tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80601201829508499532024-03-13T15:54:33.836-05:00RIVER CITY DRIFTERDecatur,AlabamaRiver Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.comBlogger628125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-81007639377393650442019-05-22T16:32:00.001-05:002019-05-22T16:32:52.628-05:00State Economic Impact Report Reveals 20% Increase in Tourism in Morgan County<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">Travelers spent $252
million and were responsible for 2,711 jobs last year in Morgan County,
according to a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department. That figure
represents a 20.3 percent increase in traveler spending on hotels, restaurants,
shopping and transportation. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">Annual state lodging taxes collected in
Morgan County in 2018 reached over $1.2 million, up 20.3 percent from 2017. New
conferences and an increase in fishing and sport tournaments are contributing
factors to the consistent growth in tourism in Morgan County.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">Decatur Morgan County Tourism President/CEO Danielle
Gibson stated “We are excited to learn more visitors made a choice to spend
time in Morgan County last year. Several factors contributed to the 20.3
percent increase in visitor spending. An increase in fishing and sport tournaments,
new meetings and conferences, affordable lodging, festivals that appeal to all
ages and a thriving downtown district helped drive more visitors to Morgan
County in 2018. Decatur Morgan County Tourism has also taken steps to increase
engagement with target audiences by increasing its social media presence and
pumping more advertising dollars into digital campaigns and consumer shows.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">In 2018, travel-related total expenditures in Morgan
County reached $252,566,773, up from $210 million in 2017. Lodging tax
collection broke the million-dollar mark for the second time in Morgan County.
In 2018, lodging tax collected reached $1,267,414, up 20.3 percent from 2017
($1,053,185). </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“These
figures indicate that tourism is an important economic driver for our county
and state and we would not realize this success without the partnerships we
have established with our accommodations, restaurants, merchants, Decatur Parks
and Recreation, elected officials and other local organizations,” said Gibson.<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">Travel-related earnings showed a 24.5 percent increase
from $52,240,371 in 2017 to $65,046,434 in 2018, and 2,711 individuals were
employed directly and indirectly in the tourism industry, an 18.5 percent
growth over 2017. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Providing
job opportunities for more than 2,700 individuals, and with an estimated $65
million in payroll income, the tourism industry is an important employment
sector for Morgan County. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times Roman";">The numbers reflect the power
of the county’s collaboration efforts between civic, government and business
who are all working together to create and sustain new jobs, drive visitor
spending, enhance the visitor experience and generate tax revenues,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">” added Gibson. <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The tourism and travel
industry generates millions of dollars for state and local government each year.
The Alabama travel industry grew by $1.2 billion in 2018 to a record of $15.5
billion in expenditures. It is estimated that more than 27.7 million people
visited the state during 2018 and an estimated 198,890 jobs were directly or
indirectly attributable to the travel and tourism industry. In 2018, more than
$954 million of state and local tax revenues were generated by travel and
tourism activities. Without those taxes, each household in Alabama would have
had to pay $507 in additional taxes to maintain current service levels.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">The report, Economic Impact 2018, was conducted for the
Alabama Tourism Department using a model created by Dr. Keivan Deravi, an
economist in the School of Business at Auburn University Montgomery. The
purpose of the study is to estimate the economic impact of the travel and tourism
industry in Alabama for 2018 and includes information on the number of jobs
attributed to tourism, spending and revenue figures and the most visited
counties. Information sources used to prepare this report included primary
data, detailed monthly lodging tax data, copies of previously commissioned
economic impact studies, and other relevant information and publications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">For the complete report, go to </span><a href="http://tourism.alabama.gov/reports/"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://tourism.alabama.gov/reports/</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">
to download a pdf copy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-themecolor: text1;">For more information on Morgan County tourism figures,
contact Gibson at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-49985649633030373822019-02-04T15:23:00.000-06:002019-02-04T15:32:44.599-06:00Meet the Board Monday <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hYSOCS9yjm8/XFitGeWo5dI/AAAAAAAABgs/7qnhJcGgSR86lY_5wkZ9O5GXRksFqL2LACLcBGAs/s1600/Ronnie%2BDukes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hYSOCS9yjm8/XFitGeWo5dI/AAAAAAAABgs/7qnhJcGgSR86lY_5wkZ9O5GXRksFqL2LACLcBGAs/s320/Ronnie%2BDukes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We are extremely blessed at DMCT to have such a wonderful, supportive board. This year, we've decided to highlight a board member in each newsletter and on our blog, rivercitydrifter.blogspot.com. This month we would like to highlight Ronnie Dukes. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ronnie was born on October 12, </span>1948<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, to Bill J. and Juanita Dukes. His family moved to Decatur in 1957. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1966 and graduated from the University of Alabama in January 1971 with a BA in Business. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">He was a member of the Alabama Army National Guard from January 1971 -January 1977 and started working the First National Bank of Decatur in March 1972. The bank later became AmSouth Bank.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In1985 he left the bank to begin working for Pepsi Cola Decatur a local owner franchise, owned by Rodger Shabel. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> He is a member of several boards and civic clubs. These include Rotary Club of Decatur, Decatur Lions Club, Decatur Morgan County Tourism Board, Decatur Park </span>and<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Recreation Board and the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation Board. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ronnie is an active member of First United Methodist Church of Decatur where he serves as head of ushers and Chair of the Finance Committee.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">He is married to Vicki Thornton Dukes and together they have two children and four grandchildren. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We are so thankful to have Ronnie on our board and look forward to another prosperous year together! </span>River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-61367931121253899452019-01-14T14:21:00.002-06:002019-01-14T14:21:34.663-06:00Meet the Board Monday<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We are extremely blessed at DMCT to have such a wonderful, supportive board. This year, we've decided to highlight a board member in each newsletter and on our blog, rivercitydrifter.blogspot.com. We couldn't think of anyone better to start with than the 2018/2019 DMCT Board Chairwoman, Christy Richardson!</span><br />
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<br />Christy Richardson was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama and has been in the legal field for over 22 years now. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1992, and then went on to receive degrees from Calhoun Community College and Athens State University. At the urging of a dear friend, she decided to continue her education and go to law school. After law school, she joined the law firm of Lentz Whitmire, House & Propst, the firm she had worked for as a legal assistant prior to and while attending law school. She joined Calvin McBride in March 2016, and her practice is now focused primarily on real estate and probate matters.<br />
<br />She has been married to her husband, Ashley, for 20 years and they have two beautiful children, Alex who is 10 and Isla Grace who is 6. I love Decatur and Morgan County, and she is very committed to seeing this community grow and thrive. In addition to being the Board Chairwoman with Decatur Morgan County Tourism, she is the Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Decatur and is on the Affiliate Counsel for the Morgan County Association of Realtors. She is past President of the Decatur Jaycees and a past board member of the American Red Cross and the Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband are members of First Bible Church in Decatur where they serve as kindergarten teachers. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and staying actively involved in her children’s school and sporting events. You can find her most evenings on the soccer fields or in the dance studio.<br />
<br />We are so thankful to have Christy on our board and look forward to another prosperous year together! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-42803606391532585432017-11-09T14:04:00.002-06:002017-11-09T14:04:26.593-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Js86P0-LOM0/WgS0wRGNz2I/AAAAAAAABac/7sqbn79vx9EgR-AX76Bg-z9-b9x10ahnACLcBGAs/s1600/Morgan-County-CVB-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Js86P0-LOM0/WgS0wRGNz2I/AAAAAAAABac/7sqbn79vx9EgR-AX76Bg-z9-b9x10ahnACLcBGAs/s320/Morgan-County-CVB-Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Decatur-Morgan County CVB Announces Name Change<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: yellow;"><br />
</span></b>Decatur, Ala. (November 9, 2017) – The
Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today that the
organization’s board of directors approved an organizational name change to
Decatur Morgan County Tourism, Inc. effective immediately.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The name change is part of the
rebranding initiative to move towards creating a new brand destination and to
better align the organization’s name with its current and future tourism
efforts. “When I accepted the position of president in 2013, I knew that I had
wonderful resources and stories to promote, but I also thought that we needed
to move towards creating a new brand destination,” stated Decatur Morgan County
Tourism President and CEO Melinda Dunn. “Our name was too long and didn’t accurately
reflect our scope of work and our logo, which had served us well for many
years, had become dated and needed a refresh. Visitors, vendors and tourism
partners will find no change in the quality of services offered as we make the
transition to the new name.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Along with the new name, the
organization is sporting a new logo and has adopted a new tagline of Create
Your Adventure. The new logo and tagline will be incorporated into all advertising
and promotional efforts. The logo features rich warm, earthy tones and
incorporates the abbreviation for the state of Alabama into the design to
distinguish Decatur Morgan County Tourism from other cities named Decatur. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Decatur and Morgan County is
filled with opportunities for adventure. Our
rebrand team loved the idea of being able to create your adventure with the
implication of choice and creativity given to each person to define what
adventure means to them. Maybe your idea of adventure is to explore your
genealogy at the Morgan County Archives or trace the events of the Civil War.
For a family with young children, their idea of adventure might be witnessing
the colorful spectacle of hot air balloons as they float through the sky at the
Alabama Jubilee. To a foodie, adventure might be to going to the Farmer’s
Market and gathering an abundance of fresh, local produce to make a special
meal, or trying a different local restaurant or local dish each week of the
year for one year. For outdoor enthusiasts, your adventure might be paddling the
backwaters of the Tennessee River. I could go on and on about the adventures
that we have to share, and with our new name, logo and tagline<b>, </b>our team at Decatur Morgan County
Tourism will proactively work to bring visitors to our city and county,” said Dunn. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
part of the rebranding efforts, Decatur Morgan County Tourism is working on the
development of a fresh, new web site that reflects the new name, tagline and
incorporates more of the features that tech-savy traveler’s demand. Estimated
launch is late spring of 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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For more information on the new
name and logo, call Dunn at 256.350.2028. <span style="color: #26282a; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">For full press
materials, including new and old company logo graphics, contact </span><span style="color: #18376a; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Maryanne Floyd, Decatur Morgan County Tourism communications
director, at </span><a href="mailto:mfloyd@decaturcvb.org"><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">mfloyd@decaturcvb.org</span></a><span style="color: #18376a; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-85854647923458483122017-11-09T12:14:00.001-06:002017-11-09T14:14:00.718-06:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Award Recipients and 2016 Tourism Figures for Decatur and
Morgan County Announced<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Decatur, Ala. (November 9, 2017) – During
the annual tourism breakfast hosted by the Decatur Morgan County Tourism and
the Decatur/Morgan County Hospitality Association on November 9, 2017, at Ingalls
Harbor Pavilion, tourism figures for 2016 and six awards were presented and five
corporate companies were recognized for excellence in tourism.</div>
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According to the most recent economic impact analysis
conducted by the Alabama Tourism Department, travel-related expenditures for
Morgan County in 2016 exceeded $179 million, an increase of 12.8 % from 2015. Annual
state lodging taxes collected in Morgan County in 2016 garnered over $900,000.
