The Daily Corinthian, Corinth, MS, Fri., Jan. 19, 1996:
p. 1, c. 5-6 -
LOCAL GROUP WANTS TURNER'S
AIRPLANE TO LAND BACK HOME
By Tom Wilemon
Staff Writer
A local effort has begun to obtain Roscoe Turner's RT-14 Meteor
airplane from the Smithsonian Institute.
The Corinth native was a pioneer in flight who achieved legendary
fame during the Golden Age of Aviation. He set race records, won numerous
flight trophies and appeared in Hollywood films during the 1920s and
1930s.
The effort to bring his airplane to Corinth sprang from coffee
talk shop, according to one of those who came up with the idea.
"One day I was drinking coffee and somebody said we need to get
that Roscoe Turner Airplane down here and give people something to see
when they come here," said Greg Moore. "The last thing we want to do when
selling a community, a product or anything, is have people be
disappointed when they buy it. If we're going to promote tourism, we need
as many attractions as possible for people to enjoy when they come here."
Contact has been made with U.S.Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and
other state congressmen to gain their support. Cochran holds a key
leadership position in overseeing the Smithsonian Institute, which does
not display the aircraft.
Officials with The Alliance began pursuing the project after the
idea was suggested to them. A meeting was held Nov. 8 at the Mississippi
Department of Transportation in Tupelo with Commissioner Zack Stewart,
Mike Clayborn with Create, Raymond Osborne with the Appalachian Regional
Commission and Charles Gulotta, Scott Luth and Nancy Plesnarski of The
Alliance. A second meeting was held Dec. 12 and a third strategy meeting
is planned for next week with Chick Warner with the tourism division of
the Mississippi Department of Economic Community Development.
No definite site for display has been decided upon, but the
officials are exploring the possibility of building a facility to house
it behind the state-operated visitors center to be built at the
intersection of U.S. 45 South and Harper Road.
The officials want to involve the Northeast Mississippi Museum in
the project as well. The aircraft display could be used to lure visitors
to the museum.
The Smithsonian Institute requires a suitable display facility
with security and fire protection before agreeing on a long-term loan.
Plans need to be turned into action as soon as possible because another
city has expressed an interest in obtaining the aircraft.
Nancy Plesnarski, director of tourisn, for The Alliance, said the
airplane should go to Corinth.
"Cleveland, Ohio, wants the same airplane," Plesnarski said. I
feel that even though that's my home state, it really deserves to be in
Mississippi, Roscoe Turner's birthplace. I think with the leadership we
have, we have an oportunity of getting it."
Moore said he is pleased local officials are going forward with
the project. He encouraged them to be creative and depend upon local
resources to make it happen should federal or state grants not be
available.
"There's no reason we can't get this done," he said.
The Daily Corinthian, Corinth, MS, Tue., Mar. 26, 1996:
p. 1, c. 2-6 -
ALLIANCE AGREES TO UNDERWRITE EVENT
HOT AIR BALLOON RACE MAKES ANOTHER FUNDING PLEA
BY Tom Wilemon
Staff Writer
A guarantee of money has been made for the Roscoe Turner Hot Air
Balloon Race, but whether or not the decade-long event will continue
this year depends upon the level of volunteer support.
The Executive Council of The Alliance approved a resolution
Monday to underwrite the festival if it has a budget shortfall. Last
Thursday, members of the Corinth Area Tourism Promotion Council
indicated a willingness to underwrite the festival if The Alliance
would do the same. However, no vote was taken on the matter.
Jimmy Mitchell, who has been hired by The Alliance on a temporary
basis to coordinate the Hog Wild Barbecue Contest, made the request
for funding last Thursday. Milton Sandy Jr. had also requested
funding from the tourism council at their February meeting.
The council has agreed to promote the balloon race through
advertising and marketing.
Letters could go off by the end of the week to balloon pilots
inviting them to participate in the race. After several years of bad
weathe, the date for the race will be changed this year. It is
tentatively set for Sept. 13 and 14.
"We're trying to make sure we have the community involvement to
pull the event off," Mitchell said. "We'll need sponsorships and
leadership. We want to make sure a committee of volunteers is behind
it. The event cannot be pulled off if we don't have 100 percent from
the committee."
