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HomeMy WebLinkAboutChamber of Commerce Jan. 2005Laurel Chamber of Commerce January, 2005 108 East Main Laurel, MT 59044 (406) 628-8105 - phone and fax www:laurelmontana.org Executive 8oard President, Donna Podolak, Donna's Massage Therapy Vice Presidenh Linda Wedel, Prudential Floberg Realtors Past President, Bob O'Dca, Yellowstone Bank Executive Secretary, Kim Wombolt Coral Harvey - Laurel Ford Stephanie Potter, Northern Skies Aviation Tracy DuFresne - Avanta Federal Credit Union C.& Dahle - Evergreen Health & Rehabilitation Jerry Bauck- Rock Creek Books Mike Nardella - Nardetla & Siams, CPA's Glenda Seabrook- Countryside Photography and Applied Business Systems Steve O'Neil - Farmer's Union Insurance Wes Burley -Town & Country Supply Assn. The Laurel Chamber of Commerfe would like to Welcome Wes Burley of Town and Country Supply Association and Steve O'Neil of Farmers Union Insurance to the Board of Directors. The Chamber would also like to thank Rynn Burrows of Edward Jones Investments and Sheryl Breater of CHS [nc. Refinery for the many years of serving on the Board of Directors of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce. Sheryt served as director and vice president. Ryan served as direetur, vice president, president and past president. Both were very active members of the Board and are going to be greatly missed! ! Chamber Board Meetings: The Laurel Chamber of Commerce would like to invite all Chamber members to Board meetings held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month dining the noon hour. The meetings are held at the different Chamber-member restaurants. For information about the locatio~ call 628-8105. If you would like an agenda mailed or foxed to you, contact Kim at the office. Statistics -(October~ November~ December) Relocation Packets: 2 (Wolf Point, Washington) Visitor Packets: 2 (Texas, New Jersey) Business Relocation Packets: 0 Special Requests: 43 Walk-ins: 195 Phone Calls: 85 Recommendations: 60 Information Mailed: 177 Faxes Sent: 13 Faxes Received: 2 E. Mail Messages Sent: I5 E.Mail Messages Received: 224 Ribbon Cuttings: 3 New businesses and/or owners: 2 Speakers Hosted At Meetings: 2 New Chamber Memberships: 1 Lifetime Chamber Memberships: 11 Regular Chamber Mere berships: 132 Calendar of Events January 2 - Take down Christmas Decorations- 8 am breakfast at Owl Junction, 9 am work begins 4 - Christmas to Remember Meeting - noon - Laurel Bus Depot 13 - Chamber Board Meeting - noon - call for meeting location 17- Dist[ngaished Service Awards Banquet Laurel Golf Club - 6 pm - social hour, 7 pm Dinner with awards to follow; entertainment Homeward Bound 27 - Chamber Board Meeting - noon, call for meeting location February 2 - Christmas to Remember Meeting - noon - Laurel Bus Depot 10 - Chamber Board Meeting - noon - Call for meeting location 24 - Chamber Board Meeting - noon - call the office for meeting location March 1 - Christmas to Remember Meeting - noon - Laurel Bus Depot 10 - Chamber Board Meeting - noon- call for meeting location 24 - Chamber Board Meeting noon - call for meeting location. Spotlight on Business-Laurel Outlook The Laurel Outlook is located at 415 East Main and is owned by Milt and Gloria Wester. Before owning the newspaper, Milt worked for the Billings Gazette and Gloria was a school teacher in Billings. Milt and Gloria formed a corporation in 1984 in order to purchase the newspaper from Campbell Calvert, sole proprietor. This corporation was named the Outlook Publishing, lnc. and on April 15, 1984, (Milt Wester's birthday), the newspaper became the property of the Westers. During that time, it was located at the area that is now the drive through of Avanta Federal Credit Union. The Outlook moved to its new home at 415 East Main in 1987. This location was once home to Johnson Ford, a roofing store and a casket warehouse. The casket warehouse company was leasing the building at the time that the Westors purchased the building. This building best suited the needs of the newspaper since the front area was used for the office and the back was used for storage. In 1997, a newspaper press was purchased and installed in the back of the building and is used for printing. When the Westers purchased the newspaper from Mr. Calvert, they assumed any and all memberships of the business. They did not inherit the existing employees, but they chose to offer