Above and Beyond: La Fiesta
Last month, we asked you to nominate a business that has gone 'above and beyond' to serve its community. During the recent water main break, one of your fellow members stepped up in a great way.
With engineers working around the clock to repair the main discharge pipe at the Rend Lake Water Treatment Plant, the owners of La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant packed up their food truck and headed north to keep workers fed. They supplied complimentary food and drinks to workers during the overnight shift. Larry Sanders of the Rend Lake Conservancy District described their efforts. "We were amazed with their generosity, without any prompting, to came to the aid of conservancy workers during the 'Big Break at Rend Lake'."
Larry also noted that the second discharge pipeline is nearing completion at the Rend Lake Water Treatment Plant. This project was already underway when the main discharge pipe failed, so this additional installment will serve Rend Lake customers for years to come.
Member News
Last Friday, the staff of Jack Russel Fish Company celebrated a transition of ownership as John and Betty Moore officially retired and their daughter Erin and husband Jason are now the new owners of the restaurant. We wish them all the best!
Shop & Play on Chamber Website
In May, we started our summer promotion in the Rend Lake Adventures newsletter. In conjunction with that, we are developing a "Shop & Play" section of the website for our community visitors. This is a place you can put special sales, food events, and event activities. This feeds from our regular full community calendar, but these items are broken into genres and include a link to a printable list.
Add to this page by using the Chamber Community Calendar.
Opioid Epidemic & Your Business
The United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. Opioids (including prescription and illicit opioids) killed more than 33,000 Americans in 2015—which is nearly quadruple the number from 2000.
Learn how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to protect individuals and families—including your employees and your business—from this dangerous problem.
FOUR CRITICAL CHALLENGES FACING EMPLOYERS
New Opportunities!
Are you looking for new employment or volunteer opportunities? Check out the Chamber Opportunity Board! Start a new chapter in your community! |
Monthly Board Meeting - Open to Members!
Next Thursday is the monthly board meeting. This meeting is open to all members. Recently, we changed the format of the meeting to have the board focused voting items at the beginning, and then member based information. Come share what is going on at your business and what is going on with your chamber. The meeting agenda will be sent out at the beginning of next week.
Thank you Members!
Rend Lake Fireworks: THANK YOU!
The Rend Lake Fireworks Committee would like to thank everyone for supporting this year's Rend Lake Fireworks. Despite the heat, we had excellent crowds for the family friendly activities, the 144th Illinois National Guard Band performance, new food options and vendors to check out, and the best fireworks in Southern Illinois!
Thank you to our amazing sponsors.
US Army Corps of Engineers, City of Benton, Village of West City, Rend Lake Conservancy District, Legence Bank, American Farm, US Bank, WEEKS in Benton, City of Sesser, Peoples National Bank, WQRL 106.3, State Bank of Whittington, Republic Services, State Senator Dale Fowler, Abbott's Towing, Benton Super Lube, Helia Heathcare, Heritage Woods, Rend Lake Marina, SCD Rea & Sons Insurance, Seasoning Bistro, and Wooly Wash
Thank you to the additional support of FB McAfoos, Flowers by Dave, WEEKS in Benton, K&K Buildings, the Benton Rotary and the Benton Rangler Girls for their support the day of the festival.
We will be having a wrap up meeting after the monthly board meeting at 9:15 for all who would like to come and discuss the event.
Rend Lake Car Show: Sept 8th
The planning committee for the Rend Lake Car Show will be meeting soon. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact the chamber office. Registrations forms will be mailed out in the next week!
Rend Lake Car Show Sponsorship Packages
Kick off a Season of Reading
This week, the Benton Public Library kicked off their summer reading program. Explore the following topics with your children:
6/25 - Science Day
7/2 - UofI Extension - Butterflies
7/9 - US Corps of Engineers - Birds
7/16 - Bicycle Safety Day
7/23 - Award and Prize Picnic
The Benton Public Library is also part of “Illinois Reads”. This program was introduced by the Illinois Reading Council in March 2013. The initiative encourages people to read books by Illinois authors. Each year, the program offers a new list of books at six different age levels. “Illinois Reads” kicks off in March and concludes in November with “Family Reading Night”. The Benton Public Library is pleased to have these books in their collection and invites you to join in the fun!
Childcare Assistance Resources
 Too many low- to moderate-income, working parents are going without the child care help for which they qualify. Many might not know of its availability. Others might be aware of it, but wary after two years of turmoil related to the state’s budget impasse and sharp cuts in eligibility – cuts that ReadyNation and a bipartisan group of legislators and allies helped to reverse last August. So, to help increase working parents’ awareness of the child care program, we’ve developed a one-page flyer you can find at this link. It briefly describes the services available, and notes where parents can call or check online to see if they are eligible to participate. please consider:
- Posting this flyer in break rooms
- Including it with “onboarding” materials for new hires
- Sharing it with human resources execs
- Publicizing it in employee newsletters
Share Your News!
Do you have a special announcement or product you would like to showcase? Let us know so we can share it with everyone! Email the chamber office information and a picture!
Member Events
 1st Friday Music for July with Travis Trone
07/06/2018
Pheasant Hollow Winery
14931 IL-37
Whittington, IL 62897
Illinois Concealed Carry Course for Couples
07/07/2018- 07/08/2018
Extreme Exigency Shooting Park
9911 River Bend Road
Benton, IL 62812
 Heritage Woods; Open House
07/07/2018
Heritage Woods of Benton
1305 Bailey Lane
Benton, IL 62812
Benton City Council Meeting
07/09/2018
Benton City Hall
1403 South Main St.
Benton, IL 62812
Day Camp @ Camp Manitowa
07/09/2018- 07/13/2018
Camp Manitowa
12770 North Benton Rd
Benton, IL 62812
Summer Reading Program Day
07/09/2018
Benton Public Library
502 S Main St.
Benton, IL 62812
Knit and Crochet @ the Library
07/10/2018
Benton Public Library
502 South Main
Benton, IL 62812
Tropical Treasure Hunt
07/10/2018
Heritage Woods of Benton
1305 Bailey Lane
Benton, IL 62812
 Wood Sign Workshop
07/11/2018
Wild Trillium
807 Public Square
Benton, IL 62812
Chamber Board of Directors Meeting
07/12/2018
Benton / West City Chamber of Commerce Office
211 North Main St.
Benton, IL 62812
Events in the Community
Check out other community activities and submit events here! |
