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Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

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2111 North Trenton St., Ruston, LA

71270

Chamber Connection CHAMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS January January 6 Groundbreaking for Newk’s Eatery, 301 S. Vienna St., 10 a.m.

January 8 Leadership Lincoln January 12 North Central Louisiana Tea Party 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Sparta Aquifer

A Publication of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

Deliver to:

January 2015

12 Days of Shopping winner announced What a great time we had with 12 Days of Christmas Shopping in Lincoln Parish, our first #ShopRuston Christmas campaign, in partnership with the Ruston Daily Leader, Peach 99.3, Community Trust Bank and Ruston Lincoln CVB. We have heard from merchants and shoppers that they loved the idea. Hopefully it connected new customers to shops they haven’t been to before. Thank you to everyone who participated, players and sponsors!

Surprise Santa sponsors Alexander's Acorn Antiques & Books, Bank of Ruston, Community Trust Bank, First National Bank,

Hampton Inn, McKinney Honda, The Pewter Co., Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, Rosemary's Kitchen, Ruston's Locker Room, State Farm – Gregg Phillips, State Farm - Kim Dupree and Verizon Wireless.

Stocking Stuffer sponsors The Avenue Christian Bookstore, Centric Federal Credit Union, Community Trust Bank, The Fabric Shop of Ruston, Outdoor Wilderness Learning Center (OWL), Princeton Place and Raising Canes.

January 15 Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for BullDawgs (Goodwill Boutique), Graham Shopping Center, 10 a.m.

Bryan Doxey was the $1,000 grand prize winner!

Left to right, Travis Napper – CVB, Bryan & Teena Doxey, Ivana Flowers – Chamber. Other cash winner were, $100 - Danielle Gray, $100 - Michelle Chauvin, $100 - Elizabeth Moses Lewis, $50 - Olitsa Robbins

Chamber & CVB Open House

Thank you, everyone who came by during the Chamber & CVB’s Open House. We truly enjoyed spending time with you and hope you enjoyed the beautiful decorations done by the Ruston Garden Club.

January 22 Business After Hours, LA Capitol FCU, 4-6 p.m.

January 28 Louisiana Tech Theatre: The Last Night of Ballyhoo 7:30 PM January 29 Annual Awards Banquet, Civic Center, 6 p.m.

Story Time with Santa We had so much fun with our first Story Time with Santa at the Chamber/CVB office. Toddlers to 5 years old came in their pajamas, had milk & cookies, listened to Santa read stories, then they told him all about what they wanted for Christmas.

We were delighted to meet some community members that we otherwise may not have met. We’re already looking forward to next year!

Chamber & CVB staff with Ruston Garden Club ladies

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

Chamber Update

By Judy Copeland, President, Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

Here’s to a happy 2015!

Happy 2015! As I reflect back on what I had hoped to accomplish last year, I see many successes and some things not as successful.

We had a wonderful Peach Festival with an increase in attendance, our Lighten Up Lincoln Community Health Expo saw an increase as well, we hosted a political meet and greet, a mayoral debate, we held our first 12 Days of Christmas Shopping that brought a lot of foot traffic to our local stores, and we had a

successful story I didn’t get out time with Santa and visit as many at our office. Our of our members social media as I would have marketing has liked. This seen phenomenal year our staff, growth and reach, ambassadors, and and we continue Board members to build strong plan to make relationships with more member City and Parish visits. We had Judy Copeland administrators, to pull the plug our Educational on our Business Institutions, and Buffet Lunch and most importantly, the citizens Learn. Those of us who of our community. attended, learned a lot and

Notes From The Chair

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Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce – By Mike Jones, Chairman

The Chamber’s positive values

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employees who It is with both never hesitate to excitement and get out and about gratitude that I in the community to look forward to help advocate for its serving as the members. We also Chairman of the have an engaging Lincoln-Parish group of board Chamber of members who will Commerce Board bring much energy of Directors in and leadership to our 2015. chamber in 2015.