employment to all existing employees. Some chose to retire while a few others chose to stay. One of these employees was Elinor O'Neil who still works for the Outlook today. Elinor is a part-time proof- reader at this time. Milt said that he has tried to make the business one that the employees would enjoy working for. A number of his employees have been working them for more than a decade. The Outlook employees thirteen employees and founenn carriers who handle sixteen routes. The circulation of the Laurel Outlook is 3,700 and the circulation of the Outrider is 9,500. Besides publishing the Laurel Outlook, the Westers also publish the Welcome! Visitom Guide. This publication has a circulation of 6,000 per week in the winter and 8,000 per week in the summer. The Westers started publishing the Welcome! Visitors Guide before they owned the Outlook Publishing, Inc. Besides publishing the Laurel Outlook and the Welcome! Visitors Guide, the business offers commemial newspaper printing, newspaper press of books and newspapers, and commercial printing of office forms and publications. The Westers have been very active in the community of Laurel. They have supportedvarious local organizations and tried to help out with some of these organizational needs. They offered a home to the Laurel Chamber of Commerce for many years. Originally it was thought that die Chamber would need office space for around six months, but this turned into quite a few years. The Wasters and the Outlook employees welcomed each and every new Chamber secretary into the building and made them feel welcome to be them. Some of the other organizations that they belonged to include: National Chamber of Commerce, Montana Chamber of Commerce, Billings Chamber of Commerce, Laurel Chamber of Commerce (Milt served as director and president), Pompey's Pillar Association, Custer Country, Inc.(Gloria served on the Board), Laurel Boosters, Friends of Canyon Creek (Milt is President of this organization), Montana Newspaper Association, (Milt is currently President), National Newspaper Association, and National Federation of Independent Businesses. The walls of the Laurel Outlook building are full of the many awards and certificates the Westers, the Outlook employees, and the newspaper have received. Gloria received Tourism Person of the Year by Travel Montana a few years ago and was presented this award by the Governor of Montana. They have received awards from the Laurel Chamber of Commerce that include Business Person of the Year, Employer of the Year, and Special Service Award. Milt and Gloria were named the Laurel Chamber of Commeroe 4m of July Parade Grand Marshall a few years ago. Gloria was instrumental in helping the Chamber receive grant funding for the addition onto the log cabin building. In 2002, both Milt and Gloria received the Muster Editor Publishing Award and were the first husband and wife team to ever be named for this award. They have two websites. The first one is located at www. laureloutlook.com and the other is www.laureloutloolccom/montanavisitors~uide/ ' When Milt was asked what he felt was the one .important thing about his business, he replied, "It is very tmpormnt for a community to have its own identity and have access to local information by having its own newspaper. It is also important for this newspaper to support the Iocal businesses and the local readers?' Without the generosity of the Westers, the Laurel Chamber of Commerce would probably not be here today. [~eminder.- [~ E~usJnes$ WitlJ ~hamb~r ~A~mb~r~ I:Jrs~ !! Spotlight on Business- Schessler Read~ Mix, Inc. Schesslar Ready Mix, Inc. - 603, West Railroad Street, P.O. Box 548, Laurel - 628-4221 has plants in Laurel, Columbus, Bridget, and Red Lodge. Three generations have been involved in the business of hauling Ready Mix Concrete. Besides hauling the concrete, they offer excavation servicas such as digging basements, ditch work, demolition, back filling, septic tank installation, cisterns, snow removal, dump lruck services, road grader services, site preparation and some crane services, and removal of concrete with skid mounted jack hammers. The Scheaslers donated their sea-vices and materials when the addition was being put omo the log cabin for the mini museum. They were the first volunteers to get on board with offering help. They were responsible for the excavation work as well as pouring the cement for the foundation. The