PCA hosts 6th Annual African Street Festival at Fairgrounds Park

By Turner McCullough Jr. | August 12, 2008 |

Local community group commemorates the Emancipation of Tennessee Slaves with song, prayer, folk dancing, political awareness and fun.

Mrs. Doris Witherspoon, PCA Secretary and Pastor Gloria Hall, PCA Ass't Director

On Saturday, Fairgrounds Park was the site of Progressive Citizens Advocates’ 6th Annual African Street Festival. The event commemorates the emancipation of Tennessee slaves during the Civil War. That historical context is the motivating background of this colorful family-centered community celebration. While an appreciation of the historical perspective of the one-day festival is crucial to its organizers, the festival itself offers far more than a review of a bitter time period of American history.

From its originating start on the campus of APSU, the festival has grown and evolved to include participants from a diverse cultural background. The festival provides an opportunity for reflection on contributions made by African Americans, the history of the Motherland Africa and its early rulers and leaders and the ongoing struggle of African Americans and other minorities as they strive to achieve the American ideal. Performers have ranged from a showcase of local rappers and R&B artists to Polynesian Firewalk Dancers to this year’s Ballet Folklorico Viva Panama, the art of the diverse elements of the Clarksville and Montgomery County community has always played an important role in the festival celebration.

Ballet Folklorico Viva Panama dancers

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This “Mummy” should have stayed buried

By David W. Shelton | August 12, 2008 |

Before I spend any significant time in pontificating on just how bad The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (hereafter Mummy 3) really is, I should confess that I have a certain amount of fanboy affection for Brendan Fraser. It’s hard for me to not like one of his films. Alas, in the case of Mummy 3, the film really borders on a level of asinine that makes for downright painful viewing. Even my fondness for Fraser’s presence on the big screen doesn’t save this atrocity from the depths of total celluloid depravity.

Director Rob Cohen takes over the reins from Stephen Sommers, who helmed the first two films. Cohen’s style of storytelling clearly wanted to capture some of the apparent nostalgia of the first two Mummy films. Only there’s one big problem - it’s been a mere seven years since the last one, and the first two films really weren’t all that great to begin with.

I’ve long had a personal policy of spoiler-free reviews, but I’ll have to make an exception in this case because it’s just THAT bad. Try to imagine, if you can, a scene where massive, overly-animated Yeti pounce on the villains only to kick one of the poor heavies over a roof in an impromptu football field goal, with the obligatory referee’s hand sign. If you think such a scene is an exercise of brilliant humor, then there’s not really much hope for you—you’ll probably love this movie. The rest of us will roll our eyes nearly out of their sockets. «Read the rest of this article»

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CTS hears concerns about proposed route changes, fare hikes

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 12, 2008 |

CTS presents fare structure with reinstated transfer system

When Clarksville Transit System Director Jimmy Smith presented the new route and rate structures to the public Monday evening at the Public Library, there were a few changes from the budget-balancing package approved several weeks ago by the City Council Transportation Committee, not the least of which was a controversial decision to eliminate transfers and replace that option with a second fare for the second length of all cross town trips.

CTS DIrector Jimmie Smith explains route changes that now service the new Gateway Health Center

Responding to public concern, Smith said the phone calls, letters and comments he and his staff have received all put the “transfer” issue at the top of the list, with respondents overwhelmingly calling for retention of the transfer system and voicing support for the system wide fare increase of 25 cents, which would raise the cost of a basic bus trip to $1.25. «Read the rest of this article»

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