New officers elected for Main Street group

New officers were elected at the recent Main Street Thermopolis meeting.

Suzanne Samelson will continue as the group’s president with help from John Dorman, Jr. as vice president, Shurie Scheel as secretary and MeriAnn Rush as the group’s treasurer.

Things are moving along with the rehabilitation of the property at 518 Arapahoe, the former Fair Deal Furniture building and it’s adjoining two storefronts.

Rush reported that two people had stepped up and paid the back taxes on the building, paving the way for negotiation with interested parties. Now that the taxes have been brought up to date, a buyer could be eligible to have the title to the building by 2019.

Main Street intends to continue with clean-up of the property in anticipation of a possible sale.

There are some awards coming up with Main Street Wyoming, the base organization for Main Street Thermopolis, that the group is planning on entering.

Holly Thomas, Dorman and Howie Samelson were selected as a committee to fill out the paperwork for the awards, which include an innovation award, display award and leadership award.

The basis of the innovation award is for a successful, sustainable initiative that uses a new approach to downtown revitalization challenges or opportunities.

The display award is for a business or building owner that has an outstanding, creative display that enhances their business and celebrates the season or an event.

Finally, the leadership award will go to an individual who has made significant, lasting contributions to a Wyoming Main Street Community. Someone who has inspired others through their leadership and been a positive role model for the Main Street ideals and who has shared their knowledge and skills with the Main Street program.

The committee will make the determination on who they believe fit the bill with each of the awards before sending them in for consideration by Aug. 18.

Main Street Thermopolis had applied for a technical assistance grant through the state office of Main Street to create a brochure explaining what the Main Street program is, the benefits of joining and what it can mean to the community as a whole.

Main Street Wyoming liked the concept so much they ran with the idea. They have created a generic brochure that all the local Main Street groups can use and because it had been Main Street Thermopolis’ idea, created a Thermopolis specific insert for free that can be distributed locally.