Rain doesn’t dampen spirits in Pickwick Belle Decatur debut
By Holly Hollman Staff Writer at The Decatur Daily
The Pickwick Belle’s paddle wheels churned the murky waters of the Tennessee River on Saturday as rain pelted its passengers on the top deck.
Capt. Michael Tyner maneuvered the authentic paddle wheel riverboat through Ingalls Harbor in Decatur and brought the vessel to rest by a gang plank.
Passengers of Pickwick Belle’s maiden Decatur voyage shouted, “Beautiful,” “Very nice,” and “We loved it,” as they ran from the gang plank to their cars in a hurry to dodge an evening rain shower.
“We enjoyed it even though it rained,” said Dave Bennett, of Madison, who took the summer sightseeing cruise with his wife, Karen. “We went under the train bridge, and they pointed out the Meow Mix plant. I didn’t even know that was there.”
The Pickwick Belle has docked for cruises in Florence and its home port of Pickwick, Tenn., since 2007.
It added Decatur to the schedule this year.
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau set up a tour in February in an attempt to lure the Belle and give the city an economic boost by drawing tourists.
Pickwick Belle’s Hospitality Director Jimmy Kennedy said the Decatur area has shown interest in the cruises. A reservation list indicated the cruises are drawing visitors from Morgan, Limestone, Lawrence and Madison counties.
Kennedy said Saturday’s “Jimmy Buffett Dinner Cruise” was sold out, so the staff has added another on Aug. 21.
That cruise includes dinner and music by a Buffett impersonator. An Elvis impersonator will be on board Aug. 20.
Kennedy said the slow moving riverboat gives passengers a chance to learn about the area because a tourism official points out interesting spots along the way.
“We only reach a maximum speed of 5 mph,” Kennedy said.
“You can see the beauty along the river. We go down toward Point Mallard and then turn and come back.”
The Pickwick Belle will be docked in Decatur through Sept. 10, and will offer lunch and dinner cruises, music, games and a Civil War-theme outing
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Firm asks for $38K more for pavilion
By Tiffeny Owens Staff Writer at The Decatur Daily
The Decatur architectural firm that designed the Ingalls Harbor pavilion is asking the city for an additional $38,000 to complete the project.
The removal of unsuitable dirt at the work site cost an extra $26,402 alone. The Decatur City Council will vote Monday on three change orders, submitted by Godwin, Barnett, Woods, P.C. of Decatur, to amend its contract with the firm, which would increase the pavilion’s budget by $37,867.
The new costs would be covered by the $250,000 contingency for unforeseen expenses that the city included in the contract with GBW and contractor Fite Building Co.
“We went ahead and filed these change orders for the council to review now, instead of at the end of the project,” said Tom Chappell, assistant director of Decatur’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Overseeing upkeep
The department will oversee the pavilion’s maintenance and upkeep. The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau plans to hold weigh-ins inside the structure for bass tournaments at Ingalls Harbor and also market it for large events. The facility will host the 27th annual Gala fundraiser for the Decatur General Hospital Foundation in December. The facility will also be available for rent to host parties, banquets and receptions.
Once completed, the $3 million, 27,000-square-foot, open-air pavilion will be more than twice the size of Decatur’s largest meeting space.
Workers were finishing the roof this week, and stonework on the fireplaces, columns and around the foundation is nearly done, Chappell said. The project is still on track for opening Oct. 21, he said.
Change orders
The change orders included features that have been re-configured to save money and others that have incurred additional costs. The biggest money-saver was the elimination of Decatur Utilities’ construction help, which totaled $25,902, according to the change order documents. But the removal of 2,182 cubic yards of dirt — at $12.10 per cubic yard — for the south parking lot was the biggest expense, the documents show. In all, contractors had to remove 4,086 cubic yards of unsuitable dirt over the project’s bid, which provided payment for just 1,500 cubic yards.
“You really don’t know how much soil is unsuitable until you get in there and start digging,” said Chappell. “You’ve got to get down to the compact red clay so you don’t have settling problems with the foundation.”
Dirt for project
Decatur’s Waters Brothers Contractors Inc. used some of the dirt for projects while the rest was hauled to the Morgan County Regional Landfill and used as ground cover.
The city is financing the pavilion by borrowing $2 million from its reserves and another $1.6 million from landfill fund.
Other costs
Other additional costs included:
■$9,544 to convert a large men’s toilet to a small men’s toilet and family toilet and additional fire alarm and electrical changes required by the city’s building department.
■$6,951 to add emergency voice/alarm communication, or EVAC, capability to the fire alarm system.
■$1,540 to add three gas log starters to each fireplace.
■$880 to remove existing railroad tracks from the northeast portion of the site.
The Decatur architectural firm that designed the Ingalls Harbor pavilion is asking the city for an additional $38,000 to complete the project.
