SHELBY - Staff members scouted for extra chairs Tuesday at the Cleveland County Chamber Board's monthly meeting, where enthusiasm and anticipation supplanted the often mundane mood.Board Chair Steve Padgett's invocation acknowledged, "Things are not as good as they could be in Cleveland County" but something in the atmosphere seemed to dismiss that notion.Members basked in the success and estimated $4 million cash infusion from back-to-back American Legion baseball tournaments, learned that more than 20 business prospects are currently being courted and wholeheartedly endorsed the recent clarification of the roles and interaction of the Chamber and Cleveland 20/20 Economic Development Partnership."We've worked hard to clarify what had been the rubbing points," 20/20 Chair John Young explained to new Chamber President Michael Chrisawn, attending his first board meeting."We're one of two successful relationships in the region with the Chamber and economic development working hand in hand," Young said.Financially, the Chamber is "still looking at a tight year," treasurer Shannon Kennedy reported, but the crunch is easing, boosted in the last month by the transfer of more than $32,000 from the 20/20 coffers. ...
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