CastingKids Comes to the Hatchie Fall Fest

New to this year's Hatchie Fall Fest is a CastingKids competition. Those who are familiar with the world of fishing know about CastingKids. It's an event where kids ages 7-14 flip, pitch and cast a hookless lure to a bull's-eye target. Scoring is based on a points system and the angler with the most points wins.

The Bassmaster CastingKids program is the most successful youth fishing program in the world, according to the ESPN website. Kids have been awarded more than $3 million in awards, prizes and scholarship resulting from the competition.

The event will be sponsored by the Haywood County Jr. BASS Club. Two winners, one in each age group (7-10 years of age and 11-14 years of age), will move on to the state competition.

This will be a great opportunity for future angler and just plain fun; and hopefully become an annual event at our festival.

Hatchie Fall Fest T-shirt Now Available

You can now pre-order your 2008 Hatchie Fall Fest t-shirt online.

This year's shirts feature the winning t-shirt design on the front left chest area and a specially-designed graphic on the back that follows the guitar theme of the winning design. We've also incorporated some paw prints as tribute to the Haywood County Tomcats.

This is the 5th annual festival and I hope you will make plans to attend on October 18. Check out the complete Schedule of Events.

Hatchie Fall Fest Full of Firsts

We're in the home stretch. A little more than a month and the 5th Annual Hatchie Fall Fest will be history. I'm amazed at how quickly our little festival has grown. The first year we estimated a few hundred attended. Last year our estimation reached about 5,000. And not only grown in attendance, but in activities, too.

This year we are adding several new features that we hope will become festival favorites. The Tennessee Trash Car Show joins the line-up this year making the festival a two-day event and includes a Cruise-In on Saturday night.

A Motorcycle Card Run and Community Breakfast are also planned (more on these next week). We've also added some vendor awards that will be presented to those participating in the festival. Several categories are planned including "Best of the Fest," to be presented to the vendor who really stands out.

Donnie Hatcher's Autoplex will be giving away a big screen TV during Mickey Utley's performance Saturday evening. You can register all day at the Hatcher booth, where the TV will be on display, and then be present to win that night.

We also conducted our first t-shirt design contest this year. So you see, the 2008 Hatchie Fall Fest is full of firsts. But we haven't forgotten your favorites and promise lots of children's activities, live music all day and a family-friendly atmosphere. And as always, admission is FREE. October 18 is the day ... mark the calendar now!

Deciding on a New Director of Schools

Whether you have children in our school system or not, the next Director of Schools is a hot topic. And all the more reason for all of us to attend the upcoming Community Forum on the subject. The Tennessee School Boards Association is hosting the forum Tuesday, August 19, at the Ann Marks Performing Arts Center. It begins at 6:30 p.m.

This is the time to say what we are looking for in a director and also to voice opinion on the system in general. You're going to agree with some things said, and disagree with others. Regardless, let's go in with open minds and plan to speak our peace.

If we can't effectively communicate our feelings and desires for our schools, why would we expect things to get better ... or different?

Those TSBA folks aren't mind readers, ya know.

2008 Days of Action

United Way of West Tennessee is looking for volunteers to participate in the "2008 Days of Action." Essentially, this is an effort to improve lives in our community, and across West Tennessee. The event is planned for August 10-17.

United Way is asking groups and individuals to perform a task or project in our own community. It's a lot like Make a Difference Day that happens in October. The hope is that the organized effort will have a ripple effect and that the common good of our community will benefit. The projects can be just about anything that benefits individuals or the community as a whole.

United Way is also looking for ideas for projects. So even if you have no idea what to do but want to help, contact United Way and they will hook you up with a project that you can give an hour, a day, or as much time as you can spare. Contact our United Way rep. Jennifer Wood at 731-422-1816 or download a Days of Action registration form.

Then, tell us about your project/idea.

Vacant lot purchase shows forward thinking of County/City

I want to congratulate the County Commission on its recent vote to help purchase the vacant lot on the square. I think this is very forward thinking of the group and is the beginning of what I believe will be the center point for downtown renovations and revitalization. The joint purchase shows our local governments are listening to the businesses and citizens who would like to see our downtown thrive and grow.

Creating an attractive, usable space on the court square will, in my opinion, help to bring people back to the square. I can't help but think of all the many photos I've seen of the hustle and bustle that used to be downtown Brownsville. It wasn't that long ago and I believe we can have that again.

Throughout the phases of development, community involvement will be vital. The governments are doing their parts. As we learn more about this project and phases are developed, I hope you will choose to get involved. This is but one of many positive changes happening in our town, and it's going to take all of us -- working together ... making it happen!

"Staycations" can be fun, too

Steve and I took a little road trip this past week. Originally we had planned to travel down Route 66. Start in St. Louis and head towards Oklahoma City. Just see how far we could get in our short time off. I was looking forward to seeing all the old tourist attractions and catching a drive-in movie. (Yes, one still exists along Route 66 in rural Missouri.)

But we were scared by the weather. Flooding and the threat of more rain kept us from taking that particular route. So, we enjoyed a “staycation.” No doubt you’ve heard the expression lately. It’s the new word for what families are doing this summer with gas prices so high — spending vacation close to home or at home. We stayed close and took mostly day trips with one overnight adventure thrown in.

Our one criteria for traveling is to always take the back roads. We are not much for interstate travel. Most times it’s not the destination, as much as getting there that we enjoy so much — finding the less traveled route and enjoying the scenery along the way. I drive Steve crazy with a little habit I have of critiquing every town that we come to. Comparing it to Brownsville and talking about the things that we can do to make our town more inviting. You’d be amazed at the communities who are the size of Stanton, or smaller, who go all out to make their towns stand out.

What stood out more than anything this trip were the towns who have added street banners to their light poles. Some stated a plain “Welcome,” while others were simply a friendly design. Nothing elaborate, but definitely noticeable and impressive. And something that I know the Brownsville Business Association is working on for Brownsville. As Martha Stewart would say “That’s a good thing.” And just in case you might be interested in sponsoring one of the banners, please call, 780-5144, or e-mail me for more details.

The point is this. You do not have to travel far to find interesting things to do and see. As a matter of fact, you don’t have to travel at all. We have 3 museums (College Hill, Dunbar-Carver and Delta Heritage Center) and the Hatchie Wildlife Refuge that can keep you entertained for quite some time. Plus scores of other things. If you’re planning a “staycation,” be sure and check out the local attractions.