The removal of unsuitable dirt at the work site cost an extra $26,402 alone. The Decatur City Council will vote Monday on three change orders, submitted by Godwin, Barnett, Woods, P.C. of Decatur, to amend its contract with the firm, which would increase the pavilion’s budget by $37,867.
The new costs would be covered by the $250,000 contingency for unforeseen expenses that the city included in the contract with GBW and contractor Fite Building Co.
“We went ahead and filed these change orders for the council to review now, instead of at the end of the project,” said Tom Chappell, assistant director of Decatur’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Overseeing upkeep
The department will oversee the pavilion’s maintenance and upkeep. The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau plans to hold weigh-ins inside the structure for bass tournaments at Ingalls Harbor and also market it for large events. The facility will host the 27th annual Gala fundraiser for the Decatur General Hospital Foundation in December. The facility will also be available for rent to host parties, banquets and receptions.
Once completed, the $3 million, 27,000-square-foot, open-air pavilion will be more than twice the size of Decatur’s largest meeting space.
Workers were finishing the roof this week, and stonework on the fireplaces, columns and around the foundation is nearly done, Chappell said. The project is still on track for opening Oct. 21, he said.
Change orders
The change orders included features that have been re-configured to save money and others that have incurred additional costs. The biggest money-saver was the elimination of Decatur Utilities’ construction help, which totaled $25,902, according to the change order documents. But the removal of 2,182 cubic yards of dirt — at $12.10 per cubic yard — for the south parking lot was the biggest expense, the documents show. In all, contractors had to remove 4,086 cubic yards of unsuitable dirt over the project’s bid, which provided payment for just 1,500 cubic yards.
“You really don’t know how much soil is unsuitable until you get in there and start digging,” said Chappell. “You’ve got to get down to the compact red clay so you don’t have settling problems with the foundation.”
Dirt for project
Decatur’s Waters Brothers Contractors Inc. used some of the dirt for projects while the rest was hauled to the Morgan County Regional Landfill and used as ground cover.
The city is financing the pavilion by borrowing $2 million from its reserves and another $1.6 million from landfill fund.
Other costs
Other additional costs included:
■$9,544 to convert a large men’s toilet to a small men’s toilet and family toilet and additional fire alarm and electrical changes required by the city’s building department.
■$6,951 to add emergency voice/alarm communication, or EVAC, capability to the fire alarm system.
■$1,540 to add three gas log starters to each fireplace.
■$880 to remove existing railroad tracks from the northeast portion of the site.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Convention center not feasible for Decatur, consultants find
By Deangelo McDaniel Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
A Georgia-based consulting firm recommended that Decatur suspend its pursuit of a hotel/conference center.
In a feasibility study, Jill Bidwell of PKF Consulting said the “current market conditions do not appear to be supportive” of this type of facility in the River City.
“To be honest, I was surprised, but at least we know where we are at,” said Tami Reist of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce’s Balanced Economy Committee commissioned the $15,000 study.
Jim Page, vice president of public policy and business development for the chamber, said the group was looking for ways to diversify Decatur’s economy, which is heavily dependent on industry.
Trying to lure a convention center to the River City was the committee’s priority, Page said.
The study, however, cited several reasons why a convention center is likely not a good fit for Decatur at this time.
The report said Decatur’s occupancy rate for its existing hotels was in the upper 40 to mid 50 percentile, with an average daily rate of between $75 and $79.
PKF visited hotels in Florence, Huntsville and Franklin, Tenn., where the average daily rate was in the low $100 range.
“This most likely would not support their (the hotel/conference center’s) development cost if built today,” Bidwell wrote.
She said only 18 percent of the associations surveyed said they would be “likely or very likely to use an appropriately-sized convention center and full-service” hotel in Decatur.
Most of the associations also said they preferred having their meetings in beach locations.
PKF evaluated three sites for a possible convention center. They included downtown near the Holiday Inn, river property in Point Mallard Park adjacent to the golf course and the proposed Sweetwater mixed-use development near Interstate 65 and Alabama 20.
“It is evident that the optimum site for any such facility would be as part of the Sweetwater development,” Bidwell wrote.
A Georgia-based consulting firm recommended that Decatur suspend its pursuit of a hotel/conference center.
In a feasibility study, Jill Bidwell of PKF Consulting said the “current market conditions do not appear to be supportive” of this type of facility in the River City.
“To be honest, I was surprised, but at least we know where we are at,” said Tami Reist of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce’s Balanced Economy Committee commissioned the $15,000 study.
Jim Page, vice president of public policy and business development for the chamber, said the group was looking for ways to diversify Decatur’s economy, which is heavily dependent on industry.
Trying to lure a convention center to the River City was the committee’s priority, Page said.
The study, however, cited several reasons why a convention center is likely not a good fit for Decatur at this time.
