By By William F. West / community editor
Sept. 18, 2002
QUITMAN Organizers are preparing for the 13th Annual Clarke County Forestry &Wildlife Festival, with this year's theme focusing on youngsters.
The chamber is sponsoring the festival, set for Oct. 5 at Archusa Water Park, just off Highway 18 east of town.
The festival's purpose is to promote the water park, which is part of the Pat Harrison Waterway District. It also promotes the county's abundance of forests and wildlife.
Over the years, the festival has evolved to the point where organizers decided to have a different theme every year. Hence, this year's theme: "It's a kid's world."
The festival will feature Terry Vandeventer, the state's chief expert on snakes who travels with a living reptile museum. Vandeventer will do two shows about Mississippi snakes.
The festival also will include professional chain saw sculptor Jackie Wood, the Clarke County Cruisers motorcycle show, an antique tractor show and an archery demonstration and competition.
Combest also said state Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks experts will offer hunting and woods safety seminars for children.
Combest said she and others also want to organize a countywide cleanup for the nationwide Make A Difference Day, scheduled for Oct. 26.
That night at Clarkco State Park, the chamber will recognize the county's volunteer firefighters and law enforcement officers with a cookout for them and their families.
FORESTRY &WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
For more details about the Forestry &Wildlife Festival, call the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce at 776-5701. The chamber is in downtown Quitman's old railroad depot; it is open from 9 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.