Cheryl Borthick
Kernville Chamber of Commerce President

This week features part two of “A Celebration of Accomplishments,” a message by Kernville Chamber President, Cheryl Borthick.

The ball field was dedicated three years ago and Little League has completed their second year of sanctioned play here in Kernville at Randall Field. After the biggest Whiskey Flat Days in history in 2008 and the largest mayor race, Louisville Lisa and Outlaw Jerry James set a new record and we gave Little League over $13,000.00 to help with their organization. In fact, in the past three years approx. $30,000 has been given by the chamber to many worthwhile organizations in the valley, including the Hospital Foundation & Auxiliary, the Skilled Nursing Unit, Little League, the Kern Valley Cemetery, Youth Football, the Kern Valley Youth Center, the Lake Isabella Blvd project, Rotary Scholarship Fund, South Fork Woman’s Club, and many others. This is only from the Mayor Race of Whiskey Flat Days. In addition, we have as a chamber supported with donations The Heritage Foundation for the Bob Powers Gateway project in Lake Isabella, Silver City Ghost Town monument, the KV Fish Hatchery, Chuck Barbee’s screening at the Reel Cinema of his project “Wild West Country,” the Cowboy and Indian encampment, FFA, Camp Owen, the Kern River Valley Chamber Fireworks Fund, the Oddfellows Hall and a newly instituted scholarship fund by hosting the Denny Knight Memorial Roping at the John McNally Rodeo Grounds. We gave four scholarships amounting to $3200.00 to special ed, NASA and wrestling students. This will be an annual event held in early spring.

Living Green is another project we were involved in from the early planning stages. We were one of the first organizations to support this worthy event with a sponsorship donation including use of the community building and lost of printing. We also had a booth at the event. Thank you Richard Rowe for bringing us the living green event. This was a partnership with KRVR of which I am a board member and I present the Kernville chamber news each month.

Over the last three years, more than $20,000.00 has been donated to the chamber. $7,500.00 was donated to help us promote our Western Heritage and continue to improve the John McNally Rodeo Grounds. We honored such dignitaries in the valley such as Johnny McNally’s birthday party, Gene Nelson, longtime Kern Valley airport manager, Tom Johnson’s celebration into the White Water Hall of Fame, Helen Witt’s book signing event, the Oddfellows 140th anniversary of service to the Kern Valley. Also honored in the past 3 years have been several pioneer or long time families‚ the Malones, Rossbacks, Rankins, and Goblers. Upcoming on June 28, will be John Nicholl’s 99th birthday party to be held at the Odd fellows hall. We’ve replaced the Mel’s watering Hole sign that honored Mel Crowder who worked hard in the beginning of the grounds being established in Kernville. A new Chuck Wagon, the Food Booth named Denny’s Dog Shack and a new ice machine should help the Rodeo in October be a great event.

We’ve trimmed trees in the median of Kernville Rd. and secured a porta-potty for the Circle Park merchants. We have put a new roof on the community building, purchased wireless microphones to help not only the Outlaws but any of us that need to speak up. We are looking at purchasing a lectern and screen for the community room. We are in the process of upgrading the internet connection in the office with the help of OJ Atchison and looking to overhaul our website. At this time the Kernville Chamber is fiscally sound, with the help of Tina Jost, of Alta One and who also has served on the Chamber board. We are able to look to finishing projects like up grading the heating and cooling system in the community building, the Riverwalk and Gazebo.

The Gazebo project which was officially started last Sept. has received more than $7,500. Folks giving $100 or more will have their name inscribed on a plaque to be placed on the gazebo. The plans have been drawn and also engineered and are ready to be taken to the building dept. We will know more on the progress of the project from the county on June 17th, at a Town Hall Meeting at the Oddfellows Hall.

We have attended countless meetings in your behalf representing you the chamber member to the best of our ability. None of these accomplishments could have been done with out our vast volunteer army. Starting with our youngest member‚ sponsored by Cheryl’s Diner, Trenton Jewett, to our honored volunteers, Smitty Glass and Jane Smith. And the list wouldn’t be complete unless we mentioned Lyle Walker.

Thank you to the board who have always been so positive and supportive in all the events, whatever Jeanette or I could talk you into.

Now, I’d like to thank my family and especially my husband, Lanny, who always came to my rescue doing everything I asked for the chamber. He was always a willing ear and had much advice. Three years has gone by quickly when you are looking back, why, I’ve become a great-grandmother.

Once again, I thank you all for the privilege and honor of being your chamber president for the last three years.