Coffey speaks to chamber about football program
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Chester Chamber of Commerce's monthly board meeting was held at Reid's Harvest House, Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
Ryan Coffey addressed the board talking about a proposed football program for Chester students, ages 6 thru 14. There are families from Chester who drive to Sparta or Red Bud in order for their children to participate in a youth football program. Chester has been accepted into the Southern Illinois Youth Conference. Prices for insurance, equipment, and league fees have been researched. Permission has been given to use the soccer fields at Cohen Park for practices and Chester High School for games and concessions. Several fundraisers are being planned to help with the cost, including a raffle for either a 22 Rifle or four baseball tickets. Additional information may be obtained by emailing chesterstingers@gmail.com.
The Chamber's annual all you can eat fish and shrimp dinner, with sides, will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Friday, January 20, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The dinner is one of the chamber's largest fundraising events held every year.
Payment for 2012 dues should be submitted to the Chester Chamber Office, P.O. Box 585, by the end of January.
Chamber Directors approved a $500 donation for an engraved stone on the next addition to the Popeye Character Trail, "Alice the Goon". The statue will take its place of honor at the entrance to Chester Center and will be unveiled following this year's Popeye Picnic parade.
The Chamber's annual 2012 meeting schedule again includes several lunch meetings where there will be a program. Members are encouraged to submit recommendations regarding what type of program/speaker they would like to hear.
Ribbon cuttings were held at the State Farm Office in Chester, welcoming Paul Gentry, Agent, and at Pinky's Sugarland, owned and operated by Dianna Mueller. Complimentary memberships for 2012 and chamber sweatshirts were given to both.
The chamber's link on the city's website is currently outdated due to the chamber's webmaster not being able to connect to the server. An individual Chester Chamber website is being considered.
The 2012 election of officers and directors will be held in April. The annual dinner and Citizen of the Year award will again be in June. The theme, date and place will be announced in the near future.
There is now an electronics recycling bin at the Chester Recycling center (behind the City Fire House). Computers, t.v. monitors, and similar like electronic items can be discarded in the special bin.
Many upcoming events in Chester are scheduled in the next few months: The Eagles Trek, which will be at the Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam on February, 4; River City Fest at the Wm. Cohen Home on June 9th; Birding the Bottomlands scheduled April 21; and a River City Renewal Historic Preservation meeting and dinner on January 26 at the Chester Country Club. For details on any of the upcoming events, you may contact the chamber office at 826.2721 or email chesteril@frontier.com.