The tourism and travel industry within Decatur and Morgan County provided 2,080
direct and indirect jobs for local residents and total travel-related earnings
for Morgan County exceeded $48 million, reflecting a 7.8% increase. “Tourism
puts money in the pockets and purses of our local citizens,” said Decatur
Morgan County Tourism President/CEO Melinda Dunn. “Without the dollars
collected by the tourism industry, each household in the state would end up
paying $444 more in additional taxes, according to the reports developed by
economist Dr. Keivan Deravi.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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According
to the report, statewide tourism industry has grown by 5.4% with more than 25
million visitors spending $13.3 billion and creating $836 million in state and
local tax revenues in 2016. An estimated 179,644 jobs are attributable to
tourism and the total impact of the travel industry on Alabama’s earnings in
2016 is estimated at over $4.7 billion. The general fund of the State of
Alabama received over $49.4 million from lodging tax revenues and travel
spending in Alabama has doubled over the previous 14 years. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Wade
Weaver, treasurer of the Decatur Morgan County Tourism board of directors,
stated, “When we hear the word industry, we tend to think in traditional terms
such as the processing of raw materials and manufacturing of goods in
factories. However, tourism is an industry, and it is proving to be a natural
in its role as a key economic driver in our local and state economy. It
continues to be a sweet time for tourism in our Sweet Home Alabama.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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This year’s theme for the annual tourism breakfast was Tourism: It’s In Our Nature. During the presentation,
Decatur Morgan County Tourism took time to reflect on growth resulting in new
visitors and revenue to the city and county. Decatur and Morgan County boast
over two dozen annual events that bring over 100,000 visitors to the area. The
special events and tournaments hosted in the area encompass activities that
range from soccer to dog shows, tennis to fishing, Ultimate Frisbee to
Lacrosse, horse shows to hockey. “Over 8,000 documented hotel rooms from events
hosted in the area translate into an economic impact of over $5.9 million
dollars for Morgan County alone,” said Dunn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Additional developments of 2016 that had a positive impact
on tourism growth in Decatur include: <o:p></o:p></div>
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- From 2009 to 2016, using data only from events where the Decatur
Morgan County Tourism served as the official housing bureau, sporting
activities at Jack Allen Recreation Complex, which include soccer, lacrosse,
archery and ultimate, brought in a documented 41,821 room nights for the area
and an economic impact of $30,909,108. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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- Decatur Morgan County Tourism received a grant to develop
three new pieces promoting local heritage to include a new African American
Pioneers Brochure, signage for the Burleson Fine Arts Center and a
brochure to accompany the new Trail of Tears Interpretive Trail and its signage
that was installed in 2017. <o:p></o:p></div>
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- Decatur and Morgan County received national media
attention on ESPN and Fox Sports SE through coverage of various sporting events
that include fishing on Wheeler Lake and softball at Wilson Morgan Park. <o:p></o:p></div>
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- Point Mallard Park was named as one of Alabama’s top 10 tourist
attractions for 2016 by the Alabama Tourism Department.<o:p></o:p></div>
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- A new state-of-the-art visitor’s kiosk was installed at
the Ardmore Welcome Center this year. The kiosk provides tourists a new way to discover Decatur and Morgan County by
providing instant access to information on attractions, festivals and local
businesses. Additionally, a new visitor panel located above a key entry that
visually connects to the display was installed.
Each year, over one million visitors stop at Ardmore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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During the annual breakfast, the Decatur/Morgan
County Hospitality Association honored area hotels, industries, and citizens
with its annual awards. Based on data submitted from seven participating hotels
in Decatur, the <u>Top Five Corporate Companies</u> producing the most room
nights in Morgan County during 2016 were recognized. Those receiving
recognitions were Toray with 1,824 room nights; 3M with 1,905 room nights; Nucor
with 2,461 room nights; United Launch Alliance with 3,636 room nights; and Hexcel
with 5,346 room nights.</div>
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Each year, the Decatur/Morgan County Hospitality Association
selects an Event of the Year and honors its impact on Decatur and Morgan
County. This year’s honoree is a relatively new event that has shown
significant growth since its inception five years ago. The <u>2017 Event of the
Year</u><b> </b>is Battle at the Jack. This
three-day tournament attracts up to 120 teams from across the Southeast,
bringing some of the region’s best youth soccer players to Decatur and
producing 367 room nights in September. Hosted by the River City United Soccer
Club, Battle at the Jack is an Alabama Soccer Association and United States
Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) sanctioned tournament that offers competitive
soccer opportunities. Funds raised from this event are used to support soccer
scholarships for children.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Good Neighbor Award is given
to a person, business, organization or entity whose body of work has had a
significant impact on local tourism. The “Good Neighbor” may be an event
organizer who lives out of town but helps with events in Morgan County; it can
be an organization or business that significantly supports local events, or a
person whose job may be outside the typical realm of tourism but whose work has
made a difference. When Hurricane Irma forced people to flee their homes
seeking refuge in Decatur and Morgan County, many local hotels hosted evacuees
and made this difficult time in their lives easier and local citizens and churches
sprung into action and brought food. The <u>Good Neighbor Award</u> is
presented to all of those individuals and organizations that assisted the
evacuees during their stay in Decatur.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Tourism Professional of the
Year award is presented to the person who has exhibited extraordinary
leadership skills and initiative associated with their position. This
year’s nominations were so strong that it resulted in a tie. The members of the
Decatur-Morgan County Hospitality Association elected to name a King and Queen
Tourism Professional of the Year. The <u>Tourism Professional
of the Year</u> was awarded to Mr. Scott Suenaga of the Courtyard by Marriott
and Ms. Seyma Njbigbo of the Best Western.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To go along with Decatur Morgan County Tourism’s new tag
line, a new award was presented at this year’s tourism breakfast. The first
recipient of the <u>Create Your Adventure </u>award is Mr. Art Thrash with the
Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic. Thrash has served on the Alabama
Jubilee committee and also has been the pilot for the city’s balloon for many
years. He is retiring as pilot this year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Presented to a person, or persons, within Morgan County who
has contributed significantly beyond their professional duty to the development
and promotion of tourism for the betterment of Decatur and Morgan County, the <u>2017
Julian Walker “Mr. Tourism” Award</u> was awarded to Mr. Tyler Jones, owner of <span style="color: #18376a;">The RailYard and Whisk’d Café. </span><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The <u>Gilmer Blackburn Legacy Award</u> was created as a
means of recognizing an individual who has shown a long lasting and permanent
contribution to the industry over the years and has helped change the tourism
landscape of Morgan County. It is named in honor of the late Mayor Blackburn
who was instrumental in developing the foundation of the tourism industry here.
For his service to Decatur and Morgan County and the tourism industry, Jimmy D.
Smith of Jimmy Smith Jewelers was presented with the 2017 Gilmer Blackburn
Legacy Award.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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For more information on tourism
figures and awards, contact Melinda Dunn at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028.<o:p></o:p></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-9255587211382639852017-08-15T08:32:00.001-05:002017-08-15T08:32:32.123-05:00Celebrate Back to School at 3rd Friday<div class="MsoNormal">
Downtown Decatur’s monthly block
party takes to the streets this Friday, August 18 for an evening of music,
shopping, dining, classic cars and vendors. In celebration of back to school,
festivalgoers are encouraged to bring school supplies to benefit local children. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Organized by the Downtown
Merchants and Business Association, 3<sup>rd</sup>
Friday gets underway at 5:30 p.m. This month’s celebration features a school
supply drive and festival goers are asked to bring donations to Jones Park to
benefit the local Boys and Girls Club. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While antique cars line 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue, some of the area’s best musicians and entertainers will be performing
at various locations. Performers slated for Friday include Elvis impersonator
Michael Dean at the Princess Theatre, Divide by Zero at Gyro Uno, Lindsey
Gravitt at Downtown Dawgs and Wild Paisley at Kathleen’s. Everyone is also
invited to a street dance party led by Delandrion Woods at the intersection of
Moulton and 2<sup>nd</sup> Avenue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Craft vendors selling handmade
items and artists and artesian goods vendors will fill the area of 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue from Moulton Street to Johnston Street. Additional store specials,
giveaways, and discounts will be offered at select retailers, and many of the
merchants will remain open until 8 p.m. or later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3<sup>rd</sup> Friday is concentrated in the 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue area only (including Holly Street, Moulton Street, Johnston Street and
Grant Street). Beginning at 4:30 p.m. streets will
begin to be blocked and will be closed to traffic from 5:30 until 9:00
p.m. Antique and classic cars are asked to be in place by 5:30 p.m. For
more information on 3<sup>rd</sup> Friday, visit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/3rdfridaydowntown/">www.facebook.com/3rdfridaydowntown/</a>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Third Friday’s was first organized in 2009 by merchants as a
way to attract locals and visitors to the downtown area. Presenting sponsor is
Budweiser. Additional sponsors include Decatur Downtown Redevelopment
Authority, Magnolia River, Bank Independent, Decatur/Morgan County Convention
and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Cook’s Pest
Control, Morgan County Commission, Nucor Steel, 3M, Peck-Glasgow Insurance,
Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance and King Insurance Agency. The Downtown
Merchants and Business Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks
and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event
as an in-kind sponsor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-30859314712369544402017-07-24T14:29:00.002-05:002017-07-24T14:29:59.796-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uZbtd9U4lqw/WXZKr98Q6GI/AAAAAAAABVg/XDibr6qzXXgGIZJQ_9HS7_CSJa1vB_X6QCLcBGAs/s1600/Decatur%2BDowntown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="564" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uZbtd9U4lqw/WXZKr98Q6GI/AAAAAAAABVg/XDibr6qzXXgGIZJQ_9HS7_CSJa1vB_X6QCLcBGAs/s320/Decatur%2BDowntown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h1 class="prx-location prx-title">
A Weekend Retreat to Satisfy Both Sexes</h1>
<h4>
Summer is here, which of course, means it’s time to take a break from
reality and gather your friends for a weekend getaway. Still trying to
decide on the ideal location? Look no further than <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Decatur, Alabama</a>.
Nestled along the Tennessee River, Decatur is a Southern oasis
perfectly tailored to host a weekend full of activities for both sexes.
No matter what your group is into, this charming city has the total
package. </h4>
<em><br /></em>
<em>Shopping, sunning, and, spas- the quintessential recipe for the perfect girls’ weekend</em><br />
<br />
You
will love the quality time with your ladies and feel like a million
bucks while experiencing all that Decatur has to offer. Spend some time
strolling the tree-lined streets of Decatur’s historic shopping district
and explore the specialty shops offering a variety of eclectic items.
You will surely find something to boost your wardrobe at <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://www.shopindigo.com/?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Indigo’s</a>
and other unique boutiques found in the historic downtown Decatur and
Hartselle shopping districts. In search of completely unique home décor?
