David G. Wonders, Texas’ Magic Ambassador, managed to keep the kids enthralled with his feats of magic and his super balloon artistry.

Bronze Sponsors:• Atmos Energy• The Clarksdale Press Register• First National Bank• Aaron Henry Community Health Center• Roosevelt & Peggy Howard• Planters Bank & Trust• True Value Building Materials

Gold Sponsors:• Clarksdale Public Utilities• City of Clarksdale• Isle of Capri Casino• Kansas City Power & Light• MAP of Easton, Inc.• SafTCart

Silver Sponsors:• Entergy• RC Cola

inside...

More Scenes from Jubilee Page 2Industrial Foundation Update Page 3Industrial Park Gets a Facelift Page 3Youth Leaders Graduate Page 3Dates to Remember Page 4Upcoming Festivals Page 5

D

Platinum Sponsor: Merit Health Northwest Mississippi

Sponsors for this year’s festival included the following:

The big board on the grounds recognized and saluted all of our generous sponsors for the various events. Thanks to all of you!

elta Jubilee 2017 m a r k e d t h e

34th anniversary for the event. Miller Spectacular Shows kicked off this year’s festival 3 nights in advance, with family nights at the carnival, followed by a full day of enjoyment. A host of activities provided fun op-portunities for the entire family, including a 5K run/walk, volleyball, children’s fishing rodeo, petting zoo/pony rides, basketball shootout, kids’ firefighter challenge, Delta Idol com-petition, and more. New events this year includ-ed kids’ bouncy games, a cornhole competition, and a dance competi-tion. Ideas for other family-oriented events are always being sought to keep this family event fun and exciting for all. We would like to give much-deserved credit and thanks to our dozens of volunteers and sponsors. Without the continued support and hard work of these volunteers and

A Publication of the Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce & Industrial Foundation

July - September 2017

Jubilee Takes On a New Look

sponsors each year, this effort would not even be possible. We encourage more members of the community, Chamber members, boards of directors, and civic organizations to become involved.

On Target

5K RunMen’s Overall: L. C. GrantWomen’s Overall: Sarah Crisler-Ruskey

Children’s Fishing RodeoFirst Fish Caught: Devonta ThorntonSmallest Fish Caught: Ryder Smith Largest Fish Caught (Girl): Samaritan ColdwellLargest Fish Caught (Boy): Kaden WilliamsMost Fish Caught: Dewayne Earl, Devonta Thornton, and Tyler Washington

Cornhole Competition1st Place: Jeremy & Aleigha Hankins2nd Place: Kim Moore & Beth Foster

Volleyball Competition1st Place: Payton’s Posse (Helena, AR)2nd Place: Clarksdale Fire Department

Delta Jubilee 2017Contest Winners

5K Run Sponsors:• Comprehensive Insurance Services (Teresa Hays)• Merkel & Cocke• Ed Peacock, III• Snap Fitness

Petting Zoo/Pony Rides Sponsor:• Phelps Security Systems, Inc.

The cornhole tournament was an exciting addition to the festivities at this year’s event.

Friends of Delta Jubilee:• Abe’s BBQ• Advanced Mosquito Control• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.• Cook’s Roofing• Emily Cooper• Cooper-Pang Eye Clinic• Delta Regional Authority• Heaton Pecans• Moore Paper & Janitorial• Hattie Shivers• Stone Pony Pizza• Temperature Control

Children’s Fishing Rodeo Sponsors:• Pride of the Pond• Hartley’s Greenhead Outdoors• Coahoma County Youth Outreach

Page 2

Approximately 70 young fishermen (women) took to the Expo pond to try their hand at snagging the big one. The kids managed to wrangle in many catfish, both small and large.

Other Sponsors (cont.)

Don’t trusteverything

you see. Even salt looks

like sugar at first.

THANK YOU!

Arts and crafts vendors provided shoppers with unique wares to purchase.

