CHAMBER NEWSLETTER | AUGUST 2024

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The Chamber has signed on with Textedly to deliver to its members important news and announcements via secure text messages received on your mobile phone. “This is a great way to be reminded about important Chamber events,” says Nancy Runge, Chamber president. Chamber members who wish to receive occasional alerts (usually just 1 or 2 a month) can opt in to the service for free by signing up here. All subscribers will only be able to reply to the Chamber as the sender instead of all other recipients of the texts. This ensures that subscribers don't get random replies.

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With nearly half a million acres of fertile agricultural land, Garvin County is a prime location and its farmers and ranchers are prime customers for Pro Ag Services Inc. to contribute to their crops’ success each year.

For two generations, Pro Ag aerial spraying services has helped farmers and ranchers succeed in the agricultural industry. When they need crop-dusting services, Pro Ag Services Inc. takes to the skies with over 40 years of flying experience and an arsenal of cutting-edge technology to help agricultural businesses succeed.

Alfalfa, wheat, corn and soybeans are some of the major crops grown in Garvin County. Oftentimes they need some help and that’s where Pro Ag comes in. After take-off at Pauls Valley Municipal Airport, the company’s plane applies herbicide, fungicide and insecticide on farm and pastureland.

The company’s story starts in 1963 ...

A 1963 photo of the original owners,

Don and Judy Sharp.

CALENDAR

AUGUST

• 20 - Board meeting
• 30 - 5th Friday Artwalk

SEPTEMBER

• 2 - Labor Day (Office Closed)
• 17 - Board meeting
• 28 - Brickfest

New Members of the Board of Directors Bring Experience, Commitment and Fresh Ideas

Jesse Alvarado

Tourism Director

City of Pauls Valley



Jesse has actively volunteered in the community, serving on several boards and organizations through the years: Pauls Valley Main Street, the local Kiwanis Club, the city's Tourism Board and Pauls Valley School Board. His career at Covercraft began in 2009, where he became a Content Developer in marketing. Prior to that he worked in oilfield safety. He moved to Pauls Valley from Southern California. He spent 21 years with his wife Elena and raised their two children, Alicia and Gabriel. His family also includes two dogs, Charlie and Luna. A storyteller at heart, Jesse has a passion for documenting life’s moments through cinema, photography, and videography. He loves the outdoors, especially camping and hiking. He has played drums for over 20 years, and has a deep appreciation for all kinds of music.

Becky Ledbetter

Marketing Director

Pauls Valley National Bank



To Becky, the Chamber means growth, support, networking, education and training. She serves as the Marketing Director for Pauls Valley National Bank. She has served on the Chamber Board before when she was the City’s Tourism Director from 2021 to 2023. She is married to David Ledbetter for 25 years. They have two daughters, Tristen and Mia, both living in Stillwater. They also have two granddogs, Luna and Teddy, and one grandcat, Mobie. She and her husband also serve as Youth Pastors at Crossroads Church. In their spare time, they enjoy the outdoors and traveling. “Pauls Valley is a beautiful place to eat, shop, stay and live and I hope my time as a Board member is spent helping and supporting that,” she says.

Jamie Davis

Material Handler

Amcor



Jamie is a Pauls Valley native who attended the local schools, graduating in 1985, before moving to Modesto, CA, and joining the Army. He served from 1988 to 1992 and served in Desert Storm during his enlistment. He returned to Pauls Valley in 1994 and gained employment with Viskase – which is now Amcor – and has been there for 30 years. For 28 of those years, he worked in the Distribution Department as an Operation Specialist. He also does shipping and receiving and inventory work. He is married to Ainslee, a preschool teacher for nearly 20 years. They have three sons: Corbin is currently in the Army at Fort Bragg, NC; Jonah will be going to East Central University in the fall, and Elijah is a junior this year. “I look forward to serving my community which has given me and my family so great a life here in Pauls Valley,” he says.

Comfort Inn & Suites, our new Chamber member, is owned and operated by Yogesh Thakkar (left) and Haresh Pithadiya.

Welcome Our

New & Renewing Members

RENEWING

Grant & Katie Johnson CPA

Mo-B Car Wash

Nick Richardson

Pauls Valley Tag Office

Tio's Restaurant

The Downtown Business Committee Has Begun Work on Christmas in the Valley

Building on the success of last Christmas, the Downtown Business Committee has broken up into subcommittees to plan the events for each Thursday in December. Here is a look at the various festivities and activities:

FILL YOUR STOCKING -- Monday, Dec. 2 (night of the Christmas Parade): Each child will receive a free stocking and participating businesses will add a piece of Christmas candy.

SANTA STOPS HERE PASSPORT-- Thursday, Dec. 5: Participants will receive a passport listing every participating business. Each business will have a stamp to stamp the passport. They would also give the participant a ticket. If they made a purchase, they would get 2 tickets. If they paid over $50, they would get 3 tickets. If they paid over $100, they would get 4 tickets. We would have a drawing for tickets to the Polar Express.

POKER RUN -- Thursday, Dec. 12: An interactive event where participants visit various businesses, drawing a playing card at each one, all in the pursuit of the best poker hand by the end. The winner will receive a gift basket.

GNOME SCAVENGER HUNT-- Thursday, Dec. 19: Each participating business would decorate and name a gnome and hide it in their business (should not be too hard to find). Participants would get a card with a list of gnomes and they have to find each gnome. The cards will be stamped once they find the gnome. Once you find the gnomes, fill out your card and drop it at the Chamber to be registered to win a prize.

If you would like to serve on one of the subcommittees organizing the event or if you would like your business to participate, contact the Chamber at president@paulsvalleychamber.com.

VOLUNTEER:

If you do not work downtown, but would still like to help, we need volunteers. We will have our giant Snow Globe set up on Dec. 2 and Dec. 19 and we have our s'more station set up each Thursday. If you would like to help or if you would like to have your own booth, please contact president@paulsvalleychamber.com.