by Becky Holloway
Times’ editor
Members of the Tipton Chamber of Commerce heard final reports on plans for two upcoming events at their Thursday, March 13, meeting at Bobbio’s Eatery.
The chamber will host another Candidates and Issues Forum on Thursday evening, March 20, at the Co-Mo Connect meeting room. The event begins at 6:30 p.m., with the four candidates for two seats on the Tipton R-VI School Board invited, as well as speakers on the two issues placed on the ballot by the school board. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions which will be screened by a chamber committee to prevent duplication.
Children will be treated to an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 5 courtesy of the chamber and Commerce Bank. The hunt will begin at 1 p.m. at the Tipton City Park with children separated by age group. Chamber President Dayley Elliott said the stuffing of eggs has begun and the search for an Easter Bunny continues.
The chamber is bringing back the Tipton Community Prayer Breakfast which hasn’t been held since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is set for Thursday, May 1, with sportscaster and television personality Rod Smith as guest speaker. It will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall and begins at 6:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast by The Flower Shop. Music will be provided by Haley Homan, Geneé Fisher and LeManda Loganbill. Individual tickets are $12 and tables of eight are $80. Contact Elliott at Commerce Bank for tickets.
A golf tournament sponsored by the chamber is being planned and is tentatively set for May 23 at the Tipton Country Club. The committee is Calen Bestgen, Scott Backes and Denny Higgins. The cause for proceeds has yet to be designated.
Septemberfest
Baldus reported on Septemberfest and plans in light of the death of founder Rodney Battles. She has taken over duties as chairman of the committee. Also serving on the committee are Patrick Wood, Lindsey Koechner and Sierra Miller. The third annual fall festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6. It will again be a day-long event, with hopes that someone or a group might hold an event to extend the celebration into the evening, such as a tractor/truck pull or rodeo at the fairgrounds.
Shelley Higgins reported she has been receiving correspondence from the national sponsors of the MLB Pitch, Hit, Run and she will begin looking at possible dates.
The chamber voted to again give four $500 scholarships to Tipton High School graduating seniors. Newly elected vice president Kelsie Baldus volunteered to join the committee reviewing applications.
Mary Williamson of the Tipton Nutrition Center was present to represent the center and also thank the chamber for its recent donation of $1,200 to help with unexpected bills. She said the center hopes to be moved to its new location by the end of the month and is planning its first fundraiser there, a pork steak dinner on Sunday, March 30.
Dr. Terry Robinson briefly explained a couple of issues the school board has placed on the April 8 ballot and referred to an informational page appearing in the March 13 issue of The Tipton Times. He said the first, a 50-cent increase in the operating levy, is in response to the state’s mandate setting the salary for new teachers with a bachelor of science degree at $40,000, and for new teachers with a master’s degree at $46,000. He said the R-VI District is not alone among rural districts faced with budget issues as a result of the new law that became effective in June.
Added to the mandate, Robinson said Governor Mike Kehoe wants to freeze the foundation formula by which state funding is dedicated to public schools, and whether that happens won’t be know until the end of June.
In the meantime, school districts have had to formulate their budgets for the year before knowing the amount of state funding, and are now in the hiring season.
A $4 million bond issue on the ballot, Robinson said, will solve a problem the district faces with scheduling facilities for the abundance of activities using them. Those include not only activities by school affiliated groups in addition to community groups. He called the school the “community’s YMCA.” Children of the late Ewald and Margaret Fischer have bequeathed $300,000 to the district and agreed the funds can be used for facilities development, however if the bond issue does not pass the funds will be used to award scholarships.
Amanda Blissett introduced herself as the new warden at the Tipton Correctional Center, bringing with her 15 years of experience. She offered the assistance of the institution to the community in whatever way possible. She said they recently hosted a Polar Plunge for Special Olympics within the prison, and so far has raised about $200. Two organizations that have chapters for offenders, including Toastmasters, has agreed to contribute about $2,000. She estimates the ultimate contribution to Special Olympics will be close to $2,500.
A review of the membership list so far was made, with 31 members paying their dues. Personal visits will be made by chamber officers soon to encourage dues payment.
