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Bike rally debuts By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer  | Photo by Suzann Williams
Riding into town
Visitors
to Holly Springs Thursday included (from left) Sheryl Miller of
Batesville who rides with the Brotherhood Club, Leslie Johnson of Marks
with the Flying Eagles and Betty Barnes of Tunica with the Brotherhood
Club. |
Holly
Springs Main Street Association became more visible Thursday as about
50 bikers came to North Center Street to participate in the first
promotion of the association, Hidden Treasures. The
hidden treasure is the Blues Trail and marker located at the corner of
North Center Street and College Avenue. Aikei Pro’s record shop owned
by David Caldwell is known internationally as an off-beat destination
for blues music fans. About 50 bikers
participated in the evening of fun, according to Andy McMillon, a
member of the promotions committee. Approximately half were from out of
town, coming from places like New Albany, Tunica, Batesville, Bartlett,
Tenn., and Rossville, Tenn., and from biker clubs in Tunica and
Memphis, Tenn. The rally begins at 6:30 every Thursday night through the month of September. McMillon
said bikers asked for music and Rust College provided speakers and
Wayne Fiddis provided music from WURC FM radio for the first two hours.
A surprise visit by bluesmen Duwayne Burnside and David Kimbrough Jr.
topped off the evening. The two musicians are proud bluesmen and
descendants of historic hill country blues musicians in the Holly
Springs area. “Burnside and Kimbrough surprised everyone,” he said. Some
local bikers joining the rally were Dennis Ethridge, Robert Ackerman,
David Beckley, Donald Street, Dura “Spooky” Moss, Rodney Owens, Sherman
Greer and Russell Johnson, McMillon said. Security
for the event was excellent, he said, with on-foot patrolman Joy Cox
and chief Robert Pearson handling traffic, he said. The Holly Springs
Fire Department set up traffic barricades and traffic flow was good. Others
joining the rally from the sidelines included Holly Springs aldermen
Johnny Bagley and Harvey Payne, Judy Smith, Fannie Lampley and Charles
Terry with Main Street, Pat Boga, Mayor Andre’ DeBerry and Lisa Liddy. Participation exceeded expectations. “I didn’t expect that many motorcycles,” McMillon said. “I was tickled to death when they started coming in.”  | Photo by Andy McMillon
Hidden Treasures
Bikers line North Center Street in downtown Holly Springs Thursday evening. |
Bikers
asked why the rally was held at North Center Street and learned it is
the historic district for blues music in Holly Springs. Bikers
felt safe and one Bartlett biker said he felt it was safe enough for
bikers to bring their wives or girlfriends with them next time,
McMillon said. For many of the out-of-towners, it was a first visit to Holly Springs. “It was good that this brought people just to see the town,” he said. ‘We are asking local musicians to return to play more.” The promotions committee will try to vary the music as the weeks pass, adding gospel and country. “We
want to mix it up,” McMillon said. “We will move the music toward the
city square to not interfere with the church and funeral home.” No
complaints were made about noise. No alcohol/no public drinking is
allowed at the rally. The area is policed by law enforcement and by
program committee members who report any problems to police. Suzann
Williams, with the Tourism Bureau, said the rally was a great success.
She was impressed by the women bikers, three of whom rode in from the
Mississippi Delta, she said. “It was great,” Williams said. Main
Street executive director Judy Smith said she is getting lots of
feedback about the rally and that people want it bigger in terms of
activities. “Our primary purpose was to promote
downtown and our emphasis was Hidden Treasures with bikers as an
activity,” Smith said. “We wanted to emphasize restaurants and Annie’s,
JB’s and Copper Kettle agreed to stay open Thursday nights through
September.” Several other events are planned for
the fall to promote downtown, including a Halloween family event on the
square, a holiday open house and other activities. Smith
said volunteers and ideas are needed and invites anyone in the
community who would like to serve on the promotion committee to come to
meetings the first Monday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Beckley Center
on Rust Avenue. In addition to ideas and event
planning, Main Street needs worker bees, individuals who help out with
activities but who may not want to serve on a committee. To inquire
further about Main Street, call 551-8396. |
