by Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau conducted the following business Thursday:
Reported it had a net income of $12,514 in May and a net loss of $34,722 for the eight months of the current fiscal year.
Reported the city received $69,447 in lodging taxes in March, down 29 percent from the same month in 2008 (one hotel had not made its payment yet). Lodging taxes are down 10 percent for the year.
Reported the $2-per-night occupancy tax collected $36,341 in March, down 15.9 percent from the same month in 2008.
Reported room occupancy rates for all Decatur hotels was 44 percent in March, down from 60 percent in March 2008.
Announced it will make an audio guide to Decatur’s Civil War Walking Trail, “A Hard Nut to Crack,” available for MP3 downloads by the end of the month, and is looking at making CDs available for the Historic Decatur Tour, to be played in vehicles.
Reported that People magazine had a small feature on and recipe from Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q in its June edition.
Friday, June 26, 2009
NAIA wants Decatur for soccer tourney, but press box a must
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Decatur recreation and tourism officials in May warned that the city needs to enhance the Jack Allen Soccer Complex with a press box to lure future tournaments.
They now can couple that warning with a letter from the NAIA men’s soccer championship.
It would like to play in Decatur in 2010 and 2011, but not without a press box, said Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Decatur Parks and Recreation estimates the press box would cost $150,000.
The men’s championship should generate a $1 million economic impact for both years, Reist said, so it looks like the tournament would pay for the press box.
The city has plans to spend $250,000 for parking/drainage enhancements at Ingalls Harbor this year.
Press box or parking?
That money would come from revenues generated by hotels’ $2-per-night room occupancy tax.
Some bureau board members said the press box should take priority over parking at Ingalls.
They noted the city wouldn’t need the press box in place until November 2010.
Reist said the NAIA needs confirmation by Aug. 3 that the city will commit to building a press box.
Decatur recreation and tourism officials in May warned that the city needs to enhance the Jack Allen Soccer Complex with a press box to lure future tournaments.
They now can couple that warning with a letter from the NAIA men’s soccer championship.
It would like to play in Decatur in 2010 and 2011, but not without a press box, said Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Decatur Parks and Recreation estimates the press box would cost $150,000.
The men’s championship should generate a $1 million economic impact for both years, Reist said, so it looks like the tournament would pay for the press box.
The city has plans to spend $250,000 for parking/drainage enhancements at Ingalls Harbor this year.
Press box or parking?
That money would come from revenues generated by hotels’ $2-per-night room occupancy tax.
Some bureau board members said the press box should take priority over parking at Ingalls.
They noted the city wouldn’t need the press box in place until November 2010.
Reist said the NAIA needs confirmation by Aug. 3 that the city will commit to building a press box.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Beautification winners
by Amanda Irle, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The Decatur Landscape and Beautification Department gave beautification awards Wednesday to 81 properties in the city, 16 more properties than last year. The recipients in various categories are:
Commercial, less than two acres: Burchfield Place; Cook’s Pest Control; Decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau; The Decatur Daily; deLoain New York Salon and Spa; Express Oil Change; Hospice of the Valley; Innovative Eyecare LLC; Lentz, Whitmire, House & Propst LLP; Drake & Murphree Family & Cosmetic Dentistry; Nephrology of North Alabama PC; North Alabama Industrial Development Board; Braswell, Pella Bella ‘410 Plaza’; Potter Eyecare; Ronald Terry Electric; Shelton Funeral Home; Talley, Mauldin & Peete PC; Temple Inc; AT&T; Cricket by the Creek; Progress Tower; French Door Day Spa; Surgery Center of Decatur.
Commercial, more than two acres: City View Estates; Decatur General Hospital; Deer Foot Estates; Greystone Properties of Decatur LLC; Longview Plaza; Parkside Plaza; Parkway Medical Center; Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.
Churches: Central Park Baptist Church; Central United Methodist Church; Decatur Baptist Church; Decatur Christian Fellowship; First Baptist Church; First United Methodist Church; King’s Memorial United Methodist Church; Parkview Baptist Church; Somerville Road Church of Christ; Southside Baptist Church; St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Container Beauty: Blackburn, Maloney & Schuppert LLC; Baron’s; Changes Salon; Chel’den’s Gift Emporium; Elite Travel; J. Ross the Florist; The Paper Chase; Sykes Place on Bank.
Financial: Raymond James Financial Services; Bank Independent; CB&S Bank; Family Security Credit Union; Peoples Bank; Peoples Bank of North Alabama; Redstone Federal Credit Union; Regions Bank; Renasant Bank.
Government: Decatur City Hall; Fort Decatur Recreational Center; MCATS; Morgan County Commission on Aging; Morgan County Courthouse; The Old State Bank; Rose Garden at Delano Park; Turner-Surles Community Center.
Apartments/hotels: Granada Apartments; Home-Towne Suites; Jordan-Neill Apartments; Microtel Inn & Suites.
