Sunday, October 12, 2008

Celebration Arena to host Charity Horse Show

By Shelley Sedlak, Chatterbox, The Decatur Daily

Saddle up
Cowboys and cowgirls will want to dust off their saddles and cowboy hats and make plans to attend the Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show at Celebration Arena.
Beginning Wednesday, juveniles, amateurs and professionals will compete in open class competitions during one of the largest saddlebred shows in the Southeast. Show-goers will likely see hundreds of American saddlebreds, hackneys and road horses from numerous states.
Charles Byron, co-chairman, says, “There are not many saddlebred barns in this area. With the Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show, we hope to introduce this type of horse to the North Alabama region.”
Junior League is excited about the show, not only for the beautiful horses, but also for the fact that the proceeds will benefit The Playground for All Children project at Delano Park. Show hours are nightly at 6:30 with additional shows at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.
For more information about the show, contact Byron at 654-0142. For more information about the playground, call 350-1917

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Visitors bureau named top tourism group in state

By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily

The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau was named the 2008 Organization of the Year among the state’s tourism industry. The Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel recognized the local bureau for excelling in all areas of tourism. Travelers spent $176.5 million in Morgan County in 2007, the state bureau said, representing a 10 percent increase from 2006.
“The success of the CVB is contingent on so many individuals, starting at the top with our board of directors,” said Tami Reist, local bureau president. “We are very fortunate to have strong, passionate leaders who understand the nuts and bolts of the tourism and travel industry.”
Reist also credited her staff’s commitment, passion and willingness to serve “beyond the call of duty” for all events, large and small.
Events
The staff lured unique events such as the Stihl Timbersports lumberjack competition and the Downtown Decatur Criterium bike races, as well as numerous soccer, softball and tennis tournaments.
Criteria for the award include outstanding performance, outstanding economic impact statistics, quality and effective marketing efforts, and additions and/or improvements to increase the appeal of the community to tourists.
The state lauded the local bureau for starting a service for reserving hotel rooms for major events like soccer tournaments. To date, that service has received more than 7,000 reservations.
Decatur was host to four major fishing tournaments in 2007, has scheduled to handle 10 in 2008 and already has seven lined up for 2009.
The state also praised the local bureau for working outside its county borders, such as working with the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce to coordinate and house successful cross-country events at Oakville.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Decatur- Morgan Visitors Bureau names director of special events

by Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily

The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced Kayla Kiser Riggs as its new director of special events and sports marketing.
Riggs joined the bureau in March and will serve as the its liaison to special events in Morgan County as well as assist in attracting new sporting events.
Riggs previously worked at StoneRiver, where she served as inside sales associate, developed promotional campaigns and maintained client relationships.
She also has illustrated a children’s book, “The Adventures of Harley Earle” by Jerry Sibley, published in 2006. She completed an internship at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
The Moulton native is a graduate of Lawrence County High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from The University of North Alabama.
Riggs lives in Decatur with her husband, Brett.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Convention bureau hires special events coodinator

By By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily

Kayla Kiser Riggs will be the new special events and sport marketing coordinator for the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Riggs replaces Tiffany Brightwell, who resigned in February to accept a job as a communications director at Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.
Riggs comes from StoneRiver Inc., where she was a sales associate since June. She is a 2007 graduate of the University of North Alabama and completed an internship at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
The bureau interviewed eight applicants. Riggs will start Monday.