Welcome new Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce member Monroe Primary Care of Bloomfield.

They are offer primary care services for individuals and families. Walk-ins are welcome and appointments are available.

The office is staffed by Dr. Chester Jastremski, Pam Johnson NP, Nicholl Luse, Michelle Coker, Rachael Gennicks and Cheri Cox. It is located at 708 W. Main in Bloomfield, next to Subway. The office hours are Monday-Friday from 8 am - 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment call 384-3588.

A joint ribbon cutting between the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce and the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce was conducted on Tuesday.

* The Chamber's August meeting will be at the Phil Harris Golf Course on Aug. 19. Lunch begins at noon. Our speaker for August will be U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth.

Rep. Ellsworth will bring us an update on items of concern to our business members. Like last year, following Rep. Ellsworth's update, the floor will be open for questions from the audience.

Lunch is $8 per person. We will again have a "celebrity cook" for this meeting. Democrat Chairperson Jeff Lehman will be at the grill cooking for our members and guests.

This was a very popular meeting in 2008. Plan on spending the afternoon at the golf course. Phil Harris members can play 18 holes of golf for $12 (including cart) and non-members can play for $20. This is open to the public.

If you plan to attend this meeting, please notify the Chamber office so we can insure we have plenty of seats and food.

* The first Fall Festival and Chili Cook Off is scheduled for Oct. 10 in downtown Linton. If you are interested in participating in the chili cook off, please stop by the Chamber office and pick up an entry form.

We welcome civic organizations, businesses and individuals to participate in this contest.

We will also be conducting a "Linton's Got Talent" contest at this year's Fall Festival. If you are interested in participating in this event, these registration forms can also be picked up at the Chamber office.

There will be a preliminary competition for the Talent Contest to be followed by the Final Competition later in the afternoon. The talent contest is open to individuals and or groups and is not limited to a musical act.

Also planned for the Fall Festival will be a pumpkin decorating contest.

Carve your pumpkin or just decorate it ... we welcome all pumpkins! Check in for this event will be at the Main Stage at 11 am with the winners announced at noon.

Arts and Craft booths will be set up on 1st Street SW near the Linton Public Library. Booths are scheduled to be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watch as additional details for the day's events are released.

* The Chamber's fall fish fry is scheduled for Oct. 15 at the Roy Clark building. In addition to the fish, the menu will include baked beans, slaw, drinks, and homemade desserts.

Tickets for this event will be available beginning September.

* The Better Business Bureau recently published the following scam: Ace Employment Services, Mystery Shopping, and Paid Surveys of Dayton, Ohio sent an Indianapolis consumer a check for $2,700. The consumer contacted the company to see what it was for. The company representative told her she was selected to do some mystery shopping for their company, and she would get paid. She was instructed to deposit the check into her own personal account, then visit a Western Union and wire $2,100 to an individual in Canada. When the consumer asked the purpose of doing this, the company told her it was to evaluate the efficiency of Western Union's service. Problem? These checks are typically fraudulent checks that are written on stolen bank account information. The person who cashes the check winds up paying back every penny and then some in most cases. This scheme continues to be the No. 1 call the BBB receives.

If you, or someone you know, receive a check offering a work-at-home business opportunity, a prize with a check to pay for processing fees, up front taxes, etc., immediately contact the United States Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455.