Listed below is your 2010 Board of Directors. We are here to serve you – our members. Contact us if you need anything. Your input is valuable and we want to hear your suggestions and ideas on how to make the Clay County Chamber of Commerce better. Our goals are the same and together we can improve our Chamber, our cities, our county, and our quality of life. We all look forward to hearing from you soon.

President
Kathy Pinkston – katpin@kochfoods.com
Koch Foods
Ashland, AL 36251
256-354-1913

1st Vice President
Brad Strother – brad@facslions.com
First Assembly Christian School
256-354-4090

2nd Vice President
Debbie McKinney – debbieadmin@clayhosp.org
Clay County Health Care Authority
256-354-1178

Secretary / Treasurer
Jeanette Carroll – jcarroll513@aol.com
Cell: 256-276-1216

Billy Robertson – billy@cheaharealty.com
Emerald Realty
256-396-2717

Baron Sandlin – bsandlinnacdc@att.net
Executive Director – Northeast Alabama CDC
Cell: (205) 541-9839

Mike Coleman – mike@mikecolemaninsurance.com
State Farm Insurance
Ofc: 256-354-2272

Stan Gaither – aha@centurytel.net
Ashland Housing Authority
256-354-266

Lisa Runyan  – lrunyan@mindspring.com
Clay County Children Policy Council
256-354-9021

Mary Patchunka-Smith, Executive Director
256-396-2828
claychamber@centurytel.net

Press Release

For Immediate Release

The Clay County Chamber of Commerce Office Moved to Downtown Lineville, Alabama

On Tuesday, June 22, 2010, the Clay County Chamber of Commerce held a conference at the Randolph Properties office across from the Historic Lineville Theater to make a special announcement.

The Chamber Board of Directors announced to officials present from the City of Ashland, City of Lineville and Clay County Commission that the Chamber is moving its office to the building owned by Randolph Properties located at 88855 Hwy 9, Lineville, AL 36266.

The Chamber’s previous office was located at the Clay County Farmer’s Market since 1991. Chamber Executive Director Mary Patchunka-Smith said “I’ve been with the Chamber for 3 plus years and one of the biggest projects we’ve been working on is to get our office out of the Farmer’s Market. We needed more room and better exposure The Farmer’s Market is not easy to find and some believe not very inviting for folks that are visiting our county or wanting to do business here. We have been seeking a new location for years and it did not matter to the Chamber Board which city we would locate a new office. Matt Hooton, owner of Randolph Properties, came through for us. He has agreed to lease the office for the next 3 years. The Chamber will only have to pay the utilities.”

Mary assured everyone that even though the Chamber Office will now be located in Lineville, Chamber business will still be conducted in the same manner it has always been. “We are here to help everyone in Ashland, Lineville and Clay County.” She continued, “The entire Chamber Board is so excited about having this beautiful office for the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber would like to thank Matt Hooton for his generosity.”

The Chamber is now in the process of finding a location to open a satellite office in Ashland.

At the conference, Chamber President Kathy Pinkston spoke about the Chamber and the many projects it has been working on for Clay County. Pinkston announced that the Chamber membership has grown to 154 members, with members located from Gadsden, AL to St. Cloud, FL. She also reported the Chamber Website has continued to grow its visitor count and page views, month after month, and is currently receiving over 35,000 page views per month. Pinkston also announced The Alabama Birding Trails coming to Clay County with five different sites within the county: At each city park in Ashland and Lineville, the Watershed, Clay County Lake and Lake Chinabee.

One Chamber project in particular, The Clay County Life magazine which launched in April 2010 has been a huge success for Clay County and Chamber members. The 2010 Edition was the first Quality of Life magazine for Clay County.

Another project in the works is helping to bring Broadband Internet service to Clay County, which hopefully will be made possible through the joint efforts of the Chamber and the Clay County Commission.