The report said Decatur’s occupancy rate for its existing hotels was in the upper 40 to mid 50 percentile, with an average daily rate of between $75 and $79.
PKF visited hotels in Florence, Huntsville and Franklin, Tenn., where the average daily rate was in the low $100 range.
“This most likely would not support their (the hotel/conference center’s) development cost if built today,” Bidwell wrote.
She said only 18 percent of the associations surveyed said they would be “likely or very likely to use an appropriately-sized convention center and full-service” hotel in Decatur.
Most of the associations also said they preferred having their meetings in beach locations.
PKF evaluated three sites for a possible convention center. They included downtown near the Holiday Inn, river property in Point Mallard Park adjacent to the golf course and the proposed Sweetwater mixed-use development near Interstate 65 and Alabama 20.
“It is evident that the optimum site for any such facility would be as part of the Sweetwater development,” Bidwell wrote.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Ingalls pavilion more than halfway built
Project manager: Completion expected by Oct. 20
By Ronnie Thomas Staff Writer at The Decatur Daily
Daily photo by Brennen SmithConstruction is under way on the pavilion at Ingalls Harbor. The project should be completed by Oct. 20, the project’s manager said.
BUY THIS PHOTO
Decatur’s multi-purpose pavilion at Ingalls Harbor is about 60 percent complete and should be finished by Oct. 20, the project’s manager said last week.
“It’s a pretty complicated building with different kinds of structural elements going in, pre-engineered structural steel and wood framing,” said Marty Blackwood of Fite Building Co., the project manager. “We had some weather delays, but we’re looking at the fall completion.”
That’s good news to Tom Chappell, assistant director of the Decatur Parks and Recreation Department, and Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Parks and Recreation Department will oversee the pavilion’s maintenance and upkeep, and, in close conjunction with Reist’s group, the booking of events. Major attractions await.
For example, Chappell said Decatur has a year remaining on its contract for the NAIA soccer championships at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex.
“We’re hoping to host the opening ceremonies at the pavilion in November,” Chappell said. “But we’re planning for an alternate site just in case everything isn’t ready.”
Reist said the Decatur General Hospital Foundation will utilize the 27,000-square foot pavilion for its 27th annual gala fundraiser in December.
On the horizon, she said, is the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association National Conference, which the Decatur Police Department will host. The group is planning a barbecue at the pavilion April 24.
Blackwood described the massive fireplaces with their 52-foot tall chimneys at each end of the 1,200-seat pavilion as “pretty monumental” in gauging progress.
“They’re basically complete and a good milestone on the project,” he said.
Aderholt Masonry of Russellville built the tapered-chimney fireplaces with Alabama brownstone from a quarry in Oneonta. The wood-burning fireplaces, which will have gas starters, are 10 feet long and eight feet wide at the base.
“We lack setting the caps on top, building the hearths and putting the fire brick on the inside,” said Ray Aderholt, owner of the company. “We’re finalizing them now.”
The fireplace facing west toward a 58-by-80 patio consists of interior and exterior hearths.
“We’ve already started the rest of the stonework on the building, which includes an entrance way that is 7 feet, 4 inches tall,” Aderholt said. “We’ve also started the interior columns and have done some work on the perimeter, which will consist of a 1-foot, 4-inch tall wall. The last thing we’ll do is the patio.”
Fite’s Tom Glenn, superintendent on the project, said the only real wood used in the pavilion is the timber framing and decking on the front and back porches.
Workers reclaimed the timber during the demolition of the more than century-old Bailey-Robinson Building.
“The back porch is pretty much finished, and we’re erecting the timber columns and beams on the front porch,” Glenn said Friday.
He said workers have completed covering half the roof of the pavilion with steel decking.
“The walls on three sides will be composed of garage-type, overhead roll-up doors,” Glenn said. “The back side is made of hardy board siding.”
Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long said the pavilion will be a good tourist draw “just like the regional bass tournaments out there” at Wheeler Lake. “Next year, they’ll have a place to hold a reception.”
On Jan. 25, the commission approved the city of Decatur borrowing $1.6 million toward pavilion construction from the Regional Landfill reserve fund. Site work began the next day.
By Ronnie Thomas Staff Writer at The Decatur Daily
Daily photo by Brennen SmithConstruction is under way on the pavilion at Ingalls Harbor. The project should be completed by Oct. 20, the project’s manager said.
BUY THIS PHOTO
Decatur’s multi-purpose pavilion at Ingalls Harbor is about 60 percent complete and should be finished by Oct. 20, the project’s manager said last week.
“It’s a pretty complicated building with different kinds of structural elements going in, pre-engineered structural steel and wood framing,” said Marty Blackwood of Fite Building Co., the project manager. “We had some weather delays, but we’re looking at the fall completion.”
