Published: June 12, 2008 09:39 am            

Chamber moves golf tournament

Adair’s Chamber of Commerce fund raiser golf tournament will continue at another time and place.

President Randy Ross told members the tournament made $1,897.75 clear profit this year at their June meeting Tuesday. He asked the membership if they wanted to continue the tournament.

The last two years, the tournament has been at Pryor’s golf course since the Adair course closed.

“The idea of the tournament was to bring people into Adair,” Bette Schneider said. “No one comes into Adair if it’s not there.”

Ross suggested using the course below Pensacola dam. Pryor’s course did not allow the chamber to sell food or drinks and the lake course would.

Sheriff Frank Cantey suggested that many tournaments are on Monday or Friday. Adair’s has always been on Saturday. He said players sponsored by big companies will play on company time but not on their own.

Dr. Bill Van De Linder said having food available would increase profits.

“We made about 2,000 bucks for one day’s work,” Bob Alberty said. “I think we should just shuffle the time to the fall. I hate to give it up altogether.”

After the discussion, the members voted to have the next tournament in the fall of 2009 at the course below the dam.

Ross recognized Gary Marshall who watched for a hole in one at one hole the entire tournament.

Treasurer Diana Kennedy reported the chamber’s checking account balance is $6,697.76. She said 23 volunteers are signed up to work 42 shifts during the Country Fever music festival which begins Thursday.

Cantey said officials at Country Fever told him ticket sales are up 25 percent from last year so “that means 100,000 people over four days.”

The Adair Boy Scouts work cleaning up trash at Country Fever.

District 1 Commissioner Alva Martin accepted a special award commemorating the completion of Strang Bridge. “When Jim started working on it in 1994, the cost was supposed to be $2 million,” Martin said. “The actual cost was $4.8 million and 30 cents.”

Martin also gave an update on brush cleanup from the last ice storm. He said the brush on the ground has all been picked up and now his crews are working on hanging limbs. The chipper is still running every day.

Louise Osborn reported on the Adair Boy Scout trip to Washington, D.C.

“We had great food and great camp grounds,” Osborn said. She said among other things the group of 37 visited

monuments, memorials, Arlington Cemetery, the Vietnam Wall and Gettysburg.

Osborn reminded the chamber that Adair native Hamp Zornes is on the Vietnam Wall. She said the troop always leaves flowers in his honor.

The highlight of the trip was a short visit to Virginia Beach.

Only three registered members of the troop did not go on the trip.

Some political candidates were present.

Judy Gist-Coppedge and incumbent Lori Parsons will face off in the primary election July 29 for Mayes County Court Clerk.

“I don’t have Lori’s experience, but I want to bring some fresh, new ideas to the office,” Gist-Coppedge. “I want to bring back passports. I will have a suggestion box in the office. I will be there every day with an open door policy.

“I’m a lifelong resident of Mayes County. Many of you may remember my aunt Elouise Gist who was the court clerk for a long time. If anyone has any questions about me they should feel free to call and ask. I’m an open book.”

Parsons said she has been in the court clerk’s office a total of 20 years. She was first appointed to fill the remainder of Karen Garland’s term, then in the last election she was unopposed.

“I know my job,” Parsons said. “I was born in Pryor.” Parsons’ husband Gary runs cattle and has a trucking business.

Sheriff Frank Cantey has drawn an opponent, but since they are two different parties that office will not be voted on until Nov. 4. He said he will wait until after the primary to begin posting signs to avoid any confusion.

Chamber members approved spending $2,000 for Photinia trees to landscape the new county barn. Dr. Van De Linder said these are seven gallon containers. The trees have purple leaves in the summer and are vibrant green in the summer. Funds for the trees will come from the golf tournament and working at Country Fever.

        

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