Chester Chamber of Commerce meeting highlights
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Chester Chamber of Commerce board recently met at Reid's Harvest House for its May meeting.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Directors elected to serve a three-year term were Nick Burch, Robert Gross, Bruce Luthy, Tom Welge, Don Stallman, Robert Schremp and Dr. Larry Soellner.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Officers serving are President Jason Coffey, Vice President Gwendy Garner, Treasurer Bruce Luthy and Executive Director Linda Sympson.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Plans are under way for the chamber's annual dinner at the Chester Country Club on June 16. Social hour will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15, followed by the Citizen of the Year announcement and other special recognitions.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Local musician Shane Wager will provide music throughout the evening. Dinner tickets must be purchased in advance at either Buena Vista National Bank, Chester National Bank, chamber directors, or the chamber office.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Tickets are $25 each and the dinner will be catered by Reids' Harvest House. Citizen of the Year nominations must be turned in by June 2.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The chamber's annual scholarship selection was a tie, resulting in two recipients. The committee awarded Logan Colvis and Ellen Blechle $500 each to help with their tuition or school expenses.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Both young ladies were chosen for their academic achievement, school activities and community involvement.  </span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Vintage Market on May 3. Additional ceremonies will take place in the near future at OCHS Furniture and the Little Rascal Diner.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was noted that the Taco Bell is under construction.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The board voted to approve Illinois Chamber of Commerce membership dues, including a PAC contribution, for a total of $275.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">There was a discussion about the time of the monthly board meetings. A suggestion was made that the board consider holding several meetings each year at noon instead of 7 a.m.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Directors were asked to consider this recommendation and it will be discussed at a future meeting.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Approval was given for the chamber to sponsor a team to participate in Sparta's golf tournament to be held on May 26.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">In turn, Sparta will participate in the Chester chamber's tournament in the fall.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Economic Development Director Chris Martin talked about the major impact to the area made by tourism.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">There are many riverboats scheduled to dock this year with hundreds of passengers shopping in Chester and a number of visitors are expected to be in the area to view the eclipse.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Due to the many area attractions, the shoots, the Kaskaskia/Cahokia Trail, etc., tourism is expected to increase by 4 percent.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The board discussed an ongoing concern that there is never any city representation at the board meetings. Director Don Welge will again talk to Mayor Tom Page and request that someone from the city council attend the formal board meetings.</span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The annual dinner will take the place of a June board meeting, and there will not be a meeting in July 2017 as per the chamber's by-laws.  </span>