Published: March 26, 2008 10:04 pm            

Davy Jones ready to entertain at Fairbanks

Former Monkee lined up to play at festival in May; Eddie Bird attends first meeting

TERRE HAUTE — The “Last Train to Clarksville” could stop at Fairbanks Park around 8 p.m. May 24.

Terre Haute Park and Recreation Board vice president Richard Shagley II announced at Wednesday’s meeting that Davy Jones will be the entertainment for the Fairbanks Park Festival in May, pending the city legal department’s approval of the contract.

Jones, 62, is most famous for singing with The Monkees, a 1960s pop-rock group with hits such as “Daydream Believer,” “I Wanna Be Free” and “Last Train to Clarksville.”

Jones’ contract for the event will be $31,567.50 if approved, Shagley said.

The Park Board also welcomed new Parks and Recreation Superintendent Eddie Bird to his first meeting after three days on the job.

Bird, younger brother of former NBA great and Pacers president Larry, was a hoops standout in his own right while playing for Indiana State University from 1988 to 1991.

Bird said he’s “listening” more than speaking for now, noting that Wednesday was his third day on the job.

“For me, I think the mayor hired me for the customer service perspective,” Bird said, noting he plans not only to evaluate programming provided by the parks department, but to enhance the image through public relations work such as he has done for the Indiana Pacers.

Prior to community outreach programs with the Pacers, Bird worked for the Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the Department of Natural Resources.

• In other business, the Parks Board voted to approve a measure allowing temporary alcohol sales at park facilities on a case-by-case basis.

The move, which will be voted on by the Terre Haute City Council on April 3, amends the city code to allow groups to sell alcohol at park events after obtaining a special permit granted by the Parks Board.

If passed by the council, events such as the Fairbanks Park Festival could have alcohol sold by approved groups, the board said.

n Parks employee Ryan Klopfenstein informed board members that because Indiana voted in a sales tax increase effective April 1, member cart rentals at the golf courses will have to increase from $14 to $14.25 to cover the cost.

Shagley made a motion to increase the rates by the quarter, and the board will vote on the change at the next meeting April 9.

        

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