Chamber of Commerce

At its monthly meeting last week, the Odessa Chamber of Commerce heard from float committee chairpersons Kevin and Amy Schaeffer that work will begin as soon as the community center becomes available. In the meantime, Amy has been busy organizing the pageant at which Miss Odessa 2017 will be selected.

Two candidates will vie for Miss Odessa, Maleah Davison and Danielle Tebow, at Any Occasion Banquet Hall on April 9, a Sunday, at 2 p.m. Sandy Smith will be the emcee for the program, and judges from other communities are being asked to participate.

Currently, two younger “Little Sisters” have also been recruited to ride the float on an emergency basis for any parade dates on which neither Miss Odessa or her princess are able to be present.

A very welcome announcement at the meeting came from Chamber president Zach Schafer, who said that two past Biergarten chairs have agreed to co-chair the 2017 event, Don Strebeck and Tammy Smith. Schafer also said that some others have expressed an interest in being understudies to these co-chairs in anticipation of taking the helm in the future.

Schafer has been saddled with most of the organizational duties associated with the Desert 100 hospitality tent, but he has had much-needed help with various aspects of the effort from Kelsey Scrupps, Kelly Watkins, Marlon Schafer and Susan Jensen. Lindsy Starkel has taken on the job of scheduling workers to check IDs, pour beverages and the like, so those who have volunteered before can expect a call from her.

The Desert 100 will be run Sunday, April 1, while the preceding Saturday, March 31, will be filled with poker runs, youth races and various fun events.

As for the other two motorcycle races that take place the Saturday before the Desert 100, a recent ordinance passed by the town has meant that many riders will be allowed to bring their bikes onto the town’s streets. Local businesses may see an uptick in activity this weekend, March 25.