The carnival provided all sorts of fun rides and games for kids (and adults) of all ages to take part in.

Many young people showcased their skills in the basketball shootout competitions.

Two-year-old Ryder Smith snagged the prize for the smallest fish caught in the children’s fishing rodeo.

Industrial Report

On Target

Forget themistake.

Rememberthe lesson.

Page 3

The Chamber of Commerce is always seeking businesses to host Business After Hours events for fellow Chamber members. If you are interested in hosting such an event, please let us know. Call 627-7337 to schedule a date.

Support for Youth Leaders

Spotlighton

Leonard Pharr Industrial Park

CLARKSDALE

YO UTH LEADERSHIP

The 2017 Class of Youth Leadership Clarksdale (YLC) of 24 students recently graduated. YLC works with high school sophomores and juniors from all four local high schools. Each of the participants is required to give a minimum of 30 hours of community service prior to graduation. The program is provided at no cost to the students and is pos-sible only through donations from local businesses, civic organizations, and individuals. Donations are already being accepted for next year’s class, which begins in the fall. Applications will be available once the school year begins. If you would like to support this worthwhile program, you may send any contribution to Youth Leadership Clarksdale • P. O. Box 160 • Clarksdale. For more information, please contact Tana Vassel at the Chamber at 627-7337. All help is appreciated!

T he Delta Wire Building is owned by the City of Clarksdale. Delta Wire began operation in the building in 1978 and operated under the able guidance of George Walker producing a world class product that was recognized for excellence by numerous awards from Goodyear Tire, J.D. Power, Malcolm Baldridge, and many more. Delta Wire manufactured bead wire for all sorts of tires. Delta Wire operated with as many as 120 employees until it was sold to Bekaert North America in 2006. Bekaert permanently closed the operation in 2009. The Economic Development Authority of Coahoma County recently contracted with PPM Consultants, Inc. of Monroe, LA to survey the facility. The purpose was to determine if asbestos-containing material was present within the interior of the facility. Out of 27 samples of suspected material collected,asbestos was detected in only one sample outside the building near the exhaust system. The roof of the building was not sampled because it was unsafe for the inspector to go onto the roof. It will be treated as presumed to contain asbestos until samples can be taken. The availability of the report will allow the City of Clarksdale to file the proper forms with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in order to demolish or renovate portions of the building for any potential industrial prospects. “While the building is in poor condition cosmetically, it still can prove to be a valuable asset for industrial recruitment,” said Ron Hudson, Executive Director of the Economic Development Authority. The City recently filed a permit to remove debris from previous demolition and general cleanup.

T h e L e o n a r d Pharr Industrial Park has recently gained a beautiful new entrance sign, thanks to the ef-forts of Industrial Foundation board m e m b e r a n d SafTCart owner Jimmy Walker, Sr. Walker had long envisioned some-thing nicer and more up-to-date at the entrance to the community’s old-er industrial park and approached the Chamber/IF staff about having something done. Local artist Roosevelt Wallace got right to work in producing the piece. After weeks of hard work, the sign was debuted at the entrance on Hwy. 322. It really gives a good impression upon entering the park. We are proud of these local companies and others throughout our community who are working every day to make a difference right here at home!

If you have recently renewed your membership but have not received your current membership sticker, please let us know. Duplicates are not sent to multiple employees of any organization unless there are multiple offices.

LABOR DAY

Sunflower River Blues & Gospel FestivalBlues Alley District

Cat Head Mini Blues Fest II

On Target

Dates to RememberJuly

INDEPENDENCE DAY4

Page 4

Pinetop Perkins Day/Cat Head Mini Blues Fest

Deep Blues Festival

MS Delta Tennessee Williams FestivalVarious Locations Around Town

Chamber/I. F. Annual Banquet

Hambone Festival (downtown Clarksdale)

HALLOWEEN

October8

12 - 15

13 - 14

TBA

26 - 29

31

August11 - 13

13

P. O. Box 160Clarksdale, MS 38614662.627.7337www.clarksdale-ms.com

September 4

Chamber & Industrial Foundation Staff

Ron HudsonExecutive Director

Cecily AllenAdministrative Assistant

Tana Pittman VasselEconomic Dev. Director

Summer is here!

