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Paqe 2 <br />Fairground Committee <br />Minutes <br />Mr. Leon Alexander, representing the Lamar Coonhunter Association, was <br />present and also restated their complaints to the Committee. Mr. <br />Alexander further emphasized the lose of revenue to the City of Paris <br />and the citizens of Paris due to the Red River Valley Fair Association <br />not allowing the Lamar Coonhunter Association to have their hunts at <br />the fairgrounds. Mr. Alexander discussed the closing of the Street at <br />the fairgrounds with City Attorney Haynes. <br />City Attorney Haynes advised Mr. Alexander that the street closing was <br />done by the City of Paris on a request by the Red River Fair <br />Association, the reason being safety measures, and truck traffic. <br />Mr. Alexander explained the complete operation of a coon hunt to the <br />committee, and said that it was his opinion that the Lamar Coonhunter <br />Association was not welcome to use the fairgrounds. <br />City Attorney Haynes reassured Mr. Alexander that was not true, and <br />that he would personally check into this matter. <br />After discussion of the possibility of having a hunt at the <br />fairgrounds. Mr. Alexander was directed to contact Mr. Hoog at the Red <br />River Fair Association and see if arrangement could be made for future <br />hunts. <br />Ellie Castleberry, representing the Northeast Texas Poultry <br />Association, also appeared and discussed the problems they were having <br />with getting permission to use the facilities at the fairgrounds. <br />Stating that she and her husband had been showing chickens in the Paris <br />area for many years. Ms. Castleberry told the Committee their poultry <br />building was torn down, and at that time, their club was promised <br />another poultry building, and last year that building was dedicated. <br />Ms. Castleberry read a portion of an article she had written that was <br />published in one of the two National Poultry Magazines regarding the <br />dedication of the new poultry building at the fairgrounds. Mr. <br />Castleberry said it was their understanding that this was to be a place <br />for poultry shows, instead it is a place for bingo, and then she found <br />out that there might not be a poultry show at the fair in the poultry <br />building this year, because Red River Valley Fair Association could not <br />move the tables out because of the bingo games. Mr. Castleberry said <br />they were still trying to workout some type of an agreement with the <br />Red River Fair Association. <br />Discussion was had concerning the rental fees of the buildings at the <br />fairgrounds compared with other cities. <br />Discussion was also had with Ms. Castleberry and Pat Galyon regarding <br />the locked gates at the fairgrounds. <br />Keith Jordan, President of the Northeast Texas Cutting Horse <br />Association, appeared before the Committee, stating that they do not <br />deal directly with the Red River Valley Fair Association, but work with <br />the Paris Rodeo and Horse Club, and their needs are the same as the <br />Paris Rodeo and Horse Club, we need parking, and we need facilities. <br />Mr. Jordan stated this is one of the finest outdoor arenas in Northeast <br />