Restaurants and clubs: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar; Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q (Danville Road Southwest); Burger King (Sixth Avenue Southeast and Beltline Road Southwest); Chick-fil-A; Chili’s Grill and Bar LLC; Hardee’s (Sixth Avenue Southeast); McDonald’s (Sixth Avenue Southeast and Danville Road Southwest); Red Lobster; Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburger’s.
The Decatur Landscape and Beautification Department gave beautification awards Wednesday to 81 properties in the city, 16 more properties than last year. The recipients in various categories are:
Commercial, less than two acres: Burchfield Place; Cook’s Pest Control; Decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau; The Decatur Daily; deLoain New York Salon and Spa; Express Oil Change; Hospice of the Valley; Innovative Eyecare LLC; Lentz, Whitmire, House & Propst LLP; Drake & Murphree Family & Cosmetic Dentistry; Nephrology of North Alabama PC; North Alabama Industrial Development Board; Braswell, Pella Bella ‘410 Plaza’; Potter Eyecare; Ronald Terry Electric; Shelton Funeral Home; Talley, Mauldin & Peete PC; Temple Inc; AT&T; Cricket by the Creek; Progress Tower; French Door Day Spa; Surgery Center of Decatur.
Commercial, more than two acres: City View Estates; Decatur General Hospital; Deer Foot Estates; Greystone Properties of Decatur LLC; Longview Plaza; Parkside Plaza; Parkway Medical Center; Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.
Churches: Central Park Baptist Church; Central United Methodist Church; Decatur Baptist Church; Decatur Christian Fellowship; First Baptist Church; First United Methodist Church; King’s Memorial United Methodist Church; Parkview Baptist Church; Somerville Road Church of Christ; Southside Baptist Church; St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Container Beauty: Blackburn, Maloney & Schuppert LLC; Baron’s; Changes Salon; Chel’den’s Gift Emporium; Elite Travel; J. Ross the Florist; The Paper Chase; Sykes Place on Bank.
Financial: Raymond James Financial Services; Bank Independent; CB&S Bank; Family Security Credit Union; Peoples Bank; Peoples Bank of North Alabama; Redstone Federal Credit Union; Regions Bank; Renasant Bank.
Government: Decatur City Hall; Fort Decatur Recreational Center; MCATS; Morgan County Commission on Aging; Morgan County Courthouse; The Old State Bank; Rose Garden at Delano Park; Turner-Surles Community Center.
Apartments/hotels: Granada Apartments; Home-Towne Suites; Jordan-Neill Apartments; Microtel Inn & Suites.
Restaurants and clubs: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar; Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q (Danville Road Southwest); Burger King (Sixth Avenue Southeast and Beltline Road Southwest); Chick-fil-A; Chili’s Grill and Bar LLC; Hardee’s (Sixth Avenue Southeast); McDonald’s (Sixth Avenue Southeast and Danville Road Southwest); Red Lobster; Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburger’s.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
June Walking tours explore Decatur's history through stories and architecture
From the Decatur Daily
On Saturday mornings in June, you can explore downtown Decatur through free guided walking tours sponsored by the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Take a walk through history as local storytellers and others guide visitors and natives on a one-hour tour June 6, 13, 20 and 27.
Each tour is different, said Squee Bailey, sales coordinator for the bureau, so you can attend all four and learn something new.
Knowledgeable guides will escort participants through the Old Decatur Historic District, sharing neighborhood history, architecture, entertaining stories and even some “tall tales” from Decatur’s past. The walking tours will begin at 10 a.m. at the Old State Bank on Bank Street Northeast.
The guides will be:
June 6: Melinda Dunn of Old State Bank
June 13: Sara Alice Godwin
June 20: Carol Chenault
June 27: Phil Wirey
The tours are held in conjunction with a statewide walking tour campaign implemented by the Alabama Tourism Department
The tours will continue rain or shine. For more information, call 350-2028 or 800-524-6181.
On Saturday mornings in June, you can explore downtown Decatur through free guided walking tours sponsored by the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Take a walk through history as local storytellers and others guide visitors and natives on a one-hour tour June 6, 13, 20 and 27.
Each tour is different, said Squee Bailey, sales coordinator for the bureau, so you can attend all four and learn something new.
Knowledgeable guides will escort participants through the Old Decatur Historic District, sharing neighborhood history, architecture, entertaining stories and even some “tall tales” from Decatur’s past. The walking tours will begin at 10 a.m. at the Old State Bank on Bank Street Northeast.
The guides will be:
June 6: Melinda Dunn of Old State Bank
June 13: Sara Alice Godwin
June 20: Carol Chenault
June 27: Phil Wirey
The tours are held in conjunction with a statewide walking tour campaign implemented by the Alabama Tourism Department
The tours will continue rain or shine. For more information, call 350-2028 or 800-524-6181.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Celebration Arena to host Charity Horse Show
By Shelley Sedlak, Chatterbox, The Decatur Daily
Saddle up
Cowboys and cowgirls will want to dust off their saddles and cowboy hats and make plans to attend the Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show at Celebration Arena.
Beginning Wednesday, juveniles, amateurs and professionals will compete in open class competitions during one of the largest saddlebred shows in the Southeast. Show-goers will likely see hundreds of American saddlebreds, hackneys and road horses from numerous states.
