Chamber New


83 Years of Progress 1921-2004

Volume 5 Issue 1

Published monthly by the Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce

January 2004



Holidays 2003 in Johnson County

The holiday season is over but the Chamber would like to take a moment to thank all of the wonderful volunteers for the time spent in decorating and also to congratulate the winners of the Parade and the Lighting Contest.

Winners in the Annual Parade were: Business/Industry category - Best Western 1st Place (top left), Tyson Foods, Inc. 2nd Place (bottom right), and Roy Terry 3rd Place. In the Non-Profit category it was First Baptist Church 1st Place (top right), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2nd Place and Trinity Chapel Church 3rd Place.

For the Lighting Displays Best Western took 1st Place in the Business category once again with Hardwicke Funeral Home placing a close 2nd and Second Blessings coming in 3rd. In the Residential category it was Darby & Carrie Johnson at #37 Delsie Street in 1st Place, Junior & Ruby Young at 311 Garland Street 2nd Place and Shelby Heil at 602 Montgomery taking 3rd Place honors. All of the businesses and homes were beautiful and we want to thank everyone who participated.


Santa coming to town on the Chamber's float!


The Chamber would like to thank Leadership Johnson County classes for their help with fluffing garland and coordinating the lighting ceremony, parade and Santa with the children at the Court House after the parade.

Darby & Carrie Johnson Residence (above)

We also want to thank the Clarksville Police, Forrester Davis for helping bag candy, Clarksville Light & Water for their hard work in putting up the decorations, the spectators at the parade, and of course Santa for being the main attraction!

Also thank you to Ron Wylie at the Graphic for letting us use the great pictures he took of the Parade and to Jim Reasoner for his great pictures of the Lighting contest.

 

Right: Best Western

 

Above: Hardwicke Funeral Home
Meet Your New Board Members

Van Alan Hill is from Marianna, Arkansas where he graduated from Lee Academy High School in 1983. He attended the University of Texas @Arlington where he received a BBA in Finance in 1988. He worked his way through college as a butcher, bank teller, and for two years with the FBI in Dallas. He moved back to Arkansas in 1990 to accept a position at Nucor-Yamato Steel in Blytheville where he worked in the Melt Shop for almost 10 years as a Ladle Metallurgist. He and his wife of ten years, Nancy, moved to Johnson County in 1999 with their daughter, Sydney. He and his family live on their 275 acre wildlife ranch on the west side of Piney Bay where they enjoy hiking, four-wheeling, fishing, and hunting. Van is currently a Realtor at Century 21 Glover Town & Country Real Estate in Clarksville.

Edward Anderson has been the Chief Financial Officer for 4 ½ years at Johnson Regional Medical Center. He moved to Johnson County in April 1999 from Texas. Edward graduated from Missouri Western College in 1982 with a B.S. in Business Administration and in 1986 he graduated with an M.B.A. from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. Edward is a board member and Treasurer of the River Valley United Way, Committee Chairman of the Arkansas Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Co-chairman of the Healthcare Committee of the Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce, and active in coaching and umpiring Girls Club Softball. Edward and his wife Marla have four daughters: Kristi, Taylor, Hannah & Kelly.

Steven Sosebee is a lifelong resident of Johnson County. After graduating from Westside High School, he furthered his education at Arkansas Tech University obtaining a degree in Agriculture Business. Steve was employed by the Arkansas State Banking Department for 3 ½ years before becoming an Assistant Vice President/Ag Lending Officer at Simmons First Bank in Clarksville. He is President elect of the Kiwanis Club of Clarksville and is a member of the 2003 class of Leadership Johnson County. Steven and his family attend church at East Mt. Zion Trinity Baptist Church.

Doug Wharton is licensed with the Arkansas Real Estate Commission, member of the National Association of Realtors, member of CCIM and working on CCIM Designation for commercial real estate, member of Arkansas Economic Development to help generate new business and dollars for Johnson County, member of the Arkansas Hospitality Association and Clarksville Lions Club member. He previously owned and operated a commercial photo lab for 20 years, consulted for government, law enforcement, small business, and held a California Real Estate license. Doug and his wife Nancy have been married for 31 years. Nancy is from the Young and Stuart families of the Clarksville/Knoxville area. They have two children: son Jason who resides in the San Diego area with wife Alyson and grandson Cole. Their daughter Andrea just graduated from the University of Arkansas and lives in Bentonville where she works for the Wal-Mart Corporation. Doug's pastimes include cooking, photography, woodworking and most of all, family.

