Chamber thanks all involved in its Cookie Tour

To the Editor:

This past weekend the PB Chamber conducted a new and exciting event called the Holiday Cookie Tour. The main goals were to drive more customers into local shops and get people from the surrounding area to come to Poplar Bluff to spend their money. The Chamber also wanted to have an event that would be fun for families and friends to kick off the holiday shopping season. We would like to thank all of our hard working committee members (Barbara Pelton, Penny McGath, Debbie Halter and Debby Norris), our board of directors for allowing us to try this new event, our participating businesses (Artfully Framed, AT&T, Butler County Missouri Extension Office, Cedargate Healthcare, Comfort Inn,Consignment Mall of Butler County, Divine Designs, Farmer's Insurance-Kelly Shearrer Spradling Agency, First Choice Insurance, Gift Connection, Hampton Inn, Hillcrest Animal Hospital, Holiday Inn, JCPenney, La Boutique, Las Margaritas, New Leaf Flower & Plant Shop, Inc., Poplar Bluff Realty, Inc.,ReBlessed, LLC, Rob's Flower, Sew Much More, Southern Roots Apparel, Spa Bodhi, Stand Still Apparel and Whitworth's Gift Chest Jewelers), Insta Print who did a phenomenal job designing and printing the cookbooks, the Daily American Republic for such wonderful coverage and ad designs and most of all the people who came and participated in the actual tour and spent money locally. Each participant received a very nice holiday cookie cookbook, a unique cookie at the 26 participating businesses and a chance to win a $100 gift card if they completed the tour. They were also given the opportunity to vote on their favorite cookie. The event was a huge success! We had people from Charleston, Malden, Farmington and many other outside communities come enjoy the event. Michelle Cheatham posted on facebook, "I just want to extend my thanks to the city of Poplar Bluff. My mother, Susan Stievenart, and I enjoyed going through the cookie tour. Taking us to places we didn't know was there and places we go to all the time. Everyone was so welcoming. Thank you once again." The winner of the $100 gift card was Bobbi Clark and Barb Pelton from Artfully Framed won the "People's Choice" cookie award with her Sea Salt Caramel Cookies. She will receive the traveling trophy and bragging rights for the rest of the year. Last, but definitely not least, Candice Pearson and Monique Coleman did an outstanding job planning and executing this great event. Remaining cookie cookbooks can be purchased for $10 at the Chamber or any of the participating businesses. Thanks again to everyone who made this event so successful and God bless!

Steve Halter

President

Greater Poplar Bluff Area

Chamber of Commerce,