That’s good news to Tom Chappell, assistant director of the Decatur Parks and Recreation Department, and Tami Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Parks and Recreation Department will oversee the pavilion’s maintenance and upkeep, and, in close conjunction with Reist’s group, the booking of events. Major attractions await.
For example, Chappell said Decatur has a year remaining on its contract for the NAIA soccer championships at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex.
“We’re hoping to host the opening ceremonies at the pavilion in November,” Chappell said. “But we’re planning for an alternate site just in case everything isn’t ready.”
Reist said the Decatur General Hospital Foundation will utilize the 27,000-square foot pavilion for its 27th annual gala fundraiser in December.
On the horizon, she said, is the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association National Conference, which the Decatur Police Department will host. The group is planning a barbecue at the pavilion April 24.
Blackwood described the massive fireplaces with their 52-foot tall chimneys at each end of the 1,200-seat pavilion as “pretty monumental” in gauging progress.
“They’re basically complete and a good milestone on the project,” he said.
Aderholt Masonry of Russellville built the tapered-chimney fireplaces with Alabama brownstone from a quarry in Oneonta. The wood-burning fireplaces, which will have gas starters, are 10 feet long and eight feet wide at the base.
“We lack setting the caps on top, building the hearths and putting the fire brick on the inside,” said Ray Aderholt, owner of the company. “We’re finalizing them now.”
The fireplace facing west toward a 58-by-80 patio consists of interior and exterior hearths.
“We’ve already started the rest of the stonework on the building, which includes an entrance way that is 7 feet, 4 inches tall,” Aderholt said. “We’ve also started the interior columns and have done some work on the perimeter, which will consist of a 1-foot, 4-inch tall wall. The last thing we’ll do is the patio.”
Fite’s Tom Glenn, superintendent on the project, said the only real wood used in the pavilion is the timber framing and decking on the front and back porches.
Workers reclaimed the timber during the demolition of the more than century-old Bailey-Robinson Building.
“The back porch is pretty much finished, and we’re erecting the timber columns and beams on the front porch,” Glenn said Friday.
He said workers have completed covering half the roof of the pavilion with steel decking.
“The walls on three sides will be composed of garage-type, overhead roll-up doors,” Glenn said. “The back side is made of hardy board siding.”
Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long said the pavilion will be a good tourist draw “just like the regional bass tournaments out there” at Wheeler Lake. “Next year, they’ll have a place to hold a reception.”
On Jan. 25, the commission approved the city of Decatur borrowing $1.6 million toward pavilion construction from the Regional Landfill reserve fund. Site work began the next day.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Pickwick Belle plans trial runs from Decatur
Riverboat testing interest as relocation contemplated
By Jason Lankford Staff Writer The Decatur Daily
The Pickwick Belle riverboat will cruise out of Ingalls Harbor in Decatur from Aug. 13 to Sept. 10 as part of a trial run to see if there’s enough interest to permanently relocate from Florence.
Tanya Irwin, marketing director for the Pickwick Belle, said there is not a specific revenue goal that must be reached during the trial period.
“We feel that the Pickwick Belle, with the right kind of marketing and support, could have a much more successful business than what she’s had,” Irwin said. “We are pleased with the contact we have had with the (Decatur-Morgan County) Convention and Visitors Bureau, and we are glad we found people who are enthusiastic and will help us with marketing.”
Ingalls chosen
Tami Reist, president of the CVB, said Ingalls Harbor was chosen as the Decatur base over Riverwalk Marina and Rhodes Ferry Park because it has a good docking area for disembarking passengers and ample parking.
There are still some issues to be resolved, including the lack of a power supply at the harbor, Irwin said. The boat also will be less visible at Ingalls, off Alabama 20, than it would be at the other two locations near the U.S. 31 causeway.
The majority of Pickwick Belle cruises are booked by private groups, many of them motor-coach groups from outside the area, Irwin said. There already have been several advance bookings for the trial period.
Reist said the route the boat will travel has yet to be determined, but the plan is to showcase the area’s fishing locations as well as the industrialized areas of the riverfront.
The boat is about 90 feet long and 30 feet wide and is a true paddle wheeler. It has two decks, an open-air top deck, an enclosed lower deck and can accommodate 149 passengers. It ideally seats about 80 for dinner cruises.
Many uses
Irwin said the Pickwick Belle’s size makes it versatile for a wide range of affordable uses, including high school proms, wedding rehearsals and weddings, praise and worship services, school groups and educational cruises. The boat uses local caterers for meals and local theatrical ensembles for theme cruises.
During the four years the Pickwick Belle has been docked at Florence Harbor, no audio tours have been provided, but Reist is making plans to have a tour guide onboard to inform passengers about the history of Decatur and local attractions they can visit.
Director of Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Debbie Wilson said Florence would hate to lose the Pickwick Belle because of its aesthetic appeal, but the relocation of the boat is not likely to impact the area’s economy, mainly because the boat doesn’t bring in enough people to significantly increase hotel bookings.
