Sprague chamber installs officers

SPRAGUE – The Chamber of Commerce installed officers and board members at their Jan. 21 meeting, with Pastor Bob Bridge of the Community Church administering the oath of office.

Tim Wilken was sworn in as president; Chris Day, appearing over the phone, as vice-president; Joy Wilken as Treasurer (non-signer); and Melissa Salisbury as secretary. Additional board members sworn in were Jill Sheffels, Dave Davisson and Sherry Stowell.

The board honored former president Dorothy Giddings with cupcakes and the singing of "Happy Birthday" in recognition of her 90th birthday. Giddings served as vice president the past two years.

"I stepped down to get Chris started (in the role)," Giddings said. "Normally I'm a board member, but those positions are filled up. It doesn't matter; when you are here you just 'do.'"

Giddings, a long-time resident of Sprague who served as president for several years, said she still owns four businesses downtown.

"I stay busy," Giddings said.

She said she was honored the previous day for her birthday during the senior meal.

"We had a party yesterday, it was real nice. We had our meal and played some games and did our exercise," Giddings said. "It gives us something to look forward to, to visit with people you haven't seen in a week."

The seniors will soon be enjoying a remodeled kitchen in the Community Hall, with upgrades including a three-bay commercial sink, butcher block counters and new flooring.

Tim Wilken rounded up volunteers for a work day Saturday. During the business portion of the meeting, Wilken said they were still in need of $5,000 for the kitchen upgrade, after spending $2420 so far.

Wilken said he turned in an expense spreadsheet for a COVID-19 grant, and received $5700.

"Since it's money we already spent, we will be able to use it now however we want, so we will be able to use it on the kitchen remodel," Wilken said, adding, "We were at the point of gritting our teeth and wondering if we would be able to stay open at the end of August, and the Lord provided."

Wilken said the chamber missed out on four of their big money-making events this year, including the car show and the rest areas.

"The rest areas usually bring in $800 each time," Wilken said, adding the sausage feed was another big money-maker they lost out on this year. "How we got through this year is still to be determined. I hope 2021 is better, and we can have our normal functions back."

Wilken said they wouldn't use all the reimbursement grant money if they don't need to, but "we made the kitchen remodel a priority, since we have great volunteers who said they would do the work."

Joy Wilken said a COVID-19 grant she received earlier paid for expenses from November to May.

"There was $3,000 left over, so they split it among all the applicants and we got another $1,1175," Joy Wilken said. "We'll use it to offset the city bill for electric, and insurance."

The silent auction usually held at the annual banquet was set up at the Jan. 21 meeting, with a 56" x 72" original quilt made by Bonnie Swannack scoring a $400 bid.

"Bonnie always did a quilt and donated it to the auction, and this one probably will be the last one, so it will be a keepsake," Tim Wilken said of the vibrantly-colored work of art.

Looking toward the new year, President Day said he is revitalizing a project to have art work done by high school students painted on the underpasses at the freeway.

"I would like to have high school students present pieces of art that represent Sprague; what we do and our histories," Day said, adding he has the paperwork ready to file with the county for approval. "We would be in charge as the chamber for maintenance of the artwork," Day said. "I would like to start getting the ball rolling on that."

Other projects the chamber is working on include forming a committee to decorate downtown to "give more of a hometown feel for people passing through," and purchasing a new sign for the Community Center.

Lutes said banners for high school seniors were put up last year, with plans to continue that as an annual project.

Chamber annual memberships are available for $10 per person or $25 per business. Checks can be made payable to Sprague Chamber and mailed to PO Box 17, Sprague, WA 99032.