Kathleen’s Interiors in downtown Decatur has an incredible selection
original furniture and artwork you never knew you always needed in your
home!<br />
If your crew is craving some fun in the sun, reconnect with your inner child at America’s first wave pool at <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://decaturcvb.org/item/point-mallard?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Point Mallard Park</a>.
Relax in a float as you improve your summer tan and let the waves rock
your worries away. When you need a break from that scorching heat, spend
an afternoon in cushy robes with cucumber-covered eyes, and unwind with
the girls in Decatur’s most exclusive day spa, deLoain. Pamper yourself
with a relaxing pedicure or massage or renew your skin with a
refreshing facial.<br />
After a day of leisure, you’ve probably worked up quite the appetite! Round up the crew and head to <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://simpmcghees.com/?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simp McGhee’s</a>
for fine dining spiced up with a Cajun twist! This storied local
downtown dining hub boasts a tapas menu with shareable bites like the
Crystal Shrimp Martini, dinner mains such as the creamy, garlicky
Speegle, and the housemade fave speciality cocktail the Bank Street Tea.
If you’re looking for a more casual dining option, check out Hard Dock,
located right on the Tennessee River, and enjoy a beautiful Alabama
sunset while listening to live music, sipping cocktails, and eating
delicious seafood on the outdoor patio.<br />
<em>Spend a weekend outside with the guys</em><br />
Plan an outdoor-fueled guys’ weekend by taking advantage of the Decatur’s many recreational activities. For the <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://decaturcvb.org/item/fishing-and-boating?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fishing enthusiasts</a>,
Wheeler Lake offers top-notch waters for dropping a line. Rife with
bass and catfish, you’re bound to get a bite on this top-notch local
fishery. Enjoy a peaceful day on the water... until you and your buddies
start trying to decide who had the bigger catch!<br />
If <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://decaturcvb.org/item/golf?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">golfing</a>
is more your competitive speed, Point Mallard’s course is a great
option for teeing up. With 200 acres of wooded flatlands right on the
Tennessee River this scenic course is one to experience. It is open to
the public and only $26 for an 18-hole round.<br />
For a more leisurely day, head to historic Decatur to take a trip back in time with the self-guided <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://decaturcvb.org/item/walking-tours-trails?category_id=2&utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Civil War walking tour</a>.
Beginning at the Old State Bank building, the thirteen-block walk
chronicles events surrounding the four-day 1864 Battle of Decatur.
History buffs will also enjoy the Blue and Gray Museum at 723 Bank
Street, which is home to what is believed to be the largest collection
of Civil War artifacts in the country.<br />
Everyone knows any manly weekend isn’t complete without beer and meat. <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://www.moesoriginalbbq.com/?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Moe’s BBQ</a> provides a laid-back setting with live music, some of Alabama’s most beloved wings and a beer selection to meet all needs. <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://www.therailyarddecatur.com/?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Railyard</a>
is another favorite with area beers on tap and a local farm and
produce-based selection of mouth-watering Southern influenced dishes.
Dine on roasted quail, venison and pork meatloaf, prime rib, or lamb
shank—this menu leaves no meat behind!<br />
<em>Where to turn in for the night </em><br />
After you’ve delighted in dining, dancing, and live music at Decatur’s various venues like The Hard Dock, <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://www.brickdeli.com/?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Brick</a>,
and the historic Princess Theatre, your crew will want a cozy place to
call it a night. Whether your group prefers comfy hotel beds and
continental breakfasts or sleeping under the stars, Decatur has options
for every style of respite at every single price point. The <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://www.pointmallardpark.com/camp-ground.php?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Point Mallard campgrounds</a>
have 210 shaded camp sites over 25 wooded acres. Waste no time in
finding your ideal spot and getting right to the many activities in
Point Mallard Park that are walking distance to the grounds! If WiFi and
room service are necessities, the <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/alabama/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-decatur-riverfront-DCUSADT/index.html?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Decatur Riverfront DoubleTree</a>
has you covered. They offer a variety of amenities including an
indoor/outdoor pool and fitness center. No worries if you need to use
those Marriott points—Decatur has a lovely Courtyard Marriott as well!
In addition, the newly opened <a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=http://home2suites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/alabama/home2-suites-by-hilton-decatur-ingalls-harbor-DCUWSHT/index.html?utm_source=advancetnt&utm_medium=sponsored+content&utm_campaign=decatur+cvb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Home2 at Ingalls Harbor</a> has an array of posh rooms perfect for crashing hard at the end of all your distinctly Decatur adventures!<br />
However
you choose to design your weekend in Decatur, your friends are sure to
love you for it! For more information on Decatur’s many attractions and
lodging options visit <strong><a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv_at=4&ntv_ui=d49cb5a3-cce3-4d75-931d-3acc01256f06&ntv_a=YusCAtakRAX7kLA&ord=572354250&ntv_ht=x0h2WQA&prx_r=decaturcvb.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">decaturcvb.org</a></strong> or call 800-524-6181.River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-80674013932070818232017-06-22T08:38:00.000-05:002017-06-22T08:43:21.150-05:00Out With The Old and In With The New <h2 style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br /></span></h2>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Tourists to the popular Ardmore Welcome Center now have a new way to discover Decatur and Morgan County.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Each year, over one million visitors stop at the Ardmore Alabama Welcome Center. “It is important that the DMCCVB offer an inviting and welcoming presence to prospective guests as they enter into Alabama at this extremely busy welcome center,” said DMCCVB President and CEO Melinda Dunn.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Working with Joel McWhorter and the McComm Group, a new design was developed to replac<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">e the dated visitor kiosk that had stood in the Ardmore Welcome Center for many years. The new design is rich in images that showcase the unique flavor of Decatur and Morgan County. McWhorter and the McComm group worked with Expo Displays on the kiosk’s fabrication. The new kiosk also features a video panel that continuously plays a video on Morgan County produced by Juergen Beck of Freedom Light Productions and funded through the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. The video component is interchangeable and the DMCCVB can provide videos specific to upcoming events in the area.</span></span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Additionally, a new visitor panel located above a key entry that visually connects to the display invites guests to come and play and further strengthen the presence of Decatur and Morgan County at the Ardmore Welcome Center. The display panel is made possible through funding from Senator Arthur Orr. The production of the new kiosk was funded by the DMCCVB.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fce5cd; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
County Commissioner Don Stisher and his crew assisted with the removal of the former display. Since the new display’s installation, interest from the traveling public has sharply increased, resulting in a higher percentage of brochure pickup at the center. Dunn noted, “Within minutes of the kiosk’s installation, families had gathered around to watch the video and absorb the images that depict our story and flavor.”</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QsfMp6ODTRs/WUvILYAiqfI/AAAAAAAABVE/R3VEjPeH798fMGSGmB67xuw9pGzwgh1vACLcBGAs/s1600/2017_06-20_Interactive_Kiosk_at_Ardmore_Welcome_Center_ph_127__1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QsfMp6ODTRs/WUvILYAiqfI/AAAAAAAABVE/R3VEjPeH798fMGSGmB67xuw9pGzwgh1vACLcBGAs/s320/2017_06-20_Interactive_Kiosk_at_Ardmore_Welcome_Center_ph_127__1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-90676422114475648862017-06-13T16:55:00.003-05:002017-06-13T16:58:24.178-05:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN">CONTACT: Melinda Dunn, President & CEO<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN">Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors
Bureau</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN">EMAIL: mdunn@decaturcvb.org<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b>Decatur to Host 26 Lacrosse Teams this Weekend <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<i>River City Rivalry
returns to Jack Allen Recreation Complex June 17-18.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Decatur, Ala. (June 13, 2017) – Twenty-six
teams from across the Southeast will make their way to Decatur this weekend for
an exciting two days of lacrosse action when the Jack Allen Recreation Complex
(JARC) hosts the River City Rivalry. Returning for the fifth year, the River
City Rivalry is set for June 17-18, 2017, and admission is free to the public.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The River City Rivalry features
full field format with a guaranteed four game minimum play (weather
permitting). Each game consists of two 22-minute halves. Day one features
“round robin” pool play and day two is championship bracket play.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Twenty-six teams are registered to
compete and this year’s tournament offers two girls divisions: high school with graduation years 2018-2021 and middle school with
graduation years 2021-2023. Teams registered to compete will be traveling from within
Alabama and from across the southeastern United States including Georgia, South
Carolina and Tennessee. This year’s tournament also includes a team traveling
from Indiana.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“While lacrosse guests are
visiting Decatur, Alabama, they are invited to experience our local flavor by
participating in events such as 3rd Friday in downtown Decatur. On Saturday
evening, a team barbecue will be held at Ingalls Pavilion to provide fun and
entertainment. The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s hot
air balloon will welcome guests to the evening of local barbecue and field
games,” said Decatur-Morgan County CVB President and CEO Melinda Dunn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All games will be played at the JARC
located at 2616 Modaus Road SW in Decatur. The tournament is open to the public
and admission is free. Parking is $10 per day or $15 for both days. For more
information on the facility, visit <a href="http://www.decatursports.com/"><span style="color: black;">www.decatursports.com</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For the past twelve years, the
Jack Allen Recreation Complex has hosted local, regional, and national soccer
tournaments attracting thousands of amateur and professional players and
earning a reputation as a world-class facility nationally and internationally.
In 2013, the complex welcomed the first River City Rivalry tournament attracting
hundreds of lacrosse players plus coaches, family members and fans from across
the southeastern United States. The event impacted all areas of Decatur
including hotels, local restaurants, retail merchants and entertainment venues.
