Fair will be allowed to stay in current location one more year

Published 4:45 pm Monday, January 21, 2013

“Members of the airport authority then went and asked FAA and ALDOT if this would be a problem and they granted us a one year extension,” Cleckler said. “We want to work with the Kiwanis Club in trying to help them with a location for the fair.”

Cleckler said the only requirement imposed from the FAA with the extension is additional lighting be placed to serve as a “warning light” to make sure the obstructions such as the Ferris Wheel are clearly visible to pilots.

“As long we have assurance that the one-year extension will not affect the future of our grant money for the airport then we are happy the fair will stay for another year,” Cleckler said.

Cleckler said the airport would know whether or not they received grants for the 2013 year in the spring.

Kissel Entertainment owner Russ Kissel said his company has provided entertainment for the Chilton County Fair since 1991.

“We work really well with the Kiwanis organization and that is one of the reasons we decided to move our business to Clanton,” Kissel said. “Everyone made us feel really at home and we thought this would be a great place to house our office.”

Kissel said at the fair’s current location near the Chilton County Airport roughly 20 rides are provided and hopes the number of rides will increase when the fair finds an alternate location in 2014.

In the meantime, Nolen said fair organizers are “elated” to hear they will have the same location for another year.

“It was just really good news to learn that we wouldn’t have to scramble for another location in enough time to have the fair this year,” Nolen said. “We are very happy.”