Mark Estelle chose to make Johnson County his home in 1998 when he joined the Wal-Mart Management team at their Clarksville Distribution Center. Prior to moving to Johnson County, Mark worked for a Wholesale Food Distributor in Milwaukee, WI and relocated several times throughout the upper Midwest. Currently Mark and his family, Amanda Brown-Estelle (lifetime Johnson County resident and graduate of U of O), 12-year-old stepson Dylan Beck and their 2-year-old daughter Abigail, reside in Knoxville. Mark is the Inbound Operations Manager for Wal-Mart's Clarksville Distribution Center and the President of the Piney Bay Boat Dock Association, a homeowners association in the Piney Bay Development area.

Jackie Nowotny and her husband, Mark, are the owners of Nowotny Service, a service/gas station located in downtown Clarksville. Jackie is Vice-President of First Security Bank, where she has been employed for more than 25 years. Jackie and Mark are the proud parents of two children: Alicia, who is currently attending the University of the Ozarks, and Jake, who is a junior at Clarksville High School. When she's not attending a choir concert to hear Alicia sing or a CHS football game to see Jake play, Jackie likes to go bowling and enjoys being a member of the Thursday Night Ladies Bowling League. She is also an avid shooter and sporting clay competitor. During the competition season, Jackie competes in a number of tournaments throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas. She currently holds the title of Arkansas Ladies Champion. Jackie is a member of the Woodland Baptist Church and is very involved in its youth group's activities. She is a past President of the Johnson County Girls Club and the current Treasurer for the Citizens for the Youth of Johnson County as well as a member of the CHS Athletic Booster Club. Jackie was Co-Director of the inaugural Leadership Johnson County class and is active in the presentation of the Arkansas Scholars Program covering all school districts in Johnson County.

Sondra McKelvey and her husband Dr. Richard McKelvey moved with their family to Clarksville in 1977 when he opened his practice, Johnson County Surgery Clinic. They have three children: Diane, Erin, and Bill, and one grandchild. Sondra works as Business Manager at the Surgery Clinic. They have been Chamber members since moving here. She chaired the Chamber committee that developed the Spadra Creek Nature Trail and served on the committee to renovate the railroad depot for the new Chamber office. Sondra has been active in economic development projects and is the Chair of the Central Business District Revitalization Committee. She served on the Clarksville City Council from 1984 to 2002 and considers two of her favorite projects the rebuilding of the Rogers/Main intersection and the Downtown Renovation Committee. Sondra currently serves on the Chamber's Commercial Development Committee and on the Board of the Johnson County Community Foundation. The McKelveys are members of First United Methodist Church.

Clarksville-Johnson County
Chamber of Commerce - 2004

Executive Committee
Matt Wylie - President
Freeman Wish - 1st Vice President
Darrell Williams - 2nd Vice President
Janice Joyce - Sec/Treasurer
Lee White - Immediate Past President

Government/Schools
Judge Mike Jacobs - Johnson County
Mayor Billy Helms - Clarksville
Mayor Glenda Caldwell - Knoxville
Beverly Wagner - Lamar
Mayor Deborah Marvel - Coal Hill
Dr. Rick Niece - Schools

Board of Directors
Chris Allen --- Sara Lee Hosiery
Edward Anderson --- Individual
Mark Estelle --- Wal-mart DC 6082
Dorinda Edmisten --- Ozark Rape Crisis Center
Steve Fisher --- AR River Valley Dentistry
Bliss Hicky --- Regions Bank
Robbie Jackson --- East Mt. Zion Trinity Baptist
Van Hill --- Individual
Betty Killough --- Tyson Foods, Inc.
Sondra McKelvey --- Individual
Jim Pat Mills --- Mills Oil Company
Robbi Mooney ---Mid South Roller
Jackie Nowotny ---Nowotny Service
Max Slaughter --- Johnson Chevrolet
Steven Sosebee --- Simmons First Bank
Harve Taylor --- Individual
Denton Tumbleson --- Simmons First Bank
Doug Wharton --- C21 Commercial Real Estate

Executive Director
Vicki Lyons

Chamber Staff
Karen Johnson
Ramona Cogan
(479) 754-2340 Fax (479) 754-4923
Email:
cjccofc@cswnet.com

