Chamber Chimes

With voting coming up in less that 1 week, Watonga Chamber of Commerce would like to announce their support for the additional 1% sales tax to benefit Watonga Municipal Hospital.  While we understand that the discussion of any additional tax can be unsettling, we feel that the cost of not supporting our hospital is much more troubling.  We are gravely aware of the fact that hospital access, especially in a rural environment, is a common and important factor that is considered by individuals and businesses looking to relocate.  When we are presented with questions from potential businesses, there are certain things that are almost universally asked.  Among those is, “What is the availability of medical care?”  Communities without a hospital or with a failing hospital are often excluded from the search processes right away.

 Besides the obvious benefit to the health of the people of Watonga, the Watonga Municipal Hospital allows our community to be considered for relocation of individuals (maintaining your property values) and new businesses, and encourages retention of those that we already have.  Please support this ballot question in order to support your community.  Be informed, be involved and, whatever your party affiliation, VOTE!

Do you need a release from the stresses of life?  How about a Western Swing Concert & Dance Party?  The Katie Ballew Band will perform with her 4 piece country western swing band at the Watonga City Hall.  Bring your dancing shoes if you want to blow off some steam or just come down to relax and listen to this fun band.  All proceeds benefit the Watonga Cheese Festival and admission will be by donation. 

Did everyone have a safe and happy 4th of July?  In spite of the off and on rain showers, the celebration at Martz Park was, as always, a nice event with lots of delicious hamburgers and hot dogs, good music, fun loving families and pretty dogs!  And the weather cooperated enough to allow another beautiful display of fireworks put on by the Lions Club and the City of Watonga at Huff-Lorang park.  I hope you were able to enjoy some of this, along with your own celebrations.   If you take a minute to look around town, it is really wonderful to see how much is happening.  It is great to see the number of new or expanding businesses happening in town.  Elite Counseling recently held an open house at their new facility on North Clarence Nash that I was fortunate to attend.  I spoke with the majority of their office staff and they all seem very happy to be working together to provide needed counseling services to youth, families and individuals in their comfortable and welcoming facility.  After returning to the

office from their open house, I had a visit from Regina Simpson who, this week, has opened Briar Patch Florist at 301 Clarence Nash Blvd.  She has moved a large inventory into the former C&A Fitness center location and is ready to start offering floral displays and arrangements.  I’m sure she would welcome a visit or a call at 623-2467.  Now in full swing is the bowling alley, with additional owners allowing for more hours of operation.  Along with their league nights (Women on Monday, Couples on Wednesday, Men on Thursdays) they will also be available for Open Bowl every Saturday night.  Zip across the street to LATE video afterward and your family could have a lot of fun right here in Watonga on a Saturday night!

I’m sure you have heard the rumors about Watonga Cheese returning “home”, also.  Well, Chamber board members, City officials and many others have been in touch with Casey Cowan and he has confirmed that he is in negotiations to have Watonga Cheese available at an existing location here soon.  It’s too bad we won’t have the entire operation here, but I’ve heard numerous times how there is no other cheese quite like it so I’m sure a lot of people will be pleased to have the original Watonga Cheese available.  In addition, we are all seeing the progress (even thought it may not look like it yet) being made at 4-corners on the new truck stop and there are several other business owners I have spoken to recently who are planning to expand soon.  All this in light of the current economic situation in the nation and it looks like Watonga is doing pretty darn well to me!

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