To begin the Next month I will year, I would like introduce the 2015 to share with Mike Jones board of directors to you four core you. objectives for 2015 that the Second, we will also be an chamber staff and I have effective facilitator of business established for continuing their in 2015. We exist to serve our efforts to ensure our chamber’s members and our community, positive value to the parish’s and we are determined to business community. dedicate resources to facilitate First, the chamber will be a a healthy, vibrant business visible advocate for business. community.

We have three excellent

Mike Jones

Third, we also desire to be a trusted resource for our members. Over the course of this year we will work hard to educate our members as to the benefits that being a member can bring. Our members can lean on us for information, marketing, and as a resource to educate the public as to their own businesses.

Lastly, the chamber will strive to be an active promoter of business at large in Lincoln Parish and throughout North Louisiana. Through programs like the 12 Days of Christmas and Small Business Saturday we hope to remain a proactive force in promoting the businesses of our peers.

Thank you for this opportunity to serve. I am looking forward to a wonderful year.

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are extremely grateful for all of our members who helped teach these sessions. We just never saw an increase in attendance, so it didn’t make any sense to continue. We will look for other workshops to help continue educating members and employees on important business topics.

For 2015, we are looking to grow our ambassador program. If you are interested in being more involved in the Chamber, please consider becoming an ambassador.

We have quarterly meetings and we will recognize our outstanding ambassador of the year with a trip for two to New Orleans.

Please make plans to attend our annual Chamber

Banquet on January 29th, where we will honor many of our exemplary citizens for their contributions to Lincoln Parish. This includes Ruston Kiwanis’ “ Firefighter, Law Enforcement, and Educators of the Year,” awards, Lincoln Parish School District’s “Distinguished Partners in Education” awards, RustonLincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau’s “Hospitality” award, Junior Auxiliary of Ruston’s “Betty Robbins Volunteer of the Year” award, Ruston Rotary Club’s “Bill Best Humanitarian” award, and Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce’s “Robert E. Russ” award. I look forward to seeing you there!

Executive Board Executive Chair & Finance, Mike Jones, Argent Financial Chair Elect & Organizational Devt., Patrick Blanchard, OWL Center Past Chair, Aaron Paul, BTG Community Devt., Cathi Cox-Boniol, LP School District Program Devt., Lee Denny, Bank of Ruston Economic Devt., Doug Postel, LA Delta Comm. College

Board of Directors Sheila Bordelon, LP Tax Assessor Neal Carter, Community Trust Bank Heath Hattaway, Law Office of Rick Gallot Travis Lee, Chartreuse Pear Rodney Manning, The Ensure Group Randy Null, Ruston Artisans Donna Ott, Hunt, Guillot & Associates Sharon Shrell, FNB Brandon Sutherland, Hampton Inn Erica Wheelis, Centric FCU

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Ex-Officio Members

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Les Guice, LA Tech Univ.

Courtney Hall, LP Police Jury Ronny Walker, Ruston Mayor Kristi Lumpkin, Ruston Econ. Devt.

Gregg Phillips, State Farm John Rosenthall, Grambling State Univ.

Ranaee Thomas-Walley, RL Crime Stoppers

Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Staff

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Judy Copeland, President Ivana Flowers, Communications & Special Events Melissa Carpenter, Office Manager

Open Monday – Saturday, 9am – 7pm 1305 Commerce Street, Ruston gibsonsnatural.com 318-255-3834

Open Monday – Saturday, 9am – 7pm Open Monday – Saturday, 9am – 7pm 1305 Commerce Street, Ruston gibsonsnatural.com 1305 Commerce Street, Ruston 318-255-3834 gibsonsnatural.com 318-255-3834

Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau Staff

Travis Napper, Executive Director Amanda Quimby, Marketing Director

Deana Sherrill, Administrative Assistant

Deadline for submitting newsletter information is the 15th of the month.

