September - Commerce - Chamber of Commerce

BLKRT U.S. POSTAGEPAID

PERMIT NO. 102Commerce, Texas 75428

The Bash will be off to a smashing start as golfers take to the course at Sand Hills Country Club for the 21st annual golf tournament. The tournament begins at 7:00 a.m. with lunch and a raffle taking place from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The afternoon round of the tournament will begin just after lunch and winners will be announced at the awards ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Commerce Leadership Institute will be holding their annual Barbecue Dinner in the downtown Commerce square on Friday evening beginning at 5:00 p.m. Dinners are $5 each and all proceeds go to help the Commerce Leadership Institute.

Music will begin at 4:45 p.m. on the Ben E. Keith stage with Cross Trails Band. Risen will take the stage from 5:50 p.m. until 6:15 p.m. followed by Loren Carter and Airplay who performed at this year’s 4th of July Celebration at Centennial Park. Clyde the Singing Dog will entertain the crowd from 7:20 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. Things really get going as Back Road Bandits perform from 7:45 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Matt Koger will play from 9:00 p.m. until 9:45 p.m. and the Paul Renna Band will wrap things up for Friday evening from 10:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.

The Bash continues early on Saturday morning with the annual Bois d’Arc Dash (5K Run) beginning at 8 a.m.

The Kiwanis Club will host their annual Pancake Breakfast from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. in the downtown Commerce Square.

Vendor booths will begin to open at 9:00 a.m. for attendees to purchase jewelry, handmade goods, food, and many other fine products.

The Bois d’Arc Bash Parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. with this year’s Grand Marshall, Alton Biggs the 2011 Commerce Citizen of the Year.

The Miss Bois d’Arc Pageant will get underway beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the First Baptist Church on Washington Street. Flowers for the event are being provided by Bickham Florist.

The official opening ceremonies for the Bash will take place on the Ben E. Keith stage at 11:15 a.m.

Live music will resume on the stage after opening ceremonies and continue until 11:30 p.m.

The Aglaia Duck Race will take place in Bonham Alley beginning at 12:00 p.m. (noon) and wine tasting will take place in the Farmer’s Market on Bonham Alley from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The Bash concludes on Sunday with the annual Car & Truck Show from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with lunch being served at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

THe 26th Annual Bois D’Arc Bash Will Begin On Friday, Sept. 23

A PUBLICATION OF THE COMMERCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCESEPTEMBER 2011

INSIDE

Chamber Presidents’s Letter...............................2

Bois d’ArcBash................................3

Campus Connections....................6

City MonthlyReport.............................9

Calenderof events.........................9

Local &Regional........................10

Our Town.......................11

Commerce isd...............11

Memeber Directory.......................12

Update Your Network........................16

Commerce’s Hometown Florist Since 1929Gladys Gray, Owner

1510 Live Oak St., P.O. Box 776Commerce, TX 75428

Phone 903-886-3141800-878-5972

Fax: 903-886-6426

Fresh and Silk Custom Designs, Gifts & Gift Baskets, Weddings & Special Occasions

C H A M B E R President ’s Letter C H A M B E R Board of DirectorsHello Valued Member: Cooler weather seems to be on the horizon, and so is the Bois d’Arc Bash! These are exciting times! The excitement has already begun for this great event! Sponsorships are in, the t-shirts are ordered, and yes, we are hoping for no rain this year. Friday night promises to be an exciting night to kick off the bash. The excitement continues with the parade, pageant, and other fun events on Saturday including music from the Williams Family, Vallejo, and John David Kent. Sunday will draw the bash to a close with a car show to finish up the fun. Please mark your calendars to attend this great event! If you have not reserved your vendor spot, registered for the parade or pageant, or filled out your sponsorship form-please do so quickly! The bash will be here before you know it! The 21st annual golf tournament will also be held on Friday, September 23 at Sand Hills Country Club. There are two different tee times for golfers to choose from with lunch and a raffle being held at 11:30 a.m. and the awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Golfers can register on line at commerce-chamber.com or at the Chamber office. As always, we appreciate your hard work, comments, and support. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do for you. I hope everybody has a great month! Sincerely,Michael Glas

Executive Board

President Michael GlasPast President Lisa ArnoldSecretary/Treasurer Brian McNevin

Board of Directors

Marc ClaytonBlake CooperKent HolbertBonnie HunterJoanne IzzarelliDr. Dan JonesJalinna JonesLisa Martinez

Stan McKeeDavid McKennaShane MilhornMarsha MorrisonMichael OdomLinnea SmithMike Williams Deepti Vanguri

Executive Director Doug RohrabaughOffice Administrator Sheryl Millar

Vice Presidents

Finance Mac Golden

This Month’s Connection Contributor

Dr. Fred TarpleyAshley JohnsonBecky PatilloBonnie Hunter

Ludonna SmithersPat BellAlton BiggsSydni Walker

1114 Main Street, P.O.Box 290Commerce, TX 75429903.886.3950f [email protected]

To place an ad in the CONNECTION, e-mail [email protected]

Page 2 SEPTEMBER 2011

Bois d’Arc Bash

Excitement mounts as additional headliners appear in the nonstop entertainment coming to Bois d’Arc Bash stages in Commerce on Saturday, September 24. From 10:00 until 11:30 p.m., John David Kent--In just a short time, John David Kent has made a big impression. With rich three-part harmonies and fresh twists on sounds that channel a mix of Waylon Jennings and Creedence Clearwater Revival, John David Kent’s songs instantly feel both unique and familiar. Their song, “My Girl,” garnered immediate attention after the video became the “Pick of the Week” recently on CMT.com and was added to CMT’s... Pure Country rotation. Due to the success of the video, the single is now shipping to radio.

While the band’s budding success is impressive on its own, Kent himself has a notable and vast musical history. Signed to Mercury Records by age sixteen, Kent began touring with “Radish,” the rock band he formed with childhood friend and now well-known artist, Ben Kweller. Soon after came recording and touring with the Lemonheads, a national tour with My Morning Jacket and various other acts, as well as appearances on Letterman and Conan. Kent has toured Japan, opened for major bands like Kings of Leon and Incubus, shared the stage with acts like Metallica and Snoop Dogg and done a Lollapalooza tour with Korn and Tool—all with an air of humility and gratitude.

Kent’s decision to take his music into the direction more rooted in country was an organic one. As a young child, Kent’s parents introduced him to a diverse array of music. He started playing drums at the age of 4 and he vividly remembers being drawn to the earthy stylings of musicians like John Denver, Willie Nelson and the Eagles. “When I came off the road with Ben Kweller and settled down with my family back in Texas, a lot of the songs I was writing were subconsciously coming out with a southern flavor,” says Kent. “I like taking the elements of traditional rock and country and blurring the lines. It’s a very natural evolution for me.”

As a producer and studio owner in his hometown of Celeste, TX, Kent assembled a band comprised of musicians he had worked with and “respected wholeheartedly as musicians.” The band includes Mike Graska (guitar and vocals), Jamey Gleaves (bass), Tony Kent (drums) and Jason Andrew (fiddle) who quickly realized their connection to Kent’s songs and natural chemistry.

JDK and his band just released their debut album in May 2011. They continue to tour throughout Texas and the southeast.