company hauls concrete as far west as Reed Point, as far east as Billings Heights and Lockwood, as far south as the Bridger and Belfry areas, and as far north as Ryegate. It is a family business; Bob and his wife Joyca, son Rob and his wife Julie, and Bob's son-in-law, Roger Osborne all work at the business. Joyce and Julie work in the office. Bob's father, Herman (Ike) Schessles was the original owner of the business since the 1930's. Herman started the business, it was simply an excavation business. He expanded it to include randy-mix concrete in 1950. The business was started on Colorado Avenue in Laurel, just offMaIn Street. In 1940, the business was moved to its current locatiun at 603 West Railroad Street. In 1972, Bob and Joyca and partner John Miller bought the business for Bob's dad. John retired in 1992, and Bob bought his share of the business. Bob has worked at the business since the 1950's, when he was still ia high school. He began working full-time in the lam 1950's, at'er he graduated from Montana State College, (now known as MSU-Bozeman) and after military training in fue south. Bob has worked at the cement plant since he was hi high school in the 1980's and has worked full-time since graduation fi'om Northern Montana College in Havre in 1989. Rob has donated a great deal of his time and services to the Laurel Youth Soccer Club. The Scbesslers have donated their time and equipment to help the Chamber put up and take down the Chrism~as decorations every year. They also give their lime and services to the Laurel Volunteer Fire DeparUnent~ They also donated sand, gravel and concrete to various projects for non-profit and school functions in the area of Laurel, Columbus, Bridger, Joliet, Park City and Red Lodge. Thye have supported the school districts and have sponsored local sports teams. They have also donated a loader and their time in Bridgar with the demolition derby by having a loader sandy by to help with wrecked cars. The Laurel Herbsffest was the brain-child of Bob Schassler and Bill Sorg, and with the help of a few other volanteem, it came to life in 1973. Bob and his family were involved with the either the planning or performing or both for the next 20 years. Since the early 1990's, the Schessler clan has been involved wit the Magic City 4-Wheelers and Montana 4 x 4 Assoeiatien. They can be found on the mountain ~'alts just trail riding or helping the Forest Service with conservation projects to keep the roads and wails open for ali to enjoy. They have donated their time and equipment for the preparation of the sites for sand drags, obstacle courses and digging pits for mud bogs. They help at the Thunder National's Monster Truck and Tough Truck competitions held at Metra Park. Whenever help is needed by an employee, club or organization, City of Laurel, or anyone in need, the Schesslers have always stepped up to the plate. No job or request is too big or too small for them to handle. Distinguished Service Award's Banquet The Laurel Chamber of Commerce and the Laurel Jaycees will sponsor the Distinguished Service Awards Banquet on Monday, January 17, 2005, at the Laurel Golf Club. No-host cocktails will be held at 6 p.m., and dinner with awards to follow will be held at 7 p.m. Dinner choices are either Cornish Game Hen or Ribeye Steak and Shrimp Scampi. Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber office for $25.00 each. Entertainment will be by Homeward Bound. Band members are: John Pearceson, Bob Sutherland, Ran Velan, David Vigesas, Core3, Krum, and John Dailey. The Chamber will give out six awards: Employee of the Yeas, Boss or Manager of the Year, Public Official of the Year, Business Pemon of the Year, Special Service Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award with lifetime membership in the Laurel Chamber of Commerce. The Laurel Jaycaes will present awards as well. All are invited to attend. For more information, contact Klm at the Chamber office at 628-8105. Welcome! The Laurel Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome two new businesses to Main Street. Blessed Beginnings, owned by Laurie Parpart moved into the old Sassy Seconds Mall at 103 East Main and Maurer Chiropractic, owned by Dr. Phillip Maurer moved into the old Montana Country Log Homes at 113 East Main. We would also like to welcome Sunshine Academy to Laurel. Craig, Sarah, and Lenaya Rceder have taken over the old Little Tykes Academy