McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

Related Photos

February 7, 2010

Benefit concert proposed

Planners hope to raise money to pay prison rodeo costs

By James Beaty

The announced cancellation of this year’s Oklahoma State Penitentiary Prison Rodeo has resulted in a flurry of suggestions.

Why not hold a benefit concert — either to raise enough money to go ahead and hold the rodeo later this year, or enough to pay for some much-needed repairs for the prison’s rodeo arena?

Discussions are under way on two fronts. The McAlester Chamber of Commerce has a committee that’s been looking into raising funds for the arena repairs.

Meanwhile, District 18 state Rep. Terry Harrison, D-McAlester, has been working on his own to try and help put together a benefit concert to go ahead and hold the rodeo, typically held either in August or September.

“We’ve got some people that are upset,” Harrison said about the cancellation of this year’s prison rodeo.

He wondered about spending money to upgrade a rodeo arena if there’s no rodeo to be held in it.

“Why spend a lot of money for the arena, if it’s just going to sit there?” Harrison said.

The state representative said he’s been in contact with a friend of a major Red Dirt artist who expressed interest not only in performing himself, but who also said he might be able to bring some other artists in as well.

“He thinks he might be able to get some artists together for a concert at the Expo Center” or maybe the prison rodeo arena, said Harrison

“We’re in the very early planning stages,” said Harrison, who added that he was contacted by a friend of the artist, who had offered his help.

Since Harrison said he hasn’t yet spoken to the artist or his management personally, he didn’t want to publicly identify him at this point.

However, Harrison considers the offer serious enough that he has contacted the Oklahoma Department of Corrections about the matter.

“I called the DOC today,” Harrison said. “We need to know how much they need to raise.” He said the DOC is crunching the numbers and will get the information to him.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce met Thursday with Vicki Jones, of the Choctaw Casino; Darren Newsome, of the Sertoma Club; Kathy Wall, of McAlester Main Street; McAlester Mayor Kevin Priddle and Jerry Lynn Wilson, of the Southeast Expo Center.

Stephens said during the Thursday meeting that any fund-raiser involving the Chamber would be directed at repairing the arena, not for raising money to go ahead and hold the rodeo this year.

Although some names have been floated as possibilities, no artists had been signed or contacted on behalf of the Chamber as of the Thursday afternoon meeting.

Asked how much of a budget the McAlester Chamber of Commerce had available for a fund-raiser, Stephens said “zero.”

Nevertheless, through contact with the Choctaw Nation, the group got an idea of what it might cost to sign some major acts for a fundraising event.

All of the dollar amounts were in six figures — from $100,000 to $300,000.

The discussion evolved into looking at holding a fund-raising event at the city’s Southeast Expo Center, as opposed to the rodeo arena, and possibly making it an all-day, family-type event, including a carnival.

Regardless of whether a concert is held to raise funds for the rodeo arena repairs, one thing is certain.

Repairs to the OSP prison rodeo arena are needed.

“Some of the seating needs to be replaced,” said OSP spokesman Terry Crenshaw.

Inside the arena on Friday, splits where the concrete has settled and separated were visible on some of the stairs, seating and aisles of the arena’s south side.

“Some of it has settled over the years and become unlevel,” Crenhsaw said. “It’s a facility that’s going on 70 years old.”

Meanwhile, Harrison is hopeful that the fundraiser to get enough money to go ahead and hold the rodeo will move forward.

“It’s very doable,” he said.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

Text Only
Local News
Seasonal Content
Poll

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"Midnight in Paris"
"Moneyball"
"The Tree of Life"
"War Horse"
     View Results
AP Video
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
NDN Video
Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2012 Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace' Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life NASCAR Drive for Diversity VS Model Quits Over Religion Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Osama Bin Laden Zombie Movie: "Osombie" Teaser Released Androgynous Model Walks Runway As Man and Woman Khloe Kardashian Responds to O.J. Rumors SportsTalk Live: Most hated athletes - 2/8 Louis Vuitton Condoms?! Tiger Woods 13: Legacy mode Michelle Obama vs. Jimmy Fallon Buffalo Barges Into Car Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released Has Iceland’s Nessie shown itself? Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme Beyonce Is Sexy in Sequins Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9 Zip-Lining Man Slams Into Tree
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.