Preceding John David Kent in the 8:00-9:30 p.m. slot will be Vallejo, an acclaimed musical group that has shared the stage across the US with bands like Stone Temple Pilots, 3 Doors Down, Matchbox 20, and Los Lobos.Black Top Gypsy’s Band will take the stage from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m.Earlier on Bash Saturday, The Williams Family, of Greenville, will entertain from 4:00 until 5:30 p.m. In the dance performance area on the town square, the LiSher dance studio will stimulate the early afternoon crowd with their repertoire of choreographed presentations from 3 until 3:45 p.m.Commerce Idol will command the stage from 2:30 until 3 p.m. entertaining Bash goers.New to this year’s Bash the Timbrel Dance Studio will take the performance area from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m.The New Orleans sounds of Commerce area musicians will be heard as the Bois d’Arc Dixieland Jazz Band makes its sixteenth annual appearance at the Bash from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.Opening ceremonies celebrating the twenty-sixth Bash will be led by city officials from the main stage from 11:15 until 11:30 a.m.Earlier activities will be the pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., 5K race for runners and walkers at 8 a.m., and the cherished Bash parade at 10 a.m. Of course, a hundred or more vendors with shopper-pleasing merchandise and flavorful food will be present from early morn until long after sunset, lining Main and Washington streets and this year expanding to Alamo Street.

Entertainment Lineup AddsHeadliners for Bash



Bois d’arc saturday afternoon tours offeredThree Saturday afternoon tours and a downtown welcome of a new downtown landmark have been added to the Bois d’Arc program for Sept. 24. Reservations may be made by calling 903-886-6498 before Sept.24 or by calling the Commerce Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 24 and asking for Lavonne Wells or Evonne Richardson. The three tours will depart from the street between the Commerce Public Library and the Commerce Post Office. Heritage Tour of Cow Hill Sites. Robert Grove, a Cow Hill landowner, will lead the tour, leaving promptly at 1:30 and returning to the departure site at 2:55. Many residents of Commerce know that Cow Hill is the community that preceded Commerce, but few have visited the site. The tour will proceed along North Park Street and turn left on FM 71 past Ridgecrest Baptist Church, where the ridge above the Middle Sulphur River gave cows refuge from floods, flies, and mosquitoes. Just before the eastern Commerce city limit sign, the tour will turn onto private land. Photo opportunities: site of the story operated by Josiah Hart and William Jernigin. Jernigin moved to the northeast corner of the current Commerce square when new trade route from Sulphur Springs to Bonham opened, and a new bridge was completed over the Middle Sulphur River. A giant bois d’arc tree grows near the site of the store. A second photo opportunity will be a picturesque decorative windmill standing at the point of where the ridge begins to slope into the Middle Sulphur River valley. The tour will continue with photo stops on the Cow Hill Farm, owned by the Robert Grove family, and the identification of a race track that once thrived in Cow Hill. ATour of Literary Scenes and of Bois d’Arc Designations in Klondike and Shiloh. Jim Ainsworth, a native of Klondike, will lead the tour leaving promptly at 3 p.m. from the departure site beside the library.And going nine miles to Klondike in Delta County. As photo opportunities, he will identify scenes he incorporated into this four acclaimed novels about the fictional Jake Rivers family. There will also be photo stops at elaborate bois d’arc gates designed g Clifton Haddock in the Shiloh area. The tor will end promptly to allow 4:25 arrival at the Commerce departure area. Homage to Big Max. Jim Conrad, “the man in the bois d’arc tree suit,” will lead the final tour promptly at 4:30 p.m. from beside the library. Dr. Conrad will discuss the dimensions and history of the second largest bois d’arc tree in Texas, presently a tad smaller that the champ in New Boston. There will be opportunities for affectionate hugs for “Big Max.” After a short visit, the tour will return to its departure point at 5 p.m. and will return to the departure site at 5:25.

For each of the three tours, the request is made that each passenger in the tour director’s vehicle makes a $1 transportation contribution. For those riding in other vehicles, the request is made a $1 contribution be made unless the individual hitched a ride with a group not requiring reimbursement. There is no transportation fee for the Welcome to a New Landmark at the new city park in front of the City Hall in downtown Commerce at 6 p.m. For three decades of the Bois d’Arc Bash, a giant bois d’arc tree trunk fascinated visitors to the park south of Maple Street. Jerry Lytle had spotted the earlier tree and arranged for it to be moved four miles into Commerce. Bees and wasps led to the tree’s removal. Recently Jerry learned about a massive tree that had fallen from the banks of Smith Creek four miles southwest of Commerce. How does one arrange to move a sixty-five foot truck into Commerce, arrange for manicuring the hazardous rough spots and have it moved to a new home downtown between Main and Alamo streets for bois d’arc lovers to enjoy. Jerry knows, and he did it. He will introduce the unnamed tree and reveal plans for a formal naming ceremony before Christmas.

Celebrity Archers Speaking, Shooting at Bois D’arc BashTwo celebrity bowyers will be attending the Commerce Bois d’Arc Bash on Sat., Sept 24, to discuss making bows and to demonstrate hitting the bull’s eye. Their bows are crafted from bois d’arc, of course. They are James W. West and Tim White of McKinney, bowmakers and scoutmasters, who are celebrities among members of their troops. Within Indian domains the bois d’arc tree was famous as the preferred wood for bows. The tree was not known east of St. Louis until March 1804 when Meriwether Lewis sent samplings to President Thomas Jefferson. West is an architect with Texas Architectural Collaborators, and White is a captain in the Dallas Fire Department. Both will ride in a jeep in the Bois d’Arc Bash Parade, leaving City Park at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. They will be speaking in the City Council Chambers at 11:15 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.. on “How to Select and Season Bois d’Arc Bow Staves.” Then they will exhibit their collection of bows, shoot bull’s eyes, and chat with Bashers about bowmaking. From 1:15 until 2:45, they will return to City Council Chambers to discuss “How to Make a Bois d’Arc Bow<” returning to the front lawn of City Hall to demonstrate archery and to interact with visitors.

On Sunday, September 25, 2011, the Bash will culminate with the 16th Annual Car & Truck Show. Entrants come from all over northeast Texas and the surrounding area to share their enthusiasm for classic cars and trucks.

We hope to have over 100 entrants in this year’s show with awards presented to the top two in each of nearly 30 classes. Registration is from 9 until 11:30 a.m. Participant ping-pong ball judging will begin after registration closes, and awards will be presented at 3 p.m. or earlier if the tallying is done.

Trophies and cash prizes will go to the Best In Show Car, Best In Show Truck, Mayor’s Choice, Most Miles Driven, and Club Participation. There will be door prizes and a 50/50 pot (benefitting the Commerce High School Junior Class). We want to thank our Major Sponsor, Commerce Auto Group/Randall Noe, and our other car show sponsors, Commerce Chevrolet Buick, Arnold Paint & Body, D & E Auto Supply, J J’s Quick Lube, and O’Reilly Auto Parts. As in the past, our dash plaques are sponsored by Hoover’s Automotive. Also, a big thanks to local merchants who donated door prize items and goody bag stuffers. The car & truck show wouldn’t be a success without your support!

Registration is $20 per vehicle and forms are available at the Chamber office or online at the Chamber website. Music will once again be provided by the fantastic DJs, Dr. Dave and Bro. Gary!

