C r e a t ive E n t e r t a i n m e n t provided plenty of inflatable games and activities to keep the children thoroughly entertained and exhausted.

Silver Sponsors:• RC Cola• Entergy

Bronze Sponsors:• Atmos Energy• Coahoma Community College• First National Bank• Phelps Security Systems, Inc.• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.• True Value Building Materials

BBQ Competition Sponsor:• Isle of Capri Casino Lula

Gold Sponsors:• Clarksdale Public Utilities• City of Clarksdale• The Clarksdale Press Register• Kansas City Power & Light• MAP of Easton, Inc.• SafTCart• Hugh Jack Stubbs

inside...

More Scenes from Jubilee Page 2Industrial Foundation Update Page 3Take Advantage of Your Membership Page 3Dates to Remember Page 4MS Delta TN Williams Festival All Set Page 5Festivals, Festivals, Festivals Page 6

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 2016 m a r k e d t h e

33rd anniversary for the event. Miller Spectacular Shows kicked off this year’s festival two nights in advance, with Family Nights at the carnival, followed by two days of music and enjoyment. A host of activities provided fun opportunities for the entire family, including a gospel concert, 5K run and walk, volleyball, horseshoe pitching, children’s fishing rodeo, pet show, basket-ball shootout, live musical entertainment, Delta Idol competition, MBN BBQ competition, and more. New events this year in-cluded kids’ bouncy games and a kids’ firefighter challenge course. 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

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

July - September 2016

Another Jubilee for the Books

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

On Target

5K RunMen’s Overall: L. C. GrantWomen’s Overall: Sarah Crisler-RuskeyChildren’s 1-Mile Fun Run: Emma Ruskey

Children’s Fishing RodeoLargest Fish (girl): Adrianna Tribble (3.12 lbs.)Largest Fish (boy): Rodell Burnside (4.7 lbs.)First Fish Caught: Jemauri Calvin Most Fish Caught: Will Rybolt (7)Smallest Fish Caught: Gemma Pitts (1 oz.)

Memphis Barbecue Network BBQ CompetitionMBN Grand Champion: Phat Chance (Marion, AR)Patio Grand Champion: Rolling Bones (Rosedale, MS)1st Place - MBN Pulled Pork: Phat Chance1st Place - MBN Ribs: Phat Chance1st Place - Patio Pulled Pork: Rolling Bones1st Place - Patio Ribs: The Butt Stops Here (Clarksdale)1st Place - MBN Whole Hog: Pellet Porkers1st Place - Sauce: Phat Chance1st Place - Baked Beans: Lord of the Swine (Marion, AR)

Delta Jubilee 2016Contest Winners5K Run Sponsors:

• Comprehensive Insurance Services (Teresa Hays)• Merkel & Cocke• Ed Peacock, III• Snap Fitness

Volleyball Sponsors:• Freeman Earth Moving• Coors Light

Car Show Sponsor:• Randy Arnett Jewelers

Children’s Games Sponsors:• Phelps Security Systems, Inc.• Planters Bank & Trust

Much thanks goes to the MS Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks for their assistance in the fishing rodeo. Win-ners received fishing rods, certificates, and other goodies

Friends of Delta Jubilee:• Abe’s BBQ• Emily Cooper• Cooper-Pang Eye Clinic• Daylight Donuts• Ellendale Planting Co.• Ranchero• Sonic• Otis & Yvonne Stanford• Temperature Control• Westgate Drugs

Children’s Fishing Rodeo Sponsors:• Hartley’s Greenhead Outdoors• MS Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks• Coahoma County Youth Outreach

Page 2

Approximately 60 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.)

L. C. Grant crosses the finish line in stride in the 5K run. He has been an annual winner for some time now.

Other winners in the 5K run/walk and kids’ fun run are pictured here with their trophies and medals.

There are two kinds of people in this world--givers

and takers. The takers may eat better, but the

givers sleep better.

THANK YOU!

The Memphis AllStars proved that they are a top notch band with an “AllStar” sound.

Local and area BBQ teams put on a good show and the whole hog to secure top placement in their re-spective competitive categories.

Industrial Report t’s always hard to have to share unpleasant news, but it happens, and we like to keep you well informed. Metso Minerals of Clarksdale recently announced they are closing the manufacturing plant at the end of October 2016. The plant currently employs approximately 60 workers. The plant has been in operation in Clarksdale since 1958. The plant was operated by Stephens-Adamson, Borg Warner, Allis Chalmers, Svedala, and in recent years, Metso Minerals. The company makes material handling systems used in grain, crushed stone, gravel, coal, oil and other such operations throughout the world. The company’s principal reason for closing the local plant was due to lower fossil fuel prices and a general softening of the economy. The Board of Directors of the Industrial Foundation and the Economic Development Authority are currently working with City and County officials. former company officials, Delta Council, State and Federal agencies, and financial advisors to try to devise astrategy to purchase and continue to operate the company. The new company would manufacture the samehigh quality products it has made for decades. Progress on this effort is moving forward and we are optimistic the purchase can be facilitated. The jobs at Metso are high quality with wages and benefits being one of the best in the Clarksdale and Coahoma County manufacturing community. We would love to see this long-standingcompany salvaged and jobs retained forour citizens who have worked so hard for itfor so many years. We will keep you postedon our efforts.