“We certainly have no hard feelings toward Decatur,” Wilson said. “If they choose to dock in Decatur, we certainly understand, but I would hope that there could be a best-case scenario where they could logistically figure out how to share (the boat between the cities).”
Irwin said there are no issues pushing the boat from Florence; operators just want to explore how well the boat could do in another area.
Pickwick Belle
Dimensions: 90 feet long and 20 feet wide
Speed: It generally moves at 5 to 6 mph. Cruises, which are generally 10 to 12 miles round trip, last about two hours.
Seating: 149 people for normal cruises and about 80 for dinner cruises.
Cost: Rates in Decatur will range from $9.99 to $49.99 per person.
Crew: 2 captains, a hospitality director, 3 sailors, 2 chefs and 3 attendants.
Owner: Fred Tull, president of Tull Brothers Inc., a building materials contractor based in Corinth, Miss.
Schedule: Check the calendar at www.pickwickbelle.com
Sightseeing cruises
■3-4:30 p.m. Aug. 13, Aug. 19, Aug. 20, Aug. 26, Aug. 27, Sept. 2, Sept. 3
■9:30-11 a.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 8
■7-9 p.m. Aug. 13, Jimmy Buffet Dinner Cruise
■11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 19, Lazy Days Lunch Cruise
■7-9 p.m. Aug. 20, Dinner with the King dinner cruise
■1-3 p.m. Aug. 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 3, noon-2 p.m. Sept. 10, summer lunch cruises
■11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 26, Fun & Games lunch cruise
■7-9 p.m. Sept. 3, Civil War dinner cruise
Group rates are available. Concessions are offered on board. For more information, call 877-936-2355.
By Jason Lankford Staff Writer The Decatur Daily
The Pickwick Belle riverboat will cruise out of Ingalls Harbor in Decatur from Aug. 13 to Sept. 10 as part of a trial run to see if there’s enough interest to permanently relocate from Florence.
Tanya Irwin, marketing director for the Pickwick Belle, said there is not a specific revenue goal that must be reached during the trial period.
“We feel that the Pickwick Belle, with the right kind of marketing and support, could have a much more successful business than what she’s had,” Irwin said. “We are pleased with the contact we have had with the (Decatur-Morgan County) Convention and Visitors Bureau, and we are glad we found people who are enthusiastic and will help us with marketing.”
Ingalls chosen
Tami Reist, president of the CVB, said Ingalls Harbor was chosen as the Decatur base over Riverwalk Marina and Rhodes Ferry Park because it has a good docking area for disembarking passengers and ample parking.
There are still some issues to be resolved, including the lack of a power supply at the harbor, Irwin said. The boat also will be less visible at Ingalls, off Alabama 20, than it would be at the other two locations near the U.S. 31 causeway.
The majority of Pickwick Belle cruises are booked by private groups, many of them motor-coach groups from outside the area, Irwin said. There already have been several advance bookings for the trial period.
Reist said the route the boat will travel has yet to be determined, but the plan is to showcase the area’s fishing locations as well as the industrialized areas of the riverfront.
The boat is about 90 feet long and 30 feet wide and is a true paddle wheeler. It has two decks, an open-air top deck, an enclosed lower deck and can accommodate 149 passengers. It ideally seats about 80 for dinner cruises.
Many uses
Irwin said the Pickwick Belle’s size makes it versatile for a wide range of affordable uses, including high school proms, wedding rehearsals and weddings, praise and worship services, school groups and educational cruises. The boat uses local caterers for meals and local theatrical ensembles for theme cruises.
During the four years the Pickwick Belle has been docked at Florence Harbor, no audio tours have been provided, but Reist is making plans to have a tour guide onboard to inform passengers about the history of Decatur and local attractions they can visit.
Director of Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Debbie Wilson said Florence would hate to lose the Pickwick Belle because of its aesthetic appeal, but the relocation of the boat is not likely to impact the area’s economy, mainly because the boat doesn’t bring in enough people to significantly increase hotel bookings.
“We certainly have no hard feelings toward Decatur,” Wilson said. “If they choose to dock in Decatur, we certainly understand, but I would hope that there could be a best-case scenario where they could logistically figure out how to share (the boat between the cities).”
Irwin said there are no issues pushing the boat from Florence; operators just want to explore how well the boat could do in another area.
Pickwick Belle
Dimensions: 90 feet long and 20 feet wide
Speed: It generally moves at 5 to 6 mph. Cruises, which are generally 10 to 12 miles round trip, last about two hours.
Seating: 149 people for normal cruises and about 80 for dinner cruises.
Cost: Rates in Decatur will range from $9.99 to $49.99 per person.
Crew: 2 captains, a hospitality director, 3 sailors, 2 chefs and 3 attendants.
