Supt. Gary Kelly takes chamber through first meeting as president

A prime rib dinner in the inviting and intimate surroundings of Wilson's "W" Restaurant west of Du Quoin opened the new year for the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce Wednesday.

An engaging and well-prepared Supt. Dr. Gary Kelly, District 300 superintendent, assumed the two-year role as chamber president in July after businesswoman Sheila Haggard resigned mid-term because of business and family obligations.

Dr. Kelly had served the chamber as first vice-president and presided over Wednesday's meeting, attended by approximately 25 members.

The meeting was marked by a very forward-thinking agenda that updated members on the City of Du Quoin's capital development work in downtown Du Quoin from city administrator Brad Myers and a review of the chamber's concessions work during the Du Quoin State Fair.

Dr. Kelly said the spring home and garden show at the Du Quoin State Fair is being moved to April, better timed to the start of the home improvement season and the move will bring the Du Quoin Garden Club back into the event.

Brad Myers was the evening's guest speaker and told the chamber that the E.T. Simonds Construction Co. is moving equipment into the staging area alongside the Canadian National Railroad siding to begin reconstruction of sidewalks in downtown Du Quoin.

The first cuts into the sidewalk were made on Tuesday near the Odds & Ends Shop at the corner of West Main and Hickory Streets.

Excavating out old walks could begin as early as Friday with the construction team moving eastward one block at a time.

The first work will be cuts using large concrete saws approximately a foot away from each building and extended 12-feet out away from the storefronts, Reconstruction of the south side should be finished first with work being suspended during the holidays.

E.T. Simonds has 130 working days to complete the work, which will take the project up into March.

There will be no parking allowed in the block where construction work is being performed.

He said existing trees will be taken out, new trees have already been purchased. There will be half as many trees replaced and each will be surrounded by a black grate bearing an emblem that commemorates the establishment of Du Quoin.

If there are enough funds available, a new clock that has the look and feel of historic Du Quoin will be placed downtown.

The project will, in time, address the area in front of the combined Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce and Amtrak passenger station.

The value of the project is about $800,000 with actual construction costs put at $708,000, shared 80 percent by the state and 20 percent by the City of Du Quoin.

Myers told chamber members that all of the recent water line installations have been completed in downtown Du Quoin.

He said special considerations included double sleeving of water lines in area where old gas stations existed decades ago.

He said the work has solved a number of leaks, but in so doing, it put more water pressure on older water lines, causing some small leaks which are being addressed.

He said work on the city's new website is nearing completion and that it will provide online water bill payments using a username and password system.

The chamber extended its appreciation to Myers for his work and his update to the chamber.

The chamber heard from Pam Pereira, who earlier this summer was hired as concessions manager for the chamber's work during the Du Quoin State Fair. she extended her appreciation to those who gave their time during the 10 days of the fair.

She said the concessions program was run efficiently with the worst problem being how to judge how much food needed to be prepared for each event. Large crowds attended the performance of entertainers like Gretchen Wilson. The size of the crowd and their interest in food seemed to change every night.

Overall, the work was accomplished very successfully and efficiently.

Proceeds from the concessions benefit the ongoing work of the chamber.

The night touched on the news of the new REA Clinic being built at the site of the old Bridal Originals garment factory on Rt. 51 south of Du Quoin.

The chamber welcomed Nate Armstrong, who provides computer service and music services to the area. The chamber also welcomed New Wave Communications.

The chamber welcomed Du Du Quoin High School student Melaina Harsy, a senior medical student at DHS who hopes to pursue a career in trauma surgery. She is a 4.0 academic success story who belongs to many of the school's organizations including Future Business Leaders of America.

Dr. Kelly said the chamber will have a combination of Wednesday night meetings with guest speakers as well as noon luncheon meetings, as needed.

He said the chamber will prepare newsletters to be eMailed to members every month.

He said the chamber is working on a Du Quoin Day at the Du Quoin State Fair.

He said the size of various committees will be reduced to be more effective with joint meetings between the chamber and area chambers and civic groups.

He said upcoming events will be the Veterans Day Parade, the Citizen of the Year banquet and next spring's Home & Garden show.

The message: Get involved! Contact the Du Quoin chamber office to become a member if you are not presently a member.