This year breakfast will be available as well as lunch! So shine up your classic car or truck and come on down to the square on Sunday to finish off the Bash with a bang!

16th Annual Car & Truck Show


Artisans attracted to city hall for bash eventsNon-stop varied events will draw Bois d’Arc Bash crowds to Commerce City Hall for arts, crafts, videos, information, and demonstrations of bois d’arc archery. The free events are sponsored by the City of Commerce, the Commerce Chamber of Commerce, and the Bois d’Arc Capital Crafters Activities will begin at 10:30 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 24. Jerry Lytle, bois d’arc artist, will stage a one-man show of his dramatic natural bois d’arc sculptor décor, for which he has been acclaimed at showings in regional crafts shows. His exhibit will be complemented by a photography exhibit including portraits of Commerce bois d’arc artisans.. That display will continue until October 1. Kent and Jay Garrett will be represented by decorative and provocative signs, attitude adjustors, herds of oak reindeer, kitchen utensils, goat soap, tables, bois d’arc lead pencils, stools, and tables. Art Hendrix will exhibit lathed ballpoint pens and pencils, bowls, vases, cheese board mice, Christmas decorations, and bottle stoppers,. Jim Conrad and associates will demonstrate how they make dyes, paper, and paper flowers from parts of the bois d’arc tree. In the City Council Chambers immediately after the 10 a.m. parade (about 10:30 to 11 a.m.) the reedited video, “Commerce: Bois d’Arc Capital of Texas,” will be shown. The thirty-minute video now has new scenes from last year’s bash. The production was photographed by Dave Walvoord and narrated and scripted by Fred Tarpley. From 11:15 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, James W. West and Tim White of McKinney will be discussing “How to Select and Season Bois d’Arc Box Staves.” Then they will be in front of City Hall to exhibit their bows, demonstrate bull’s eye shooting, and chat with the crowd about archery. The second showing of the bois d’arc video will be in the City Council Chambers from 12:30 until 1 p.m. From 1:15 until 1:45, James W. West andTim White will return to discuss “How to Make a Bois d’Arc Bow. Immediately after their lecture, they will turn to the front of City Hall for more crowd interaction and archery demonstrations. The third showing of the video, “Commerce: Bois d’Arc Capital of Texas,” will be shown in the City Council Chambers from 2 until 3:30. The fourth showing of the video, “Commerce: Bois d’Arc Capital of Texas, “will be in the City Council Chambers from 3:45 until 4:15.


6th Annual cotton belt symposium

We’re counting down to the6th annual Cotton Belt Railroad Symposium Friday & Saturday, September 23-24, 2011 Sam Rayburn Student Center Texas A&M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas Everyone is welcome to this free event honoring and documenting the history of the St. Louis Southwestern and other railroads of the northeast Texas and Ark-La-Tex region. Members of

the railroad “family” and anyone interested is welcomed to attend and participate. The event will be videotaped and extensively photographed for historical preservation.

Friday - 5:00p-8:00pCasual show-&-tell/mix-&-mingle.Visit with new and old friends and view railroad artifacts and information.The response to this function has been outstanding If you would like to display railroad artifacts, photos, etc., particularly related to the Cotton Belt, contact me to ensure we have ample display space available.Please note, this is NOT a “swap meet.”

Saturday - 8:45a-4:30p | 8:19a Registration Formal programs, artifact displays, luncheon, dedication ceremony. All activities are free of charge except for the luncheon. Live music will be performed at the luncheon.

IMPORTANT: If you wish to dine with us, luncheon tickets are $12.00 each and MUST be reserved by Monday, Sept. 19. If you have not already done so, please RSVP via Symposium website or e-mail me your name and number of tickets requested.

Luncheon ticket is not required for attendance at other symposium activities.The 2011 Cotton Belt Symposium is dedicated to the memory of Winford Blake Dyer. July 12, 1927 - August 6, 2010 The Board of Directors of the Northeast Texas Regional Rail Transportation District (NETEX) recently passed a resolution to name the junction of the former Cotton Belt and Texas Midland in downtown Commerce “Dyer Junction” in recognition of Winford’s leadership in facilitating the formation of the rail district and preservation of the former “C” branch for continued rail service to the region.

Winford served as the founding chair of the NETEX Rail District upon it’s creation. The symposium program will culminate on Saturday with the official dedication ceremony, at 4:00pm, trackside at the location of the junction near the site of the former Cotton Belt Depot in downtown Commerce.

Event Highlights/Features/Programs:

Book/Art Signings - “Cotton Belt Engineer” - Edwin C. Cooper - “Commerce Pictorial History” - Cheryl Westhafer & Jim Conrad - original Cotton Belt Railroad paintings by James Green Railroad Lantern collection - Bryan Davis Cotton Belt Railroad photos - John Morris Cotton Belt Artifacts & videos - Jason Lee Davis Railroad Artifacts - William Dobbins Interurban Railway Museum, Plano, TX Arkansas Railroad Museum, Pine Bluff, AR Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society - Tyler Tap Chapter Motorcar Hobby information - Railroad Partners, Inc.Electric Railway System - Robert L. Haynes Texas Midland Railroad - Cheryl Westhafer Top seniority SSW/UP Engineer - Billy R. Null Reclaiming the Cotton Belt “Long Caboose” #2305 - Gary Powell The Cotton Belt Business Car Fleet and the “Dixie” - Tony Wilson Luncheon featuring live music by Leo Sykes & family/friends (railroad songs) World Premiere viewing of the Documentary on Saving the “C” branch - Dr. Richard Schroeder & David Walvoord NETEX/Blacklands Railroad Update - Cletis Millsap & Wayne Defebaugh Panel Discussion Dedication ceremony for “Dyer Junction” trackside in Downtown Commerce - NETEX Locomotive Display - Blacklands Railroad Motorcar Run/Display - Railroad Partners, Inc Railroad Memorabilia/Signal Garden Open House - Steven Powlow, 2500 Bryan St., Commerce (after dedication ceremony)

The Cotton Belt Symposium and the Bois d’Arc Bash planning committees have teamed up this year to provide Commerce residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy an expanded variety of events and activities throughout the weekend appealing to a much broader audience. Bash activities include: parade, vendors, arts & crafts, food, golf tournament, games, wine tasting, live music & entertainment, car show, and much more.Free Shuttle service provided between the Student Center and Downtown Bash/Dedication Activities between 11am & 7pm on Saturday.See you in Commerce for the 2011 Cotton Belt Symposium.

Campus Connections


Alumnos Listos SummerCamp Held At A&M-Commerce

The second annual Alumnos Listos summer camp was held Aug. 4-6, sponsored by the Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Curriculum and Instruction with support from the Hispanic Outreach Office.

Participants included 22 high school students from Garland and Greenville, all of whom were recent immigrants. The students interacted with teachers, Latino role models and A&M-Commerce administrators, faculty, staff members and undergraduates.

Among other things, campers learned how to apply to college, where to look for financial assistance, and how to network. Several expressed a specific interest in attending A&M-Commerce.

The students engaged in learning activities such as instructions on writing a winning college application essay and how to find money for college online. Hispanic students welcomed them to the university and helped the campers decorate papier-mâché masks to artistically represent their individually.