According to Dunn, the event in 2016 had an economic impact of $250,000 for the
city of Decatur.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For more information on the River City Rivalry tournament,
contact Tournament Directors Pam McNabb at 404.423.8177 or Melanie Johnson at
770.317.3476 or visit <a href="http://www.southernedgetournaments.com/rivercityrivalry">http://www.southernedgetournaments.com/rivercityrivalry</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6USbiCWBuI0/WUBfWZnKUjI/AAAAAAAABUg/x6FlVbHb3nMLkes0ZltkeS34-WuGsuiSQCLcBGAs/s1600/13475083_10154724509966490_7472514689525090385_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6USbiCWBuI0/WUBfWZnKUjI/AAAAAAAABUg/x6FlVbHb3nMLkes0ZltkeS34-WuGsuiSQCLcBGAs/s320/13475083_10154724509966490_7472514689525090385_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>About The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors
Bureau (DMCCVB)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The Decatur-Morgan County
Convention & Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization promoting
tourism and economic growth in Morgan County. For information on special events
and attractions in Decatur, contact the DMCCVB at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028;
or visit its website at <a href="http://www.decaturcvb.org/"><span style="color: black;">www.decaturcvb.org</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-69699379932401108092017-06-06T09:21:00.002-05:002017-06-06T09:21:38.724-05:00<h1 class="prx-location prx-title" style="text-align: center;">
Water Wonderland Awaits in Decatur, Alabama</h1>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qAUxdMDN6aI/WTa6XRFwRMI/AAAAAAAABUE/bqBKWhpTR-Y8CNLuPPe9TYjZ6Hu1cH51QCLcB/s1600/Point%2BMallard%2BPark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="605" height="132" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qAUxdMDN6aI/WTa6XRFwRMI/AAAAAAAABUE/bqBKWhpTR-Y8CNLuPPe9TYjZ6Hu1cH51QCLcB/s320/Point%2BMallard%2BPark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While the first day of summer isn’t officially until June 21<sup>st</sup>,
those among us living, working, and playing in the Deep South know good
and well that it’s felt like the summertime solstice for well over a
month. In fact, we tend to skip right over spring and onto the steamiest
part of the year. But before you plan to keep you and your family
cooped up to avoid the sweltering temps, consider combating those
summertime blues with the refreshing water recreation available
exclusively in Decatur, Alabama.<br />
Situated along the breathtaking Tennessee River, Decatur
offers a host of cooling, water-centric spots to check out. From
man made water parks to natural estuaries and plenty of unique offerings
in between, your best summertime memories are waiting to be made in this
North Alabama water wonderland!<br />
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<strong>Point Mallard</strong><br />
Point Mallard’s official opening date is May 27<sup>th</sup>—and
not a moment too soon as the temperature starts to rise and the
humidity causes everyone’s hair to expand considerably. This Decatur
staple is home to the world’s very first wave pool, a claim to fame that
persists now even 47 years into its existence. Point Mallard Park
is also home to some of Decatur’s best festivals with the Alabama
Jubilee, Spirit of America, and Battle for Decatur all held on site each
year. A veritable water park by the water,
Point Mallard is uniquely situated along the Tennessee River and
provides plenty of amusement for every single member of your brood. The
Double Drop Speed Slides will appeal to the daredevils among you, while
the Lazy River offers the leisurely drifting befitting of those who
crave the full relaxation vacation vibe. In addition, a Towering Sky
Pond, three Flume Slides, and idyllic Lagoon round out the full
heat-busting quench served up in Decatur’s can’t-miss Point Mallard.
You’ll even discover a spacious campground area for when you’re ready
to call it a day and a golf course for those who crave some serious tee
time. Check out more about the destination made for the pluckiest of
travelers at pointmallardpark.com.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Riverwild Playground and Garden</strong><br />
For the ultimate place to make a splash this summer, round up the troops for a trip to Riverwild Playground and Garden.
The kiddos are sure to love standing under the park’s towering
fountains for a soak, while the adults will marvel at the site’s living
history. Complete with a family-friendly Bathhouse and
wheelchair-accessible splashpad, Riverwild offers H20 respite and
revelry for all ages. Riverwild
also features a playground of dreams for the youngest members of your
family and plenty of places to enjoy a picnic lunch. Meander through the
Trail of History, a path that winds through the park that beautifully
interprets the park’s development as well as its significance as a
historic site in a storied part of town. And for those who are looking
to experience a bit of art and nature amid all the water play,
Riverwild’s Sculpture Garden celebrates the Tennessee River wildlife
with giant monuments of Decatur’s finest fauna with heron, bullfrog,
dragonfly, turtle, and beaver statues. Be sure to check out the Delano
Rose Garden on site for the perfect family photo op to commemorate your North Alabama Adventure!<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Wheeler Wildlife Refuge</strong><br />
If you’re in search of pastoral elegance on your family vacation this summer, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge
is the perfect place to celebrate a break from your daily grind. The
Tennessee River runs right through the Refuge, which means ample
opportunity to engage in aquatic action like canoeing or kayaking.
Expend some of the kids’ energy, paddle in hand, as you make your way
through Wheeler’s focal point. June is the optimal time to cast your
line for bluegill and bass, too, as these angles are in abundance during
this part of the summer. The sparkling waters you’ll witness will
certainly leave you with a new appreciation for one of Decatur’s most
precious natural resources.<br />
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<strong>Wheeler Lake</strong><br />
For fishing enthusiasts, Wheeler Lake
offers up fresh catches and waterside bonding—hook, line, and sinker!
Load up the family, and take your boat out on the serene waters of
Decatur’s delightful lake. As an integral part of the Alabama Bass
Trail, you’ll find plenty of angling opportunities for fun in the sun
sure to provide everyone in your family with fish tales worth telling
time and time again. For more lake recreation to include in your North
Alabama vacation, check out fishalabama.or.<br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Big Bob Gibson’s </strong><br />
All
that splish-splashing and gallivanting gets the appetite going. When it
comes to a delicious meal suited for every member of your water-lovin’
party, you can’t go wrong with Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ. Long heralded for their <span style="color: black;">North Alabama white barbecue sauce,</span>
Big Bob Gibson’s has been feeding hungry families melt-in-your-mouth
meals of pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken, and “Heaven High” meringue
pies since 1952. The proof is truly in the award-winning barbecue dishes
as Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ just earned the highly sought-after Grand
Championship title during the Memphis in May International Festival for
the fifth year! Whether you’ve worked up an appetite after traipsing
through fountains and wading through pools or you’re looking for the
very best stuff to pack in your picnic basket, Big Bob Gibson’s serves
up sumptuous barbecue, sides, and pies that’ll give you plenty of
reasons to come on back to Decatur long after the summer heat has
subsided.<br />
For more about Decatur’s distinct offerings and for lodging to accommodate your family’s summertime getaway, visit decaturcvb.org today!River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-56935288399815675262017-05-22T11:47:00.001-05:002017-05-22T11:47:46.515-05:00<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>CONTACT: Kay
Donaldson, Program Director<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>PHONE:
256.350.3500 / 855.9FISHAL<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>EMAIL: kay@alabamabasstrail.org<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Alabama Bass Trail Announces 2018 Tournament Schedule<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Registration Opens August 1<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Decatur,
Ala. (May 9, 2017) – The Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) is pleased to unveil the 2018
tournament schedule and among the key changes is a new open tournament that
allows anglers to try the trail without committing to five weekends. Returning
for the fifth season, the team-style tournament series is held on eleven of the
lakes of the Alabama Bass Trail beginning February 17, 2018, with the
championship tournament to be held on October 26-27, 2018. The new ABT Open
Tournament makes its debut September 8, 2018, on Smith Lake.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It is
hard to believe we are announcing the schedule for the fifth season,” said ABT
Program Director Kay Donaldson. “The success of the tournament series relies a
great deal on the host cities that bid for our events. Arranging the tournament
schedule is similar to a jigsaw puzzle at times, and in some cases, you have
multiple cities bidding for hosting rights on one lake. We have to consider
available hotel space, meeting space, boat ramp access, prime fishing time on
each lake and weather. We are excited about the 2018 season and we look forward
to another great year on the trail.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sanctioned
by BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the ABT Tournament Series contains
two divisions, North and South, and each division is made up of five
tournaments on five different lakes. The maximum number of boats for each
tournament is 225. Teams must fish in all five tournaments in their respective
division; no single entries will be allowed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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North
Division:<o:p></o:p></div>
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February
17, 2018 Pickwick Lake hosted by Florence-Lauderdale
Tourism<o:p></o:p></div>
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March
10, 2018 Lake
Guntersville hosted by Marshall County CVB<o:p></o:p></div>
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April
21, 2018 Wheeler
Lake hosted by Decatur-Morgan County CVB<o:p></o:p></div>
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May 12,
2018 Weiss Lake hosted by Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce<o:p></o:p></div>
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June 9,
2018 Logan
Martin Lake hosted by Pell City Chamber of Commerce<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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South
Division:<o:p></o:p></div>
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February
24, 2018 Lay Lake hosted by Shelby County Commission <o:p></o:p></div>
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March
24, 2018 Lake Martin hosted by Alexander City Chamber
of Commerce<o:p></o:p></div>
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April 7,
2018 Lake
Eufaula hosted by Eufaula-Barbour Chamber of Commerce<o:p></o:p></div>
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May 5,
2018 Lake Jordan hosted by City of
Wetumpka<o:p></o:p></div>
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June 23,
2018 AL
River/Cooter’s Pond hosted by City of Prattville Parks and Recreation <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hosted
by the Gadsden Parks and Recreation Department, the championship tournament is
set for October 26-27, 2018, on Neely Henry Lake. “We are proud to partner with
the City of Gadsden to bring the Alabama Bass Trail Championship to Gadsden and
Neely Henry Lake. Tournament fishing is hard work and we'll do our best to give
the anglers the best tournament we can,” said Hugh A. Stump III, executive director
of Greater Gadsden Area Tourism.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
championship event will include up to 185 boats. The 185 boats are comprised of
the 10 divisional tournament winning teams, top 75 teams in points from both
divisions that fished all five events in their respective divisions, along with
the top 10 student boats, top five college teams and the top five couples teams
collectively from both divisions that fished all five events in their
respective division.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Each
tournament features a $10,000 guaranteed first place prize and pays 40 places, totaling
more than $47,000. The winning team of the championship walks away with a fully
rigged bass boat valued at $45,000, and there is a $5,000 bonus cash prize for
Angler of the Year and $2,500 for runner-up Angler of the Year. According to
Donaldson, more than $566,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded when the
Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series wraps up its season in 2018.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>2018 Payout Schedule:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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First
place $10,000<o:p></o:p></div>
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Second
place $ 5,000<o:p></o:p></div>
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Third
place $ 4,000<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fourth
place $ 3,000<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fifth
place $ 2,000<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sixth
place $ 1,500<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seventh
place $ 1,100<o:p></o:p></div>
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Eighth
place $ 1,100<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ninth
place $ 1,100<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tenth
place $ 1,100<o:p></o:p></div>
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11th –
20th $ 750 each<o:p></o:p></div>
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21st –
40th $ 500 each<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anglers
who fished all five events in their respective divisions in 2017 will be given
a priority entry period from August 1 to August 14, 2017, to register online at
<a href="http://www.alabamabasstrail.org/">www.alabamabasstrail.org</a>. Registration will be open to the
public on August 15, 2017. The entry fee per tournament is $1,300 per team,
which includes registration for all five tournaments in the respective division.
Each team may choose to pay a $500 nonrefundable deposit to hold the team's
spot. The balance of $800 must be paid by January 16, 2018.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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New for
2018, the ABT Open Tournament is set for September 8, 2018, on Smith Lake.
Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County, the one-day tournament
allows teams to compete in a single tournament instead of the tournament
series, which has a five-weekend commitment. It has a $15,000 guaranteed first
place prize and a total cash payout of more than $70,000. The maximum number of
amateur boats is 250 and the entry fee is $300 per team. In addition to the
amateur teams for the first time, Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW Tour Pro
Anglers are invited to participate. The professional teams are competing for
a $7,500 winner-take-all prize for
highest finisher in the tournament. The maximum number of pro teams is 25 and
the entry fee is $300. “We are super
excited to invite these professional anglers to fish an Alabama Bass Trail
event. A good number of them follow our trail and I think we will have a good
turn out of the top anglers on each professional tour,” said Donaldson.