Charles Byron, co-chairman, says, “There are not many saddlebred barns in this area. With the Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show, we hope to introduce this type of horse to the North Alabama region.”
Junior League is excited about the show, not only for the beautiful horses, but also for the fact that the proceeds will benefit The Playground for All Children project at Delano Park. Show hours are nightly at 6:30 with additional shows at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.
For more information about the show, contact Byron at 654-0142. For more information about the playground, call 350-1917
Saddle up
Cowboys and cowgirls will want to dust off their saddles and cowboy hats and make plans to attend the Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show at Celebration Arena.
Beginning Wednesday, juveniles, amateurs and professionals will compete in open class competitions during one of the largest saddlebred shows in the Southeast. Show-goers will likely see hundreds of American saddlebreds, hackneys and road horses from numerous states.
Charles Byron, co-chairman, says, “There are not many saddlebred barns in this area. With the Alabama Charity Championship Horse Show, we hope to introduce this type of horse to the North Alabama region.”
Junior League is excited about the show, not only for the beautiful horses, but also for the fact that the proceeds will benefit The Playground for All Children project at Delano Park. Show hours are nightly at 6:30 with additional shows at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.
For more information about the show, contact Byron at 654-0142. For more information about the playground, call 350-1917
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Visitors bureau named top tourism group in state
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau was named the 2008 Organization of the Year among the state’s tourism industry. 
The Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel recognized the local bureau for excelling in all areas of tourism. Travelers spent $176.5 million in Morgan County in 2007, the state bureau said, representing a 10 percent increase from 2006.
“The success of the CVB is contingent on so many individuals, starting at the top with our board of directors,” said Tami Reist, local bureau president. “We are very fortunate to have strong, passionate leaders who understand the nuts and bolts of the tourism and travel industry.”
Reist also credited her staff’s commitment, passion and willingness to serve “beyond the call of duty” for all events, large and small.
The Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel recognized the local bureau for excelling in all areas of tourism. Travelers spent $176.5 million in Morgan County in 2007, the state bureau said, representing a 10 percent increase from 2006.“The success of the CVB is contingent on so many individuals, starting at the top with our board of directors,” said Tami Reist, local bureau president. “We are very fortunate to have strong, passionate leaders who understand the nuts and bolts of the tourism and travel industry.”
Reist also credited her staff’s commitment, passion and willingness to serve “beyond the call of duty” for all events, large and small.
Events
The staff lured unique events such as the Stihl Timbersports lumberjack competition and the Downtown Decatur Criterium bike races, as well as numerous soccer, softball and tennis tournaments.
Criteria for the award include outstanding performance, outstanding economic impact statistics, quality and effective marketing efforts, and additions and/or improvements to increase the appeal of the community to tourists.
The state lauded the local bureau for starting a service for reserving hotel rooms for major events like soccer tournaments. To date, that service has received more than 7,000 reservations.
Decatur was host to four major fishing tournaments in 2007, has scheduled to handle 10 in 2008 and already has seven lined up for 2009.
The state also praised the local bureau for working outside its county borders, such as working with the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce to coordinate and house successful cross-country events at Oakville.
The staff lured unique events such as the Stihl Timbersports lumberjack competition and the Downtown Decatur Criterium bike races, as well as numerous soccer, softball and tennis tournaments.
Criteria for the award include outstanding performance, outstanding economic impact statistics, quality and effective marketing efforts, and additions and/or improvements to increase the appeal of the community to tourists.
The state lauded the local bureau for starting a service for reserving hotel rooms for major events like soccer tournaments. To date, that service has received more than 7,000 reservations.
Decatur was host to four major fishing tournaments in 2007, has scheduled to handle 10 in 2008 and already has seven lined up for 2009.
The state also praised the local bureau for working outside its county borders, such as working with the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce to coordinate and house successful cross-country events at Oakville.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Decatur- Morgan Visitors Bureau names director of special events
by Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced Kayla Kiser Riggs as its new director of special events and sports marketing.
Riggs joined the bureau in March and will serve as the its liaison to special events in Morgan County as well as assist in attracting new sporting events.
Riggs previously worked at StoneRiver, where she served as inside sales associate, developed promotional campaigns and maintained client relationships.
She also has illustrated a children’s book, “The Adventures of Harley Earle” by Jerry Sibley, published in 2006. She completed an internship at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
The Moulton native is a graduate of Lawrence County High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from The University of North Alabama.
Riggs lives in Decatur with her husband, Brett.
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced Kayla Kiser Riggs as its new director of special events and sports marketing.
Riggs joined the bureau in March and will serve as the its liaison to special events in Morgan County as well as assist in attracting new sporting events.
Riggs previously worked at StoneRiver, where she served as inside sales associate, developed promotional campaigns and maintained client relationships.
She also has illustrated a children’s book, “The Adventures of Harley Earle” by Jerry Sibley, published in 2006. She completed an internship at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
The Moulton native is a graduate of Lawrence County High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from The University of North Alabama.
Riggs lives in Decatur with her husband, Brett.
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