New & Renewing Members

*City of Coal Hill
*Resource Alliance of Johnson County
Bean Furniture
Bruce Wilson
Dependable Air
Don Pennington
Downey Publishing
Exxon Tiger Mart
First United Methodist Church
Hampton Inn
Hardgrave Photography
Irene White
Jim Pat Mills
Mills Oil Company
Nancy Hill
Opal Cox
Raymond Fry
Rose Drug
Sharum Insurance Agency, Inc.
United Country All Star Real Estate

Member FYI 

David Clair Photography located at 719 Highway 21, will be having a Glamour Session on Saturday, January 17th. Letha Bice will be doing make-up, Gina from the Cut Above will be fixing hair and there will be hats, wraps, jewelry, boas, etc. You can also bring your own favorite things if you like. This session is for all ages and pictures will be back by Valentine's Day. Limited spaces are available so call early for an appointment. 754-7700 Also, Jessica has told us that old files and/or negatives are going to be destroyed soon so call if you want to purchase at a very reasonable price.

Congratulations to Philip Taylor on his election to a new three-year term on the Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Board of Directors.

The Johnson County Community Foundation has announced the second grant cycle will begin in January. Limited funding of approximately $10,000 is available during this granting period; however, grants will generally range from $500 to a maximum of $2,500. Successful applicants will be notified of grant approval in March of 2004. Applications are available at the Foundation office at 1010 West Main and must be returned by the deadline of January 14th to be eligible for consideration. For assistance or additional information, please call the JCCF office at 754-5842.

Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors whose term ended on December 31, 2003 are Steve Burch, Billy Dickerson, Carol Martin, David Taylor and Adele Jacobs. We want to express our sincere thanks for the time you took to serve on the Board.

Welcome to Scott Smith, new State Farm Insurance agent and congratulations on your move to your new office. State Farm is now located at 1160 South Rogers. 

Everyone have a safe and
Happy New Year!

Calendar of Events

Chamber Closed for New Year's - January 1st

ARVTPR Meeting - January 6th Dardanelle State Park 10:00 a.m.

Housing Committee Meeting - January 6th Chamber 1:30 p.m.

5th Annual Wal-mart DC 6082 Children's Miracle Network Talent Show - January 10th U of O Walton Fine Arts Center Preliminaries 10:00 a.m.; Finals 7:00 p.m. For tickets/more information contact Natasha Wilson, Deana Selby or Janiece Rackley at 754-4500

Commercial Development Committee Meeting - January 16th Chamber 10:00 a.m.

Ambassadors Monthly Meeting - January 13th Chamber 9:00 a.m.

Leadership Johnson County - January 20th Industry Tours

Fraternal Order of the Eagles Regular Meetings - Mondays Chamber 7:00 p.m.

Chamber General Membership Luncheon - January 21st U of O Noon

Central Business District Committee Meeting - January 27th Chamber Noon

Resource Alliance of Johnson County Meeting - January 28th Emerald Dragon Noon

The University of the Ozarks Women wants to thank the people of Johnson County and these area businesses and organizations for helping make a difference this Holiday Season!

These businesses and organizations helped the 2003 Christmas Angels Project, which provides gifts for area children and youth.

Baldor Electric Company
Bank of the Ozarks
Bright Harvest Sweet Potato Company
Clarksville Insurance Agency, Inc.
Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce
Clarksville Kiwanis Club
Clarksville Refrigerated Lines
Clarksville Rotary Club
Coldwell Banker, Ken Stall & Associates
First Security Bank
Johnson County Board of Realtors
Johnson County Community Foundation
Johnson County Department of Human Services
Johnson County Fairgrounds
Lamar City Hall
Lamar Methodist Church
Mid-South Roller
Regions Bank
Sara Lee Hosiery
Simmons First Bank
Tyson Foods
University of the Ozarks-Employees and Critical Inquiry classes
Wal-Mart Super Center
Wal-Mart Distribution Center
Whitson-Morgan Motor Company

These individuals and businesses purchased ads in the 2004 Community Birthday Calendar, which supports female student scholarships at University of the Ozarks.

All-Brite Carpet
ARAMARK Classic Fare Catering-University of the Ozarks
Arkansas Cycle Works, Inc.
Arkansas Western Gas Company
Balloons'n Things
Bank of the Ozarks
Bean Furniture, Inc.
Best Western Sherwood Motor Inn