SYC/Trend Members from SMS were guest speakers at the Feb. 16 meeting of the Steelville Chamber of Commerce. The students spoke about their recent trip to the Missouri Community Betterment (MCB) conference. They reported they’d learned about how communities can work together, involving the main points of communication, cooperation and leadership.

Student ideas for ways they could help the community included Main Street beautification, updates to the community park and maybe a senior citizens prom at Golden Echoes. They thought funds could be raised for these things through car washes, bake sales and perhaps some local sponsorships.

“Thank you for supporting us to go to the MCB conference,” student Devin Diaz said. “We hope to use our ideas to better our community.”

In other business conducted at the meeting:

• President Peggy Cardoni reported on plans for Friday’s Parc Expose and service portions of the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood road race. On Feb. 26, the racers and teams will converge on Steelville and set up in the community park. SHS Junior and Senior classes will have a food booth, selling burgers, hot dogs and chili. The Chamber will have a warming station where they will serve coffee and hot chocolate and hand out information on Steelville area businesses. Cardoni reported that parking near the park is of concern, but that St. Michael’s Catholic Church has agreed to allow use of their lot and there will also be some available at Country Mart. There will be signs and police directing traffic to appropriate parking areas.

• Freedom Fest will be held on Saturday, July 3 this year. Cost for fireworks will be $6,000; sound and lighting will be $2,200; and the local band Alderwood has agreed to play for the event for $500.

• Plans for Harvest Festival are also underway. Jerry Beers is working on the coordination of a reenactment of the infamous Steelville bank robbery to be held in the morning before the parade. Another idea is to carry over the festivities with an old time community picnic and church service on Sunday.

• The Second Annual Steelville Scholarship Fund Raiser will be held on April 22 at Wildwood Springs Lodge. The dinner and benefit auction will provide funds for the scholarship fund that provides money for SHS graduates to further their education. Dinner tickets are $25 per person and Wildwood will be serving a fabulous dinner of prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, home made rolls, and mouth-watering homemade desserts. The silent auction will begin at 5 p.m., dinner is at 6:30 and the live auction will start at 7:30. Items already collected for the auction include two Albert Pujols rookie cards, four seats in the Cardinal Club (Row A or Row B with parking pass and dinner before) for an upcoming game, and a John Grisham autographed book. Other donations for the auction are needed. For more information, contact SHS Counselor Danielle Smith at 775-2144 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Jessie Stice at Wildwood Springs Lodge, 775-2400 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Other upcoming events announced at the meeting:

• Feb. 27: Crawford County Cattlemen’s Association Meeting with Derry Brownfield of the Brownfield Network. Dinner at 6 p.m. at Golden Echoes.  

• March 19: Breakfast with a Banker at FCNB from 8-10 a.m.

• March 27: SHS Men’s Alumni Basketball Tournament.

• Apr. 8: FCNB Fraud Workshop.

• May 1: SHS Senior Class fundraiser: Rubber Duck Race on Yadkin Creek.

• May 11: FCNB Women’s Expo—Booths are free; contact Becky Teed for information.