Registration for the ABT Open begins on January 22, 2018. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“We are
excited to introduce the first Alabama Bass Trail Open Tournament,” said
Donaldson. “One of the comments we hear often is how much anglers would like to
fish with us, but they just can't commit to five weekends. This gives them the
opportunity to fish our event and experience the quality of the event, and
hopefully when they can commit to fishing a trail, they will choose the Alabama
Bass Trail. The Chamber of Commerce of Walker County and their volunteers have
been great to work with during previous events, providing great hospitality to
our teams, and we are extremely excited to bring this new event to Smith Lake
and Walker County.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alabama
Bass Trail Tournament sponsors include Bill Penney Toyota; the Alabama Tourism
Department; Phoenix Bass Boats, Inc.; Academy Sports & Outdoors; Garmin;
Wind Creek Hospitality-Montgomery; Wind Creek Hospitality-Wetumpka; T-H Marine
Supplies, Inc.; Wedowee Marine; Alabama Power Company; Tennessee Valley
Authority; Lews Fishing; FishNeelyHenry.com; Power-Pole; YETI; Hydrowave; and AFTCO,
Inc. Pond MD will manage fish care and Southern Stream Live will be the
live-streaming company. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For more
information, call Donaldson at 855.934.7425 or visit <a href="http://www.alabamabasstrail.org/">www.alabamabasstrail.org</a>.
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<b>About Alabama Bass Trail<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The
Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist
Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year-round fishing
destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to
educate high school and college-aged students to be good stewards of natural
resources. The 13 bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Guntersville, Wheeler
Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake
Martin, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula,
and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.alabamabasstrail.org/">www.alabamabasstrail.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-71712814109569268122017-05-08T10:00:00.000-05:002017-05-08T10:00:52.860-05:00<h2>
What Decatur/Morgan County Means to Me Monday</h2>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I1pgn9Inm_M/WRCHgmDTRkI/AAAAAAAABTQ/KsE1In1UCVUiysNd-eZHC4BlcvDLzzpEACLcB/s1600/Old%2BTown%2BGateway%2BInterpretive.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I1pgn9Inm_M/WRCHgmDTRkI/AAAAAAAABTQ/KsE1In1UCVUiysNd-eZHC4BlcvDLzzpEACLcB/s320/Old%2BTown%2BGateway%2BInterpretive.JPG" width="240" /></a>It’s Monday again in Decatur and Morgan County. It is a new
month, with a new beginning, new focus, and a fresh start. Sometimes, you just
need a break. Especially, this time of
year. Spring brings visitors to Decatur and Morgan County for a variety of reasons. For many, Decatur-Morgan County is a destination for regional,
national, and even international sports tournaments and events. For some, it is
a weekend get-away or a summer bucket list destination. However, there are
individuals that are lucky enough to call Decatur and Morgan County their home.
Among those individuals is Peggy Towns, Author:
"Duty Driven. The Plight of
North Alabama's African Americans During the Civil War"<o:p></o:p></div>
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“It’s my hometown, where I was born and raised. Decatur with its charming small town flare is
a treasured gift of family, friends, and neighbors. Growing up in Old Town, the city’s oldest
neighborhood brings a great sense of pride for the community. Today’s sports, social and cultural
activities provide varied engaging opportunities; while learning activities
offered for the young and old give a great source of enlightenment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Decatur is a city of “discovery.” Understanding our Cultural Heritage is
important; from slavery to Civil War, with the organization of the first black
regiment in the State of Alabama (106th United States Colored Troops). From Reconstruction to the railroad, to the
bustling Bank and Vine Street business districts; to a once thriving community
of black professionals and ordinary people.
From Church history, to strolling in cemeteries, to watching the calming
waves of the Tennessee River. From a
ride out in the country, to the joy of finding a piece of Decatur’s history
that had long been forgotten. Decatur is
home.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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With every Monday comes a new beginning and a fresh start to
make this week the best one yet. This Monday, take a look around. Take in the
beauty around you. It’s easy to forget that we live in an area with so much
history and culture. Discover something new about Decatur-Morgan County today
and let us know what this area means to you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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History, and heritage videos, photographs, downloadable
brochures and additional links of interest about the Decatur area are available
at the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau website,
www.decaturcvb.org. Give us a call to help plan your next adventure!<o:p></o:p></div>
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River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-58490368603635342312017-04-11T13:44:00.002-05:002017-04-11T13:45:03.440-05:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Downtown Decatur’s 3<sup>rd</sup> Friday Returns April 21<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Decatur, Ala. (April 11,
2017) – Downtown Decatur’s monthly block party takes
to the streets for the first time in 2017 on Friday, April 21. 3<sup>rd</sup>
Friday kicks off the 2017 lineup with an Earth Day celebration, and each month
through October, the monthly street party brings a different theme featuring
art, entertainment, live music, a classic car cruise-in and other
family-friendly activities. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Organized by the Downtown
Merchants and Business Association, 3<sup>rd</sup>
Friday gets underway at 5:30 p.m. and the theme for the kickoff event is
Downtown Celebrates Earth Day by Giving Back. Patrons bringing canned and
non-perishable food for the Neighborhood Christian Center will receive a coupon
towards discounts at many participating downtown restaurants and boutiques. All
donations will be collected in Jones Park. During 3<sup>rd</sup> Friday,
everyone is encouraged to use the recycling bins provided by the City of
Decatur. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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While antique cars line 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue, some of the area’s best musicians and entertainers will be performing
at various locations. Performers slated for April 21 include the Decatur Youth
Symphony at the Alabama Center for the Arts, Jack Ryan and Valerie Denny at
Downtown Dawgs, Laura Alaina Key at Kathleen’s, The Chordsman at Jones Park and
Dustin Allen at Gyro Uno. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A variety of activities just for
children will be available including inflatables in the block of second Avenue
between Moulton and Johnston; visits with Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider,
Jack Frost, Tinker Bell, Aurora, Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White, Spiderman,
and Minnie Mouse from “Party Like a Princess”; and free fun provided by
Decatur-Morgan Library in Jones Park.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Craft vendors selling handmade
items and artists and artesian goods vendors will fill the area of 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue from Moulton Street to Johnston Street. Additional store specials,
giveaways, and discounts will be offered at select retailers, and many of the
merchants will remain open until 8 p.m. or later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3<sup>rd</sup> Friday is concentrated in the 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue area only (including Holly Street, Moulton Street, Johnston Street and
Grant Street). Beginning at 4:30 p.m. streets will
begin to be blocked and will be closed to traffic from 5:30 until 9:00
p.m. Antique and classic cars are asked to be in place by 5:30 p.m. For
more information on 3<sup>rd</sup> Friday, visit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/3rdfridaydowntown/">www.facebook.com/3rdfridaydowntown/</a>.
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Third Friday’s was first organized in 2009 by merchants as a
way to attract locals and visitors to the downtown area. Presenting sponsor is
Budweiser. Additional sponsors include Decatur Downtown Redevelopment
Authority, Magnolia River, Bank Independent, Decatur/Morgan County Convention
and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Cook’s Pest
Control, Morgan County Commission, Nucor Steel, 3M, Peck-Glasgow Insurance,
Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance and King Insurance Agency. The Downtown
Merchants and Business Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks
and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event
as an in-kind sponsor.<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>About The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors
Bureau (DMCCVB)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The Decatur-Morgan County
Convention & Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization promoting
tourism and economic growth in Morgan County. For information on special events
and attractions in Decatur, contact the DMCCVB at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028;
or visit its website at <a href="http://www.decaturcvb.org/"><span style="color: black;">www.decaturcvb.org</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-68092278302875416972017-03-27T15:58:00.004-05:002017-03-27T15:58:33.687-05:00<h2>
What Decatur Means to Me Monday</h2>
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With Monday comes a fresh start, a new beginning. This
Monday, and every Monday, we get to leave a little piece of ourselves in the
week. In the world. In Decatur and Morgan County. This Monday we asked David
Breland what Decatur and Morgan County meant to him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“I am David Breland and currently the Director of Historic
Resources and Events for the City of Decatur. Additionally, I am a retired
District Court Judge for Morgan County.
