple of walking tours in Russellville. I'm really proud of this project and the class of well-behaved and well-spoken students!


MILITARY NEEDS HELP WITH GOLF SCRAMBLE FOR A GOOD CAUSE

There is no better cause than our military and their families and we at the Chamber are hoping our membership can help the 6-101st Combat Aviation Brigade with its first annual Shadow golf Scramble. The scramble, being put on by the Screaming Eagle Aviation Association as well, is having the scramble at the Links at Novadell in Hopkinsville, KY., on Sept. 25 with shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. Space is limited to the first 60 teams who sign up. The cost is $80 per person and includes the green and cart fees, range balls, lunch and golf Polo. Contact CW2 Aaron Bibbee @ 931-542-7973 for more information. We also have a few forms left at the Chamber Office if you want to come by and pick one up.

The real reason for the scramble is to help soldiers and their families who are returning from overseas to readjust and to do something nice for the children and families of soldiers as well.

An important note: The organizers tell us they are still needing some hole sponsors, so if you or your business can help please contact CW2 Bibbee at the number above.

That is all for this week. Expect a whole lot more information about the Tobacco and Heritage Festival and thanks again to all the sponsors, volunteers and those who make our biggest event possible each year.

Ryan

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT FOR SEPT. 4, 2015

From Ryan Craig Executive Director
Logan County Chamber of Commerce
ryancraig@loganchamber.com

The speakers were fantastic, the nacho bar was muy bien, and there was a great time of fellowship among the nearly 200 women (and some men, too) who came out Thursday for The Logan County Chamber of Commerce’s 7^th Annual Women in Business Luncheon.

The theme this year was Women in Hometown History and it was nothing short of amazing. Thanks to our speaker, Evelyn Richardson, and our special guest, Agnes Davis (a.k.a. Darlene Gooch) and to the Chamber Board, Ambassadors and the Women in Business Planning Committee.

A big thanks to our sponsors: Logan Eye Care, Country Wide Realty, Creative Canvas By You/The Loft , and the Russellville Electric Plant Board. A special thanks to Brothers Restaurant, the Logan County Extension Office, The Shoppe on the Square, Pawley’s Studio, Handbags and More by Judy, Therapeutic Pain Management, Trophies to Go, Pink Blueberry Boutique and Monogramming, and dpi-Design, Plan, Ink.

 

 

CHAMBER CHATS NOW ONLINE

Just what is a Chamber Chat? And how do I see one? Those are both very common questions I have been getting from both the Chamber membership and the public. What is Chamber Chat? It is a program where we spotlight Chamber members, groups and individuals. It doesn’t get any more local than what we are doing. The programs are filmed, produced and originally shown on the Russellville Electric Plant Board’s SmartTV3. We are eternally grateful for their cooperation on getting the word out about Logan County businesses, and we are also grateful for the EPB putting the programs on YouTube for everyone to see and for the businesses and groups we have featured to be able to use the Chamber Chats to help with marketing, promotion or for potential customers to view. Also, there are other programs on the channel that one might find of interest, especially if you have one of the EPB’s services.

Here is the link to the Electric Plant Board’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeq4_2_JRoI7VxCuPq2OJ4Q

FIRST SOUTHERN BANK COFFEE AND NETWORKING

Don’t let the fog of the Labor Day Weekend make you forget about the Coffee and Networking event on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at First Southern Bank, located at the new Russellville location, from 7-8:30 a.m. Let’s have a big crowd out to support First Southern and bring your business cards for some good food and good networking!

TOBACCO AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL FORMS ARE READY

If you didn’t already know, there is a huge event early next month — I think it is called the Logan County Tobacco and Heritage Festival, or something …

Anyway, we have all the forms for all the events here at the office, online by next week and we will also be making them available on Facebook as well. I’ll even put copies on the Chamber Blog next week also. We want you to participate in the greatest event that happens in the whole world year to year. Running with the Bulls? Dangerous. The ball dropping on Times Square. Too cold. Fireworks over Nashville. Too hot. The Tobacco and Heritage Festival. Just right!

From the 2015 Queen’s Pageant (Sept. 24) to the Jesse James 5K (Oct. 3) and many, many more events, we are your source for all things festival forms!

That’s all for this week; be safe and enjoy your holiday weekend!

 

Ryan