CHAMBER NEWS
 

Chamber Newsletter Advertising Opportunity
for the January Issue
Deadline: Friday, December 22, 2006

Business Card Ad = $40.00 or prepay 12 cards for $440.00 (save $40.00)
Double Business Card Ad = $95.00 or prepay 12 double for $1,000.00
( save $140.00)

Inserts = $95.00 ( you provide 780 copies) prepay 12 inserts $1,020.00
(save $120.00)

The ads need to be ready to print and need to be in pdf or
jpg format in order for us to use them. Contact Pam Stevens
at the Chamber if you have any questions at 283-2560 or
at pam@thenewtonchamber.org
Dear Newton Chamber members:


It's that time of year again - pronto pups and pig races!

The 2006 Kansas State Fair is just around the corner and we would like to invite you to help market Newton and your business to the 300,000+ visitors that will attend this exciting annual event. The Newton Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau will again be sponsoring a 10' x 8' community information booth in the Pride of Kansas building. We could sure use your help in staffing the community information booth, as the Kansas State Fair requires all exhibitors to have someone working the booth the entire time the fair is open to the public.

If you are interested in helping staff the community information booth, we will supply you with an admission pass ($5 value) and parking information. We have the following shifts still available............if you are interested, please respond to this email or call Shelley at 283-7555.



Fri., Sept. 8 - 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 9 - 9 am. to 1 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 9 - 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 10 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 10 - 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tues., Sept. 12 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wed., Sept 13 - 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 16 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 16 - 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 16 - 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 17th - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 17 - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.



If you have already been contacted directly about working the booth, please disregard this email. Thanks!


Shelley Keith Black
Sales and Marketing Director
Newton Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau
500 N. Main, Ste. 101, Newton, KS 67114
316.283.7555 (Visitors Bureau)
800.899.0455 (Toll Free Number)
316.283.8732 (Fax)
shelley@thenewtonchamber.org
 

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The Newton Area Chamber of Commerce's Promotion Committee is proud to sponsor the third annual
Discounts in the Dark
Friday, July 28
7:00-10:30PM
They only come out at night.....in the Heart of Downtown Newton
Stroll along Main Street (Both South and North of the Tracks) for an opportunity to eat, drink, shop, and socialize with your fellow Newtonians. The streets will be flooded with busy little firefly merchants as their discounts light up the night. For more information contact Autumn Daily at the Chamber (283-2560 or autumn@thenewtonchamber.org)

7:30- Free Kid's Movie at the Fox Theatre (520 N. Main) "Madagascar"

Come to "Discount Central" located at 6th and Main and pick up a coupon book! Bring your receipts from purchases at participating stores that night to receive a ticket for every $10.00 of purchases for your chance to win prizes and the.....
GRAND PRIZE DRAWING OF $500!!!!

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Friday July 7, 2006
At: 1:30 p.m.
Ribbon Cutting
Newton Animal Hospital
(Town & County Animal Clinic and All Pets)
3700 S. Kansas Ave
Newton, KS 67114

Please join Newton Animal Hospital for refreshments following the
Ribbon Cutting. It is located behind Chisholm Trail Country Store
go north past 36th Street on Kansas Ave it is on the left.

Pam Stevens
Director of Membership and Fundraising
Newton Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau
500 N. Main, Ste. 101, Newton, KS 67114
316.283.2560 (Chamber of Commerce)
316.283.7555 (Visitors Bureau)
316.283.8732 (Fax)
pam@thenewtonchamber.org

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2nd March. '2006

Thursday, March 9, 2006

Ribbon Cutting

Montana Mikes
1109 E. 1st
Newton, Ks. 67114

AT: 11:00 a.m.

 

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1st March. '2006

Thank you Newton!

It’s our 1 Year Anniversary in Newton!!

At Go Wireless we appreciate the benefits we have found in doing business with this great community! We hope you will let us show you our appreciation by coming over

Friday, March 3 from 10:00AM-8:00PM!

We will have breakfast, lunch, and dinner for you so come anytime you can! Plus bring your business card for free gifts and special treats. We hope to see you Friday!

Your local Go Wireless Team

-Rene, Chris, Dawn, and Amber
825 North Main
283-3399

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The Newton USD 373 Board of Education invites the community to attend a Congratulatory Reception
for Dr. John Morton

2006 Superintendent of the Year

Monday, March 6

4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

McKinley Administration Center

308 East First Street

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The Rundown is prepared by the City of Newton Public Information Office to summarize the City Commission meeting and does not represent official commission minutes.

7 p.m. February 28, 2006, Newton City Commission Meeting

The City Commission on Tuesday heard a proposal for a countywide sales tax that would use a new distribution formula. In the existing countywide sales tax, Newton constitutes 53 percent of the population of Harvey County but receives only about 44 percent of the sales tax revenue. The new formula would be based on population and would give Newton a fairer share of the revenue. The new proposed tax would be expected to generate about $2.3 million for Newton, about $200,000 less than a city sales tax. The proposal would have the added benefits, however, of giving all Harvey County cities the same sales tax rate and opening the possibility of County property tax relief as well.

