fea tured business

FEATURED BUSINESS
June 2012
Mark Cheffey, Publisher
BUSINESS INFO
In addition to publishers
Mark & Patty Cheffey; the
staff includes Christina
DeLaRosa, advertising
sales & production; Beverly
Robertson, bookkeeper and
Jenny Ryals, proofreader.
Palmyra Spectator
304 S. Main, P.O. Box 391,
Palmyra, MO 63461
Phone: 573-769-3111
Fax: 573-769-3554
www.palmyra-spectator.com
FEATURED BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
THE PALMYRA SPECTATOR
The Palmyra Spectator has the distinction of being the first featured business of the month
for the premier issue of the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce’s E’Blast. The newspaper is
independently owned and published by Mark & Patty Cheffey, who purchased the paper in
November of 1994. They are only the third family to own the paper. They have two children,
Kalli, a college sophomore, currently studying writing, and Ben, a high school freshman.
The couple couldn’t narrow it down to the most interesting story since owning the paper, but
three things stuck out in their minds. For news, it was the 1996 Olympic torch run that came
through Palmyra. For sports, it was the fact that after working in newspaper for ten years and
never covering a high school state championship, since moving to Palmyra the Cheffeys have
covered seven local championships between Palmyra and Marion County. Lastly, for people,
it’s the WWII veterans Cheffey has gotten to interview, especially Bill Norfolk, POW survivor.
Cheffeys find the most rewarding thing about the job to be the appreciation and support of
the community.
The mission of the Palmyra Spectator is to provide news and information about Palmyra and
surrounding communities in Marion County, concentrating on the city of Palmyra, Marion
County government, local businesses and the Palmyra R-I and Marion County R-II school
districts. Business card design and printing is also available.
The Palmyra Spectator is published weekly and is available in local stories early Tuesday
afternoon and delivered in the local mail on Wednesdays. Twenty-eight hundred households
subscribe to the Palmyra Spectator. On average, it is twenty pages long and has multiple
advertising inserts. The newspaper website, www.palmyra-spectator.com, is updated regularly
with the latest news, local sports scores and video clips. Of course, The Spectator also has a
Facebook page!
Earlier in May, during a Marion County Commission meeting, Representative Lindell
Shumake presented Mark and Patty Cheffey a framed House Resolution honoring the Palmyra
Spectator. Rep. Shumake noted the newspaper continues its unbroken roots back to Aug. 3,
1839 when Jacob Sosey founded “The Missouri Whig and General Advertiser,” making it the
oldest continuously published weekly newspaper in Missouri. Sosey changed the name of the
paper to the “Palmyra Spectator” during the Civil War.
“One of the most interesting, appealing, and enduring aspects of the Palmyra Spectator
is its fidelity to the distinction between “reporting” and “editorial”, a distinction inherently
problematic to maintain, because all political communities, of whatever stripe, need guidance
from a transcendent partisanship for accurate information and dispassionate judgment,”
Shumake added, noting that despite the modern era, the Spectator continues this distinction.
“I would like to congratulate Mark and Patty Cheffey, and everyone who works with them, for
their faithfulness in providing this service to their local community. I believe that the Palmyra
Spectator is an example of what a small town newspaper should be,” said Shumake.
Chamber Briefs...
PALMYRA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MONTHLY MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012
The Palmyra Chamber of Commerce held its June meeting at the VFW
Hall Tuesday, June 12. President Michele Hopson welcomed Mary Schaible
who asked to address the group about her plans to add to the Chamber’s
traditional 4th of July fireworks. Her vision is to have a day of activities
at Flower City Park. Currently, Schaible has lined up Jared Keim for a
concert at the Free Stage at 7:30 p.m. She is hoping other organizations
will contribute a variety of games and activities, and vendors are welcome.
Schaible can be reached at 573-629-9169 or [email protected]. She
welcomes any help with organizing the event.
Business After Hours
Ed Dent of the Country Butcher Shop will host a Business-After-Hours
for Chamber members only Thursday, June 21 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Tours at
5:45 and 6:15. Meat, Cheese trays in lobby. Meal to follow tour. Soda, Water,
Wine, Beer at the Pavilion south of the Country Butcher Shop. Chamber
members may bring a friend.
Bowling for a Cure
Members discussed possible causes for the September Bowling For A
Cause Event scheduled for September 22. Last year’s event raised money for
the disaster in Joplin. Though there was no final vote, causes put before the
group included Joplin, the local food pantry and the local library.
PACB Dinner
President Hopson, who attended the PACB dinner meeting June 4th on
behalf of the Chamber, commented on how productive and effective a session
she found it to be. Board Member Ed Dent also attended.
ShopKo
Members were reminded that ShopKo’s Grand Opening Ribbon-Cutting
Ceremony will be held Thursday, July 12, at 8:45 a.m. The Chamber will send
out an email notice again that week.
The Old Stone Inn
The meeting concluded with a fascinating program by Chamber members
Rodney and Ginny Kuntemeyer, owners of The Old Stone Inn. The business;
which will feature Missouri wines, beer, soft drinks, and light food; is
scheduled for its grand opening after July 7. In addition to individual
patrons being able to enjoy the Inn, it will be available for class reunions,
wedding receptions, weddings, and private parties. Prior to the grand
opening the owner’s class reunion and a wedding reception will be held
there. The building has been undergoing extensive renovation for eight
months. The Kuntemeyers shared that the building dates back to 1846 and
was a hospital during the Civil War.
www.showmepalmyra.com
upcoming events
CALENDAR
Thursday, June 21
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Business-After-Hours
HOST: Ed Dent/The Country Butcher Shop
Tours at 5:45 and 6:15
Meat, Cheese trays in lobby. Meal to follow tour.
Soda, Water, Wine, Beer at the Pavilion south of
the Country Butcher Shop.
Wednesday, July 4
Chamber Fireworks &
Activities
Flower City Park, Palmyra
Thursday, July 12
8:45 a.m.
ShopKo’s
Grand Opening
Ribbon Cutting
Ceremony
REMINDER
YOUR NEXT CHAMBER MEETING IS
TUESDAY,
JULY 10, 2012
VFW Hall, Palmyra
Those in attendance get a chance to be
featured as “Chamber Member of the
Month” in an upcoming issue!