As a life-long resident (by choice!) of Decatur and Morgan County, I
believe this to be one of the finest places in the world in which to live! It is a wonderful place in which to raise a
family as it has hard working, generous and caring residents. We have a history that is unsurpassed in the
nation. There are many interesting,
educational and fun things to do with many of them being absolutely free of
charge. We have good health care, nice
and inexpensive housing and both tax rates and utility rates that are far below
the national average. The cost of living
makes Decatur and Morgan County a very affordable place in which to live. It is small city living that is great with
the added benefit that our location near larger cities and the good
transportation to get to those cities allows us have the benefits of both smaller
city and larger city experiences. The
rural areas of our county are quite beautiful as well with beautiful farms, the
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
throughout the county-- plus the mighty Tennessee River and its tributaries
such as Flint Creek. We don’t always
appreciate it as we should, but this is a little piece of “paradise”!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful
area with so much to see and do. Where else can you enjoy annual events like
the Alabama Jubilee hot air balloon festival, weekly and monthly events like
Third Friday Downtown, and area attractions like Point Mallard Park? Whether
you are a visitor or resident, you are part of what makes Decatur and Morgan
County such a special and unique destination. Start your new beginning this
Monday. Visit Decatur and Morgan County, AL.<o:p></o:p></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-47988938369389058782017-03-20T16:36:00.001-05:002017-03-20T16:36:10.606-05:00<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">April Walking Tours</span></h2>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Decatur has a rich and colorful history dating back to the early 1800s. To learn more about the city’s heritage, residents and visitors are invited to take part in a casual stroll through the historic Old Decatur area. Organized by the Decatur-Morgan County CVB, the free guided walking tours are held each Sa</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">turday in the month of April and each one features a different route, theme, and tour guide.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br />Scheduled for April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, the walking tour begins at 10 a.m. All tours last one hour and begin at the Old State Bank except for the April 22nd tour, which begins at the Morgan County Courthouse and will last over one hour. Knowledgeable guides will escort participants through historic neighborhoods and landmarks where they will share the history of the city and entertaining accounts of the city’s storied past. Several of the tours will also include mini tours to various museums or historic sites such as the Old State Bank, the Lafayette Street Cemetery, the Train Depot and the Morgan County Archives.<br /><br />April 1 – General history tour led by Squee Bailey.<br /><br />April 8 – Old State Bank, Lafayette Street Cemetery and the Train Depot tour led by David Breland.<br /><br />April 15 – Historic church tour led by Phil Wirey.<br /><br />April 22 – Scottsboro Boys tour led by Peggy Towns. (Tour begins at Morgan County Courthouse.)<br /><br />April 29 – Historic Bank Street and Morgan County Archives tour led by John Allison.<br /><br />Reservations are not required and tours are held rain or shine.<br /><br />Decatur’s guided walking tours are part of the April Walking Tours coordinated by the Alabama Tourism Department. Decatur is one of 28 towns across the state participating in the annual event.<br /><br />For more information, call the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 256.350.2028 or 800.524.6181.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><img alt="Image may contain: one or more people and outdoor" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17361914_10155535372711490_7446844687889699481_n.jpg?oh=6e3461be821cedc5ffe10ad9b008ad45&oe=59252E99" /></span>River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-36958174235453401832017-03-16T13:54:00.001-05:002017-03-16T13:55:12.402-05:00<h2 style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">
West Park 3D Archery Tournament and Fun Shoot</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">The Morgan County Parks and Recreation will host a 3D archery tournament and fun shoot April 1, 2017, at West Park located in Danville, Ala. The one-day tournament is open to the public and is expected to draw up to 200 archers from across northern Alabama.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">Situated along West Park’s nature trail, the tournament course layout features 20 targets, all of which will be official 2017 ASA (Archery Shooters Association) 3D targets. Each target will have a scoring area that will si<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">mulate the typical kill zone area. Each participate will have one arrow shot at each target from their designated maximum range (stake). According to ASA, ASA 3-D archery features competitive rounds of lifelike, three-dimensional animal targets made of foam. The scoring rings are not always visible from the shooting stake and binoculars are allowed. Advanced archers must determine the distance to the target, pick a good aiming point, and execute the shot.</span></span></div>
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Shooters of all ages from across northern Alabama are expected to take part in the tournament. “The West Park 3D Archery Tournament and Fun Shoot is an opportunity for local archers to participate in an event close to home and for serious competitors to get in a practice round or two a week before the next ASA Pro/Am,” said Morgan County Parks and Recreation Director Sean Dailey. Classes include Men’s Open, Men’s Hunter, Bow Novice, Women’s Open, Women’s Hunter, Traditional and Youth/NASP. First place prizes, provided by Van’s Sporting Goods, will be awarded at the conclusion of the tournament.</div>
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The cost to participate is $10 per person for tournament round and $7 per person for the fun shoot (non-tournament entry). All additional rounds are $5. Advance registration is not required. Admission is free for spectators. The shoot begins at 7 a.m. with the last scorecard going out at 2:30 p.m. A warm-up range/bags and concessions will be available.</div>
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West Park is located at 74 W Park Road in Danville, Ala. For more information on the West Park 3D Archery Tournament and Fun Shoot, call Sean Dailey at 256.560.6070.</div>
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River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-68161036420748313472017-03-06T13:36:00.004-06:002017-03-06T16:07:52.654-06:00<h2>
“What Decatur Means to Me”</h2>
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It’s Monday again. Suddenly, you just know it’s time to
start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings. With every new
beginning, there is something to be said about a place that welcomes you with
open arms— a place where you can find history, arts, beauty, amazing food,
great shopping, and new opportunities. Some go their whole lives without ever
finding that place, the place that reminds you upon arrival that you have found
your home away from home. For many others and me, that place is Decatur,
Alabama. <o:p></o:p></div>
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New places can be overwhelming when you come from a small
town, even frightening. But that’s what makes life beautiful isn’t it? A new
adventure, a new opportunity, a new chance to become the person you’re meant to
be. When you find that place, it’s a feeling like no other. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There is always something to learn and do in Decatur-Morgan
County. Where else can you find annual events like The Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air
Balloon Classic, Racking Horse Spring & World Celebrations, Hartselle Depot
Days, the Daikin Japanese Festival, and other one of a kind festivals and
celebrations? This unique area has something to offer everyone, from families
and children, history buffs, arts and culture lovers, as well as outdoor
enthusiasts. With attractions like Point Mallard Park, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge,
Delano Park, and many others, there is always a new adventure waiting to be
had. There are even museums like the Blue and Gray Museum that focus on the
Civil War to the Cook Museum of Natural Science that will soon be open. For
those seeking arts and culture, Decatur has the Princess Theatre for the
Performing Arts and the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, among other attractions.
Not to mention, you can find endless options to satisfy your dinner cravings.
If you visit Decatur-Morgan County, be assured you will not leave hungry. It’s
also the perfect place to spend a Saturday shopping. From the antique and
specialty boutiques along the Historic Shopping Districts in Decatur and
Hartselle, Decatur-Morgan County has a broad spectrum of shopping choices. <o:p></o:p></div>
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With every Monday comes a new beginning and a fresh start to
make this week the best one yet. This Monday, take a look around. Take in the
beauty around you. Sometimes we get so caught up in the everyday hustle and
bustle of the work week that we forget something: the area that we are
privileged enough to be a part of is absolutely breathtaking. There is only one
Decatur, and it’s my home away from home. What does Decatur mean to you?<br />
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Maryanne Floyd-Communications Director, Decatur CVB<br />
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River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-90435970552219911422017-02-27T15:25:00.000-06:002017-02-27T16:24:15.499-06:00What Decatur Morgan County Means to Me Monday <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Decatur and Morgan County means to me”</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Decatur,
Alabama is not my hometown, but having
lived and raised two children here in the past 30 years, it is now my home. As the celebration of the Alabama
Bicentennial begins in March 2017, the Decatur Morgan County Convention and
Visitors Bureau will be inviting guests from throughout our city and county to
share their thoughts on what Decatur and Morgan County, Alabama means to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the Decatur Morgan CVB, we are the privileged host of visitors who come seeking
a taste of the authentic, a chance to explore and play and a welcome that is
genuine. Our visitors embrace our rich history and culture at
places like the Old Bank, the Archives, the Carnegie and the Princess; they compete fiercely at Jack Allen, Wilson Morgan, Ingalls Harbor and the Celebration Arena; they
marvel at God’s creation and nature’s wonders at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge,
Delano Park and the Cook Museum of Natural Science; they savor the flavor and
charm of our unique restaurants , retail establishments and historic districts;
they enjoy family-friendly fun at events
throughout the county such as the Alabama
Jubilee, 3<sup>rd</sup> Fridays
Downtown, Hartselle Depot Days, the
Falkville Fall Festival, Music on the Square in Somerville and Eva Frontier Day
and our guests splash, golf, hit the ice, camp and play ball at Point Mallard
Park, one of Alabama’s Top 10 Tourist
Attractions!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
weekend of February 25<sup>th</sup> symbolized the spirit that makes our city
and county wonderful. There was
ground-breaking for a new Farmer’s Market in Hartselle, the Alabama Bass Trail
kicked off its Northern Division Tournament Series on Wheeler Lake, the city’s
first-ever half marathon tested the endurance of runners participating in the
Carnival Frolic, the Point Mallard Duck’s hosted a “Try Hockey for Free” event,
a 9 ball pool tournament took place, the streets of downtown Decatur were
filled with people enjoying the color and festivity of a magical Carnegie
Carnival celebration of Mardi Grass and to top it all off, it was PANCAKE
DAY! To my now grown children, Pancake
Day is one of the best and most memorable days of the year! For today’s children, I can only imagine how
awesome it must have been to have pancakes, beads, moon pies and parades
combined into one joyous day! These
events brought people of all ages and backgrounds together in celebration of
life’s simple joys that are all part of the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">fiber of who we are and the special place
we call home. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In today’s world, it is easy
to focus on what we don’t have and take for granted the bounty with which we
have been blessed. This weekend was a
reminder to take delight in our story, the beauty of our surroundings and the
creativity of our citizens! Throughout
the year, there are a multitude of events that celebrate the history and unique
flavor of our city and county. These events, held at special places throughout
Decatur and Morgan County, are part of that treasure-trove of memories come to
mind when I think about Decatur and Morgan County, Alabama. As we head into spring, I invite you to take
part in these activities as they truly define and put the “home” in “hometown.” Like the mountains of pancakes that were
cooked last Saturday, our plate is full and we are blessed beyond
abundance! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Melinda
M. Dunn-President, Decatur CVB</span></div>
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River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-26178308485536193872015-05-27T15:53:00.001-05:002015-05-27T15:53:13.308-05:00Decatur’s Free Summer Concerts Kick Off June 1 at Rhodes Ferry Park<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Decatur, Ala. (May 5, 2015) – Decatur’s popular summer
concert series is set to return in 2015, bringing friends and families together
for an evening of great music on the banks of the Tennessee River. Sponsored by
the Decatur Parks and Recreation Department, Paul Stroud Concerts by the River
offers a wide variety of musical entertainment as beautiful Rhodes Ferry Park
provides a stunning setting for this free, weekly concert series. The concert
series gets underway Monday, June 1 with concerts held each Monday through July
27.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The concert series features a broad range of musical styles
including country, oldies, bluegrass, southern rock, jazz, Big Band, and more
in the 2015 season. The opening concert on Monday, June 1 will feature crowd
favorites Taylor McLain and the Sophisticated Swingers in a performance of
classic Big Band melodies and soaring vocals. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Performances begin at 6 p.m. and usually conclude by 8 p.m.
All concerts are free and guests are welcome to bring picnic baskets, lawn
chairs or blankets and enjoy the abundance of musical talent found in the
Tennessee Valley.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The 2015 series features the following performers:</div>
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<br /></div>
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June 1<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Taylor
McLain/Sophisticated Swingers<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Crooner/Big
Band</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
June 8<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Papa
Rox<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>Oldies,
Soft Rock</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
June 15<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bimini
Road<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>Southern
Rock, Blues</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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June 22<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jeff
Whitlow<span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span>Country</div>
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<br /></div>
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June 29<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dorothy
Cole and Friends<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Tribute</div>
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<br /></div>
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July 6<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Dixie
Bluegrass/Robert Montgomery<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Bluegrass </div>
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<br /></div>
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July 13<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Decatur
Youth Symphony/Replay<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Classical/Oldies
and </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 8;"> </span>Southern
Country Harmony</div>
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<br /></div>
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July 20<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Reginald
Jackson and Friends<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>Smooth
Jazz</div>
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<br /></div>
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July 27<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Ben
Parker Project<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>Southern
Rock</div>
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<br /></div>
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Complete schedule information can be found at <a href="http://www.decaturparks.com/">www.decaturparks.com</a> or can be obtained
by contacting 256-341-4818 or <a href="mailto:dbreland@decatur-al.gov">dbreland@decatur-al.gov</a>.