Campers were accommodated at the New Pride dorms and participated in games, salsa dancing, a pool party provided by the Student and Recreation Centers and a ropes course. They also completed a career interest inventory to identify their own areas of strength, met with Latino professionals who shared challenge and success stories and talked to faculty representatives from various departments about majors offered and the benefits of bilingualism.

The camp concluded with a luncheon for parents attended by university president Dr. Dan Jones, College of Education and Human Services dean Brent Mangus, Hispanic Outreach director Luís Franco and Curriculum and Instruction head Martha Foote, and featured keynote speaker Roy Juárez Jr.

The highlight of the whole camp and the luncheon was when teams of students presented what they had learned in the form of songs, skits, slideshows and display panels.

“This group of campers and their teachers were incredible,” bilingual/ESL director Chris Green said. “We owe special thanks to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition which has funded the İListo! grant for five years now and to the teachers who helped me plan the camp, designing and implementing instructional activities of the highest caliber.

“We feel we have made a genuine significant difference in these 22 students’ lives. We hope to provide some follow-up activities at Lakeview Centennial and Greenville high schools during the upcoming school year and to have a third camp next year.”

“mUSIC ON PARADE’ UNVEILED AT MUSIC BUILDING

Award-winning artist and Texas A&M University-Commerce alumnus David L. Zvanut has donated his work, “Music on Parade,” to the A&M-Commerce music department to be displayed in the new music building on campus. “Music on Parade” is a large mural that makes up part of a series of work in which Zvanut uses visuals to illustrate the passion evoked by a serious musical work. “I cannot imagine a more fitting location for this piece than this beautiful new music building on the campus of my alma mater” Zvanut said. “It is my hope that viewers will get an emotional lift from experiencing the work in this setting. If it brings a smile to your face and provides a few moments of relief from your troubles, then it has succeeded.” In 2009 the Catholic Foundation of Dallas invited professional artists living in North Texas to submit proposal designs for consideration, and a panel of judges from the Dallas arts community chose “Music on Parade” as the winning piece. It was displayed on a 28’ by 9’8” wall for approximately one year at the Catholic Foundation Plaza located on the grounds of the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the Dallas arts district, directly across from the Meyerson Symphony Center. After its removal from the site, Zvanut chose the A&M-Commerce music building as a prospective permanent home for his work because of his long affiliation with the university and community. “I began my college career here as a music and art major, studying piano with Dr. John Harris,” Zvanut said. “I received both a BFA and MFA from East Texas State University, as this university was known at the time. I shared my design with the music building design team, and with their enthusiastic endorsement, I subsequently donated the work to the university.” For more information email music department head Chris White at [email protected] or call 903-886-5303.

Beverly Sloan, RNNocona Clark, RN

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(903) 886-2666 - Fax 886-3773

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W o m e n i n n e e dNon-profit thrift store

Men’s, women’s and children’s clothes as well as household items

Open to the public Mon- Fri 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Sat 10 a.m. to 5p.m.

Help support victims of family violence

2534 MagnumNew location in the plaza with Commerce Hardware903.886.1224

Donations welcomed, tax receipts available

SEPTEMBER 2011

The Texas A&M University-Commerce welcomed a new show, Space Opera, to the Planetarium Sept. 2. Showings will be held every Friday night at 8 p.m.

The journey in Space Opera is designed and harmonized entirely with Gustav Holst’s The Planets, Op. 32, which is one of his most beloved and admired works. The opera was completed in two distinct phases: the first phase with Mars, Venus and Jupiter and the second phase with Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Mercury.

Space Opera gives details about each of the planets of the solar system. It also contains classic art and fantastic astronomical images choreographed with outstanding classical music.

On Friday nights at 7 p.m. the planetarium will continue to show Stars of the Pharaohs through Sept. 30. Many regularly visiting patrons have requested to see this show again, so by popular demand Stars of the Pharaohs is back.

Admission to the Friday night shows is $3 for those under 18 and A&M-Commerce students with ID, $3.50 for university employees and senior citizens, and $4 for all others. A discount of $1 per person will be offered if tickets are purchased at the same times for two shows viewed on the same day.

Each planetarium show begins with brief remarks by a member of the planetarium staff, who displays the Commerce night sky on the planetarium’s 40-foot dome and points out the current visible constellations, stars, and planets. Call the planetarium at 903-468-8650 for more information or visit our website at:http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/communityOutreach/planetarium/showSchedule.aspx

Space Opera showing at

A&M-Commerce planetarium

Page 8

We’re counting down to the 6th annual Cotton Belt Railroad Symposium Friday & Saturday, September 23-24, 2011 Sam Rayburn Student Center Texas A&M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas. Everyone is welcome to this free event honoring and documenting the history of the St. Louis Southwestern and other railroads of the northeast Texas and Ark-La-Tex region. Members of the railroad “family” and anyone interested is welcomed to attend and participate. The event will be videotaped and extensively photographed for historical preservation.Friday - 5:00p-8:00pCasual show-&-tell/mix-&-mingle.Visit with new and old friends and view railroad artifacts and information.The response to this function has been outstanding If you would like to display railroad artifacts, photos, etc., particularly related to the Cotton Belt, contact me to ensure we have ample display space available.Please note, this is NOT a “swap meet.”Saturday - 8:45a-4:30p | 8:19a Registration Formal programs, artifact displays, luncheon, dedication ceremony. All activities are free of charge except for the luncheon. Live music will be performed at the luncheon.IMPORTANT: If you wish to dine with us, luncheon tickets are $12.00 each and MUST be reserved by Monday, Sept. 19. If you have not already done so, please RSVP via Symposium website or e-mail me your name and number of tickets requested.Luncheon ticket is not required for attendance at other symposium activities.The 2011 Cotton Belt Symposium is dedicated to the memory of Winford Blake Dyer. July 12, 1927 - August 6, 2010 The Board of Directors of the Northeast Texas Regional Rail Transportation District (NETEX) recently passed a resolution to name the junction of the former Cotton Belt and Texas Midland in downtown Commerce “Dyer Junction” in recognition of Winford’s leadership in facilitating the formation of the rail district and preservation of the former “C” branch for continued rail service to the region. Winford served as the founding chair of the NETEX Rail District upon it’s creation. The symposium program will culminate on Saturday with the official dedication ceremony, at 4:00pm, trackside at the location of the junction near the site of the former Cotton Belt Depot in downtown Commerce.

