Hempstead County Bicentennial Committee Meets

The Hempstead County Bicentennial Committee met Monday October 1st. Tarona Armstrong of the President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site presided over the meeting. Armstrong went through a list of dignataries invited to take part in the celebration including Governor Huckabee, Mack McLarty, Joe Purvis, Judge Lavenski Smith, and others. The committee will know more about who all can attend next month.
Josh Williams gave an update on the program downtown. He noted the Chamber of Commerce is working to get vendors for the day on December 15th downtown. Williams also noted local musical acts are being invited to perform downtown including the songwriting winners from Washington’s “Music In the Park”. Fireworks were discussed and Cherry Stewart voiced her objections with regards to the danger a possible spark catching a roof on fire. Richard Read raised objections concerning putting the fireworks show before some of the projects already approved. Keenan Williams said he understood any normal expense approved would be proper and that the items Read referred to are to be funded with any funds left over from the celebration. Williams said he understood the December 15th program is the primary goal. Read said he felt if the group choose fireworks over such projects as historical township signs that the decision would not be popular with the public. Read also gave an update on the time capsule and “Letters to the Future”. This initiative is aimed at allowing all 3,600 students in the county to pen a “letter to the future” to be archived in the time capsule to be opened 50 years in the future. Read also noted Steve Randall of Randall Engraving is providing an engraved stainless steel plaque with the sponsors listed for the time capsule. Judge Haskell Morse discussed purchasing a marble monument to be included in the marker for the time capsule. The group voted to purchase the marble for a total of $1,100.
Josh Williams and Keenan Williams gave an update on the tokens for the passports. The committee voted to purchase 100 of the tokens at a cost of$12 each. Keenan Williams also gave a report on the silver tokens and showed the dies which will be used to strike the coins.
Judge Haskell Morse noted KSLA TV in Shreveport has been often using a backdrop featuring the Hope Depot. Dale Gathright noted the Depot is featured on the National Weather Service website from Shreveport.
The meeting then adjourned.