The committee Mitchell referred to is composed of Sandy and other
volunteers who organized last year's race after Eddie and Becky
LaFavour stepped down. The LaFavours had been in charge of the race
for almost all of its history.
Mitchell said he hopes to meet with citizens interested in
continuing the race this week so letters can be mailed by Friday.
Mitchell was hired to coordinate the barbecue festival, an
official event of The Alliance, after the resignation of Scott Luth.
The Alliance has also agreed to take on the balloon race as a special
event.
Charles Gulotta, president of The Alliance, said solid volunteer
support is vital.
"Basically we need some strong volunteer support on this because
during late September and early October, we have three major events,"
he said. "There's the balloon race, the re-enactment and Hog Wild.
The balloon race is tentatively set for Sept. 13 and 14, the Civil War
re-enactment for Sept. 28 or 29 and Hog Wild for Oct. 3, 4 and 5."
"It's crucial we have the volunteer support in the community as
well as the monetary support to make these events successful," noted
Gulotta.
The Daily Corinthian, Corinth, MS, Wed., Mar. 27, 1996:
p. 1, c. 2-5 -
EX-RACE CHAIRMAN CRITICIZES OFFICIALS
By Tom Wilemon
Staff Writer
The man who chaired the Roscoe Turner Hot Air Balloon Race last
year has criticized local tourism officials for not supporting the
event financially.
In a prepared statement to The Daily Corinthian, Milton Sandy
Jr. indicated he did not plan to take an active role in organizing the
race this year. Whether or not the event will continue for an
eleventh year remains to be decided.
The race appears to have become a political hot potato no one
wants to take responsibility for.
The Alliance Executive Committee has agreed that the race should
be a special event sanctioned by the chamber of commerce organization.
Members of the Corinth Area Tourism Promotion have said they wanted
the event continued. However, neither has appropriated any up-front
grant money as the Tourism Council has done in the past. Instead, The
Alliance passed a resolution Monday agreeing to underwrite the event
with the tourism council in case there is a budget shortfall.
Officials with The Alliance said volunteer support must be gauged
before letters are mailed to balloon pilots.
Randy Long, chairman of The Alliance Executive Board, said the
race could be postponed.
"Everybody, I've talked to would like to see the hot air balloon
race continued," Long said. "The Alliance is certainly supportive of
it and is willing to try to carry it on this year if we can find the
volunteer and financial support needed to carry it on. It's had
difficulty in the past several years because of bad weather,
sponsorships and other things. I'd personally rather see us postpone
the hot air race for six months or even a year in an effort to do it
right as opposed to rushing to put it on without the support we
obviously have to have to make it a successful event."
Tom West, chairman of the Tourism Council, was unavailable for
comment this morning.
Sandy, who appeared before the tourism council in February to
request funding for the race and has regularly distributed a
newsletter about the event called "The Hot Air Messenger," said
misleading information about him was printed, in Tuesday's edition of
The Daily Corinthian. The newspaper referred to Sandy in the context
of a committee of volunteers working to continue the race.
"Last year, I reluctantly agreed to act as chairman of the 10th
Annual Roscoe Turner Hot Air Balloon Race to enable the event to go
forward after the resignation of the former chairman," Sandy said in
the prepared statement, "After the event, I indicated to all
concerned that I had no intention of continuing as chairman in the
coming year. My objectives did include returning the event to The
Alliance's direction and laying a groundwork for the event being able
to continue in the future. I feel these objectives were met and all
records, files and funds from the event are in the hands of The
Alliance.
"In the past few months, I have told everyone including the
Tourism Council members, Jimmy Mitchell, Randy Long, Charles Gulotta,
Tom West and other members of The Alliance on more than one occasion
that I would not be involved with the event event without financial
support equal to or greater than what had been given in the past. That
support has not been forthcoming and everyone is aware of that fact.
To put out intentionally misleading information does no service to
anyone in the community.
"The Roscoe Turner Hot Air Balloon Race with the Tourism
Council's past support has been a major tourism event in Corinth with
a record of 10 years accomplishment as one of the South's premier
tourism events of its type. The support and sponsorship of The
Alliance, business sponsors, and many, many community volunteers were
also instrumental in making last year's 10th anniversary event a
fitting memorial to the memory of Roscoe Turner and a credit to
Corinth's tourism promotion.