Event Highlights/Features/Programs:Book/Art Signings - “Cotton Belt Engineer” - Edwin C. Cooper - “Commerce Pictorial History” - Cheryl Westhafer & Jim Conrad - original Cotton Belt Railroad paintings by James Green Railroad Lantern collection - Bryan Davis Cotton Belt Railroad photos - John Morris Cotton Belt Artifacts & videos - Jason Lee Davis Railroad Artifacts - William Dobbins Interurban Railway Museum, Plano, TX Arkansas Railroad Museum, Pine Bluff, AR Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society - Tyler Tap Chapter Motorcar Hobby information - Railroad Partners, Inc.Electric Railway System - Robert L. Haynes Texas Midland Railroad - Cheryl Westhafer Top seniority SSW/UP Engineer - Billy R. Null Reclaiming the Cotton Belt “Long Caboose” #2305 - Gary Powell The Cotton Belt Business Car Fleet and the “Dixie” - Tony Wilson Luncheon featuring live music by Leo Sykes & family/friends (railroad songs) World Premiere viewing of the Documentary on Saving the “C” branch - Dr. Richard Schroeder & David Walvoord NETEX/Blacklands Railroad Update - Cletis Millsap & Wayne Defebaugh Panel Discussion Dedication ceremony for “Dyer Junction” trackside in Downtown Commerce - NETEX Locomotive Display - Blacklands Railroad Motorcar Run/Display - Railroad Partners, Inc Railroad Memorabilia/Signal Garden Open House - Steven Powlow, 2500 Bryan St., Commerce (after dedication ceremony)The Cotton Belt Symposium and the Bois d’Arc Bash planning committees have teamed up this year to provide Commerce residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy an expanded variety of events and activities throughout the weekend appealing to a much broader audience. Bash activities include: parade, vendors, arts & crafts, food, golf tournament, games, wine tasting, live music & entertainment, car show, and much more.Free Shuttle service provided between the Student Center and Downtown Bash/Dedication Activities between 11am & 7pm on Saturday.Hosted by the TAMU-C Department of Educational Leadership, James G. Gee Library, and the Commerce Public Library.Sponsors: Gold Spike - Blacklands Railroad, Wayne Defebaugh, pres. Bronze Spike - Cletis Millsap, chair, NETEX Rail District

Want to be a sponsor next year? E-mail me for details.

Visit our Symposium website:http://www.CottonBeltRoute.com/

NEW: Join us on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/groups/169986873071642

Bois d’Arc Bash website:http://boisdarc-bash.com/

See you in Commerce for the 2011 Cotton Belt Symposium.

Highball to Commerce!-Jason Symposium founder & co-host

Commerce, Texas (Aug. 24, 2011)—Texas A&M University-Commerce achieved its highest enrollment in school history at 3:41 p.m. today after enrolling its 11,000th student, Dakota Griffin of Greenville, for the fall semester.

“My sincere appreciation goes out to the entire university community,” said Dr. Mary Hendrix, vice president of student access and success. “Accomplishments like these are the result of a team effort, and cannot be achieved through individual efforts alone. Every contact we have with potential and current students makes the difference.”

This significant increase comes on the heels of last fall’s record enrollment of more than 10,000 students, and represents a 11.9 percent increase in the freshmen class.For more information on the record-breaking enrollment, contact Ashley Johnson at [email protected] or 903-468-8171.

**Dakota Griffin, the 11,000th student enrolled at A&M-Commerce this fall.

A&M commerce enrolls11,000 for fall 2011

1312 Washington Street - Commerce, Texas 75428903 / 886-2126 - Fax 903 / 886-4552 - Metro 972 / 226-

0969www.inwoodbank.com

Member FDIC

SEPTEMBER 2011

Meals on Wheels Silent Auction ScheduleThe annual Meals on Wheels Silent Auction will be held October 3, 2011, at 6 p.m. in the conference room of the student center on the Texas A&M-Commerce campus.

For a donation of $5.00, participants will be able to shop the auction and enjoy complimentary refreshments. There will be a wide variety of items in the silent auction. Everything from quilts, needlepoint, services, cakes and original artwork! There will also be a country store where many homemade food items can be purchased.

In addition to the auction, there will also be a drawing for $200 in groceries. Chances on the groceries can be purchased for $1.00 each from board members or at the door the night of the auction. You do not have to be present to win.

The silent auction is the only fundraiser for the Meals on Wheels program each year. The program serves approximately 50 hot lunches 3 times a week to shut-ins in the Commerce area.

If anyone is in need of their services or would like to be a volunteer driver, please contact Ann Champion at 903-886-4353.

People & Services UnitedPO Box 431Commerce TX 75429

Harvey Martin Classic @ Cowboys Stadium .........................Sept 17

Annual Chamber Golf Tournament .........................................Sept 23

Bois d’Arc Bash .............................................................Sept 23, 24, 25

Bois d’Arc Bash Car Show .......................................................Sept 25

9th Annual Live It Up! SeniorHealth Expo.................................................................................Oct. 20

2012 Miss & Teen Hunt County Pageant...................................Oct 29

Halloween in the Square .............................................................Oct 31

Northeast Texas Children’s MuseumChristmas Parade ........................................................................Dec 1

Brunch with Santa ........................................................................Dec 3

C H A M B E R Calendar of Events for 2011

City of Commerce Monthly Report

* The Commerce City Council meets the third Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Meetings are also aired on KETV Channel 3.

* Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a Senior Adult Trip to the State Fair of Texas on Thursday, October 13. The cost for this trip is $15.00 per person. The bus will leave from the parking lot by the City Pool on Park Street at 10:00 a.m. and will return at 9:00 p.m. To reserve your place on the bus, call Amanda at 903-886-1150.

* The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has assessed our drinking water and determined that it is safe to drink. The 2010 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report provides a summary of the quality of the water that we provide to our customers. A copy of this report should have been received in the mail by all of our water customers. It is also available on our website at www.commercetx.org.

* Persons with outstanding warrants through the Commerce Municipal Court are listed on the city’s website at www.commercetx.org. If your name appears on the list, contact the court at 903-886-1132.

* The City of Commerce has implemented Stage 1 of our Drought Contingency Plan. This is the first of three stages that consist of (1) Mild Drought, (2) Moderate Drought and (3) Severe Drought.

* Stage 1 is a voluntary reduction on the use of water. Because of our responsibility to you, we are requesting that you help us by cutting down on your water usage where you can until the water levels return to a safe elevation.

* If the city has to move into Stage 2, we will contact the Commerce Journal and KETR for publication and information will appear on the city’s website at www.commercetx.org and on your water bill. For more information, contact City Hall at 903/886-1100.

* There are plenty of animals available for adoption at the Commerce Animal Shelter. Call Benny or Kat at 903-886-1160.

Page 9

SEPTEMBER 2011

Local & Regional

The Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club announced it has awarded 26 volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is issued by Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service on behalf of the President of the United States. It is awarded to recognize the best in American spirit, to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service, and for civic participation. The Award is given to individuals, families, and groups that have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service and civic participation over the course of a 12-month period. The Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club has been given the authority through an application process to administer the President’s Volunteer Service Awards in Hunt County to area volunteers.

For the volunteer service that the members of Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club performed in 2010, the Group was awarded the Gold Award. To be eligible for the Gold Award the Group had to perform over 1,000 hours of volunteer service and any member of the Club had to complete 25 hours of voluntary service toward the Group award. The members that completed the required 25 volunteer hours were: Darlene Allin, Davy Arnold, Marco Coelho, Stephanie Coelho, Debby Cunningham, Linda Foster, Bobby George, Sabrina Guynes, Barbara Hampton, Debbie Henson, Val Holt, Jimmy James, Landy Johnson, Matt Koger, Betty Lunday, Doris Matlock, Linda McDonald, Jessica Morgan, Makalynn Morgan, Shannon Routh, Allie Sansing, Cary Sansing, Jessica Sansing, Wade Sansing and Don Sansing.

Eight of the members also completed enough volunteer hours that qualified them for individual awards. The Individual Bronze Awards went to Darlene Allin, Debby Cunningham, Linda Foster, Sabrina Guynes, Debbie Henson, Makalynn Morgan and Wade Sansing.