Business Spotlight

CHAMBER CONNECTION

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Meet the cooks of Rosemary’s kitchen

Rosemary Thomas and Sara Corley

Robert E. Russ Award Nominations being sought The Robert E. Russ Award is one of the most prestigious civic honors that can be obtained by a citizen of Lincoln Parish. This award, first given in 1984, is designed to recognize those who have contributed to the civic, business or cultural advancement or development of this region in an outstanding manner during the preceding year.

The following guidelines are strictly adhered to in selection for the award: 1 The nominee must have been a citizen of Lincoln Parish since Jan. 1, 2013; 2 An individual can be nominated in multiple and successive years, but can only be honored by the award one time.

3 It is not required that the Russ Award be given every year.

4 It is the selection committee’s responsibility to critique and consider nominations and select a recipient based on the nominee’s personal contributions toward the civic, business or cultural advancement or development of this region in an outstanding manner during the preceding year.

The nomination form can be downloaded from www. rustonlincoln.org or can be picked up at the Chamber office, 2111 North Trenton St., Ruston.

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Rosemary Thomas and Sara Corley are the creative cooks behind the amazing dishes of Rosemary's Kitchen.

Combining old family recipes with new world flavors, Rosemary and Sara have created a unique style of their own. Using only the freshest ingredients, Rosemary's Kitchen has redefined some of your favorite recipes. Let the cooks of Rosemary's Kitchen remind you what homemade tastes like!

Simple. Fresh. Good.

You’ll always find something on RK’s menu to entice you whether it be Crawfish Corn Chowder, Spinach & Mushroom Quiche, Bourbon Street Chicken, Sweet Potato & Jalapeno Bisque, or Lemon Ice Box Pie. It’s hard telling what delicious idea they’ll come up with. Beef, Honey, Milk & Butter served at Rosemary’s Kitchen come from local vendors.

Open daily for lunch 11-1:30 p.m. Daily specials are listed on

their Facebook page. Gift shop is open 10-5:30 p.m., MondayFriday.

In addition to lunch, you can also pick up ready-made casseroles, sides, salads, bread and dessert to eat at home. And though Rosemary’s Kitchen is not a full service caterer, they do make special orders. Give them a call.

RK also has a Loyalty Program. They want you to know you’re appreciated. You earn 1 point for every $1 spent.

70 points can be redeemed for a $7 reward. Sign up online to receive a 25 point bonus.

Mention this article and receive 10 extra points!

400 S Bonner St. Ruston, Louisiana 318.202.5951 simplefreshgood@gmail.com http://simplefreshgood. blogspot.com/ http://rosemarys-kitchen. com/

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

Ribbon Cuttings Ribbon Cuttings & Ground Breakings. Find photo albums for all Chamber events on Facebook.com/RustonChamber

Merle Norman

Firehouse Soulfood & Grillin’

Merle Norman Ruston is a beautiful shop with new owners and a new location. Still located in the Celebrity Drive shopping center, now behind Wingstop.

Stop in and say hello~ 722 Celebrity Dr. Gloria & David Haynie - owners (318) 232-6000 Cindy Morris and Sydni Wilt - Staff

Stop by for a great lunch and say hi to these fine folks!

Firehouse Soulfood & Grillin’ 202 West Louisiana St., Ruston (318) 202-3877

Malone Polaris

A long time dream of the Malone’s is coming true. A ground breaking ceremony was held to celebrate the soon to be new location of Malone Polaris. The new location is on Celebrity Drive between Farmerville Highway and Commerce Street. For now, stop by the current location, 1680 East Kentucky Avenue. (318) 251-1399.

Expected opening date of the new location is March, 2015.

Southern Lace Boutique

“Where earthiness and elegance meet” now has a location in Ruston. The shop is located in Commons Court on Farmerville Hwy. Terry Baker - Owner Ashley Silmon - Manager Baileigh Wilson, Mercedes Jordan, Linda White and Milan Whitherinton - Sales Clerks

Ben and Kellie Malone - Owners Stacey Quarles - Service Manager Steve Wilson - Parts Manager Tiffany Ritchie - Admin. Asst.