at 2837 North Ramshom Drive. A great big WELCOME goes out to our newest members of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce: Friendship Veterinary Clinic and Montana Rail Link. The Circus is Coming to Laurel The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will be corning to Laurel on Sunday, June 12t~ for two shows: 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The shows will be located at Ricci's new lot - First Avenue and 7a Street. Ticket prices will be available in advance at the Chamber office - $8 -adalt and $6 - children (2 - 12). Children under the age of 2 are free. Tickets on the day of the circus will be sold only by the circus and these prices are: $9.50 for adult, and $7.50 for children ages 2-12. The Chamber will ask for corporate sponsors to help with the costs to bring the circus to town. All business will be contacted for donations in order to purchase tickets for the school children so all will have an oppommity to attend the circus. All are invited to watch the big tent go up on the day of the circus at 9 a.m. and to attend a flee endangered species program at I 0 mm. Memorial Plaque The Chamber has contracted Dynamic Designs to make a memorial plaque to be on display at the Chamber Visitor Information Center. Each time a memorial is received, the name of the donor and the name of the person being honored will be engraved on a gold plate to be placed on this plaque. To date there have been several donations made and these are: · In honor of Timothy Wagner by Nardalla & Siems, CPA's · In honor of Gene Bars'ness by Nardella & Siems, CPA's * in honor of Gib Hirschfelt and Katie Strending by Randy and Jennifer Strending, Margaret Hirschfelt, Rob and Kelly Harris and Sharon Tenons. · In honor of Jack Mayes & Peggy Palmer by Marguerite Mayes Boxcar and Location Received bp Chamber The'Chamber recently received word from Montana Rail Link that they will donate a boxcar in order to store the Chamber's Christmas decorations. This boxcar is located at this time in Missoula and will be sent to Laurel. Once it is in Laurel, it will be moved down the lracks to the area of Hageman Elevator, owned by Ken and Peggy Miller - Laurel Factory Outlet. Ken and Peggy have donated a spot at this location to place the boxcar. Jack Gabriun and Leonard Wombolt will then move the boxcar off the tracks to the designated location by a crane. The boxcar will need to be painted and repairs made to get it ready for the storage of the Chamber's Chrisunas decorations· (Currently, the decorations are being stored at a storage unit located at Westhrook Storage. Rudy and Monte Groshelle have donated the use of this unit to the Chamber for many years. This storage unit will still be used for the storage of the Farmer's Markets and Fourth of July equipment.) For the past two years, the Chamber has received donations by the residents and business people of Laurel in order to purchase more Chrismms decorations. Due to the overwhelming responses received, the Chamber had to expand the storage area for these decorations. Thanks to the generosity of Montana Rail Link and Laurel Factory, Outlet (Ken and Peggy Miller), the decorations will have a new home. Lewis and Clarlr Bicentennial- Laurel The Laurel Chamber of Commerce Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee has been working with Walt Foster of the Clark Bottom Rendezvous Organization in order to get a signature event for the Laurel area. This event will be held this year ns a trial run on July 24~ with the main event taking place in 2006 and years to follow. The event will be the Clark Bottom Rendezvous in which there will be a trade camp and a quiet camp. The trade camp · will have Ixaders setting up a u'ade camp this year at Fireraen's Park and in years to follow at possibly Riverside Park. At the trade camp, the day-traders will sell their waxes that are consistent with the period dating from 1825 to 1840. Their attire will be frore that time period as well. There will be a quiet camp held at BLM land - Pheasant's Forever· Plans include historical storytelling, educational historical dareonstmtions, exhibits, foods of the era, and self-guided tour inlbrmation about the historical trails of the area. For more information call the Chamber or Walt Foster at 633-2497. Christmas Decorations Donations The Laurel Chamber of Commerce Christmas Decorations Committee would like to thank all who