The winner of our Favorite Elf Contest was Mary Austin.  She, along with our other elves, raised a total of $167.54.  This amount was then matched by the Chamber to donate to the Angel Tree project at Equity Bank.  Many thanks go out to Mary, Scott Kempenich, Adam Longcrier, Serena Welch, and Ryan Smykil for helping us raise money for this worthwhile project.

The Newkirk Chamber will be starting our Membership Drive in January.  Did you know that we have different levels of membership?  Individuals can join for as little as $10.00 as an associate member with no voting rights. Other individuals pay only $25.00 per year.  The cost for businesses with 4 or less full-time employees is $75.00.  Large businesses with 5 or more full-time employees pay $125.00. 

The Chamber's 2020 Christmas Parade was a huge success. The theme this year was "The Twelve Days of Christmas".  The 1st place trophy went to Newkirk FFA.  The 2nd place winner was Equity Bank.  Kay Electric took home the trophy for 3rd place.

​The Newkirk Chamber will be voting on 3 new board members in January.  Nominees are Shannon Smykil, Adam Longcrier, and Scott Kempenich.  They will replace retiring members Roy Chaney, Kirk Brown, and Marvin Johns.  The meeting will take place in the Chamber office at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4th.

We regret that the annual Chamber Banquet has been canceled for 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic.

Our mailing address is:
Newkirk Chamber of Commerce
114 S Main St
Newkirk, OK 74647-4512

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The Newkirk Chamber held 2 ribbon cuttings recently.  Wild Wood Wedding & Event Center, located west of Newkirk, is owned by Spike and Jennifer Henderson.  Check out this awesome venue on Facebook @ Wild Wood Wedding & Event Center, Newkirk, OK or visit their website wildwoodweddingsok.com.

The Chamber is taking nominations for its next Citizen of the Year.  Ballot boxes are located at Apple Market, Newkirk Public Library, Main Street Bakery, and Equity Bank.  The deadline for voting is January 29th.  The winner will be announced in February.

Our annual Christmas Parade was held on December 5th and was a huge success.  The Theme this year was “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.  Newkirk FFA took home the 1st Place trophy, with 2nd and 3rd going to Equity Bank and Kay Electric Cooperative, respectively.  The crowning of our Snow Princess and Prince took place at the Kay County Courthouse before the parade.  Jayden Miller, sponsored by Newkirk Elementary School, was crowned prince, and Ellie Mae Evans, sponsored by Peckham School and Bootleg Hill Firearms, was selected princess.

The Chamber would like to announce that we were able to write a check for $331.34 to Newkirk Women's League to help support their Angel Tree Project. The money was collected (and matched by the Chamber) by voting for your favorite elf and Mary Austin helped us raise the most money. We also appreciate our other elves, Scott Kempenich, Adam Longcrier, Ryan Smykil, and Serena Jones who helped make this such a success.

The Newkirk Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet on Monday, January 20, 2020 at the Newkirk Senior Center. The highlight of the evening was honoring our Business Persons of the Year, John & Pam Miller, owners of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service and Citizen of the Year, Tom Rigdon. Although Pamela Stahl moved to Newkirk in July of 1951 when her parents William H. “Bill” and Evelyn Stahl purchased the Hill Funeral Home and Ambulance Service and started Stahl Funeral Home, she and John Miller were both teachers for Waukomis Public Schools when they met. He taught special education and she taught band and music. They were married and then it wasn't long before they went back to college at what was Central State University in Edmond for John to get his degree in mortuary science with certification as embalmer, funeral director, and eye enucleator. Pamela has always said that they got into this business because she let her husband hang out with her father too much. They moved to Newkirk in 1977 and worked with Bill and Evelyn until Bill passed away in 1981 at which time John and Pamela purchased the business as Miller-Stahl Funeral Service and carried on the family business which has served the people of Newkirk for 68 ½ years.

They have both been very active in their church and also served and supported Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce, with John being past president of both organizations. John has also helped a great many in the community with their computer problems. Pamela has also in previous years shared her love and appreciation of music by giving vocal, flute, and piano lessons to many in the community. They have sacrificed family time, holidays, and vacations in order to be able to serve their community with great care and compassion at a time when it is most needed. Over the years they have always considered it a privilege to serve their community.  

Tom Rigdon was honored as the Citizen of the Year, but was unable to attend due to ill health. Tom has been the quiet force for the Newkirk Community for many decades serving as a public servant. He had been the City Attorney from November 1, 1975 until June 15, 2018. He kept the management and governing board for the City of Newkirk on the correct legal path and was always there for advice no matter how small or big the matter at hand. The only compensation he ever received was his monthly retainer and he did more work than that small retainer covered for all those years. Another part Tom has played is being a Trustee for many estates - just a few notables are the Glenn and Madalynne Peel Estates, Horner Estate, Doug and Sandra Cline estates - from these estates there have been many donations to public improvements. A few of these are the Newkirk Public Library building, equipment and programs, Newkirk Senior Citizens Building, playground equipment for the Park, the Newkirk Fitness Path and the Story Walk Project. This is just to name a few there are many, many more over the years. 

He has also provided legal advice to many civic groups in the Community - two being the Newkirk Takedown Club and Newkirk Youth Program - there are others - at no expense to keep these programs going for the youth who will eventually be future leaders of Newkirk.  The Newkirk Community has and is very important to Tom. He has made valuable contributions to the community to improve it for all the citizens - young to old.

​President, Debbie Leaming gave a report on what the Chamber had accomplished during the past year and the focus and vision for 2020.  Carrie Grace of Stagecoach BBQ catered the event with heavy hors d'oeuvres.  There was also a Silent Auction.