Brian McClure - Admin. Asst.

Ramond Mathis - Sales

2314 Commons Court, Unit 1 (318) 255-LACE Also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Alan Pullin, Casey Quarles, & Jim Irby - Service Logan Waggoner & Cullen Johnston - Setup and Assembly Morgan Kavanaugh - Part Time

• Strategic Planning • Safety • Sales • Team Building • Customer Service • Leadership & Mgmt Development •SuccessionDevelopment•Coaching • Communications

The Chamber Connection (023/623) is published monthly for $12 a year by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, 2111 North Trenton St., Ruston, LA 71270. Application to mail at Periodicals postage rates paid at Ruston, LA and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Chamber Connection, 2111 North Trenton St., Ruston, LA 71270-4420.

All contents copyright and may not be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

Printed by Ruston Newspapers, Inc.

Training that makes Sense! www.traininglogic.net 318/254-7993 tevans@traininglogic.net • Exceeds all customers Expections Every time

Heritage Realty Group,

LLC

L to R: Robyn Brown, Velissa Rollins & Charlette Favors

1229 Farmerville Hwy 318.251.8282

Make A Move.

Make A Difference.

How is

Heritage Realty Group, LLC Different?

1. Professional photography for all listings 2. Give back program that invests in our community with every sale 3. Online marketing 4. Team approach 5. Automatic email program that will ensure that you are the first to know about a property when it hits the market.

Robyn Brown, Broker

heritagerealtyruston.com

2000 Farmerville Hwy. Ruston, LA 71270 www.genesisenergy.com

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

Tech Support

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ChamberMaster Have you realized yet that the Chamber’s database is loaded with perks that translate into free advertising? Each time you submit an Event, Job Opening, News Release or Hot Deal, not only is it viewable to anyone who visits rustonlincoln.org, it also post on Facebook. com/RustonChamber and Twitter.com/RustonChamber. With over 900 Likes on Facebook and over 800 followers on Twitter, that’s a pretty big reach. Add to that, since we’ve launched our new website and

link to what you put in the database, well, you can see the numbers above.

So what are you waiting for? Let a few minutes of data entering put the spotlight

on you!

If you do not have log-in information, call Melissa or Ivana, 255-2031.

Business After Hours .

December Business After Hours December was perfect timing to visit the beautifully renovated Fairfield Inn & Suites. We had a great time, complete with tours, door prizes and gumbo by Kitt Lee. Stop by to say hello and check out their banquet & board rooms for your next meeting or event.

Public Tag Agent

Steve French - General Manager Justin Gwin - Asst. Manager 1406 Farmerville Hwy Suite 3 Ruston, LA 71270 Phone: 318-202-5861 Fax: 318-651-7689 M-F 8:30-4:30

LICENSE PLATES • RENEWALS • TITLE WORK

Tom & Mary Kilpatrick and Claire K. Givens – Owners

Chamber Annual Banquet Ruston Civic Center • Jan. 29, 2015 The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet is set for Thursday, January 29, 2015 at the Ruston Civic Center, sponsored

by Community Trust Bank and Hunt, Guillot & Associates. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a wineand-cheese social, followed at 6:45 by dinner. Once again, the talented and witty Doug Postel will emcee.

Tickets are $35 each for Chamber members and $40 each for non-members. Reserved tables of six are available for $250 for members and $275 for non-members. Reserved sponsored tables of six are $500. Tickets are available at the Chamber office, located at 2111 North Trenton St., or online at www.rustonlincoln.org.

Highlights of the banquet will include presentations of the 2014 Robert E. Russ Award and the 2014 Ruston Rotary Club Bill Best Humanitarian Award. The two awards are among the highest civic honors that can be obtained by a Lincoln Parish resident.