generously donated towards the purchase of Chrisanas decorations. We would especially like to thank Avanta Federal Credit Union for creating and mailing a brochure to all of the Laurel residents asking for these donations.. Thank you to these contributors: Residents: · Gay Easton · L.J. Halvorson · Frank and Myma Rose Wombolt In memory of Jack Mayes and Peggy Palmer by Marguerite Mayes · Mary E. Mogan · Jean L. Krause · Rosemary Frickel · Barbara Calvert · Dave and Donna Mctvor · Lee and Billie Gustafann Raychel and Chris Hast · Murti, Brent, &C.J. Edgrnond · Mike and Laban Longbottom · John P. and Julie Higgins * Cahfie Bell · Donald & Tummy-Jean Josti · Keith and Faye Wood · Tom and Julie Ganthier · K. Dan Koch · Georgia Kline · Brace and Connie McCullough · Vivian Hodgas · Jan and Irene Sfingley · Don and Darlene Hankmann · John Berg and Carolyn Boyd · Gloria Sturgis · Tom Davis · In memory of G~ Hirschfelt and Katie Stranding by Randy and Jennifer Strending, Margaret Hirschfelt, Rob and Kelly Harris, and Sharon Tanous · Anne Karo · Bonnie Preikszas · Dorothy & Whitey Guiun · Doug & Wendy Stranch · Dr. Brian and Alisha Starr · Ed Steffans Gordon and Marlene Forster · Jim and Cynthia Simons · June Thompson Leonard and Kim Wombolt Melvin and Ruth Baker * Robert and Kayrene Kraft · Robert and Rim Ryder · Tim and Vicky Seedhoase Businesses: · Railside Diner · Pierce Flooring (Billings) · Btidger Steel (Billings) · McGee & Company · Laurel Water Service * A Hans of Realty · Ace Electric · Ace Hardware · Avanta Federal Credit Union · Costco Wholesale (Billings) · Montana Christmas Evergreen · Montana Fireworks · Montana Dakota Utilities · The Design Hair & Tanning Salon · Water Specialties · Welcome Travelers Motel · Yellowstone Bank Oreanizations: · Laurel Jaycees · Unity Garden Club In the past two years, over $7,000.00 has been raised 'for the purchase of new decorations and repair of the existing decorations. Thank you to all who have made this possible! Christmas To Remember Meeting.v Christmas to Remember Celebration - 2005 will be the 20t~ anniversary of this event There are ~i lot of big plans on tap for this anniversary. Meetings for this will be held every first Tuesday of the month starting, January 4e. These meeting will be held during the noon hour at the Laurel Bus Depot. Lunch will be served. All interested are encouraged to attend these meetings, ltems to be discussed will include: · Chrislrnas Parade · Lighting of the Christmas tree in Town Square Park · Coocessions · Business Open Houses · Fireworks display and ways to raise fanda needed for this · Your own great ideas! For additional information, please contact Joan Carol Thompson at the Laurel Bus Depot - 628- 4508. Laurel Chamber of Commerce Members: A Haus of Realty 2. Abba Elect-teal Contractors 3. Acc Electric 4. Ace Hardware 5. All Season's Car Wash 6. Animal Lodge Pet Resort 7. Applied Business Systems 8. Auto Connection 9. Avanta Federal Credit Union 10. BFI Waste Sys[nms 13. Big S~ Econmic ~elopment Au~od~ 15. Bob Rcdding Aeraplmcs 17. Bmmg~d, Phytlis 18. B~g~ King 19. CHS Inc. 21. ~hnosc S~n 24. C~ex Conv~i~ S~re 25. Cheerio ~unge 26. Cindm H~ng & Cooling 27. Ci~ of ~ural 29. ~noMmSup~SIo~ 30. Cos~o ~ol~c (Billing) 33. Covert Cleming 35. Do~ffs M~e ~c~y 36. D~ge A~ Faalfl Eape~siom 45. F~er's Union l~ur~ First Cit~n's B~k 47. Fi~ Cit~n's B~ - Jm's IGA 48. Fi~t N~o~ P~ 50, G~e's Phony 52. H~s ~en~ 53. Helena Chnmiufl 54. Hill's Ser~n Printing 55. Hewed Jo~son Inn 56. ~ated Se~ri~ W~t 59. Just Juicit 61, Kwik Way Ol 5 63. ~urel Bo~d of Trede 66. LO~I Ford 67. ~umI ~lfClub 68. Laurel H~ng ~d S~i~ 69. Lau~ Liquor S~re 70. Laurel Medical CentedSt. Vincent's Hospital 71. Laurel Outlook & Printing 72. Laurel Scrvicenter, Inc. 73. Lvarel School District ? & 7-70 74. Laurel Super 8 Motel 75. Little Big Men Pizza 76. Locomotion Fitness Center 77. Locomotive Bar & Casino 78. Lucky Ltl's Casino 79. Madagascar Imports Ltd. 80. Magnus Tree Removal Service 81. Meadowlark Gallery g2. Midland OfficcEquipment 83. Midwest Software 84. Modem Auto 85. Modem Refrigeration (Billings) g6. Montana Christmas Evergreen 87. Montana Dakota Utilities 88. Montana Fireworks 89. Montana Matherlode Casino 90. Montana Rail Link 91. Montana Valley Bottled Water 92. Nm-della & Stems, CPA's 93. N ale Finger's Muslartl Co. 94. Northern Rockies Glass & Detailing 95. Northern Skies Aviation 96. NorthWe. stem Energy 97. Orchid Clsancrs 