The organizers were expecting approximately 30,000 people to attend the free concert Friday evening, over 75,000 showed up.

Over 75,000 people showed up for the free concert on Friday evening

Jake Owen

Jake Owen

Jake Owen provided the first interview with the media, during which he highlighted his commitment to supporting our citizen soldiers, “Any chance I get to be able to come out here to show my respect and support for these folks I will always do that.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hank Williams Jr.

Hank Williams Jr.

Hank William Jr. who was added late to the schedule, was adamant about doing this show. Speaking with reporters he said that someone told him that they did not know if he would be able to do this concert. The man commonly known as Bocephus responded, “…What do you mean, you don’t know! You don’t don’t make the decisions, I am doing this show Cousin.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood with some of the troops

Carrie Underwood came over after she wrapped up a meet and greet with VIP guests at the concert. She spoke about her trip to Iraq to play for the troops, and how it influenced her decision to headline this concert. “I got to go to Iraq a couple of years ago and that was definitely an eye opening experience. So its kinda like any opportunities that come up…. I am there”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Following the interview with Carrie Underwood, the media headed out in front of the stage to take photographs, and take in the show.

The Performances

A commentator on the Hank Williams JR web site had this to say about the Hank Williams Jr. performance:

I met a cool and collected Bocephus backstage while his staff was handing out bottled water to an over-heated media blitz. Little did I know he was about to take to the stage in front of 75,000 and put on one of the best shows of his storied career. Billed as “the opening act”, Hank ripped through hit after hit for more than an hour and a half and left the crowd completely stunned with his cover of “Walk This Way” Again, proving he’s a hard act to follow and a living example to those younger “headliner” acts that performed much later. Indeed, he did stop the show by all accounts.

Hank Williams finishing his performance

I agree, his show was indeed spectacular! As a member of that over-heated media blitz, I want to say thank you to him, and his staff for their kindness in providing the bottled waters.

Following Hank Williams Jr, John Rich came on stage and gave another stirring performance. His show expressed a level of disgust with politicians in Washington D.C., asking the attendees, if the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had ever come to Fort Campbell.

John Rich on stage

During a break in the performance, Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell, the new commander of the 101^st Airborne Divison came up on stage and recognized John Rich for his support of the troops and the 101^st Airborne Division. After accepting his awards, John Rich presented Maj Gen John Campbell with one of his tour shirts with the General’s name on the back.

Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell receives a customized tour shirt from John Rich

When John Rich finished, it was time for Jake Owen. The most memorable part of his concert besides his wonderful singing, was when he left the stage and went out interact with the crowd, and when he climbed up to the top of the scaffolding at the front of the stage.

Jake Owen out in the crowd during his performance at the Salute to the Troops Concert at Fort Campbell KY

The final performer of the evening was Carrie Underwood. Having gotten to meet her during a media event earlier in the day, I can tell you that television cameras do not do justice to the beauty of this stunning performer. She took the stage well over an hour after her scheduled starting time, however her performance was well worth the wait. The songs were upbeat, and selected to fully utilize her amazing vocal talents.

Carrie Underwood performing on stage

I want to take a moment to thank the 101^st Airborne Division’s Command Staff, Fort Campbell’s Directorate of MWR, the PAO Office and their staff, and of course the serving soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), who made our coverage of the Week of the Eagles events down right painless. Thank you for all that you do.

Photo Gallery

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The weekly Clarksville Parks and Recreation Deparment Recreation Report provides Clarksvillians with a glimpse at the activities and events that are available from the Parks and Recreation Department for them to enjoy together as a family. This weeks highlights include:

• The Concert in the Park with the 101st Army Rock Band
• Hershey Track and Field Competition News
• Punt Pass and Kick
• Downtown Market
• Iconic Clydesdales to visit Downtown Clarksville
• Community Center Hours

The 101st Airborne Division Army Rock Band

The Concert in the Park with the 101st Army Rock Band

The August Concert in the Park featured the distinguished and talented 101^st Airborne Division Rock Band along with the talented dancers from Natalie’s Dance Network.

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Hershey Track and Field Competition News

In recent weeks, Parks and Recreation has reported on some of Clarksville’s outstanding young athletes who competed in the Hershey Track and Field competition.  Several advanced from the local level onto the regional competition.  One young lady Bethany Rich made it all the way to the national competition where she competed with other young athletes from all over the United States in the Standing Long Jump competition.  Bethany placed 4^th in the event landing the jump at 7 feet 4 inches.

