Tourism board refuses to take official stand on trail ride

FLORENCE -- A Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Board member failed Tuesday in his attempt to get the board to recognize Waterloo as the official terminus of the annual Trail of Tears motorcycle ride.

Board member Jim Bevis wanted the five-member board to take an official position on where the popular event should end.

The Trail of Tears board voted unanimously in May to end the ride in Florence's McFarland Park rather than the traditional stopping point in Waterloo.

That eventually led the Florence City Council and Lauderdale County Commission to urge the Trail of Tears board to rethink its decision.

Tourism board member Ernest Haygood and Chairman Selton Killen said the board has never voiced a position on the ride and simply assists and promotes the event.

Bevis said he's been approached by many people who disagree with the Trail of Tears board's decision. Killen said he has received similar calls.

Many people placed the blame for the change at the feet of Florence officials and the tourism board, but both groups insist they had nothing to do with the Trail of Tears board's decision.

The board stated at the time that Waterloo was not properly monitoring vendors who set up to sell unlicensed Trail of Tears paraphernalia.

Money received from official Trail of Tears souvenirs goes to offset expenses related to holding the annual motorcycle ride.

"You're not dealing with reality; you're dealing with perception," Bevis said.

Bevis said he wanted the tourism board to go on record supporting efforts to reinstate Waterloo as the ride's final destination.

"It's my preference that they go on to Waterloo, but it's not up to us," Killen said.

Bevis' motion died when it failed to get a second.

Haygood said the controversy over the destination change is over and should be left alone.

Assistant Tourism Director Alison Stanfield said the tourism office will support events in Waterloo and at McFarland Park.

"There will be enough people to go to both locations," she said.

Bevis said he brought up the issue and called for the vote to "represent his constituents."

Bevis was appointed to fill the remaining term of former board member Audrey McDaniel. He was recently reappointed to the board by the Florence City Council.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.