Also on tap during the event are presentations of the Lincoln Parish School system’s Distinguished Partners in Education awards, the

Ruston Kiwanis’ Outstanding People awards, JA’s Betty Robbins Volunteer of the Year award, and the Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau Hospitality awards.

The banquet marks the official beginning of the Chamber’s 2015 work year, as well as the start of new terms for five new board members. ~ 3rd Annual Table Decorating Contest ~ There’s a new and fun way for businesses to market themselves at the Banquet. For $50, a business can decorate a table for the event.

(A business must be attending the event to participate.)

Table decorations can be no more than 20 inches high and cannot overlap onto the place settings. Use of glitter is not allowed.

Decorations should be fun, creative, and tasteful.

Prizes will be given in the several categories.

Decorations can be set up beginning at 1 p.m. on Banquet day. Judging will begin at 4 p.m.

Deadline to enter the table decorating contest is January 15. For more details email Ivana at iflowers@rustonlincoln.org.

2 5 5 – 1111 R U S T O N

L I N C O L N

CRIME

STOPPERS •

Rewards up to $2,000

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

A Pause at the Podium

By Cathi Cox-Boniol, Lincoln Achieve Coordinator

Mastering the Challenge their circumstances. Children were prepared I don’t know about you, but my head to be truly excellent, and there were is spinning just thinking about the fact extremely high expectations; there were no that we’re now in the second half of this excuses for poor performance even if you decade. Where has the time gone? Just might have to be twice as good as others. the thought of that fills me with a sense of urgency concerning how time is being spent Rice states that while you may not be able to control your circumstances, you control how right now. I’ve almost become compulsive about using my time wisely and maximizing you react to them—you work hard and do things better. She was taught to spot when every second of every minute of every hour somebody is underestimating of every day. Because I know you and then meet that that if I don’t make good use of challenge head on. my time right now, I will most WOW! Isn’t that exactly likely find myself regretting it what we all should be long before we get to the second internalizing? And especially half of the next decade. when we are surrounded As we begin this year, we with the never-ending find ourselves at a time filled barrage of challenges that with remarkable possibilities. the world continues to throw We have new leadership in at us? Shouldn’t we be many areas of our community, more resolved to model that state, and nation. And there type of behavior so that our will be more appearing on the young people understand horizon as we move through this that while circumstances year. So I believe this is a time may seem unsurmountable, when it is critical that people Cathi Cox-Boniol we have the opportunity band together more than ever, to control how we react to working collaboratively for them? And even if somebody the common good. It’s time to is underestimating us, we can meet that get personal agendas out of the way, break down barriers, dissolve misconceptions, and challenge head on and through hard work have some control over the path we take? get a good look at the big picture and how Rice makes the critical point that in our it is going to impact us individually and collectively in the very near future. Yes, the world today, we all seem more different than ever. Even if on the surface we may seem time is now.

Okay, so the time is now but what exactly alike, underneath we’re all very different.

But she also reminds us that this is part of is it time for? I’d like to defer to someone who I listened to intently during a program I the wonder of the world, acknowledging watched over the holidays. I found her story that while we may never be “race blind,” we should no longer have preconceptions about fascinating but also full of good advice for who somebody is or what they might do all of us. because they might look a certain way. And Condoleezza Rice, an American political it’s certainly time for that. scientist and diplomat, served as both So what does this mean for us in Lincoln National Security Advisor and Secretary of Parish? I believe it points to the fact that State. The second African-American and right now is the time that we quit making the second female to ever hold the latter excuses, quit sticking our head in the sand, title, she broke racial and gender barriers, becoming the first female African-American quit pointing fingers, quit washing our hands of it all . . . just quit ignoring the fact Secretary of State. Her journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Yet as she tells that if we are going to raise expectations across the community and truly attain the it, circumstances were stacked against her type of excellence we all say we want, then from the beginning. we’ve got to become more like-minded Born in 1954, Rice came from the most and therefore willing to do what it takes to segregated city in America—Birmingham, bridge the race-gender- socioeconomic gaps Alabama. A frightening and dangerous place, she was in an area filled with violence that exist. And if you have no idea what I’m talking about, then that’s part of the due to the racial lines that were being problem. You don’t know this community drawn during the Civil Rights movement. at all.