Information on concerts will also be posted on the Facebook pages of the
Decatur Parks and Recreation Department and the Decatur-Morgan County
Convention and Visitors Bureau. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Funding for the 2015 concert series is provided in part by a
donation from Ms. Edna Smith in memory of her d<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>aughter,
Frances Smith. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The concert series originated in 1991 and now bears the name
of the late Paul Stroud, a founding member of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sophisticated Swingers</i> who encouraged local musical talent and
served as the series Coordinator for many years. His legacy lives on through
this cherished summer tradition. Special thanks to the many wonderful musical
artists who make this evening of family-friendly fun possible.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e9umCjUoz3c/VWYuoQ_opJI/AAAAAAAABPg/BIClRPQTZHE/s1600/DCVB_Concert_River_June1_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e9umCjUoz3c/VWYuoQ_opJI/AAAAAAAABPg/BIClRPQTZHE/s320/DCVB_Concert_River_June1_Poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-58039293803943818262015-05-14T10:01:00.004-05:002015-05-14T10:01:49.109-05:00Friday Fun in Downtown Decatur<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Decatur, Ala. (May 12, 2015) – The merchants of downtown
Decatur will host its 3<sup>rd</sup> Friday this week, May 15<sup>th</sup>,
filling the historic downtown area with music, food, art, and more. As
attendees enjoy the downtown ambiance, a variety of special activities are
planned offering everything from fun and fashion to music and motorcycles. </div>
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<span style="color: black;">Downtown Decatur 3<sup>rd</sup>
Friday gets underway at 5 p.m. and </span>festivalgoers are invited to spend
the evening looking at a wide variety of antique cars along 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue while enjoying some of the area’s best musicians throughout the downtown
area and inside many restaurants. Performers include Chris Simmons at Simp
McGhee’s, Derek Blagburn on the patio at The Brick, Chandler Brown and The
Liberty Boys on Moulton Street by Downtown Dawgs, Of Kith and Kin on Second Avenue
by the Princess Theatre, Christian Herring Band on Second Avenue by The Antique
Basket, The Chordsman in the 800 block of Bank Street, Ally Burgess in the 700
block of Bank Street, Decatur Youth Symphony Small Ensemble in the 600 block of
Band Street, and the Morgan County Dulcimer Association by the Old State Bank.</div>
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For children, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center will have
activities and art on Bank Street, along with a demonstration by Webster’s
Karate Studio, and in the 500 block, CASA on the Green will host children’s
local favorite band, Tangerine Tambourine. A caricature artist and face
painting will also provide entertainment during the evening.</div>
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For the fashionistas, there will be a fashion show at 7 p.m.
in front of Casa Grande Park on Second Avenue. Presented by Beautiful Edge,
transformations by Erin, and the Alabama Fashion Alliance, the runway-style
show will feature selections from Indigo’s, Jar & Co., Jewelry by Lorelai
Kolarik, and special guest designer and founder of AFA, LeJune.</div>
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Shopping in downtown Decatur is plentiful and many of the
merchants will remain open late during the 3<sup>rd</sup> Friday celebration.
Craft vendors selling handmade items will fill Casa Grande Park and Jones Park
on 2<sup>nd</sup> Avenue. The Cupboard, located on Bank Street, will host Fox
Point Farms who will be offering free samples of their amazing goat milk
caramels and caramel sauce and there will be baby goats on hand to add to the
fun. The Paper Chase will give a gift with any Vera Bradley purchase and Glee Interiors
will have a sidewalk sale with 75% off discounts. Downtown Dawgs will have free
kids nachos with the purchase of a combo meal. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></div>
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Throughout the evening, the 700 block of Bank Street will be
filled with a variety of motorcycles provided by the North Alabama Vintage Motorcycle
Club and festivalgoers can shop among the many antique vendors set up in the
800 block. Non-profit organizations will be featured in the 500 block where
festivalgoers can drop by and learn more about what is offered in Decatur and
Morgan County.</div>
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Participating streets in 3<sup>rd</sup> Fridays include 2<sup>nd</sup>
Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston streets. MCATS will provide
transportation between Bank Street and Second Avenue for $1 per person, per
ride. Pickup locations are at the Alabama Center for the Arts parking lot on
Second Avenue and beside Tammy Eddy Antiques and Interiors on Bank Street.</div>
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Third Friday’s was first organized in 2009 by merchants as a
way to attract locals and visitors to the downtown area. The Downtown Merchants
Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department
for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor. Presenting
sponsor is Budweiser. Additional sponsors include Decatur Downtown
Redevelopment Authority, Bank Independent, Decatur/Morgan County Convention and
Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Morgan County
Commission, Nucor Steel, 3M, Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, Beautiful
Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, and King Insurance Agency.</div>
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For more information, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993
or visit 3<sup>rd</sup> Friday’s Facebook page for the latest information. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cbV-67vbcxQ/VVS4zVB-_dI/AAAAAAAABOw/D53vJ75x9Bk/s1600/DCVB_3rdFriday_May_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cbV-67vbcxQ/VVS4zVB-_dI/AAAAAAAABOw/D53vJ75x9Bk/s320/DCVB_3rdFriday_May_Poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-72766651427341963102015-05-12T10:08:00.001-05:002015-05-12T10:08:50.110-05:00Celebrate Memorial Day with Balloons, Water, Music, and More <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black;">Decatur, Ala. – The Alabama
Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic has been flying for 37 years in Decatur, Ala. offering
plenty of free family fun during Memorial Day weekend. A two-day celebration
filled with hot air balloons, live music, tractors, a military tribute, arts and
crafts and other activities, this year’s Alabama Jubilee is set for May 23-24,
2015, and in between Jubilee activities, festivalgoers are encouraged to take a
dip and cool off at the Point Mallard Waterpark. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The Memorial Day celebration
begins bright and early on Saturday, May 23 at 6:30 a.m. with the Hare and
Hound Balloon Race. Saturday’s activities include an antique car show, arts and
crafts show, and </span>the Southland Flywheelers will host a tractor show
featuring some of the best restored and maintained tractors in the Southeast,
engine demonstrations, a tractor parade, pedal tractor pull, and tractor games<span style="color: black;">. At dusk, the Balloon Glow is a must see as towering
balloons of all colors light up Point Mallard Park. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Another round of friendly
competition between the hot air balloon pilots is scheduled for Sunday, May 24
beginning at 6:30 a.m. with the Lynn Layton Chevrolet Hot-Air Balloon Key Grab
Race. Sunday’s activities include an arts and crafts show and a military
tribute for fallen soldiers. For those who want to experience the magic of a
balloon ride, free tethered rides are offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and a
spectacular fireworks show is set to launch at 9:30 p.m.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Live music fills the air during
the two-day event </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">featuring
JED Eye (</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/JEDEyeRockBand"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">www.facebook.com/JEDEyeRockBand</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">) and Four on the Floor (</span><a href="http://www.4-floor.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">www.4-floor.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">) on Saturday and the Ben Parker Project (</span><a href="http://www.benparkerproject.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">www.benparkerproject.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">) and Natchez Trace (</span><a href="http://www.thenatcheztraceband.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">www.thenatcheztraceband.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">) on Sunday. There will be a military
tribute featuring a presentation by the local chapter of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars and a ceremony for Wounded Warriors in honor of Memorial Day. T</span><span style="color: black;">he Decatur Art Guild arts and crafts show offering only
original works will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on
Sunday in the Pavilion. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Free parking will be available at
GE with shuttle service to Point Mallard Park from 4 to 10 p.m. for a nominal
fee each way. Admission to the Alabama Jubilee is free. Please note all balloon
activities are weather permitting. </span></div>
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Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. All activities take place in
Point Mallard Park, a 750-acre municipal park providing year round recreation
facilities in Decatur, Ala. For more information and a schedule of events,
visit </span><a href="http://www.alabamajubilee.net/"><span style="color: black;">www.alabamajubilee.net</span></a><span style="color: black;">. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Opening day for the Point Mallard
Waterpark is Saturday, May 23. With plenty of water action, the waterpark
offers a welcoming reprieve from the warm temperatures summer brings. The
Waterpark is open daily beginning May 23 to August 10 with hours 10 a.m. to 8
p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all other days. General
admission is $20 for adults (ages 12-61 years old), $15 for youth (ages 5 to 11
years old), $15 for seniors (62+) and military, with half price days offered
Monday through Thursday (excluding holidays). For more information, visit </span><a href="http://www.pointmallardpark.com/">www.pointmallardpark.com</a><span style="color: black;"> or call 256.341.4900.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqF1T347YM8/VVIXbhCXhfI/AAAAAAAABOc/FzIX7bv09ls/s1600/balloonglow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqF1T347YM8/VVIXbhCXhfI/AAAAAAAABOc/FzIX7bv09ls/s320/balloonglow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-41123347562893652922015-05-11T16:44:00.001-05:002015-05-11T16:44:39.804-05:00Daikin Celebrates Japanese Heritage with a Free Festival for the Public<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Decatur, Ala. (May 7,
2015) – For the past 20 years, Daikin America has entertained families with a
free event in celebration of its Japanese heritage. Set for Friday, May 22,
2015, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Decatur, the
Daikin Festival offers festivalgoers of all ages an opportunity to experience Japanese
culture through festive music, exhibits, and food.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Throughout the evening,
festivalgoers can participate in Japanese folk dances and enjoy live
traditional Japanese music as well as dance away to country, Cajun, rock &
roll, and big band. For those who really want to get in the festive spirit,
wear a happi coat – a cloth jacket, usually containing an emblem, family crest,
or logo on the back. The highlight of the festival each year is when Daikin
employees take the stage with their amazing Japanese Taiko Drums performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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Along with traditional
festival food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and soft drinks, festivalgoers are
treated to Cajun jambalaya, barbeque sandwiches, and Japanese Yakisoba, a
stir-fried mix of noodles, cabbage, carrots, and beef. All food and drinks are
free of charge. </div>
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<br /></div>
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During the festival, festivalgoers
can learn more about Daikin America from various displays of product exhibits.
Other displays include the Daikin Homestay Program, a program where area
students and teachers travel to Japan for a two-week stay. Free tethered hot-air
balloon rides are also available, weather permitting. The festivities conclude
with a grand prize drawing for a free vacation at 8:45 p.m.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In addition to free
parking around the fairgrounds, free round-trip shuttle service will be
provided to the fairgrounds from Decatur Mall and Austin High School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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For more information on
the Daikin Festival, contact Daikin America Community Relations Manager Forrest
Keith at 256.306.5000.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About Daikin America, Inc.</b></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
Daikin America is a
leading global supplier of PTFE Molding and Fine Powders and Dispersions.
Daikin also specializes in FEP, PFA, ETFE, PCTFE, EFEP, Fluoroelastomers and
Unidyne oil and water repellents. Daikin also is home of the largest solar
power installation in Alabama. Daikin is committed to good corporate
citizenship, providing new employment opportunities at its various sites. For
more information, visit www.daikin-america.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X45qEhJR4gI/VVEim79dnLI/AAAAAAAABOI/-4ALYHE8oJQ/s1600/Daikintaeko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X45qEhJR4gI/VVEim79dnLI/AAAAAAAABOI/-4ALYHE8oJQ/s320/Daikintaeko.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-91997219125677186102015-05-01T10:00:00.002-05:002015-05-01T10:00:37.601-05:00Austin High Graduate to Help Coach Team to a SWAC Championship Wilson Morgan Softball Complex will host 2015 SWAC Softball Tournament May 6-9.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Decatur, Ala. – As part of a three-year commitment, Wilson
Morgan Softball Complex will be the sight for the Southwestern Athletic
Conference (SWAC) softball tournament championship May 6-9, 2015. The
Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Decatur’s
Parks and Recreation Department will host the event for more than 200 student-athletes
and coaches, along with their families, traveling from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas,
Mississippi, and Alabama.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The top eight teams in the SWAC East and West divisions
qualify for the 13-game double-elimination tournament and teams are seeded
based on regular season results among the conference play. Vying for the title
from the East Division is Jackson State, Alabama State, Mississippi Valley
State and Alabama A&M University who is coached by two individuals with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">north Alabama connections</b>, Austin High
School graduate Sara Winton-Denard and Madison native Roy Foreman. The West
Division is still in regular season play and the tournament bracket has not
been determined.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Winton-Denard is in her sixth season as an assistant coach,
and her second season as part of the Alabama A&M University’s program.
