On the Edges

Aurora

Chamber newsletter goes online

The July newsletter was the final one to be mailed out by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, according to an announcement in the last printed newsletter. Beginning this week, and in the second week of following months, the newsletter will be posted on the chamber's Web site. The newsletters can be found online at www.aurorachamber.com/news letter.html.

Nixa

Park bond passes by majority

A strong majority, more than 70 percent, of Nixa voters turned out to vote in favor of the $4 million bond issue to fund the construction of a community center for the city. According to City Clerk Coralee Patrick, the money will go mainly to the building and aquatic facility, and some will be spent on developing the 37-acre McCauley Park where the facility will be located.

Now that the bond has been approved, the city will review the construction plans for the project and put it out to bid by November, Patrick said.

The two-story facility will have meeting rooms, storage areas and administrative offices for the Nixa Parks and Recreation Department, Patrick said. The second story will have an indoor walk/run track and a weight-training area. The latter will be operated and equipped through a partnership with St. John's Regional Hospital in Springfield.

The planning for the community center began almost two years ago, when city officials traveled across Missouri and Colorado, studying community facilities in city similar in size to Nixa. Mayor Jay Wasson and Parks and Recreation Manager Shawna Flannery have also received special training in planning a community building project, Patrick added.

The bid should be awarded by December, with construction to begin immediately after that. The first stage of the project is the building and park development, Patrick said, which should be complete in eight to nine months. The aquatic facility will be finished by spring 2002.

Chamber auction next week

The Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual fund raising auction, to be held Aug. 18 in the old Nixa high school at the corner of Main and North Street. According to Larry Perney, chamber executive director, the auction is the chamber's main source of revenue.

"It is basically our general fund raiser that supports everything we do," Perney said.

The silent auction begins at 5 p.m. and the live auction starts at 6 p.m. Nixa Fire Chief Steve Russell, who also operates Fire Chef Catering, will sell barbecue at the event, and all proceeds will go to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

There will also be a raffle at the auction. Walt's Boat's of Nixa donated a 14-foot Sport Avenger fishing boat for the drawing.

Register now for seminars

Registration is still open for the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce's Professional Development Series, to be held Aug. 23 and 30, and Sept. 6 and 13. The seminars on management strategies and workplace issues are to be held at Aire-Master of Nixa. The cost is $20 per day or $60 for all four days. Members of the local business community will present the seminars. For more information or to register, call Larry Perney at the Nixa chamber, 725-1545.

Ozark

Networking forum to be held

The public is invited to attend a morning networking event hosted by the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership, "Good Morning Springfield, Nixa and Ozark," to be held at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 16 at the Ozark Mountain Ducks stadium on U.S. 65 in Ozark.

Sponsored by Southwestern Bell, the event will have updates from city and county officials, public schools and the respective chambers of commerce. For more information or to make a reservation, call 862-5567.