Pateros Chamber of Commerce announces suspension of operations

PATEROS – The Pateros Chamber of Commerce announced that it is suspending operations indefinitely according to an announcement posted on the Chamber’s Facebook site on August 21.

“Our main goal was to get the Pateros sign back up and finished,” read the announcement. “We did just that with the help of many people.”

The Chamber posting added that a sign dedication ceremony will be held sometime down the road “and we will be sure to let y’all know.”

Chamber members began laying plans, securing authorizations, raising funds, and making contacts for a new Pateros sign after the iconic original was destroyed in the Carlton Complex wildfire in July 2014. In the summer of 2016 members voted to move ahead with engineering and contracting cost estimates. By the spring of 2018 all was ready for landscaping and footing work. As soon as the weather allowed the foundation was poured and lettering and design elements were added in May of this year.

While the new sign marks the chamber’s legacy project, the group also worked tirelessly to promote community involvement with holiday functions during Halloween and Christmas. The Chamber also promoted monthly Business After Hours gatherings to encourage networking between businesses and residents in the community.

The Chamber will be deactivating its Facebook page this month in the absence of volunteers to maintain it.

“If at any time anyone would like to step up and reactivate this page of the Pateros Chamber of Commerce, please contact Libby Linder Harrison or Joni Parks for more information.” Harrison can be reached at libbylou22@gmail.com and Parks at joni@iciclebroadcasting.com.

“As far as events go, we will be making a Pateros community events page to keep you all up to date on any events that will be taking place in the City of Pateros,” the announcement said.