However, she shares readily that she Rice hits the nail on the head when she came from a group of people who were states that she will welcome your opinions determined to prove themselves despite of

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Hunt, Guillot & Associates •

Ruston, Louisiana

but not your uninformed ones. Every one of us needs to be as informed as possible about the factors that must be addressed if we are to have a world-class community right here in Lincoln Parish. We talk constantly about our work toward creating a world-class education system and what it takes. And whether you are an educator or not, you must be a part of that process. That means doing your homework, knowing that you might not always have all the information you may want or need. But be as well-equipped as possible so that you can make the best decisions. Rice notes that it’s hard to make complex decisions when you don’t have all the information. And I would add the need for accurate information. How else can you make well-informed decisions and therefore help affect change?

As she reflected on her time in Washington DC, Rice noted the belief that we will eventually harvest good decisions that are made now. But she reminds us that the wonderful outcomes we hope for won’t be realized immediately. Instead, the fruit will be harvested many days, weeks, months, and years from now and should be seen as part of greater success throughout this nation and world.

I believe that to be true for our community. That’s why I’m so hopeful about where we are now. There seems to be momentum growing around the idea that we can work collaboratively for the collective good. If it’s not something you’ve considered, then I urge you to consider now as the time for you to make a move in that direction.

I believe Condoleezza Rice is ‘right on the money’ when she says that we must provide children with a sense that there’s nothing they can’t do and that we equip them with a vision of limitless horizons. But I also agree when she says that preparation counts and you have to work hard. And that it also matters who you meet and where you are and how you take advantage of the opportunities that come along.

Isn’t the same true for us all? Could there be a better way for our young people to internalize that message than to see us modeling it for them day after day? I think not. Now is the time we come together to make that part of the expectation of excellence for which we are striving. After all, you never master your life, but you can master the challenges along the way. And what could be a better goal for 2015 than to make it the time for a community to begin that very process.

CHAMBER CONNECTION

Business After Hours Business After Hours hosted by Fairfield Inn & Suites

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We had a lovely time at the beautifully renovated Fairfield Inn & Suites. Complete with tours, door prizes and gumbo by Kitt Lee! Stop by, say hello and check out their meeting and event spaces.

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Tom & Mary Kilpatrick and Claire K. Givens - Owners Steve French - General Manager Justin Gwin - Asst. Manager Mabel Warren - Hostess Regina Tullous - Executive Housekeeper LaBradford Scroggins - Front Desk Mary Schapatone - Housekeeper Damian Thomas - Chief Engineer 1707 Roberta Ave., Ruston (318) 251-9800 http://www.marriott.com/mlufs

Business After Hours Thursday, January 22 4-6 p.m.

January Business After Hours will be hosted

by LA Capitol Federal Credit Union. They have expanded and remodeled and would like for us all to come by and take a tour, have refreshments and meet the staff. Please note that the time is 4-6 p.m. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30.

LA Cap Federal Credit Union 975 Tech Dr., Ruston www.lacapfcu.org

NEW MEMBERS Gibson’s Natural Grocer

1305 Commerce St. Ruston LA 71270 http://www.gibsonsnatural.com (318) 255-3834

Firehouse Soulfood & Grillin’ 202 West Louisiana Ave. Ruston, LA 71270 https://www.facebook.com/firehouse. soulfood (318) 202-3877

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CHAMBER CONNECTION

Touring Lincoln Parish Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau – By Travis Napper and Amanda Quimby

Making Lincoln Parish Extraordinary The citizens, public officials and business leaders of Lincoln Parish are on a mission.