Congratulations to Bethany.  We are proud to have her representing the young athletes of Clarksville.

The local Hershey Track and Field competition is hosted each year by the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department in the spring.

Punt Pass and Kick

Young athletes in Clarksville need not wait until spring to showcase their athletic abilities.  Parks and Recreation is hosting its annual Punt, Pass and Kick competition Saturday, August 22 at Kenwood High School at 10a.m.

Youth ages 8-15 may participate for free in this NFL sponsored competition.  Kids can compete with others in areas of punting, passing and kicking a football.  Winners receive ribbons, official NFL certificates and have the opportunity to advance to the sectional competition.

Registration forms are available at the Parks and Recreation office, and at any of the three community centers or online at www.cityofclarksville.com

Upcoming Downtown Market

Every Saturday, Public Square is abuzz with Downtown Market vendors and patrons.  This coming weekend should be no different.  Many of your favorite vendors and a few new ones (who are soon to become favorites too) will be at the market.

Fresh produce including tomatoes, squash, watermelon, sweet corn and potatoes will be available.  Many other items will be for sale at the market, as well.  Granola, low fat baked goods, stained glass, jewelry, fried pies, wood works, candles and flowers are just some of the things you will find at the market.

The guest vendor at the Downtown Market will be Austin Peay State University’s Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, as well as, the university’s Athletics Department.  They will have information on happenings at Austin Peay this fall.

Iconic Clydesdales to visit Downtown Clarksville

The Budweiser Clydesdales at the Paris, TN Worlds Biggest Fish Fry in 2008

Be sure to join us on Strawberry Alley Thursday night for a visit with the famous Budweiser Clydesdales.  The Clydesdales will take their places at 4p.m. on Franklin Street.  Shortly after, the horses will pull the well-known red wagon around the downtown area and distribute products to the local restaurants and pubs.  After their trip around downtown, they will return to Franklin Street until 7p.m. for everyone to see and take pictures with.
Local favorite band The Beagles will provide live entertainment for the crowd at 6:30p.m.

The Beagles

Community Center Hours

Please do not forget our new community center hours for fall. Community centers will be open tomorrow from noon-7p.m. since school will be out.  Regular fall hours will resume Tuesday.  For community center contact information and details of activities at the centers, visit www.cityofclarksville.com/parksandrec.

Burt Cobb Community Center

• Monday – 7am-8am; 11am-9pm
• Tuesday – 7am-8am; 11am-9pm
• Wednesday – 7am-8am; 3pm-9pm
• Thursday – 7am-8am; 11am-8pm
• Friday – 7am-8am; 3pm-6pm
• Saturday – 11am-3pm
• Sunday – Closed

Crow Center

Crow Community Center

• Monday – 9am-9pm
• Tuesday – 2pm-9pm
• Wednesday – 9am-9pm
• Thursday – 2pm-9pm
• Friday – 10am-6pm
• Saturday – 9am-1pm
• Sunday – Closed

Kleeman Center

Kleeman Community Center

• Monday – 10am-8pm
• Tuesday – 10am-8pm
• Wednesday – 1pm-8pm
• Thursday – 10am-8pm
• Friday – 1pm-6pm
• Saturday – 9am-3pm
• Sunday – Closed

At 4p.m. the horses will take their places on Strawberry Alley followed by visits to the downtown eateries to deliver beer to the restaurateurs.  After distributing product to the restaurants, the Clydesdales will remain hitched to the wagon on Strawberry Alley until 7p.m. for spectators to visit and take pictures with.

The Budweiser Clydesdales at the Paris, TN Worlds Biggest Fish Fry in 2008

Along with the Budweiser Clydesdales’ visit, the well known local band The Beagles will provide live entertainment for the patrons on Strawberry Alley at 6:30p.m.

The Beagles

The visit to Clarksville is one of the 300 visits made annually around the United States by the five traveling hitches of Budweiser Clydesdale horses.  Each horse stands at approximately six feet tall at the shoulder and weighs an average of 2000 pounds.  The horses are friendly and enjoy meeting millions of people each year.

Click here to view the embedded video.

A few streets in the downtown area will be closed on August 13 in preparation for the Clydesdales and concert.  Strawberry Alley will be closed to through traffic in front of City Hall starting at 1 p.m. on the day of the event.  US Bank’s drive-through and City Hall parking lots will be accessible.  Also, the south end of Public Square and Franklin Street from the First Street intersection to Public Square will be closed to through traffic beginning at 1p.m.