Two members volunteered enough hours to qualify for the Silver Award, those members that were honored were Makalynn Morgan and Don Sansing. Makalynn is the only “Keet” (under 14 years old) to qualify for the PVSA and she was awarded all three; Bronze, Silver and Gold. Congratulations to all the volunteers and especially to Mak for earning all three awards.

Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club has a history of volunteer service with more than 100 volunteers performing community service each year on behalf of the organization. The Club is a not-for-profit organization. Its function is to provide members with social activities and to be involved with community service, as well as charitable and environmental causes. The Club’s passion has been the Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. It also supports “Commerce Lil’ Angels” and other local charities, such as “Special Olympics”, “Women in Need” and the “Humane Society”.

For more information concerning this Award Program contact Don Sansing at 903-366-2737 or visit the Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club web-site at www.rotphc.com.

republic of texas parrot head club honors volunteers with president’s service award

Page 10

SEPTEMBER 2011

C H A M B E R Our Town

The Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club* will host its 3rd Annual Par-3 Golf Tourney benefiting the “Bras for the Cause” and other local charities. You do not need to be member of club to enter Tourney.“Bras for the Cause” is a volunteer-based organization raising funds to eradicate breast and cervical cancer – especially through early intervention mammograms and cervical screenings.The tournament will be held on Saturday – October 8, 2011 at the Texas Beach Club and Hartline’s Golf Center at I-30 and Hwy 50, Greenville, TX

PLAYER / TEAM InformationEntry fee: $45.00 per player (One Mulligan Per player for $ 5.00 extra)Time: 1:00 PM Shotgun StartFormat: 2 - player teams play 9 holes Captains choice / Best Ball FormatPrizes: 1st place Team: Trophy plus $200 dollar value; 2nd Place Team: gets Trophy plus $100 value.

Entry fee covers: 9-hole Green fees, Cart, Sleeve of beautiful RoTPHC Balls (2) and Tees (9)

Other prizes and surprises may be awarded or just handed out as the Club sees fit because “If it ain’t fun, we ain’t a gonna do it.”

Sponsorships are available, for information call Don Sansing at 903-366-2737 or Debby Cunningham at 903-886-8942 or [email protected]. For more information about the tourney, please visit our website at www.rotphc.com.

* The Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club is an IRS Exempt 501 (c) 7 - Texas non-profit organization.

Republic of texas parrot head club charity par-3 golf tourney

Six named to cisd hall of honor

Ticket sales to the Commerce ISD Hall of Honor induction ceremony and luncheon will begin September 15 at the CISD Administration Building at 3315 Washington St. Five former teachers and an engineer turned philantrophist will be honored October 7 for their distinguished careers and their contributions to students. Honorees include Alvis Alderman, Ann Champion, Bill Fuhrmeister, Mary White Hendrix, Loretta Kibler and Janet Peek. Inductees will be honored at the luncheon, then at the CHS pep rally and lastly during the pre-game activities of the Homecoming game against Bonham at Texas A&M University-Commerce Memorial Stadium. Ticket price is $15. Sales will continue through September 30.

Page 11

$500 Donation Made to “Special Olympics” by Republic of Texas Parrot Head ClubOn September 3, 2011 officers of the Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club, Don Sansing, Bobby George, Debbie Henson, Debby Cunningham, Linda Foster, Shannon Routh and Meghan McDowell presented Jency Holbert, Volunteer Coordinator for “Hunt County Special Olympics Meet”, Commerce, Texas with a $500 donation. The donation was made possible because of the volunteer efforts of the Club members, especially Linda Foster. The profits from these volunteer efforts also provided donations to other charitable organizations. The Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club proudly serves Parrot Heads in Commerce, TX and the surrounding area. In November 2008, the Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club received sanctioning from the Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc, the parent organization that started this ”ParrotHead Nation” some 20 years ago. There are currently over 240 Parrot Head chapters. In the six year period from 2002-2010, Parrot Head Clubs have collectively gathered funds for and/or donated to charitable organizations more than $22,100,000! Additionally, chapters worldwide donated approximately 2.65 million man-hours to philanthropic activities! “The Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club gives it members the opportunity to be a part of something special and to give something back ... to the community, to the environment and to their fellow man,” said Don Sansing, the clubs President. “For the things that the ‘ParrotHead Nation’ does, we have been dubbed ‘angles in tropical shirts’”.

Commerce Independent School District

2203 Culver Street Commerce, TX 75428

l o n e s t a r e a t e r y . c o m | f a c e b o o k

903.886.2121

New! “French Dip” roast beef & cheddar only at Lones

tar E

atery Grill & Bar.

CONWAY COMPANY CPAs, PC

ACCOUNTANTS & ADVISORS

www.conwaycpas.com

Office 903-886-2123Facsimile 903-886-6580

1021 Park Street

Chaney’s Tobacco StationWe Cash All Types of Checks

Western Unio m Money Orders Budget Home Phone Service

Prepaid Cell Phones Bill Payment Center

1601 Live Oak 903-886-8080

C H A M B E R Member Spotlights

SEPTEMBER 2011Page 12

Support your local teams with embroideredor personalized items from these members:

1st Choice Spirit 903-454-8326

All Star Enterprises 903-886-0300

Texas A&M-Commerce Pride Shop 903-886-5818

Dyer Insurance Agency, Inc.

Serving Commerce and the University

for over 75 years

1504 Washington St., Commerce, TX 75428

903-886-2131 dyerinsurance.com

COMMERCE Business DirectoryA C C O U N T I N G – C PA’ sConway Company CPAs, PC 886-2123Kenneth Foust 886-3106Naeem Ahmad, CPA.P.C. 214-808 0551A D V E R T I S I N G | S P E C I A L I T I E SGiggles & Grins 450-4746Hoss Outdoor Adv. | Billboards I-30 972-212-9315A I R C O N D I T I O N I N G | H E AT I N GDMP Services 903-274-7637Ken Parker Service, Inc 903-886-6990Progressive Air and Heat 903-886-8322A M U S E M E N T | E N T E R TA I N M E N TNE Tx Children’s Museum 886-6055Planetarium 468-8652A PA R T M E N T S | P R O P E R T Y M G M TAmerican Eagle Properties 886-4430Bradford Place Apts. 886-8855Charlinda Villages 886-8807Churchill at Commerce Apts. (Culver) 886-4444Gant Apartments 886-6863Maple Place Apartments 886-4050 MyApartmentMap.com 603-319-1712Oak Meadows Townhomes 886-1555Oglesby & Associates 972-742-5099Sparks Enterprises 817-460-3347Valentine Properties 886-8881A R T G A L L E R Y / S T U D I OCommerce Office of Cultural Affairs 217-8050AT T O R N E Y SCurtis, Alexander/McCampbell & Morris 455-8113Edgar J. Garrett 886-3146The Law Offices of Jim D. McLeroy 885-6476A U T O M O B I L E D E A L E R SCommerce Auto Group 886-4014North TX Hyundai of Greenville 455-4949A U T O M O B I L E S E RV I C E S / PA R T SD & E Auto Supply 886-8040Hoover’s Automotive 886-7781J J’s Quick Lube 886-8775O’Reilly Auto Parts 886-1755Talley Auto Parts 886-2191BAKERIESSweeties Donut Shoppe 886-6111Izzy’s Cakes & Bistro 886-4800B A N K SAlliance Bank 886-3244Cypress Bank 886-7425Guaranty Bond Bank 886-2274Heritage Land Bank 455-2835Inwood National Bank 886-2126BOOK STORESEast Texas Book Store 886-3248B U S I N E S S D E V E L O P M E N T | T R A I N I N GCenter for Applied Leadership 903-886-5086Commerce EDC 886-1121The Alternative Board 469-757-1700