9g. Owl Junction Diner 99. Pizza Hut 100. Price Phan~aey 101. Prudential Floberg Realtors 102. Railside Diner 103. Reporter Office Products 104. R. ieal's ThriPavay 105. Rivcraldc Repair 106. Rock Creek Books 107. Rum] Broadband, LLC 108. Russell Motel 109. Rutt's [nc. 110. SEG Federal Credit Union 112. Sid's East Stdc Bar & Grill 113. Smith Funeral Chapels 115. Stahl Cabinets, thc. 116. Stolckc, Samuel, D.D.S. ] 17. Subway 118. Tendemest Retirement Home~ 119. The Depot Restaurant 120. Thomac Lumber 121. Town and Counts~ Supply Association 122. Town Pump 123. Tri County Ronlals 124. U-Stet-It Mini Storage 125. Water Specialties 126. Welcome Travelers Motel 127. Westbrook Storage 128. Western Security Bank 129. Wood's Pow'r Grip 130. Yallowstonc Bank I31. Yellowstone County Commissioners 132. Yellowstone Valley YMCA Lifetime Members: Tom Frank, Allie Dolven, Ray Hah/s, Bob Singleton, Pat Mullancy, J. Me[ Williams, Dr. Lee Richardson, Dave Powers, Jim Schrocder, Dr. John H. Smith, and Jeanne Stabelfeldt Laurel Map/Brochure The new 2005 Laurel Map/Brochure is available at the Laurel Chamber of Commeme. The map/brochure has been updated with the new street listings and new information about Laurel For a flee copy of the map, stop in at the office at 108 East Main or cai1 for one to be sent to you - 628-8105. Host a Business After Hours Event Now is your chance to host a Business After Hours Event!! The Chamber will supply the address labels and/or a list of the area businesses if you decide to send out invitations. The Chamber will also provide a press release to the Laurel Outlook with all of the details for your Business After Hours event. You provide the refi'esinnents! You pick the date, times, and location. This is a great way to network with other business executives as well as let everyone know about the products or services you provide at your business. Call now to sign up - don't miss out on the fi.tn! Call the office at 628-8105. Laurel Chamber of Commerce Sponsored Ribbon Cuttings Ribbon cuttings are held for new businesses, existing businesses with new owners, remodeled businesses, or businesses that have not had an opportunity to have a ribbon cutting in the past. All businesses are welcome to have a ribbon cutting end are under no obligation to join the Chamber. However, the Chamber would love to have more members!! Pdbbon curings are held afar Chamber Board meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month around 1:00 p.m. Ribbon cuttings can be scheduled for other dates and times by request. During one of these ribbon cuttings, the Laurel Outlook photographer/reporter comes out to rake a picture and to get all of the information needed for the feature in the Laurel Outlook. Ribbon cutting features are printed in the Business Section of the Laurel Outlook. Call 628-8105. Support the Chamber - Purchase a Book Jerry Bauck, local author and owner of Rock Creek Books has offered to give the Chamber some of the proceeds from sales of his books at the Chamber office. These books are: They Say That Once, Nez Perce and Their Flip-.ht. Children of the Leroe Beaked Bird, Gray Wolves, lndian~ and Buffalo Bones, Writer's Ink. Grampa's Montana Cookbook, and Grampa's Taste of the Wild. 2005 Laurel Chamber of Commerce Committee Listing The Laurel Chamber of Commeme has many committees that are set up in order to can'y out the many events that are sponsored by the Chamber. The Laurel Chamber is always looking for more volunteers to be on these committees. Any Chamber member that has en interest, may sit on any of the committee. More committees will be added as the year continues. If you would like to sit on any of the committees, please call the office to sign up. The different committees are as follows: · Audit/Budget Committee · Board Nominating Committee · By-Laws/Policies Committee · Canyon Creek Pipe Ceremony Committee · Christmas Decorations.Committee · Circus Committee · Distinguished Service Awards Committee · Fourth of July Committee · Fundraising Committee · Laurel Museum, Inc. · Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee · Log Cabin Building & Maintenance Committee · Membership Brive Committee · Tourism Committee Christmas Home Lighting Contest Every year, the Laurel Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Christmas Home Lighting Contest in which residents ere asked to enter their homes. In this contest-the homeowners are