For more information on this event, contact the City of Clarksville Parks and Recreation office at 645-7476.

Wild west Chuck wagon Race at Kiwanis Rodeo

This weekend brought two days of rodeo excitement to Clarksville at the Fairgrounds Park. Friday was the opening night and Wendy’s Restaurants sponsored it’s Kids Night at the Rodeo.

Kiwanis Chairman Glenn Childers

Glenn Childers, 2008 Downtown Kiwanis Club Chair, gave a brief rundown of this year’s rodeo, adding that the Kiwanis Club, with its 128 members, are proud that this was their 24th year bringing the rodeo to the Clarksville community. This rodeo was a very family-oriented and family-friendly happening, with the proceeds the Downtown Kiwanis Club raise dedicated to aid children and youth programs.

The pageantry of rodeo is colorful, dramatic, patriotic and exciting. Mark North, rodeo announcer, does an excellent job of informing the crowd of what is going on in the arena and encouraging everyone’s participation and appreciation for the athletes’ performances on display, both human and animal. Livestock takes on an entirely new meaning when 3,000 pounds of bucking steer animal is in your face !

All American: Carrying the colors

There are chuck wagon races, Children’s “Lost Shoe Match Up” competitions, “Gold in the Haystack” searches for the younger set as well as the grown-ups. Trick riding, rodeo clowns, shooting demonstration are all part of the rodeo show.

A Cowboy waits ready at the gate

The rodeo, though, at its most basic, is about the true life western cowboy skills of herding cattle, developed by those early cattle herders. Those men were mostly former Buffalo Soldiers and freed slaves from South seeking to better their lives and put distance between themselves and their past lives of bondage. Popularized in the late 19th century with Wild West shows, these rodeo skills, which now recognize the skills of women as well, have come to be known as calf roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc roping, bareback roping and bull riding. All of these skill sets are on display and vetted nightly at the Clarksville Rodeo.

Young cowboy gets ready to test his new skills

Food vendors offered cotton candy, funnel cakes, nachos snow cones, popcorn, and hot dogs. Wayne Abrams, barbecue specialist extraordinaire worked his ‘Applewood Magic,’ with Bubba’s Tennessee Smokers creating barbecue sandwiches, and Wendy’s Frosties to cool the fire from all that barbecue. Tastebuds were bound to be sated. Six lanes of inflatable slides and jumping castle in Kids Playland Adrenolin Rush II, sponsored by the F&M Bank, was a real bargain at five dollars per child for unlimited playtime.

Youngsters have a chance to explore tractors, backhoes and other equipment

Business sponsor Joe Heitz Toyata hosted a static display of Tacoma and Tundra V-8 trucks. Thompson Equipment had a static display of CAT machinery on hand, allowing youngsters to have a picture taken in the cab of the big rig. Bikers Who Care conducted ticket sales for their motorbike give-a-way. Raffle tickets were five dollars for the chance to win a Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 beauty. During the rodeo, five tickets were only $20.00. Proceeds benefit Camp Rainbow, Buddy Ball and other children charities. Bill Roberts’ Thunder Road had a static display of pleasure boats for viewing.

Other attractions included a petting zoo and pony ride, the livestock pens. Lindsey Haliburton is on hand, signing personal portraits and circles the corral in the Joe Heitz Chuck Wagon. The Clarksville Police Department Mounted Patrol are also to be seen. The local business community support of this event is impressive: local banks, storage operations, construction, veterinary care, certified accountants, auto repair to car sales, pleasure watercraft sales, radio media, web design, printers, lodging, livestock, restaurants of all genre, lawyers and law firms, concrete products,commercial real estate, architectural firms, communications and insurance firms — virtually every sector of the local business community was involved in some way with this rodeo.

Some of the results of Friday night include: Bareback Riding, sponsored by Legends Bank, won by Zach Holston; Saddle Bronc Riding, sponsored by Joe Heitz Toyota, won by Peter Fowlkes; Barrel Racing, sponsored by Budweiser, won by Jessica Moore; and Breakaway Roping, sponsored by Grandpas, won by Julie Ennis.

For the uninitiated, it was a chance to get acquainted with the real living tradition of the American West. Cowboys, Cowgirls, horses and cows — “That’s American!”

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