That mission is to dramatically improve the appearance of the Lincoln Parish area and change the culture in regard to litter and lack of concern for the community’s visual appeal. With the combined efforts of Tommy Smith, President of Cheeks AirWorx, spearheading the Extraordinary Lincoln initiative and each community member doing their part, we can create a heightened sense of pride in the appearance of our area while also capitalizing on our highly visible location along the interstate and major highways.

The vision for Extraordinary Lincoln is to have all streets, highways, commercial and residential property in Lincoln Parish maintained in a neat, and litter-free condition. Imagine your city with roads and streets litter-free with the grass mowed at all times; businesses with well-manicured lawns and clean parking

areas; residents with maintained properties. benefits of an enhanced perception that can lead This environment is not only an to not just economic improvements, but encouragement to community an increase in the quality of life for our members and the many university existing residents,” says Travis Napper, students of Lincoln Parish, but it’s President/CEO of the Ruston Lincoln also welcoming to travelers, meeting Convention & Visitors Bureau. planners and potential employers We strongly encourage leaders looking to do business in our area. in churches, schools, universities, There are thousands of people businesses, media, homeowner traveling on Interstate 20 every associations and other civic day, plus many more on Highways organizations to help craft the future of 167 and 33. As business owners, this project and best address areas of residents, and community members, improvement. For more information we must remain aware of the visual and to learn how you can get involved perception of Ruston and Lincoln Amanda Quimby call the Ruston Lincoln Convention & Parish to ensure I-20 travelers will Visitors Bureau at (318) 255-2031 or visit stop here for lunch, shopping, restrooms, or even Extraordinary Lincoln’s Facebook page at www. just to fill up their gas tanks. facebook.com/extraordinarylincoln.

“While almost any stop off the interstate will “We’re not going to get there tomorrow, but we lead to money being spent, it is the long term will start today.” – Tommy Smith

Member Anniversaries Happy 75th Anniversary!

Dixie Center for the Arts First National Bank Hunt Forest Lumber, Inc. Lewis Boutique Pearce Lumber & Hardware Ruston Brick, LLC Ruston Daily Leader T.L. James & Co., Inc.

20 Years + Blue Bell Creameries, LP Rainwater, B.H.

10 Years + Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC Acme Glass & Mirror Acres & Avenues Realty, Inc. Albritton Service Company, LLC American AVL Aramark at LA Tech Argent Financial Group, Inc. Backus True Value Hardware Baldwin’s Jewelers BancorpSouth Belue Family Clinic Business Technology Group, LLC (BTG) Captain D’s Restaurant Cedar Creek School CenterPoint Energy Century 21 J.E. Barnes Century Ready Mix Chemical Dynamics Chironetwork Chiropractic Clinic Church’s Chicken Coburn’s Supply Comfort Inn Community Trust Bank Law Offices of Michael S. Coyle Genesis Energy William S. Carter, Jr., P.C.

Days Inn Driggers & Blackwell Enterprises, Inc. Crow Burlingame, Inc. Edward Jones - Randy Fallin Financial Advisor Ewing Timber, LLC Franke Consumer Products, Inc. First Baptist Church Frosty Factory of America, Inc. Fuqua Companies, LLC Gilbert Realty Radian Hennigan, CPA Hi-Tech Computers of Ruston, Inc. Acadian Wood Products Courtesy Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac of Ruston Hunt, Guillot & Associates iBERIABANK - Ruston Main Office Johnston Dental Care Ken’s Coffee Service Kilpatrick Funeral Homes KXKZ/ESPN 97.7/KPCH 99.3/ KRUS 1490 LA Capitol Federal Credit Union Louisiana Tech Division of University Advancement Lifeshare Blood Centers The Lincoln Agency Amethyst Construction Northern Louisiana Medical Center Lincoln Outpatient Therapy Services Ruston Aviation, Inc. Whittington Architects LA Center For The Blind Louisiana Insurance Services, Inc. Louisiana Methodist Childrens Home Dr. Wesley O. Lynch III Mabry Company, LLC Manpower Temporary Services Mary Kay Cosmetics Ruby Garner Mason Forest Products, Inc. McDonald’s Main Office Merrill Lynch Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson, LLC Peregrine Corp.