For your convenience, the Clay County Chamber of Commerce has a brochure rack in the Clay County Court House in Ashland with brochures, maps, telephone books, the Clay County Life Magazine and more.

Lineville, Ashland and the Clay County Chamber are all on Facebook with Fan Pages. In addition, the Alabama Dept. of Tourism has assigned Mary as the Administrator of the City of Ashland and Lineville Facebook pages to continue to promote these beautiful and wonderful cities of Clay County to the millions who visit and use Facebook.

Reminder …. The Chamber Annual Meeting is scheduled for October 28th at 12:00 at Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. Training Facility located on Hwy 77 South of Ashland. Governor Bob Riley is the Guest Speaker.

Present at the meeting was: Clay County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mary Patchunka-Smith, Clay County Chamber Board of Directors President Kathy Pinkston, 1st Vice President Brad Strother, Secretary / Treasurer Jeanette Carroll, Billy Robertson, Mike Coleman and Baron Sandlin, City of Ashland Mayor Larry Fetner, City Council Member Becky Boddie, City of Lineville Mayor Roy Adamson City Council Members Carolyn Smith, David Proctor, Mamie Truman, Johnny Appleby and the Clay County Commissioner Chairmen Ricky Burney and Kevin Kiser.

Clay County Courthouse in Ashland, AL

The Clay County Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome you to Clay County, Alabama – The Heart of East Central Alabama. Thank you for your interest in the “peaceful place” that we call home. Our website is being updated almost daily as our goal is to provide you with as much information about our county as possible. We know it is impossible to cover every aspect of our county through this website so if you have any questions or need to contact us, please do. Contact info is below.

We hope you’ll take some time and navigate around our website. We want you to consider visiting Clay County and we’re always seeking new businesses to move here and help us grow. Clay County is a wonderful place to live. Enjoy the benefits of country living and if you still need a hit of the big city life, we’re only a two-hour or less car drive to the metro areas of Atlanta, Birmingham or Montgomery.

We’re only minutes from beautiful and clean Lake Wedowee and a short ride to Mt. Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama (click here to watch a short video on Mt. Cheaha State Park). We sit right in the Talladega National Forest with hiking trails, waterfalls, horseback trails, camping and just plain pretty scenery. And when was the last time you looked up into the sky and saw a gazillion stars? No light pollution here. Clay County is a stargazers paradise so bring your telescope.

Check out Clay County soon. Mark your calendar and attend the 2009 Clay County Music & Arts Festival on Saturday, May 16th, 2009 – all day. Guaranteed fun for the whole family. Look at photos from the 2008 Festival – click here. We know if you visit us, you’ll probably stick around for awhile – maybe a lifetime.

Contact us anytime – we’d love to hear from you. We have an Executive Director, Mary Patchunka-Smith, who mans our office Monday through Friday. She is a busy lady so if she doesn’t answer the phone right away, leave a message and she’ll get back to you very quickly. And, we even have high speed Internet service out here in the country, too. So, you can contact our Chamber through email as well. Our contact information follows:

Clay County Chamber of Commerce
88855 Highway 9 – P O Box 85
Lineville, AL 36266
256-396-2828 office
256-396-5532 fax
email: claychamber@centurytel.net
Executive Director: Mary Patchunka-Smith

For more information about the City of Lineville, please visit their website at www.cityoflineville.net.

Visit the Lineville Merchant’s Association website – click here.

The 3rd Annual Clay County Music and Arts Festival was held at the Lineville Recreation Park.

Mayor Roy Adamson
City Hall
P O Box 247
Lineville, AL 36266
256-396-2581 (office)
256-396-5106 (fax)

Lineville City Council Members

District 1: Carolyn Smith
District 2: David Proctor
District 3: Mamie Turman
District 4: Matt Benefield
District 5: Johnny Appleby

Talladega Superspeedway has TWO areas for families planning on attending the AMP Energy 500. Check out these great offers!