Owner: Fred Tull, president of Tull Brothers Inc., a building materials contractor based in Corinth, Miss.
Schedule: Check the calendar at www.pickwickbelle.com
Sightseeing cruises
■3-4:30 p.m. Aug. 13, Aug. 19, Aug. 20, Aug. 26, Aug. 27, Sept. 2, Sept. 3
■9:30-11 a.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 8
■7-9 p.m. Aug. 13, Jimmy Buffet Dinner Cruise
■11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 19, Lazy Days Lunch Cruise
■7-9 p.m. Aug. 20, Dinner with the King dinner cruise
■1-3 p.m. Aug. 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 3, noon-2 p.m. Sept. 10, summer lunch cruises
■11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 26, Fun & Games lunch cruise
■7-9 p.m. Sept. 3, Civil War dinner cruise
Group rates are available. Concessions are offered on board. For more information, call 877-936-2355.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Active Saturday in Decatur
Blast from the past
Active Saturday in Decatur
Horse, car shows, fishing tournament among day’s events
By Bayne Hughes
Ariel Cole finished off her horse’s Saturday morning bath by kissing him on the nose. Struttin’ Again reacted with a couple of nods of his head, and that’s the way they finished off their preparations for Saturday night’s horse show at Morgan County Celebration Arena in Priceville.
It was one of many events on a very active Saturday in the Decatur area.
A national fishing tournament with music, a car show benefit and softball tournament also made for a bustling community this weekend for visitors and local residents.
“This definitely has been an above-average day for the number of events going on in our community,” said Tami Reist, Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau president.
Balmy weather made it a perfect day for outings until the afternoon thunderstorms rolled through. The day’s 10-mph winds kept high temperatures around 90 degrees.
It was a quiet morning at Celebration Arena where horse owners were preparing for the Racking Horse Mid-Summer Classic. Randy and Becky Siniard, Shannon Cole and Ariel Cole came from Temple, Ga., to enter four horses.
“We’ve been here almost two weeks,” Randy Siniard said.
Ariel, 17, said most of the work occurs the day of the show. Struttin’ Again needed the bath because he had a short morning workout.
The horse owners also prepared their horse tack and cleaned their performance clothes if needed.
“One of the things I enjoyed about walking horse is getting to dress up,” said Ariel, who also competes in barrel racing.
The largest of the area events was the Bassmaster Elite Series Dixie Duel tournament in Ingalls Harbor. The event included the Family Music Jam Fest for visitors’ enjoyment.
The crowd was small for Saturday’s opening Jam Fest act while the fishermen were on the water, but Reist said she expected the numbers to grow. The free jam will continue today at noon. She said she expected close to 8,000 for the final weigh-in at 3:15 p.m. today and the Colt Ford concert at 7 tonight.
Across town, Wayne Hurt was showing off his white 1951 Ford Convertible in the third annual Rollin’ on the River car show at Decatur Mall.
“We considered putting a tent up, but it’s been a little breezy and we didn’t want it to end up on one of the cars,” Hurt said.
Hurt, a Decatur resident, was one of more than 100 car enthusiasts participating in the Habitat for Humanity benefit. Organizers were hoping to raise close to $15,000. He said he and his wife, Annie, frequent the local car show circuit.
“We enjoy the camaraderie,” Hurt said. “Old car enthusiasts are good lot.”
While Hurt prefers the antique cars, owners were also showing off their modified muscle cars. The car show offered more than cool vehicles. Vendors sold items like homemade jewelry, soy candles, ice cream and food.
Ron and Barbara Terry of Somerville said they planned to attend the car show. They were taking photos of the vehicles they liked.
“We both enjoy seeing the different cars and visiting with owners,” Ron Terry said.
At nearby Wilson Morgan Park, 16 Cook’s Pest Control teams from throughout the state were playing in the corporate softball tournament.
Jacob Ford, 21, said his Montgomery team was eliminated in two games, but he and his family enjoyed his visit. They particularly enjoyed Cook’s company party Friday evening at Point Mallard Aquatics Center.
“It’s nice up here,” Ford said. “The weather has been great. My 3-year-old and 15-month-old loved playing in the water.”
Active Saturday in Decatur
Horse, car shows, fishing tournament among day’s events
By Bayne Hughes
Ariel Cole finished off her horse’s Saturday morning bath by kissing him on the nose. Struttin’ Again reacted with a couple of nods of his head, and that’s the way they finished off their preparations for Saturday night’s horse show at Morgan County Celebration Arena in Priceville.
It was one of many events on a very active Saturday in the Decatur area.
A national fishing tournament with music, a car show benefit and softball tournament also made for a bustling community this weekend for visitors and local residents.
“This definitely has been an above-average day for the number of events going on in our community,” said Tami Reist, Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau president.
Balmy weather made it a perfect day for outings until the afternoon thunderstorms rolled through. The day’s 10-mph winds kept high temperatures around 90 degrees.