The Chamber of Commerce could not function without people -- people working together to make the Clarksdale/ Coahoma County area a better place in which to live, earn a living, and enjoy an excellent quality of life. Chamber members represent business and professional men and women and other citizens who collectively engage in promoting the welfare of our community and area. The Chamber of Commerce is a democratic organization, operating according to a written set of bylaws. The Chamber is a voluntary organization composed of members who contribute personal and financial support because they choose to do so. The Chamber has two major functions: (1) it acts as a spokesman for the business and professional community and puts into action the group thinking of its members; and (2) it renders specific services to its members and to the community as a whole. You, your employees, associates, and neighbors are encouraged to make the most of membership by getting involved as volunteers with any of the Chamber’s various committees and special projects. Your input is valuable.

Get involved! Stay involved! Involve others!

On Target

Wealth stays with us for only a

brief moment, if at all,

but our character remains with

us forever.

I

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

Chamber Membership

Make the Most of It!

CLARKSDALE

YO UTH LEADERSHIP

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 2016.

The 2016 Class of Youth Leadership Clarksdale (YLC) of 25 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!

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

On Target

Dates to RememberJuly

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Ribbon-CuttingRenovated Double Quick (Friars Point Rd.)10:00 a.m.

4

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MS Delta Tennessee Williams FestivalVarious Locations Around Town

Pinetop Perkins Day/Cat Head Mini Blues Fest

Chamber/I. F. Annual Banquet

Hambone Festival (downtown Clarksdale)

HALLOWEEN

OctoberSept. 30 -

Oct. 1

9

TBA

27 - 30

31

August12 - 14

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

September 5

Chamber & Industrial Foundation Staff

Ron HudsonExecutive Director

Cecily AllenAdministrative Assistant

Tana Pittman VasselEconomic Dev. Director

Summer is here!

Award-WinningMississippi Delta

Tennessee Williams FestivalRight Around the Corner

Miss

issip

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Tenn

esse

e Will

iam

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Page 5

The 24th Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival is all set for September 30 - October 1 in Clarksdale. This year’s event will include a liter-ary conference with lectures, scholar panels, film screenings, live drama and porch plays, tours of Clarksdale’s historic district, an elite student acting competition, gospel and blues music, and gourmet Southern cuisine. The celebration honoring America’s great play-wright is free and open to the public and funded in part by the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Humanities Council, and many local businesses and individuals. This year’s event will be celebrating the Pulitzer Foundation Centennial with scenes from Tennessee Williams winners: A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof performed in the Cutrer Mansion and on porches by the fantastic theatre group from the University of Idaho who presented The Glass Menagerie here in 2015. For additional information and background on the festival, visit www.coahomacc.edu/twilliams or call CCC’s public relations department at 662-621-4157.

The 24th FREE Annual Mississippi Delta

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS FESTIVALClarksdale, Miss. - September 30-October 1, 2016

Sponsored by Coahoma Community College - www.coahomacc.edu/twilliams

Friday, Sept. 30 Whiteside Lecture Hall

CCC Campus, 3240 Friars Point Rd. 9 :30 a.m. ‐ Welcome to the 24th MDTW

Fes�val sponsored by Coahoma Community College ‐

Dr. Valmadge Towner, CCC president Music: The CCC Concert Choir

directed by Kelvin Towers10 a.m. ‐Introduc�on of Dr. Ma� Foss, di‐rector of the University of Idaho’s Vandal

Theatre Lab followed by scenes from ASTREETCAR

NAMED DESIRE performed by his actorsin a special tribute during the Pulitzer

Founda�on Centennial Year.11 a.m. ‐ Tennessee’s heroines: Ann

Fisher‐Wirth, Karen Kohlhaas, & SusanMcPhail

‐12:00 ‐ Noon ‐ Lunch on your own atone of Clarksdale’s outstanding restau‐

rants2:00 p.m. ‐Master Scholars cri�que ‐ A

STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE& CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF: Kenneth

Holditch, Colby Kullman and Ralph Voss.Q&A

3:30 p.m. ‐ Mississippi Delta influenceson Tennessee Williams ‐ Coop Cooper,Kenneth Holditch, Colby Kullman, and

