DUNCAN — When the Duncan Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its first community breakfast of the 2010-11 season Thursday, the number of people in attendance exceeded what the Chamber had seen in previous months and years.

The increase in the number of people helped to fill most of the tables at the Simmons Center. Susan Camp, chairwoman of the Chamber Board, said she was surprised by how many new faces she was seeing at the breakfast.

And Camp wasn’t the only person to note the rise in attendance. Chamber President Debra Burch referred to the breakfast as a “full house.” Hal Labyer with IBC Bank, which sponsored the breakfast, also talked about the growth in attendance.

“I think this is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had,” Labyer said.

The purpose of the breakfast is to inform the community about what’s happening in the community, and to educate people about the Chamber and what it does.

Many upcoming events were discussed during the hour-long meeting. The events mentioned include:

— The Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the ninth annual Heroes Luncheon, which will recognize people serving or who have served in the armed forces, police departments, fire departments and medical services.

The luncheon will be free for people who have served in these capacities. The event will be at noon Friday, Sept. 10, in the Simmons Center.

The Duncan High School Reflections Show Choir will perform, and Cindy Brotus will be the guest speaker.

— Jessika Davis with the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation said DAEDF is working on two projects. One is putting together a database on duncancommercialproperties.com, where the organization hopes to get community participation.

The other project has DAEDF compiling a list of rental properties in Duncan, which could be used for job fairs and similar ways to bring people and businesses to Duncan.

— The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center will have its annual Western Spirit Celebration Sept. 18-19. The event will begin with a cattle drive Sept. 17, heading from Bray. The drive should arrive in Duncan Sept. 18.

On Sept. 19, the day will include a chuck wagon breakfast and Cowboy Church.

— The Duncan High School will have its Win-Win Week from Sept. 13 to Sept. 17. The week extends from a joining of forces of OSSAA and the Oklahoma Health Institute in Norman.

Dhea Hudson, DHS cheer coach and teacher, said she initially selected about 50 student leaders in the school to work on the project. But interest has spread throughout the student body.

Hudson said she wants the students and the community to spend the week in pink. The DHS game against Carl Albert will be a pink out game.

The objective of the project is to raise money for the Oklahoma Cancer Institute. Hudson said the institute would mean people would be able to stay in state instead of having to go to Houston, Texas.

“You all should be proud that you have all these students who want to help,” Hudson said.

— Gail Loafman of the Foreman Prairie House talked about Vintage Days, which will be Sept. 26. The third annual event will once again will feature a doll show.

“I don’t think there’s another doll show in Oklahoma,” Loafman said.

— The Chisholm Trail Book Festival is slated for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18, in the Simmons Center. The free event will have about 50 authors.

— The Chisholm Trail Arts Council has two upcoming projects. The first is the beginning of its CTAC concert series, which will feature Acoustically Speaking on Sept. 18.

The other thing the Arts Council has coming up is the grand opening of the Community Fine Arts Council, which is slated for Sept. 21. The season will begin with painting basics. Other activities will include Mommy and Me Painting class on Fridays and Fun with Paint.



— Derrick Miller is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 160, or via e-mail at derrick.miller@duncanbanner.com.