C A B I N E T M A K I N G Keystone Mfg. Co. 886-1551C AT E R I N G / M E E T I N G F A C I L I T I E SThe Lodge/Catering Company 886-7586CELL PHONES AND SERVICEACN-Independent Rep. 903-335-6034Wireless TNT (AT&T) 886-1062C H I L D D E V E L O P M E N TDNJ Learning Center 886-2414Wee Care at Sha’s Sha’s World Care Center 886-4911C H I R O P R A C T O R SBeacon Chiropractic 886-3100Jensen Chiropractic 886-4333C H R I S T I A N S C I E N C E P R A C T I T I O N E RJudy Biggs 903-413-5086C H U R C H E SBread of Life Church of Nazarene 886-1515Commerce Community Church 513-2699Disciples of Faith Bible Fellowship 886-3644Epiphany Episcopal Church 886-7359First Baptist Church 886-3189First Presbyterian Church 886-3783First United Methodist Church 886-3220Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship 886-8585Healing Waters Assembly of God 886-7112Ridgecrest Baptist Church 886-6034St. Joseph Catholic Church 886-7135Word of Life Family Church 886-0917C L E A N E R SCountry Cleaners 886-1609C L O T H I N GThe Bargain Box 886-8306Dressing Divas 903-272-4198My Sister’s Closet 886-1224C O M P U T E R S E RV I C E S / F O R E N S I C SWolf Security Analysts 366-6721C O P I E R S Advantage Copy Systems 885-3375IKON Office Solutions/Ricoh 903-892-2144C O N C R E T ED. L. Lennon, Inc. 886-3174C O N S T R U C T I O NDale Stotts/DS Precision Builders 886-3310D. L. Lennon, Inc. 886-3174C O N V E N I E N C E S T O R E SFlying L Fast Mart 886-8091New Way 886-7684 C O S M E T I C SMary Kay Cosmetics - Betty Teel Malone 496-2292Violet Spell, Avon Cosmetics 903-453-5916C O U N S E L I N GLakes Regional MHMR 903-455-5770Ronald W. Anderson, PhD. 886-4388C O U N T R Y C L U B SSand Hills Golf/Country Club 886-4455C R E D I T U N I O N SLone Star Credit Union 800-588-6928

D A N C E S T U D I O SLi-Sher Dance Studio 886-6431D E N T I S T SCozart’s Dental Office 886-3081Mary/Marc McDaniel, DDS 886-6945D I R E C T S A L E S / P R O D U C T S & S E RV I C E SAML - Direct Sales Marketing 903-513-3636DISTRIBUTORSBen E. Keith Company 886-2158Coca-Cola Bottling Co. 903-784-3336E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N TCommerce Economic Dev. Corporation 886-1121E D I T O R I A L S E RV I C E SWord Magic 886-6498E D U C AT I O NTexas A&M University.-Commerce 886-5081Commerce Independent Schools 886-3755Paris Junior College 782-0330E L E C T R I C A L C O N T R A C T O R SKCC Electric 903-246-6245E L E C T R O N I C S U P P L I E SKartridge Korner 886-3312E M B R O I D E R Y / P R N T G / P R O M O P R O D U C T SAll Star Enterprises 886-0300E M P L O Y M E N T A G E N C I E SKelly Services 454-4227E N G I N E E R SHayter Engineering, Inc. 785-0303F A R M S U P P L I E SFix & Feed Commerce Hardware 886-7917Huffman Farm Supply 886-3368F I N A N C I A L S E RV I C E SActive Wealth Management 455-6956AIS Financial Services 886-8050Continental Credit 886-8500Edward Jones & Company 886-3333Financial Network Investment Corp 886-2823ViewPoint Bankers Mortgage 903-455-1477F L O R I S TBickham Florist 886-3141F O O D S T O R E SBrookshires 886-3252F U N E R A L H O M E SCommerce Funeral Home/Cremation Serv. 886-8600Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home 886-3131F U R N I T U R EAffordable Furniture & Etc. 886-6096G O V E R N M E N TCity of Commerce 886-1100State Representative Dan Flynn 455-0971G R A P H I C S1st Choice Spirit, Grvl 454-8326Pride Shop 886-5814H A R D WA R ECommerce Hardware & Feed 886-7917


COMMERCE Business DirectoryH O M E H E A LT H1st Choice 886-2666Encompass Home Health 886-8877Visiting Angels 903-784-3902H O M E R E PA I R / M A I N T E N A N C E /American Eagle Home Maint/Remodeling 886-4430Dale Stotts/DS Precision Builders 903-886-3310Under Construction 886-6893HOSPICEVistaCare Hospice 454-1107HOSPITALSHunt Reg. Comm. Hospital-Commerce 886-3161Hunt Regional Medical Center-Greenville 408-5000 H O T E L | M O T E L S | B & B ’ sBest Western Monica Royale Inn & Suites 454-3700Bois d’Arc Bed & Breakfast, 903-886-7705Commerce Inn 886-8756Holiday Inn Express, Commerce 886-4777H O U S I N GCommerce Housing Authority 886-2946I N S U R A N C EDiversified Insurance 886-6943Duncan Insurance 886-2183Dyer Insurance 886-2131Farm Bureau Insurance 455-6782State Farm Insurance 886-7774I N T E R N E T / C O M M U N I C AT I O N SACN-Independent Rep 903-335-6034CenturyLink 800-788-3500L I B R A R I E SCommerce Public Library 886-6858LONG TERM CARE/SKILLED NURSING FACILITYBriarcliff Health Center 903-455-8729Oak Manor Nursing Home 903-886-2510MANUFACTURINGAlliance Carpet Cushion Co. 886-4153Covidien 886-3153Hydro Aluminum Metal Products 468-5012Legacy Housing 886-7394Zurn/Pex Hydronics 886-2580MEDICAL SERVICESHulsey Therapy Services 886-7669Live Oak Professional Ctr. 886-8818Lowery Medical Supplies 395-4508MENTAL HEALTHLakes Regional MHMR 903 455-5770NEWSPAPERSThe Commerce Journal 455-4220The Commerce Connection 886-3950OFFICE EQUIPMENTAdvantage Copy Systems 903-885-3375OFFICE SUPPLIES/PRINTINGLatson Office Supplies/Printing 886-2710Personalized Printing 886-7173ORGANIZATIONSA&M-Commerce Alumni Chapter 886-6175