It was a quiet morning at Celebration Arena where horse owners were preparing for the Racking Horse Mid-Summer Classic. Randy and Becky Siniard, Shannon Cole and Ariel Cole came from Temple, Ga., to enter four horses.
“We’ve been here almost two weeks,” Randy Siniard said.
Ariel, 17, said most of the work occurs the day of the show. Struttin’ Again needed the bath because he had a short morning workout.
The horse owners also prepared their horse tack and cleaned their performance clothes if needed.
“One of the things I enjoyed about walking horse is getting to dress up,” said Ariel, who also competes in barrel racing.
The largest of the area events was the Bassmaster Elite Series Dixie Duel tournament in Ingalls Harbor. The event included the Family Music Jam Fest for visitors’ enjoyment.
The crowd was small for Saturday’s opening Jam Fest act while the fishermen were on the water, but Reist said she expected the numbers to grow. The free jam will continue today at noon. She said she expected close to 8,000 for the final weigh-in at 3:15 p.m. today and the Colt Ford concert at 7 tonight.
Across town, Wayne Hurt was showing off his white 1951 Ford Convertible in the third annual Rollin’ on the River car show at Decatur Mall.
“We considered putting a tent up, but it’s been a little breezy and we didn’t want it to end up on one of the cars,” Hurt said.
Hurt, a Decatur resident, was one of more than 100 car enthusiasts participating in the Habitat for Humanity benefit. Organizers were hoping to raise close to $15,000. He said he and his wife, Annie, frequent the local car show circuit.
“We enjoy the camaraderie,” Hurt said. “Old car enthusiasts are good lot.”
While Hurt prefers the antique cars, owners were also showing off their modified muscle cars. The car show offered more than cool vehicles. Vendors sold items like homemade jewelry, soy candles, ice cream and food.
Ron and Barbara Terry of Somerville said they planned to attend the car show. They were taking photos of the vehicles they liked.
“We both enjoy seeing the different cars and visiting with owners,” Ron Terry said.
At nearby Wilson Morgan Park, 16 Cook’s Pest Control teams from throughout the state were playing in the corporate softball tournament.
Jacob Ford, 21, said his Montgomery team was eliminated in two games, but he and his family enjoyed his visit. They particularly enjoyed Cook’s company party Friday evening at Point Mallard Aquatics Center.
“It’s nice up here,” Ford said. “The weather has been great. My 3-year-old and 15-month-old loved playing in the water.”
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Dixie Duel, River City revenues
This week’s Bassmaster tourney is catching more than just fish
By Jason Lankford
What do you get when you combine a lake full of elusive bass, four days of competitive fishing and 99 professional anglers?
A tourism official hopes the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society’s Bassmaster Elite Series tournament that starts today adds up to $550,000 in economic impact for Decatur and exposure for the city’s outdoor facilities. ESPN will broadcast one-hour specials on the tournament June 26 and July 9.
“When this is televised on ESPN, people who see this are going to see Decatur showcased, and they’re going to want to come to Wheeler Lake,” said Tami Reist, Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau president. “That is something that can’t be measured.”
Reist was able to measure economic impact, she said, based on statistics from 2009’s tournament.
This year’s tournament, called the Dixie Duel, will include professional anglers such as J. Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., a member of the Big Green Egg team. Tucker estimated he’ll spend $110 a day for lodging and $160 a day for fuel and food.
“What a lot of people don’t think about is that every angler will bring about seven to 10 people with them if you include their families and pit crews,” Tucker said. “All of them are going to be spending money in all these places, too.”
Nitro fishing team member David White, known as “Happy” to fellow crew members, said he and his family have eaten at several area restaurants and will “eat at them all before the week’s over.”
Evinrude E-Team angler David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., said he and his family are staying in their camper at Point Mallard Campground at a rate of $150 per week. Supplying fuel for his two vehicles and boat has been his major expense.
Walker said he has fished in several tournaments, and the set-up at Ingalls Harbor, where anglers will launch their boats, is unique compared to other places because it is located in a city and has more modern facilities and abundant parking spaces.
“Alabama as a whole has better facilities,” he said. “That attracts things like this.”
Royce Figueroa, a vendor for Berkley Fishing from Fort Worth, Texas, who demonstrates equipment at the Elite Series tournaments, is no stranger to being on the road and living out of a suitcase.
“I’m one of the few vendors who’s on the road 200-plus days out of the year,” he said.
Figueroa said he prefers to stay in smaller hotels because he likes to support local owners rather than corporations.
“I like to bring money back to the small people,” Figueroa said.
Registration for anglers was held Wednesday at the Holiday Inn. General Manager Andy Safiano said that with many reservations coming in at the last minute, it is difficult to assess how many rooms will be booked. He does not anticipate a shortage.
