Marland’s Place handed out Hot Chocolate and Cookies for donations to those in attendance, while children of the community enjoyed the new ice rink at Ice on the Plaza. (Photos by Dailyn Emery)

The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Committee held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 11 am.

Wendy Stobbe called the meeting to order and then provided her Chamber Chair report.

The Chamber is still working through the process of accepting applications for a new Chamber CEO.

Tuesday, Dec. 6 will be the last Kindness Campaign meeting, capping off a year of an initiative to spread kindness in the community.

The December Business After Hours will be at the Marland Mansion on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Master of ceremonies for the Chamber Celebration on Jan. 26 at Pioneer Technology Center will be Senator Bill Coleman.

Chamber President Rich Cantillon then provided his staff report.

The Chamber has nomination forms for the Volunteer of the Year and the Outstanding Citizen of the Year. The Outstanding Citizen Committee will meet Friday, Dec. 2. The Volunteer of the Year Committee will meet Thursday, Dec. 8.

The Santa Buck Giveaway retail promotion has started and will continue until Dec. 20. The winning tickets will be drawn at 7 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 20 for the chance to win $5000 in Santa Bucks, two chances at $1000 prices, and four $500 prices. To win this year, tune into either KLOR 99.3 FM, KPNC 100.7 FM, The Bull 104.7 FM, and Sunny 1230 AM.

If you hear your ticket announced on the radio you have five minutes to phone the Chamber Office at 580765-4400 or toll free at 866763-8092 to let them know you have the winning ticket.

Updates were then provided by various board members on happenings with Ponca City and Kay County organizations.

Zach Trantham provided his tourism update.

This month, Ponca City has received visitors from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Ponca City has received international travelers from Canada, England, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Every year the Ponca City Chamber participates in the American Bus Association Marketplace, as such, Trantham will be going to Detroit in February for the event.

The monthly “What’s Happening Ponca City?” video has received 10,000 views this month.

The first ever PonCon was held earlier this month at City Central. The event had 100 attendees and planning is underway for next year.

Festival of Angels started on Nov. 23 and will run until Dec. 30.

The Lighted Christmas Parade will be Friday, Dec. 2.

Ally Broome with Ponca Young Employees (PYE) shared that they had their Dine and Donate event at Fraizer’s on Saturday, Nov. 19. 10% of proceeds were donated to The Mission and $420 was raised thought the event.

PYE’s December event will be a potluck at Grand Cigar Lounge on Dec. 8 from 5 pm to 7 pm. Farha will be donating a turkey and all the paper goods.

Austin Wilkins will be taking over as PYE President in 2023.

Lori Henderson with Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) provided her update.

PCDA is working on seven ongoing projects and three new leads this month. Two of those leads came from existing businesses, while the third was from the Department of Commerce.

Small Business Pitch-Off was held on Monday, Nov. 14 at City Central with four businesses pitching.

PCDA is working with Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS) on an internship program and have placed 49 Po-Hi students in industries and businesses around town. PCDA is also working with Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) to ensure that their internship program compliments the one utilized by PTC.

The construction of the spec building is moving along, and is now waiting on steel and other metals. PCDA anticipates a June 2023 completion date.

Mayor Homer Nicholson provided an update on the City of Ponca City.

Ponca City won an award on Friday, Nov. 18 at Keep Oklahoma Beautiful (KOB) for the 200-Tree tree farm at north Ash Street.

Downtown now has their decorations up for the holiday season.

Ponca City has a new rental car company called INFINITI.

The Ponca City Senior Center is operating out of First Presbyterian Church as their building is undergoing a remodel.

Broadband is complete west of 14th Street and is working eastward. The project is estimated to be 85% complete.

Freedom Homes on Turner has not broke ground yet and have been given a notice by the city as there is a time limit to start construction.

The 5th and Bradley homes are bringing in bricks, but have not moved any dirt.

The Kay County mayors met last week and spoke about the 1/3rd cent sales tax. While they are happy that rural fire departments have some additional money, they are not happy about the cities’ increasing their sales tax by 1/3rd of a cent.

University Center CEO Robyn Armstrong provided her update.

The University Center is focused on spring enrollment at present and had a kick-off event last Thursday, Nov. 17.

Kay County District Attorney Brian Hermanson provided an update.

Construction is continuing on the remodel of the Kay County Courthouse and is anticipated to finish by June 2023. An open house is planned along with the Administration Building and the OSU Extension building sometime following the completion.

The DA’s Office is dealing with the cultivation of marijuana issues and have had several raids with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) on people illegally growing marijuana in the county.

There is a growing fentanyl problem in Oklahoma, along with heroin and cocaine on a more regular basis. Counterfeit opioids sold on the street contain fentanyl and have resulted in several overdoses and deaths.

Maci Graves, executive director at Ponca City Main Street (PCMS), provided an update.

The Oklahoma Main Street Training Conference was held in Ponca City with 46 directors and volunteers from around the state to tour downtown and visit Newkirk for a training session.

Ice on the Plaza opened on Friday, Nov. 18 and has had 270 skaters in the first three days. The last skate day will be on Sunday, Dec. 31.

Small Business Saturday will be on Nov. 26. Ice on the Plaza will have penguins from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Holiday Open House Weekend will be held on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.

Kevin Schmitt with Philips 66 provided an update. Philips host a Need and Energy Education Workshop for educators on Saturday, Oct. 29 They also hosted PTC for an onsite tour. Philips is in the middle of a Salvation Army angel tree and coat drive.

They have extended the United Way Campaign through Nov. 30.

Finally, Senator Bill Coleman gave a legislative update. All the elections are over and it is known who will be serving in public office.

Senator Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City) will remain Senate Pro-Tempore; and Senator Coleman is expected to be Chairman of Business and Commerce.

Additionally, Tourism will now be known as Tourism and Wildlife.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 20.