A&M-Commerce Athletics 468-3033A&M-Commerce Interfraternity Council 468-3087Aglaia Club 886-1968American Legion Post No. 1 886-8479Celebrate The Children, Inc. 886-8365Commerce Bells of The Red Hat Society 886.6547Commerce Classroom Teachers Assn. 886-3758Commerce Humane Society 496-2412Coterie Culture Club 886-6263Commerce Office of Cultural Affairs 903-217-8050Commerce Parks Foundation 886-7697Keep Commerce Beautiful 453-7201Kiwanis Club 886-4733Lions Club 886-4034Louise Drake Garden Club 886-6263Masonic Lodge 886-3549N. Hunt Co. Retired Teachers Assn. 886-7695Pi Kappa Alpha 903-422-0316Pi Sigma Alpha 903-886-5317Psychology Club 886-6078Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club 366-2737 Rotary Club 886-7047Silver Leos Writing Club 468-7391Thalian Culture Club 886-6209Woman’s Culture Club 886-2624 PAY D AY L O A N SCash Express 886-6252P E C A N SCampbell Pecans 903-366-1141P E T S U P P L I E S / G R O O M I N G / B O A R D I N GC&P Bark & Purr 886-2524Pet Degrees 886-8469P H A R M A C I E STotal Care Pharmacy 886-8888P R I N T E R S , P U B L I S H E R S & G R A P H I C SAll Star Enterprises 886-0300Latson’s 886-2710Personalized Printing 886-7173Pride Shop at A&M-C 886-5818P L U M B E R SAshley Plumbing 886-2355DMP Services 903-274-9987Powers Plumbing 886-3300R A D I O S TAT I O N SE TX Broadcasting, Inc. (95.9) 885-1546KETR 88.9 886-5848R A I L R O A D SBlacklands Railroad 438-1324R A N C H E SOats Ranch 886-7951R E A L E S TAT ECentury 21 First Group 886-1200Jack Chapin Real Estate 886-6373Janet Williams Real Estate 903-450-5407R E A L E S TAT E D E V E L O P E R SOglesby & Associates 469-698-0059R E S A L E S H O P Goodwill Industries of NE TX 886-3600

My Sister’s Closet (WIN) 886-1224The Bargain Box 886-8306R E S I D E N T I A L / B U S I N E S S C L E A N I N GQuality Home Service 903-243-1854R E S TA U R A N T S | C L U B SBraum’s 886-6149Domino’s Pizza 886-2116The Grazing Buffalo 903-886-8160Lone Star Eatery, Grill and Bar 886-2121Los Mochis Mexican 886-8200Lulu’s Burgers 886-3888McDonalds # 10645 886-7771Mi Casita 886-4000Panda Chinese 886-4008Pizza Hut 886-9600Sonic Drive-In 886-7166The Drunken Mule 886-3289Texas Beach Club 455-0219The Rail 886-8132R E M O D E L I N G R E PA I RUnder Construction 886-6893R E TA I LWal-Mart 886-3108R E T I R E M E N T / A S S I S T E D L I V I N GColonial Lodge Retirement Inn 454-6636Country Homes Estates 886-7754SELF-STORAGE FACILITIESAll-American Self Storage 886-7575The Guard House Self-Storage 886-6040TA N N I N G S A L O N SHealthy Glow Tanning Salon 886-0100TA X P R E PA R AT I O NH & R Block 886-7252T I T L E C O M PA N YNorth Texas Title of Hunt County 454-3364T O B A C C OChaney’s Tobacco Station 886-8080T R A N S P O R TAT I O NHill Grain Company 886-3133T R A S H H A U L I N G - C O M M E R C I A LCity Sanitation 886-2314T R U C K I N GBL II Logistics L.L.C. 886-2900U T I L I T I E SAtmos Energy 800-460-3030Eagle Energy 214-564-4002FEC Electric 455-1715Oncor Electric Delivery 888-313-6862V E T E R I N A R I A N SCommerce Vet Clinic 886-7941Gregg Animal Clinic 886-3911W E B S I T E D E S I G N & D E V E L O P M E N TLuminous Productions 903-851-3183W E D D I N GCelebrations-Wedding Cakes 886-3248W R E C K E R S E RV I C E SBenson Bros. 886-2765


We’re growing to servethe Commerce community’s health care

Hunt Regional Commu-nity Hospital

Hunt Regional Medical Center

Greenville

Hunt Regional Medical Center

want to run an ad in the Connection?Do

Call 903.886.3950 to join the Chamber today!

C h a m b e r M e m b e r s h i p L e v e l s

Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25Individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 50Clubs and Churches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 50Business Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$150(1-10 full-time employees)Business Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$200(over 10 full-time employees)Hotels, Motels & Apartments . . . . . . . . .$200Banks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250Manufacturers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500Utility Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$500Website Link Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25

C o n n e c t i o n A d R a t e sRunning an ad in the Connectionis a great way to increase your businesses visibility beyond the Connection or Chamber website Directories.

Display Ad..................................$ 30Back Cover Ad...........................$300Website Link Fee........................$ 25

you

Get HappyMake us your

home!Oak Meadows Town Homes150 Maple StreetCommerce, TX 75428903.886.1555M-F 8a.m.-5p.m.Susan Oliver, Manager

Commerce Chamber of CommerceMission StatementThe purpose of the Chamber of Commerce shall be to promote the common business interests of merchants and citizens living and working in the City of Commerce, Texas, and in the im-mediate area; promote the free enterprise system; encourage the commercial, industrial and agricultural development of the City of Commerce and the immediate area; assume a role of active leadership in community improvement. The Chamber shall stand for local harmony, cooperation, and progress and shall be non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-sectional in its activities.

2248 Live Oak St. Commerce, Texas 75428903.886.2518

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2207 Culver St. Commerce, Texas 75428903.886.4777hiexpress.com/escommercetx

Complimentary BreakfastFree High Speed InternetIndoor Pool and SpaFitness Room


Make sure all your legal needs are metby contacting one of these members:

Curtis, Alexander, 903-455-8113McCampbell & Morris, PC

Edgar J. Garrett 903-886-3146

The Law Office of 903-885-6476Jim D. McLeroy

C H A M B E R Member Spotlights

Page 16 September 2011

A special “thank you” to our 2011Bois d’arc Bash Sponsors

Corporate Sponsors:Texas A&M University-Commerce

City of CommerceBen E. Keith

Herald Banner

Major Sponsors:Commerce Independent School District

HydroLive Oak Professional Center

KETRBL II Logistics

Hunt Regional HealthcareRandall Noe Commerce Auto Group

Covidien

Gold Sponsors:Brookshire’s

Farmers Electric CooperativeOncor

State Senator Robert DeuellAlliance Bank

Hoss Outdoor AdvertisingInwood Bank

Lone Star EateryGuaranty Bond Bank

1st Choice Home HealthUnder Construction

Silver Sponsors:Cypress Bank

Powers PlumbingAtmos Energy

Ken Parker ServiceHayter Engineering

Churchill at CommerceLouis PowersportsCommerce EDC

McDonald’sZurn

Colonial Lodge Retirement InnsWord Magic

Commerce Cash ExpressCommerce Chevrolet Buick

Oglesby & Associates

Bronze Sponsors:Advantage Copy Systems Bois d’Arc Bed & Breakfast

Briarcliff Health CenterCentury 21

City SanitationCommerce Rotary ClubCommerce Vet Clinic

Country CleanersDan & Jalinna Jones & Family

Diversified InsuranceDressing Divas

Duncan InsuranceDyer Insurance Agency

First Baptist ChurchFirst United Methodist Church

Fix & Feed Commerce HardwareH&R Block

Kenneth Foust CPA PCOats Ranch

PandaState Representative Dan Flynn

Documents

September - Commerce - Chamber of Commerce