The Allison Grandstands feature a $29 two-day ticket in rows 2-11, with kids 11 and under admitted free to those rows. This special offer celebrates the NASCAR record 29 leaders set at Talladega Superspeedway in April. This offer expires July 15th so act quickly to reserve your tickets today!

After July 15th, special family pricing will still be available in the Allison Grandstands. Rows 6 and higher will feature two-day tickets $49 and kids 11 and under admitted free on Saturday and only $10 on Sunday. Kids are FREE in Rows 2-5.

On the frontstrech, a new family section has been created in the Gadsden Tower sections Q & R. This area features a strict ban on alcohol and smoking. Ticket prices have been reduced from $120 to $88, commemorating the NASCAR record 88 lead changes at Talladega Superspeedway during the Aaron’s 499.

Purchase or renew your tickets in the Gadsden Towers and you’ll automatically be entered to win one of 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. hero cards!

Please call the Talladega Superspeedway ticket office directly at 877.Go2.DEGA to reserve seating for kids in the Allison Grandstand.

Purchase Your Family Tower Seating Today!

Clay County Health and Wellness Center
July 12th – 16th
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Grades 1st – 6th
Cost: $50 (Early Registration before June 18th )
$60 (Late Registration after June 18th )

The last day to register will be Friday, July 2nd.

**Camp Activities will include:  swimming, war ball, relays, arts and crafts, field games, water slide, slip and slide, and much more.
For more information please contact Stephen Young @ 256-354-1260

• Lessons will be offered every week throughout the summer.
• Beginner, Intermediate, and advanced classes will be offered.
• Children ages 4 and up are welcome.
• Cost will be $50 per child per week with a $10 discount for every additional sibling.

Swim Camp will begin Saturday, June 5th

• Swim camp is designed to teach children how to swim, water safety, and the importance of exercise.
• Children ages 4 and up are welcome.
• Camp will be held each weekend (Saturday and Sunday) throughout the summer.
• Cost will be $50 per child per weekend with a $10 discount for every additional sibling.
• Beginner, Intermediate, and advanced camps will be offered.

Spaces are limited. Contact the Wellness Center to register your child and for more information – 256-354-1260

Zumba will begin on Monday, June 14th

• Cost will be $50 for a Zumba punch card or $5 per class.  The $50 punch card is good for 12 classes.

Zumbatomic

• Zumbatomic is a six week Zumba dance class for children ages 4yrs. old – 12 yrs. old.  The Wellness Center will begin offering this class during the summer months and will continue to be offered during the fall.

Memorial Day Weekend
Friday May 28th through Monday May 31st

Visit the Heflin Alabama website for all the details and exciting and fun events scheduled.

May 25, 2010 – Washington, DC – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the designation of 31 trails in 15 states as national recreation trails, adding more than 716 miles of trails to the National Trails System. The announcement comes in anticipation of National Trails Day on June 5, when trail dedications and other activities will take place at new and existing trails.

“From coast to coast, the National Trails System helps connect American families with the wonders of the great outdoors,” said Salazar. “These new national recreation trails, built through partnerships with local communities and stakeholders, will create new opportunities for fitness and stewardship while creating a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren.”

Alabama

Doc Hilt Trails

NOTE: Doc Hilt Trails is only the second private ATV/dirtbike trails in the country to receive this designation!

Doc Hilt Trails is a private off road recreational trails area and camping facility located just north of Lineville, Alabama, on the eastern edge of the Talladega National Forest. The Doc Hilt Trails system consists of approximately 17 miles of continuous trails for ATVs, dirt bikes and OHV enthusiasts. The area includes hilly and mountainous terrain with trailside primitive camping. Doc Hilt Trails is dedicated to affordable, rustic and responsible recreational family-oriented trail riding for 4 wheelers and off-road motorcycles. The trail system was created by collaborative efforts between private land owners and the Cheaha Trail Riders Association.

Read more on the announcement on all new trails designated – click here.

Visit Doc Hilt Trails website – click here.