“But that would be a very nice problem to have,” he said.
There has been speculation about the BASS tournament headquarters moving to Alabama from its current location in the Orlando area. Co-owner Don Logan, a native of Hartselle, said that it is really a question of when and where at this point.
“We’re trying to aim for some time prior to the end of the year,” Logan said.
Reist has sent Logan a letter proposing that Decatur be considered as a site. Logan said the advantages to relocating to Alabama are its central location in relation to the tournament circuit and the amount of local interest and participation in the sport.
“There’s a lot of talent here,” he said. “More anglers live in Alabama than in any other state. We think it would be a great place to call home.”
Bassmaster Elite Series Dixie Duel
■When: Today through Sunday.
■Boat launch: 6:45 a.m. daily from Ingalls Harbor, 701 Market St. N.W.
■Weigh-in: 3:15 p.m. daily (live coverage on bassmaster.com).
■Field: 99 professional anglers will compete today and Friday. Field will be cut to top 50 for Saturday and top 12 for Sunday.
■At stake: Tournament winner will receive $100,000. Event also will determine Angler of the Year, which is worth $100,000 to points race winner. Kevin VanDam and Edwin Evers enter Dixie Duel first and second in points.
■ESPN broadcast times: June 26, 7 a.m.; July 9, 8 a.m.
By Jason Lankford
What do you get when you combine a lake full of elusive bass, four days of competitive fishing and 99 professional anglers?
A tourism official hopes the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society’s Bassmaster Elite Series tournament that starts today adds up to $550,000 in economic impact for Decatur and exposure for the city’s outdoor facilities. ESPN will broadcast one-hour specials on the tournament June 26 and July 9.
“When this is televised on ESPN, people who see this are going to see Decatur showcased, and they’re going to want to come to Wheeler Lake,” said Tami Reist, Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau president. “That is something that can’t be measured.”
Reist was able to measure economic impact, she said, based on statistics from 2009’s tournament.
This year’s tournament, called the Dixie Duel, will include professional anglers such as J. Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., a member of the Big Green Egg team. Tucker estimated he’ll spend $110 a day for lodging and $160 a day for fuel and food.
“What a lot of people don’t think about is that every angler will bring about seven to 10 people with them if you include their families and pit crews,” Tucker said. “All of them are going to be spending money in all these places, too.”
Nitro fishing team member David White, known as “Happy” to fellow crew members, said he and his family have eaten at several area restaurants and will “eat at them all before the week’s over.”
Evinrude E-Team angler David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., said he and his family are staying in their camper at Point Mallard Campground at a rate of $150 per week. Supplying fuel for his two vehicles and boat has been his major expense.
Walker said he has fished in several tournaments, and the set-up at Ingalls Harbor, where anglers will launch their boats, is unique compared to other places because it is located in a city and has more modern facilities and abundant parking spaces.
“Alabama as a whole has better facilities,” he said. “That attracts things like this.”
Royce Figueroa, a vendor for Berkley Fishing from Fort Worth, Texas, who demonstrates equipment at the Elite Series tournaments, is no stranger to being on the road and living out of a suitcase.
“I’m one of the few vendors who’s on the road 200-plus days out of the year,” he said.
Figueroa said he prefers to stay in smaller hotels because he likes to support local owners rather than corporations.
“I like to bring money back to the small people,” Figueroa said.
Registration for anglers was held Wednesday at the Holiday Inn. General Manager Andy Safiano said that with many reservations coming in at the last minute, it is difficult to assess how many rooms will be booked. He does not anticipate a shortage.
“But that would be a very nice problem to have,” he said.
There has been speculation about the BASS tournament headquarters moving to Alabama from its current location in the Orlando area. Co-owner Don Logan, a native of Hartselle, said that it is really a question of when and where at this point.
“We’re trying to aim for some time prior to the end of the year,” Logan said.
Reist has sent Logan a letter proposing that Decatur be considered as a site. Logan said the advantages to relocating to Alabama are its central location in relation to the tournament circuit and the amount of local interest and participation in the sport.
“There’s a lot of talent here,” he said. “More anglers live in Alabama than in any other state. We think it would be a great place to call home.”
Bassmaster Elite Series Dixie Duel
■When: Today through Sunday.
■Boat launch: 6:45 a.m. daily from Ingalls Harbor, 701 Market St. N.W.
■Weigh-in: 3:15 p.m. daily (live coverage on bassmaster.com).
■Field: 99 professional anglers will compete today and Friday. Field will be cut to top 50 for Saturday and top 12 for Sunday.
■At stake: Tournament winner will receive $100,000. Event also will determine Angler of the Year, which is worth $100,000 to points race winner. Kevin VanDam and Edwin Evers enter Dixie Duel first and second in points.
■ESPN broadcast times: June 26, 7 a.m.; July 9, 8 a.m.
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