Think warm, and plan ahead for Claud-Elen Days 2010.
Next year’s event is planned for June 9-12 at City Park, with a few changes in the works.
Organizers of the festival, Bill Prather and his daughter, Rhonda Tank, met with the Claud-Elen
Days committee Saturday at Grecian Gardens to begin planning for the four-day event.
At the same time, the group also decided the distribution of funds from Claud-Elen Days 2009, with recipient groups accepting their checks Monday at Gail F. Mike Myers Fire Station No. 1.
As was the intent from the first benefit in 1967, the bulk of the funds go to Rescue 33, Chillicothe’s ambulance squad. Rescue 33 also provides insurance each year for Claud-Elen Days.
Prather’s parents, Claude and Helen Prather, raised $88 for the North Chillicothe Fire Department with a dinner at Claud-Elen Tap.
This year, Rescue 33 received $13,500, with $1,000 of that courtesy of Danny Steinberg.
Steinberg won $1,000 in the Drawdown, and donated the amount back to Claud-Elen Days.
The Chillicothe Fire Department, receiving $1,000, helps throughout the weekend and allows use of the station for the Chillicothe Times-Bulletin Silent Auction and several other events; and the Shrine, which brings all the parade units each year, received $500.
Also included in the donations are the Chillicothe Community Needs Agency, $1,000; Chillicothe 4th of July, $500; Chillicothe Historical Society, $500; Chillicothe Cemetery Enhancement, $250; and the Love In Action food pantry, $500.
Funds raised during Claud-Elen Days 2009 included: planter auction, $436; raffle, $1,037; Drawdown, $2,000; carnival, $7,241; silent auction, $4,825; spaghetti supper, $675; cake decorating, $1,245; and Mr. Chillicothe, $250.
New next year will be the softball tournament, which raised $925 this year, being moved earlier in
the year, according to organizer Amanda Cornell of Castaways.
The tournament is scheduled for April 30 to May 2, with a rain date of May 7-9, most likely at Shore Acres Park.
Changing the dates will allow the Claud-Elen Days committee a chance to assist Cornell in operation of the tournament, and also allow Cornell to be of assistance during Claud-Elen Days weekend.
The committee also adopted a new donation system, which encourages worthy groups formerly receiving funding to participate in the annual event to make their own profits.
Illinois Valley Central High School director of bands Dan Dietrich, who retires in May, will serve as parade marshal.
Also in the plans are possibly a beer garden and entertainment to be offered at Cutright Park the same weekend, pending Chillicothe City Council approval.
Amanda Tyler, who coaches the cheerleaders at Illinois Valley Central High School, will take over the Miss Chillicothe pageant.
The event will still include Mr. Chillicothe, the Silent Auction, spaghetti supper, carnival by C.D.A.C., Drawdown, raffle, children’s pageants and events, cake decorating, Newlywed game and daily entertainment.
Last year, Claud-Elen raised $16,900 for community groups.
Chillicothe, Ill. —