Specializing in pitching and catching, She graduated from Austin High School in
2001 when she signed to become a Lady Buc. She was a lead pitcher for Shelton
State with an ERA averaging 1.045. When not in the circle, she was a consistent
hitter for her team with a batting average over .300. Before coming to the
university, she coached many high school students that are now college athletes
and made a Regional appearance. She is a graduate of the NCAA Women’s Coaching
Academy and has completed her Associates of Science, as well as her bachelors in
Secondary Education Social Sciences. She is currently furthering her education
with a graduate degree in Athletic Administration.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Foreman is in his first year as a volunteer assistant coach
for the Lady Bulldogs Softball Program. He comes to Alabama A&M University
after spending one year as the hitting coach for Pope John Paul II High School,
where he helped lead them to their first 5A regional softball appearance in
school history. Foreman works as a systems engineer for NASA at Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. and also operates Madison Softball Academy
where he specializes in softball hitting for college, high school and middle
school players. Foreman earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering
from Alabama A&M University and he is also the recipient of several distinguished
engineering awards from BEYA, NSBE and IEEE for his contributions to the
engineering society.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Championship game time is 2 p.m. CST on May 9<sup>th</sup>.
The championship game will receive live coverage on ESPN3 and tape delay on
ESPNU at 9 p.m. CST. <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ESPN3 is
available to 83 million households via the multi-screen network platform, which
is available online at the WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets with the
WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox Live. ESPN3 broadcasts are carried by
Time Warner Cable, Cablevision and Verizon. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Last year, Texas Southern University claimed the
championship title, knocking off defending champion Mississippi Valley State
University whose roster contains <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">two
north Alabama natives</b>: Tenna Patterson of Lexington and Brianna Johnson of
Guin. For more information, including a tournament schedule and live stats,
visit <a href="http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=209897103">www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=209897103</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Daily admission is $10/adult and $3/child and weekend passes
are $25/adult and $10/child. Parking is free. Spectators should park and enter
through the main gate off of Sandlin Road. Wilson Morgan Softball Complex
features six lighted fields, centrally located concessions, quad, press box and
batting cages. Each field has a clay infield and beautiful grass, maintained by
electronically controlled underground irrigation systems. Located at 300
Beltline Road, the facility can seat over 2,000 spectators with additional
seating available. For more information on Wilson Morgan Softball Complex,
visit <a href="http://www.decaturparks.com/">www.decaturparks.com</a> or <a href="http://www.decaturmorgansports.com/">www.decaturmorgansports.com</a>. </div>
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<br /></div>
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This will be the third appearance of the tournament in
Decatur. Wilson Morgan Softball Complex served as host venue in 2013 and 2014,
generating over $200,000 in revenue each year for Decatur and Morgan County.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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For more information, contact Decatur-Morgan County
Convention and Visitors Bureau President/CEO Melinda Dunn at 256.350.2028 or
800.524.6181.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">About SWAC</b></div>
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Founded in 1920, the Southwestern Athletic Conference, made
up of 10 historically black colleges and universities, consist of (East
Division) Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Alcorn State
University, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, and
(West Division) University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Grambling State
University, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University and A&M
College, and Texas Southern University. For more information about SWAC, visit <a href="http://www.swac.org/">www.swac.org</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KZLCowoKWI/VUOU-lpxiTI/AAAAAAAABNo/uxHnyHzWJgU/s1600/15SWACsoftball_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9KZLCowoKWI/VUOU-lpxiTI/AAAAAAAABNo/uxHnyHzWJgU/s1600/15SWACsoftball_c.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-30003137471029652762015-04-28T08:21:00.003-05:002015-04-28T08:21:47.256-05:00Alabama Soccer Association’s State Cup Tournaments Return to Decatur in May <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Decatur, Ala. (April 21,
2015) – Hundreds of youth soccer players from across the state of Alabama will
make their way to Decatur the first two weekends in May for the Alabama Soccer
Association (ASA) Division I and Division II State Cup tournaments. The
Division I State Cup First Round (U13-U14) and Division II State Cup
Preliminaries (U10-U13) will take place May 2-3, 2015, with the Division I
State Cup Final Four (U13-U14) and Division II State Cup Final Four (U13 only)
following May 9-10. All tournaments will take place at the Jack Allen Recreation
Complex.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Division I tournament is
a top level qualifying event with winners advancing to regional tournaments <span style="color: black;">where an invitation to the US Youth Soccer National
Championships – the crown jewel of competitive youth soccer - is on the line.
The Division II tournament decides which teams are Division II state champions
and will represent Alabama in the USYSA Region III President’s Cup, which will
take place in June 2015 in Lafayette, La. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">ASA is the governing body for
all soccer clubs in Alabama who qualify to participate in these events. For
more information on the State Cup tournaments, visit the ASA’s website at <a href="http://www.alsoccer.org/">www.alsoccer.org</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Decatur has played host to
the ASA’s youth soccer tournaments since 2007, except in 2011 when the city of
Decatur withdrew from hosting because of the devastation and hotel demand from
the April tornado outbreak. Previous tournaments have produced an economic
impact of over $220K for the city of Decatur, bringing in athletes and their
families who stayed in local hotels, made purchases in gas stations and
convenience stores, and dined in restaurants over the course of two weekends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The Jack Allen Recreation
Complex contains 10 international size lighted fields with laser-graded
certified sports turf and a computerized irrigation system. With the additional
fields located in Point Mallard Park, Decatur has quickly become known
nationally as a top rated soccer tournament location. For more information on
the Jack Allen Recreation Complex, visit <a href="http://www.decatursports.com/">www.decatursports.com</a>
or <a href="http://www.decaturmorgansports.com/">www.decaturmorgansports.com</a>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HtBnEIjAN2w/VT-JXz67I9I/AAAAAAAABNU/naIBN0VhuSA/s1600/15StateCuplogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HtBnEIjAN2w/VT-JXz67I9I/AAAAAAAABNU/naIBN0VhuSA/s1600/15StateCuplogo.png" /></a></div>
River Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09071159168512396134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060120182950849953.post-60780150610994078932015-04-19T16:58:00.003-05:002015-04-19T16:58:31.039-05:00Jimmy Johns Tennis Center to Host ACCC and AHSAA State Championships <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black;">Decatur, Ala. (April 9, 2015) –
This month, hundreds of high school and collegiate tennis players will make
their way to the Jimmy Johns Tennis Center located in the heart of Point
Mallard Park for three separate tournaments. The Alabama Community College
Conference (ACCC) Region XXII tennis state championship will take to the courts
the this weekend, April 10-11, with the Alabama High School Athletic
Association (AHSAA) 1A-2A-3A tennis state championship following on April 20-21.
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Three men’s teams and three women’s
teams are expected to compete in the ACCC competition April 10-11 where an
invitation to Nationals is on the line. This will be the fifth appearance for
the ACCC Tennis State Championship in Decatur. The Jimmy Johns Tennis Center began
hosting the prestigious event in 2011. Faulkner State, Marion Military
Institute, and Snead State will have women’s teams competing. Men’s teams
looking to capture the title will be from Faulkner State, Gadsden State, and
Marion Military Institute. On Friday, April 10, a coaches’ meeting is set for 2
p.m. with the first round of doubles and singles starting immediately after the
meeting. Play resumes at approximately 10 a.m. the next morning. For more
information on ACCC, visit its website at <a href="http://www.acccathletics.com/">www.acccathletics.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">The Jimmy Johns Tennis Center will
host the AHSAA Tennis State Class 1A-2A-3A Tournament April 20-21, making it
the sixth appearance for an AHSAA state championship in Decatur. Approximately 20
teams will take part in the high school competition, which gets underway on
Monday morning, April 20 with matches held until sunset. For more information,
visit <a href="http://www.ahsaa.com/">www.ahsaa.com</a>. Combined, these
tournaments should produce an economic impact of over $75K for the city of
Decatur and Morgan County.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In addition, Austin High School
hosted a tennis tournament the first weekend, April 3-4, 2015. Twenty-nine
teams representing 14 schools participated in the Austin High School tennis
tournament held at the Jimmy Johns Tennis Center April 3-4, 2015. Austin’s Cade
Pressnell won the boys No. 1 singles final and Anna Quinn Weaver from Decatur
High School won the No. 2 singles final. Decatur’s Anna Quinn Weaver and Ivey
Katherine Weaver won the No. 1 doubles final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More results are as follows:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Boys</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">1<sup>st</sup> – Huntsville</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">2<sup>nd</sup> – James Clemens</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">3<sup>rd</sup> – Auburn A</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">4<sup>th</sup> – Florence,
Cookville</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">6<sup>th</sup> – Hewitt-Trussville,
Russellville</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">8<sup>th</sup>- Austin, Cullman,
Northridge</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">11<sup>th</sup> – Hillcrest</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">12<sup>th</sup> – Westpoint,
Auburn B</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">14<sup>th</sup> – Decatur, Hartselle</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Girls</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">1<sup>st</sup> – Huntsville</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">2<sup>nd</sup> – Hillcrest</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">3<sup>rd</sup> – Deshler</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">4<sup>th</sup> – Decatur</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">5<sup>th</sup>- Florence,
Northridge</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">7<sup>th</sup> – Cullman</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">8<sup>th</sup> – Hartselle</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">9<sup>th</sup> – Decatur Heritage</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">10<sup>th</sup> – Hewitt
Trussville, Cookville</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">12<sup>th</sup> – James Clemens,
Westpoint</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">14<sup>th</sup> - Austin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Located adjacent to the Point
Mallard Waterpark, the Jimmy Johns Tennis Center contains four clay and
fourteen hard courts including two indoor courts. The venue also includes
meeting space and a pro shop. For more information on the Jimmy Johns Tennis
Center, visit <a href="http://www.decatursports.com/">www.decatursports.com</a>
or <a href="http://www.decaturmorgansports.com/">www.decaturmorgansports.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">About The Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitors
Bureau (DMCCVB)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">The Decatur-Morgan County
Convention & Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit organization promoting
tourism and economic growth in Morgan County. </span><span style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">For information on special events and attractions in
Decatur, contact the DMCCVB at 800.524.6181 or 256.350.2028; or visit its
website at <a href="http://www.decaturcvb.org/"><span style="color: black;">www.decaturcvb.org</span></a>
and click on the “Things to Do” link.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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