"In a media age, hot air balloons are exciting and very visual
events that can bring distinct advantages to the sponsoring community.
Hot air balloons always generate beneficial media publicity and
promote positive community spirit. The event has also always prided
itself on its attraction to children of all ages and clean family
entertainment. To have an event of this type historically tied to a
local personality of national fame is of particular additional value
in promoting tourism.
"It is regrettable that an exceptional string of bad weather and
a lack of further support of the new Tourism Council has clouded the
perception of and potential for this outdoor event to contribute to
tourism in Corinth. The Roscoe Turner Hot Air Balloon Race has grown
to be one of the largest events of its type anywhere in the U.S.,
relative to the size of our community.
"Without strong support from all parts of the community, and
particularly financial support of the Tourism Council, I do not feel
that it will be possible to continue the growth and improvement
necessary to insure its future success as an exceptional community
event.
"However, I wish The Alliance, Tourism Council, and my friend
Jimmy Mitchell the very best in their efforts with the Roscoe Turner
Hot Air Balloon Race under whatever arrangements they have made and
that they feel are adequate. I will personally continue to work on
other local projects to promote Corinth's history and the memory of
pioneer aviator Roscoe Turner."
The Daily Corinthian, Corinth, MS, Fri., Mar. 29, 1996:
p. 6a, c. 1 -
OUR VIEW [Editorial]
----------------------------------------
Has balloon race died?
There is growing concern in this community the 10th Annual Hot
Air Balloon Race held last summer was the last one to be held in
Corinth.
Actions by the Corinth Area Tourism Promotion Council this
year allude to this, although no one has publicly said the carpet has
been pulled from under the race.
"If the balloon race doesn't go off, everybody ... knows who
gets the blame ... the tourism council," said one council member after
the race didn't get funding, but those behind the race said the funds
would be provided if the race has a shortfall of funds.
Now isn't the time to point fingers. Now is the time for
this community and all those responsible to determine if they really
want to see the balloon race continue. The tourism council and The
Alliance Executive Board, although promising funds but not depositing
funds in the race's account, have said the race is a good event.
The Alliance is waiting to see if the volunteer support is
there before committing funds. There is now talk of postponing the
event, to measure the community's level of support.
It is with interest we pull out notes of the Corinth Area
Tourism Promotion Council's November retreat. Twenty-three community
leaders listened to 10 people, some of those the same local community
leaders, to develop a tourism vision statement.
This follows a two-percent tourism tax in place. Every vision
needs money.
Tourism strengths noted from this session were "Roscoe Turner
history" and "major annual events" held in Corinth. A few of the
weaknesses pointed out were "lack of networking with community groups,
general public perception of tourism, lack of development of tourism
potential, perception of a lack of activities or events and lack of
funds."
This group was right.
The balloon race is a strength, but what it has gone through
to get backing is a weakness.
The biggest drawback to the annual race is the hot August weather.
The race has been tentatively moved to Sept. 13-14, if it is held.
So the question remains in all of us, do we as a community
want this event, or is it time to bury it?
If the balloon race dies, or is postponed for a year, it could
follow a growing trend this decade.
Tupelo will gobble it up. With it would go an established
event and all of its followers.
That would be a shame.
The Daily Corinthian
The Daily Corinthian, Corinth, MS, Thur June 20, 1996:
p. 4, c. 1-4 -
Roscoe Turner's
first wife dies
By Milton Sandy, Jr.
Special to The Daily Corinthian
Carline Hunter Stovall Stephens, 95, died Monday, June 17, at
Oakhurst, California. She had been a resident of Sierra Meadows
Nursing Home for the past three years.
Stovall was born on Valentine's Day, Febr. 14, 1901, in
Corinth. After the death of their mother, she returned from Kenton,
Tennessee, to Corinth to live with her two sisters.
On Sept. 29, 1924, she married Roscoe Turner on the wing of a
Jenny aircraft in Corinth. It was the pioneer aviator's 29th birthday.
The Rev.E.R. Smoot performed the ceremony as he stood on the
airplane's wing at Suratt's Farm, present site of the Shiloh Ridge
Golf Course. The couple flew off to Dayton, Ohio, for their honeymoon
and the National Air Races.