judged on their display of outside ClwisUnas decorations. They are judged on presentation, theme, commercial display, homemade display, end appeal. A list of all oftha homes entered into the contest are put on the a map with a route to travel to see these homes. These Christmas maps are printed by the Laurel Outlook and CHS Inc. Refinery pays the cost of the printing of thousands of these maps. These maps are made available to the public for free. Laurel advertisers purchase ads on the back of the map to pay for the prizes and other costs Incurred. Three winners are chosen each year and are given $50.00 in Laurel Merchant Bucks that are redeemable in any of the Chamber- member businesses. This year's winnem were: Heimbigner-II02 10~ Avenue, Barthuly-303 West Avenue, end Eaton-308 & 3 l0 West Ave. LAUREL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 108 EAST MAIN STREET LAUREL, MT 59044 PRSRT STD I U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 8 : Laure, MT 59044 POSTALPATRON City of Laurel Offices P.O, Box 10 Laurel, MT 59044 ~ CiTe uF LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT 215 W. Isr STREET, LAUREL, MT. 59044 PHONE: 406-628-8737 FAX: 406-628-4641 DATE: 08 NOV 04 TO: THE LAUREL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FROM: MARK GUY, LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT RE: CHECKS TO WHOM IT MAY CONCE1LN, I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING NUMEROUS BAD CHECKS IN THE LAUREL AREA. SOME OF WHICH CANNOT BE PROSECUTED DUE TO THE WAY TEE CHECKS WERE ACCEPTED BY THE BUSINESS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LAUREL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ASKED THEM TO DISTRIBUTE SOME GUIDE LINES THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED 1N ORDER FOR THE LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE BAD CHECKS. 1. IF THE BUSINESS TAKES A TWO PARTY CHECK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT GET INVOLVED. THIS WOULD INCLUDE A CHECK FILLED OUT AND SIGNED BY THE PERSON ON THE ACCOUNT, BUT PRESENTED BY A PERSON NOT ON THE ACCOUNT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PARENT SENDS A CHILD TO THE STORE WITH A CHECK AND THE STORE ACCEPTS THE CHECK. 2. WHEN THE BUSINESS ACCEPTS A CHECK, THE CLERK TAKING THE CHECK MUST BE ABLE TO BE IDENTIFIED. THIS IS MOST EASILY DONE BY THE CLERK INITIALING THE CHECK. 3. THE STOKE MUST POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE PERSON THAT WROTE THE CHECK. THIS MAY BE DONE BY NOTING ON THE CHECK "K2qOWN" OR WRITING AN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON THE CHECK. FOR INSTANCE IF A BUSINESS HAD BEEN DEALING WITH A CUSTOMER FOR YEARS, KNOWS THE CUSTOMER BY SIGHT AND NAME, THEN AN IDENTIFICATION IS NOT NEEDED. FOR A COMPLAINT TO BE INVESTIGATED BY THE LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE STORE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR RESTITUTION, WE MUST KNOW THE DATE THE CHECK WAS WRITTEN, WHERE IT WAS WRITTEN, WHO WROTE/ISSUED THE CHECK, AND WHO TOOK THE CHECK. RIGHT NOW THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PASSED 31 CHECKS IN LAUREL TOTALING $1,736. THE CHECKS WEILE ACCEPTED FROM PEOPLE NOT LISTED ON THE ACCOUNT, IDENTIFICATIONS WEREN'T CHECKED, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ACCEPTED THE CHECKS COULDN'T BE IDENTII~IED. THIS MAKES IT ALL BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO PROSECUTE THIS CASE. IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT. RESPECTFULLY, MARK GUY P;~nting ,Vponsor Create a and ltealthy Organization in A program oflthe STATE GAMES Shape up Muntano is a fun, interactive throe-month team w¢line~ program lamnlr~g February - May that encomages Monlanann to d~velop healthy physical activity and eating habits. Teams are made up ofa mlnimRIll of fear nnd a maximnm often people. ~ program takes health cate by the horns by ~tting people involved in their wellness. Shape Up Montana worlm because of the team formot; raalrlog fltae~ ~m and creating accountability. In 2004 2,294 people paffic~. In the Weight Loss category 92 team.