Mitcham Farms, Inc. Napper, Madden & Rogers

National Jewelry Company, Inc. Nora’s Flowers O’Nealgas, Inc. O’Neal’s Farm & Garden Oral Surgery Associates P & L Management Company dba Paramount Healthcare Pack & Mail Peach Tree Dental People Centered Support Services Redd Pest Control of Ruston, Inc. Riley Company of LA, Inc. Ronnie Ward Automotive Group, Inc. Ruston Brick, LLC Ruston Chevron Jim Taylor Ford Lincoln Ruston Glass & Mirror Ruston Rotary Club - Noon Ardagh Glass, Inc. Secur-It Self Storage Sherwin Williams Soil Stabilizers Squire Creek Country Club & Development State Farm Insurance Skip Russell State Farm Insurance Kim Dupree Sterling Pharmacy Stor-A-Way Mini Storage Tyler Graham Storms Patrick Stuckey, D.D.S. Super 8 Motel Super One Foods T.L. James & Co., Inc. The Cleaners of Ruston The Fashion of Ruston The News-Star Russ Place

Today’s Realty, Inc. Tommy’s Tees Trinity United Methodist Church United Way of Northeast Louisiana Vision Center WalMart Supercenter Michael L. Walpole, Architect, LLC Warren Frazier Construction Company Wendy’s Westside Self Storage State Farm Insurance Robert Temple Hunt Forest Products, Inc. Pafford Emergency Medical Services, Inc. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

5 Years + Lincoln Realty, Inc. Shelter Insurance - Dan Preaus North Central LAArts Council (NCLAC) Konica Minolta Business Solutions Avenue Christian Bookstore The Bridge Community Church Downtown Tech Campus Waggoner Engineering, Inc. Walgreens Vantage Health Plan, Inc.

Other RAW Sushi, LLC Meaux’s Plumbing, LLC

Sharon Jackson’s Slammin’ Women’s Fitness Revolution Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana South Parkway Church Biotech South, LLC Twin Creeks Realty Restoration Plus, LLC Diabetes Care Center A Team Property Management, LLC Park Avenue Antiques Roma Italian Bistro Lagniappe Embroidery & Gift Shoppe Quilteroo’s Regional Consulting Services, Inc. Lincoln Health Foundation AJ Burns Appraisals MCS Innesto Marketing Elite Healthcare Alliance 24/7 Coin Laundry Brennan Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep & Ram Tommy’s Feed Store & More Prime Rocketfast Car Wash The Ensure Agency Campatori Catering, LLC Law Office of Richard J. Gallot, Jr. Morrison Companies Kelly Moore Bag M.L. Smith, Jr., LLC Barnes & Noble @ Louisiana Tech Hunter Energy Corp.

Harold Shepherd A Team Realty, LLC Tax Max

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4 Paws Rescue, Inc. Yeager, Watson & Assoc., Inc. St. Thomas Aquinas Church Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center James L. Davis Construction BlueLine Rental - West Monroe, LA Pennington Financial, LLC Rustiques Architectural Antiques STC, LLC Ragan Builders Hill Oil Kona Ice Valic - Dan McGuire, Financial Advisor Serenity Springs Specialty Hospital Lincoln Parish School District New Tech @ Ruston Lincoln Parish Tax Assessor Sheila Bordelon Bullet Designs, Inc. M & M Printing Senator Mike Walsworth Nadel & Gussman Ruston, LLC G & C Construction Goldman Equipment, LLC JLH Construction Company, Inc. DeWitt French Giger & Sitton, LLP Charlie’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Thornburg Monuments Bebo & Company Puppies & Grooming Keg Package and Cork Room Med-Camps of Louisiana New Beginnings Wellness Center & Spa Leslie Lakes Retirement Center