Stovall actively helped to promote Roscoe Turner's aviation
career as he graduated from small town Corinth to Hollywood. During
her career she met and mixed with millionaires, movie stars, kings and
queens.
In 1946, she and Turner divorced. She later married Newey Oral
Stephens, a California forester she had met during a vacation trip to
Mexico. Trading the glamorous Hollywood life for the relative solitude
and quiet of a small town, she embraced the culture of the small towns
of Maliposa and Oakhurst. She returned to music work with her local
church and the job of raising her son, Jimmy, who she and her husband
adopted.
Locally, Stovall is remembered for her beautiful voice and as a
skilled pianist and organist for the First United Methodist Church.
When the Coliseum Theater first opened in Corinth in 1925, she was
employed as a pianist to provide musical accompaniment to the silent
movies of that day. She gave piano lessons to many local students
when she wasn't at her husband's side on his many aviation adventures.
In 1990, a stroke prevented her planned visit to Corinth for the
rededication of the Roscoe Turner Airport.
Funeral services for Stovall will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at
Oakhurst Community Church with burial at Fowler Cemetary, near Fresno,
Calif. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jimmy and
Valerie Stephens, and two grandchildren.
The Daily Corinthian, Corinth, MS, Wed., July 24, 1996:
p. 1, c. 2-6 -
FOCUS: No August event
TURNER HOT AIR BALLOON RACE POSTPONED UNTIL MAY
BY PHYLLIS KEITH-YOUNG
Staff Writer
The 11th Annual Roscoe Turner Hot Air Balloon Race has been
postponed until next spring.
The announcement of the change in the date was made Tuesday by
The Alliance's interim Community Development Director Karen Downs.
"After much community input, The Alliance Executive Committee
has voted to reschedule the Roscoe Turner Hot Air Balloon Race," said
Downs. "The balloon race will take place May 2-4 and will be held in
conjunction with the Coca-Cola Classic 10K Run. The balloon race has
previously held in August. Heat, humidity and rain were major
drawbacks for an August festival."
According to Downs, the decision to change the date of the
event - known for drawing a number of balloonists and tourists to the
area - was made during the June meeting of the Alliance Executive
Committee.
"We are hoping the balloon race will add to the Coca-Cola Run,
which has been a one-day event," explained Downs. "They (organizers
of the run) seems to be pleased with the added attraction and welcomed
the balloon race."
Downs said there was discusson about changing the date to the
second weekend in September, but with other major Alliance assisted
festivals being held close to the September date, there were
logistical and coordination problems for volunteers, sponsors and
Alliance staff. She said potential conflicting events being held in
September included Hog Wild and the Battle of Corinth Reenactment.
"The Executive Committee looked closely at a wide range of
other dates, but due to conflicts with other balloon races, the first
weekend in May appeared to be the most practical weekend to hold the
event, " commented Downs. "We contacted the balloonists and called
around to other areas that have balloon races and this date seemed to
be an open date."
The local balloon race was founded by Corinth businessman and
balloonist, Eddie Lafavor and his wife. The Lafavors introduced their
unique hobby to Corinth and Alcorn County 11 years ago after traveling
to various areas of the United States to attend other balloon races.
In the past, ground activities associated with the race have
been held at the Corinth/Alcorn County Airport. Downs said plans for
the 1997 event will differ.
"The preliminary plans call for the Corinth Depot being the
possible site for activities associated Corinth Tourism Promotion
balloon race ever. with the race," she said. "We are still working on
that part of the event."
Downs said with the help of the Corinth Tourism Promotion
Council advertising dollars and help from sponsorships, the Alliance
hopes to make the Balloon Race in May of 1997 the biggest balloon race
ever.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the event is asked to
call The Alliance office at 287-5269.
PHOTO: [Caption] - The annual hot air balloon race in Corinth is named
for famous aviator Roscoe Turner (left), a native of Corinth. The
11th annual event, usually held in August, will be moved to next May
to be held in conjunction with the Coca-Cola 10K Corinth Ciassic
foot race. The August heat and humidity were factors in moving the
date to the first weekend in May, according to Karen Downs with The
Alliance.
Abstracts (c) Copyright 1996 Stephanie L. Sandy
Data transcription by: Milton Sandy, Jr. Corinth, MS - Jan 24, 1996
RT201