Karen KohlhaasFes�val moves to the Cutrer Mansion

109 Clark Street7 p.m. ‐ Grande Recep�on, Southern

Cuisine by the Dutch Oven, blues gui‐tarist Dave Dunavant; A STREETCAR

NAMED DESIRE by the Vandal TheatreLab; guests are invited to come as their

favorite TWilliams character

Advance Reserva�ons Coahoma Tourism,

P.O. Box 1770,Clarksdale, MS 38614;or call 662‐6271‐6149

Saturday, October 1Student Drama Compe��on: Georgia

Lewis Theatre: Last exit into CCC Campus, off 3240 Friars Point Rd.8 a.m. - Continental breakfast for

students and teachers9 a.m. Welcome: Kappi Allen,

competition director; monologuecompetition begins

10 a.m. - Scene competition begins11 a.m. - Stella Calling competition

11:15 a.m. - Acting workshopdirected by Karen Kohlhaas and

Matt Foss12 noon - Winners announced

followed by celebration luncheonfor students and teachers preparedby Chef Brennon Warr & CCC culi-nary students, The Gallery, CCC .*Reservations required for non-

students/coaches.

Festival moves to Clarksdale’sHistoric District

2 p.m. Welcome to St. George’s Epis-copal Church by the Rev. Jason

Shelby, 106 Sharkey, followed tours ofthe former rectory being renovated into

the period when Dakin and Williamsfamilies lived there plus MississippiDelta Tennessee Williams Festival

memorabilia since its 1993 inaugura-tion - followed by the Clarksdale

Woman’s Club Open House.

3 - 5 p.m. - Porch plays featuringscenes from Tennessee Williams playsfollowed by conversations & interaction

with actorsAlice Walker, Susan & Johnny

McPhail, Wanda Lee’s students, Van-dall Theatre actors, Sherrye Williams &

Jim SchnadelbachPorch play locations: 415 Court St.,203 Court St., 41 John St., and 235

Clark Street.

Visit www.coahomacc.edu/twilliams or call 662-621-4157.

Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival

Page 6

Friday, August 12MAIN STAGE - BLUES ALLEY - DOWNTOWN CLARKSDALE5:00 - 5:45 p.m. Delta Blues Museum Band6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Heather Crosse: Heavy Suga & The Sweet Tones7:00 - 7:45 p.m. Joshua “Razorblade” Stewart8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Vasti Jackson9:15 - 10:15 p.m. Toni Green10:30 - 11:30 p.m. James “Super Chikan” Johnson

Saturday, August 13ACOUSTIC STAGE #1 - UNDER VIP TENT 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. David Dunavent11:00 - 11:45 a.m. Pat Thomas12:00 - 12:45 p.m. Lil Willie Farmer1:00 - 1:45 p.m. Lucious Spiller2:00 - 2:45 p.m. Educational Program3:00 - 3:45 p.m. Leo “Bud” Welch4:00 - 4:45 p.m. Sharde Thomas: The Rising Star Fife & Drum Band ACOUSTIC STAGE #2 - SUNFLOWER AVE. & THIRD ST.1:00 - 1:45 p.m. Deak Harp & Lee Williams2:00 - 2:45 p.m. Jimmy “Duck” Holmes3:00 - 3:45 p.m. Kenny Brown4:00 - 4:45 p.m. Terry “Harmonica” Bean

ACOUSTIC STAGE #3 - DELTA AVE.1:00 - 1:45 p.m. Mississippi Marshall2:00 - 2:45 p.m. Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry3:00 - 3:45 p.m. Watermelon Slim4:00 - 4:45 p.m. Anthony “Big A” Sherrod

MAIN STAGE - DELTA BLUES MUSEUM5:00 - 5:45 p.m. Bill Abel Band6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram7:00 - 7:45 p.m. Terry “Big T” Williams7:45 - 8:00 p.m. Awards8:00 - 9:00 p.m. James “Jimbo” Mathus9:15 - 10:15 p.m. Sweet Angel10:30 - 11:30 p.m. Lonnie Shields

Sunday, August 14GOSPEL STAGE - CIVIC AUDITORIUM - E. SECOND & LEFLORE4:00 - 4:15 p.m. The Clarksdale Mass Choir4:30 - 4:45 p.m. The Singing Echoes5:00 - 5:15 p.m. Ned Johnson & The Jonestown Crusaders5:30 - 6:15 p.m. The Myles Family6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC’s

The Sunflower River Blues Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Funds from grants, foundations, corporations, businesses, and individuals are used exclusively to pay performers and production costs. To keep the Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival free and open to the public, donations are always appreciated. 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 10th Annual Hambone Festival October 27 - 30. The event will again provide lots of local music and southern hospitality. This one-day event will last all week-end, celebrating the birthday of local blues artist Stan Street, owner of Hambone Gallery. With good music, good people, and a great location in downtown Clarksdale, this is one festival you don’t want to miss. For more information, visit hambonefesti-val.com or e-mail Stan at stanw-street@bellsouth.net.

Hambone FestivalOn Schedule

Festival, formerly known as King Bis-cuit. It’s 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 9, following Arkansas Blues & Heritage