Patrick Wellington, the new manager of the Calhoun City Sonic still under construction, told the chamber of commerce last week they are still on schedule to open Aug. 23.
“The outside work has slowed down because of the weather, but the interior appliances are going in this week and will then be ready. Hopefully the weather breaks and we stay on track outside as well,” he said.
This Sonic will be different from Bruce and the old ‘City Sonic in that it will also have a drive-thru window.
“I heard several in the community say that at the old Sonic all the parking places would fill up and people would just hang out visiting,” Wellington said. “The drive-thru will eliminate any problems like that.”
Wellington said they’ve hired a little more than half of the more than 50 total employees they want. Those employees are going through training at Tupelo area Sonics.
“We still need more employees,” he said. “We think we’ll start getting a lot more applicants when we get closer to finishing construction.”
He stressed to the chamber that Sonic will be participating in several fundraiser projects for the community and details will be forthcoming soon for ways that school teachers can get room equipment and supplies.
Wellington, a native of Alabama, has moved to the Big Creek area with his wife and three children.
“We’ve been impressed with the community and my family has been made a part of the Big Creek family,” he said.
In other news from the chamber, Barbara Fox supplied handouts emphasizing requirements for local recycling around the county.
Items collected in the plainly marked bins in each town include loose newspapers and inserts, mixed paper (junk mail, magazines, etc.), steel cans and plastic (only #1 and #2 plastics), aluminum cans, and cardboard in some places.
Angie Newlin invited everyone to attend the 230th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution program scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. at the courthouse in Pittsboro.
Judge Jimmy Maxwell will be the featured speaker at the envent.
Jarrod Davis, of Davis Insurance, was presented the quarterly award of top chamber member.
Nida Pittman was elected to the treasurer position for the Chamber. Rexanne Collins was appointed to the Promotional committee.
Pres. Laura Edwards reminded everyone that the WIN Job center is now open at Pittsboro with Nellie Pratt as director. Members were urged to let her assist you with employment needs.
Canned food items were collected for the local food drive being conducted by Kindred at Home. Collection bags will be in several businesses if anyone would like to bring non-perishable items to be donated to the Calhoun County Baptist Food Pantry. They will be collecting the entire month of August.