If you have an event that you would like to have listed on our calendar of events, please contact us at least 2 weeks in advance of publication. On Target is published quarterly. Next publication date is October 2017.

Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival

Page 5

Thursday, August 10, 2017 - Grits, Greens & Barbecue6:00 – 6:45 p.m. Sean “Bad” Apple7:00 – 7:45 p.m. Richard “Daddy Rich” Crisman8:00 – 8:45 p.m. Marshall Drew Friday, August 11, 2017 - MAIN STAGE6:00 – 6:45 p.m. Delta Blues Museum Band7:00 – 7:45 p.m. Hudson Davis8:00 - 8:45 p.m. Heather Cross: Heavy Suga & the SweeTones9:00 – 10:00 p.m. James “Super Chikan” Johnson10:15 – 11:15 p.m. Nathaniel Kimble11:30 – 12:45 p.m. OB Buchana Saturday, August 12, 2017 ACOUSTIC STAGE #1 - UNDER VIP TENT12:00 – 12:45 p.m. Pat Thomas1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Lightnin’ Malcolm2:00 – 2:4 5p.m. Jimmy “Duck” Holmes3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Lucious Spiller4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Sharde Thomas & Rising Star Fife & Drum Band ACOUSTIC STAGE #2 - LEVON’S2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Deak Harp & Lee Williams3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Kenny Brown4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Terry “Harmonica” Bean ACOUSTIC STAGE #3 - CROSSROADS CULTURAL CENTER2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Bill “Howlin Madd” Perry3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Hudson Davis4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Robert Eskew ACOUSTIC STAGE #4 - STONE PONY2:00 - 2:45 p.m. Bill Abel3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Gramm Phillips4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Watermelon Slim ACOUSTIC STAGE #5 - HATTIE JEAN’S2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Leo “Bud” Welch3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Little Willie Farmer4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Louis Gearshift Youngblood ACOUSTIC STAGE #6 - HAMBONE GALLERY2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Stan Street & Guest3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Cadillac John Bill Abel4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Mark “Muleman” Massey MAIN STAGE - DELTA BLUES MUSEUM5:00 – 5:50 p.m. David Dunavent & The Evol Love Band6:05 – 6:55 p.m, Anthony “Big A” Sherrod Band7:10 – 8:00 p.m. Terry “Big T” Williams & The Family Band8:00 - 8:15 p.m. Awards8:15 – 9:00 p.m. Joshua “Razor Blade” Stewart9:15 – 10:15 p.m. Big George Brock10:30– 11:45 p.m. Charlie Musselwhite Sunday, August 13, 2017GOSPEL STAGE - COMING SOON

The Sunflower River Blues Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To keep the Festival free/open to the public, send your tax-deductible donations to:

Sunflower River Blues AssociationP. O. Box 1562

Clarksdale, MS 38614

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Mark your calendars now for the 12th Annual Hambone Festival October 27 - 29. The event will provide lots of local music and southern hospitality. This one-day event will last all weekend, celebrating the birthday of local blues artist Stan Street, owner of Hambone Gallery. Good music, good people, and a great location in downtown Clarksdale will make this festival extra special. For more information on the event, visit hambonefestival.com or e-mail stanwstreet@bellsouth.net.

Hambone FestivalTaking Place in Fall

Festival, formerly King Biscuit. The event is free and open to the public and will be held in front of Cat Head, 252 Delta Ave., Clarksdale. Visit www.cathead.biz for information.

Cat Head Mini Blues Fest will be held on Sunday, October 8, following Arkansas Blues & Heritage