Fourth of July and Rib Classic no longer set on same weekend
Two weeks ago, Rib Classic organizer Jeff Anderson told the council the Fourth of July event and the Rib Classic were combining for a full three-day weekend of events, but since that time, the events have been split.
Police/fire committee chairwoman Judy Cantwell told the Chillicothe City Council Monday night the consensus of the committee was not to allow a beer tent on the Fourth of July, citing it was a
“family holiday.”
The other two days of the Rib Classic activities the beer tent would have been OK, according to aldermen. The tent is sponsored by Rescue 33.
Mayor Troy Childers Sr., as the city’s liquor commissioner, echoed the sentiments of Cantwell. He stated he did not want a beer tent on the Fourth of July.
Rib Classic activities, which are normally in October, cover a three-day span.
Anderson would not comment about the issue Tuesday, but said the Rib Classic committee would meet within the next month to discuss when to host the event.
The council approved a notice for special event held on public property for the 4th of July Committee to use Cutright Park, the foot of Walnut and Elm streets and ADM property July 4 for the Fourth of July celebration.
Aldermen also approved a notice for special event held on public property for the 44th annual Claud-Elen Days committee to use City Park, the 900, 1000 and 1100 blocks of Second Street and Cutright Park June 6 through 12.
Talk also included Rescue 33 hosting a beer tent for Claud-Elen Days as well, but the current Class L liquor license allows an organization only one special-use license per year.
Cantwell also said the beer tent would be in direct conflict with the American Legion’s beer garden for the weekend, which she said is one of their major moneymakers.
In the judicial committee meeting before the council meeting, aldermen did discuss changing the number of special uses for one organization to three or four per year and cutting the fee from $200 to $100.
In other items, the council:
• approved a priority one project of a veterans’ marker for the new section of City Cemetery. The price of granite recently went up, Cantwell said, and $7,400 will pay for the monument from Wyoming Monument Co. and its installation.
Cantwell also suggested using a quote from the late Neil Young’s book about his experiences in war as an inscription on the back of the monument, as long as his family agreed. Before his death,
Young was an alderman. Alderman Denny Gould commended Cantwell for her long and hard work on the project.