The county proposal would require either an interlocal agreement or special legislation to approve the new distribution formula. City Attorney Bob Myers is researching whether an interlocal agreement could be made binding in such a case. Commissioners expressed interest in moving forward with a city sales tax in the event that special legislation cannot be passed or an interlocal agreement worked out in a timely fashion. The Commission tabled a resolution calling for an election for a city sales tax until the March 14 meeting, and made a motion indicating interest in the new countywide proposal if all the details can be worked out. The Task Force on Sales Tax continues to meet to explore options for the sales tax revenue.

City Manager Jim Heinicke reported Tuesday that the City has been awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Kansas Friends of Education for the joint effort on the Fischer Field/athletic fields project. Mayor Willis Heck will accept the award on behalf of the City on April 9 in Andover.

Changes to the residential recycling program begin Wednesday, March 1. The changes have two major components: the addition of mixed paper, and the elimination of separate pickup weeks for magazines, catalogs, and phonebooks. Public information spots continue to air on cable television, and more public education materials are available on the City Web site, www.newtonkansas.com.

In other action, the City Commission:

1) Renewed an agreement with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to use bed tax revenue to lease a billboard at 12th and I-135 to promote Newton.
2) Authorized an agreement with KDOT for partial funding of an overlay for K-15 (Main Street/Washington Road/South Kansas). The     project is planned for 2008.
3) Agreed to close Main Street from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. May 13 for the 2nd Annual Downtown Newton Car Show.
4) Received the Newton Public Library annual report.
5) Authorized street improvements for Sand Creek Station Addition and set bid opening for 10 a.m. March 14.

For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Erin McDaniel at 284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.

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22nd Feb. '2006

STRONG FOUNDATION  STRONGER FUTURE

Newton Public Schools
Community Forum
Monday, February 27, 2006
7-9 p.m.
Chisholm Middle School

Our world is changing, our community is growing. How will we meet the educational challenges of the future?
Your input is needed!

Please attend this important community forum to consider our children's future education needs. Areas of focus will be:

- Exploring Future Technology Needs
- Enhancing Community Partnerships
- Optimizing the Learning Environment
- Maintaining and Preserving Facilities
- Ensuring Student Safety and Security
- For more information: 316-284-6200

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21st Feb. '2006

In advance of the City of Newton public forum this evening, the Chamber wishes to communicate the following message regarding the sales tax issue.

One of the biggest considerations that the community, City leaders and the Newton Area Chamber of Commerce is dealing with is the much talked about city sales tax vs. county wide sales tax issue.

Businesses in Newton generate sales that account for 70% of the sales tax that is collected in Harvey County. According to the formula that the State of Kansas uses to distribute the sales tax back to the respective counties, the City of Newton receives 40 % of the tax collected and the County receives 60% which is further divided amongst the cities of Hesston, North Newton, Walton, Halstead, Sedgwick, and Burrton.

If Newton residents would favorably vote on a 1 cent sales tax increase strictly for Newton, the community of Newton would receive all of the money generated by that increase. Based on current retail figures, that would account for an approximate additional $2.5 million in Newton alone.

If a county wide tax was favorably voted on by Harvey County residents, Newton would receive an estimated $1.6 million according to the State formula, $900,000 less money than if it were a Newton only sales tax.

The Chamber sees the Newton 1 cent sales tax as a way to reduce the demand for property tax increases by using 50% of the amount collected for property tax relief and using the other 50% of the sales tax to invest in our community’s future. Newton will need infra-structure improvements and developments that are publicly funded. We will need to enhance job development, generate better paying jobs, and market our community for residential growth. Additionally, we need to put more effort in recruitment of commercial retail and service businesses, and industry and manufacturing.

The community needs to continue to invest for better economic returns in the future. Now is the time to develop our public facilities that embrace the quality of life that not only better serve our present generation, but the next generation as well.

It’s like the old saying, “Most of us drink from wells we did not dig and warm ourselves by fires we did not build”. Clearly, what we do today will determine what future generations will have to build on. Are we building a better Newton for the future?

Whatever is worth doing always requires people venturing into the unknown and making decisions, sometimes popular and sometimes not. Those that do are the real leaders of a community. Your voice at this meeting this evening is important.


Virgil Penner, CEO
Newton Area Chamber of Commerce
 

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17th Feb. '2006

8th Feb. '2006

The Central Business District Promotion Committee is proud to present

Chocolate While You Shop

Monday, February 13
Tuesday, February 14

The Second annual “Chocolate While You Shop” will be held in downtown Newton for your chance to snack on chocolate while shopping for your sweetie. Each participating store will be serving chocolate while you shop for your mother, father, significant other, kids, grandparents, and secret valentine! Check with participating stores for their individual store hours.