~ lost an average of 6.05 peued~ per ~rson~ In the two Activity categories, 196 team* logged 596,561 88 miles that's the equivalent of wallfing around the world 25 titans! ~[][~k~[$~lk~[~' Online registration site: www.sha eu montana.org ?ut together a team (minlm~lm of 4 up to 10 mombors) of co-workor~, friend~, J~nmily me~bers, eto. ~' Choo~ a team name nnd captain Re, lest a category Weight Loss or Activity. Early Entry Deadline January 31st P Enh-y fee is $15 per pa~cipant. Employees of Big Sky State Games sponsors is $10 per participant. Team eaptalna ~ l~',eive a canfiilllatioll ~mnil (or letter if email addro~ is not provided ) on how to periodically submit the team's progress. ~' Activity and Weight Loss team eaptnln~ will be e-mailed tho Captein I-lalldbook. Team members will be o-mailed, based on theli category, ~afivi~ conversion ch~rt, log sheet, weight sheets and informational handouts. ~' February 7 - 9~ Health fair/welgh-m for beth team categories will be hosted in Billings. Captnlna will be e-mailed with locations and times. If ,nun_a?__ 1¢ to a..tt~__ d, wei.ght loss team captnina may submit an honor weight, by faxing 406-254-7439 to the BSSG office by February 9 or o-mad SUMr~bleskv~ames.org. by February 9th. Final Weigh-in sheet duo May 9th. ~' Activi~ team captains must submit the team's accumulated mile log sheets on thes~ dates: March 1a, April 1~ and last sheet is due May 9 . They may be fax~ to the B.~SG office 406-254-7439 or o-mailqd to SUM(&bi~skvgames. org. Captnlnn will be e-mailed with dates and ~ oftbe Billings health fail'. reana competition will tee oogni~e aehlevemont in two separate categories: 1. Aconmula~ed Activity in the form of miles based on daffy activity Teams track miles based on daily activity performed according to a conversion ebarL (vml~ing, hOll,%~¥OF~, yaFd WOF~, SW~mmln~ Ftmnlrl~ GyciJ]l~ aoI~iG~ ~¢.) ~ Wj,nin§ reams am those that average the most miles logged per team over the three-month program. ~ The Accumulated Activity eategory is split into 4 ~vi$ions: Be~nne~ Intermediate, Experienced, and Professional BeL, inners portieipants have less than 3 yrs. exe~is~ e~perieflee~ Int~rme~i~e meanbers have more than 3 years of exercise e:tp. & routinely workout to stay fit. E~m./~ed majority of members are physically fit and participate in competitive athletic events: road FaC~, cyelln~, SWimming, ba~kofl3aff, Ii~Mhfo~K, ProFessional lot raoro m~mber is un inslro~ter of any type of fitness activity. 2. Weight Loss due to healthy, appropriate diet and physical activity F~ach member of the team submits un ~hunor~ weight to the teton captain or attends the Billings weigh-in Captsins to~al the team weight and submits by February 9, 2005. "Honor" weigh-ins will be repeated in May. Wianin$ teams aro thos~ that losu the highest percontage of weight over the three-month program. ~ SU~I T-shirts for every paflieipanL They y~ll be mailed at thc end of thc program~ ~ Al1 partieipants invited to partieipate in the Bi§ Sky State Games Fitness Walk Fl~. Suly 1~ I ~, ~embers of the top ~ ~ in each category rceeive Gold~ Silver, or Bronze medu~s and ~ and will be recoUnTed at the B$$G Opening C~mon~. ~ Members of th~ top 20 te~m~ ~ be recognized in a special £eamr¢ in the B$$~ Souvenir Program. QanstiOns?~ ~ Weekly nutrition and activity tips for all participant& Call BSSG ), All participants who improve their health in a safe and sustainable way, are Shape Up Montana Wiunersl 4~6.2fi4.7426 Community Sponsors: Comribuling l~u. men: Eat ~ Mom & Wendy's Big ~ Slate Games Major Spomors: Flrnt Inttrsta~ Bank and Kampgrounds of Amm~a U.S. Small Business Administration Your Small Business Resource SBA Number:. 05-19 Release Date: December 17, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information eontaet: Rena Carlson 441-1081 Is the Government Marketplace for You? HELENA, MT - Federal, state and local governments are the world's largest purchasers of goods and services. Find out how Your small business can do business with these entities by a~endlng a full day workshop on ~e(a. 10, 2005, from 7:30 am- d pm at the Business Resource Center at CTL You will learn how to register yoar business online, develop your government marketing strategy, locate contract opportankies, prepare a proposal, and learn about purchasing processes, and more. This is a hands-on workshop therefore class size is limited to the first 45 participants. Lunch will be provided. Cost for this all day workshop is $45. For more information orto register contact Connie Roope at 443-0800. Registration deadline is February 4, 2004. This workshop is presented by the Business Resource Center at CTI, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Montana Department of Transportation.