Spring Fling going area-wide

County Commissioner Dennis Bly attended Tuesday’s Chamber of Commerce meeting, where he presented Lindsy Starkel, Deutschesfest Food Chairman, with official notification of a $10,000 grant from the Lincoln County Commissioners to be used for economic development. The fund is generated from a portion of the county’s excise taxes. The community kitchen project was one of several in the county which received funding.

Chamber members went on to vote in a slate of officers and board members that are all willing to continue their work on behalf of the organization. They are: President, Marlon Schafer; Vice President, Lindsy Starkel; Secretary, Michelle Melgren; Treasurer, Larissa Zeiler; Board Members, Justin Parr and Victoria Iverson. The remaining board position is filled by the Deutschesfest Biergarten Chairman, who has yet to be named.

Kitchen

Starkel presented a preliminary result on the kitchen fundraising dinner held February 10. The next step, according to Starkel, is to bring the contractor back to look at the second plan and provide an estimate, then return to the designer for changes.

As with any remodeling project, there are downsides and upsides to the favored “Plan B”, including probable cost increases. On the other hand, it will be possible to begin work on the project sooner, since it can start even when the community center and current kitchen are in use. The earlier completion date would then ease concerns about the grant funding from the EDC, which will need to be used up during the current fiscal year.

Chamber Banquet/Awards

Secretary Michelle Melgren noted that ballots are available at Wheatland Bank and The Odessa Record for anyone who would like to make a nomination for the Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year and Business of the Year. She noted that while those nominated must be Chamber of Commerce members, anyone is welcome to turn in a nomination.

Melgren also reported that two bids have been received for catering of the Chamber banquet, which will be held March 17 with a St. Patrick’s Day theme.

Spring Fling

Laura Estes presented the latest developments in Odessa’s Spring Fling celebration, which is on its way to being a cooperative effort with Harrington. Estes and Cassandra Pfaffle-Dick of Harrington have been working together to assemble a slate of activities designed to bring more people to the area the last weekend in April.

In addition to the annual Odessa Quilt Club quilt show, the Odessa Volunteer Fire Department will hold their annual consignment auction, Volkswalks are being planned, yard sales will be prevalent in both communities, a car show will be held in Harrington, a horseshoe tournament will be offered in Odessa, Harrington Golf and Country Club will offer a coupon good for 18 holes of golf for $10, and area camping and fishing will be also be promoted.

“Everything seems to be falling into place at this time,” said Estes. She said that the most recent idea was to make indoor space at Old Town Hall available to people who live outside of town and would like to have an indoor yard sale. She added that Odessa Junior Livestock 4-H Club was interested in overseeing the event, much as they do Christmas Fest in December, and requested that the Chamber assist by paying the Old Town Hall rental fee.

Web site

President Marlon Schafer suggested that the group schedule a training session with Web site developer Michaelle Boetger of Moses Lake, in order to learn how to keep the site up-to-date.

Desert 100

Schafer also reported that he has been receiving an increasing number of requests from non-local food vendors to be allowed to participate in the Desert 100 weekend. He added that he had had reports of long lines and delays as well as inconvenient locations at the food court, and suggested the possibility of adding a second food court closer to actual campsites.

Zach Schafer of Rocky Coulee Brewing Co., which has been in charge of food court setup for several years, responded that delays and confusion would be minimized if the plans were followed. He added that the loss of the Riders Club as a vendor had added to difficulties.