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July 9, 2010
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July 4th Star Spangled Spectacular lifts spirits
HANK STRATFORD
MAYOR’S CORNER ‘American Experiment’ must remain challenged On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress, comprised of representatives of the 13 colonies, voted to declare independence from Great Britain. The colonies had been at war with England since April 1775. Tension had been building between England and its colonies since the Stamp Act of 1765, when the British Parliament imposed a tax on printed material. The problem was not so much the tax, but the lack of representation of the colonies in Parliament. The colonies resented being governed without any representation. On July 4, 1776, the Congress approved the wording of the Declaration of Independence. The war with England continued for another seven years before America was recognized as a sovereign country. And it was another four years before the Constitution was adopted.
TAMARA STEINER Clayton Pioneer
Economic woes and oil spill worries took a back seat to the stars and stripes Sunday as thousands lined a Main Street alive with red, white and blue for the annual July 4 parade. Spirits were high and there seemed to be an extra bit of energy behind the flag waving this year as Clayton eagerly embraced the patriotic celebration that began with the presentation of colors by VFW Post 1575 and the National Anthem, JESSICA LAW, 16, took the winning photo in the Pioneer’s July 4 photo contest and will take home $100. Photos were judged on composition, quality and how well they captured the spirit of the July 4 celebration.
For the rest of the winners, see page 3
See Mayor, page 8
this year sung by Clayton resident Julia Aguilar. Then the kids came--hundreds of them. Kids on decorated bikes and scooters, in wagons, prams and strollers waved to friends as they made their way down Main Street. “Are all these kids from Clayton?” joked Emcee Dan Ashley from the microphone. “I think they’re circling around two or three times.” This was the 15th year that Ashley, an ABC-7 News Anchor and former Clayton resident was Master of Ceremonies. “We know we’ve had some challenging times recently,” Ashley said on a more serious note, “but when you look at these kids and Clayton, you know things will be OK.” The kids were followed by City Council members waving from open convertibles and 37 entries from local clubs, businesses and churches, all moving along more or less smoothly. Things slowed just a bit when Hillbilly Doug’s Model T stalled
See July 4th, page 18
Clayton Museum’s classic car exhibit features memorabilia from bygone era JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID CLAYTON, CA PERMIT 190
A mere 46 years ago, Charmetta Mann of Clayton purchased a used black, twodoor 1957 Chevrolet Nomad station wagon from a local family for $600. She knows the date of Sept. 19, 1964, well because it was her mother’s 51st birthday. Seems it was a pretty astute purchase, as she is still driving the car today. You can see the Nomad parked in front of the
Clayton Museum every Wednesday night until Sept. 15 as part of the fifth annual Clayton Classic Car exhibit at the museum. This year’s presentation, Classics of the Road and of the
Heart, was coordinated by assistant curator Renee Wing and new museum volunteer Debbie Musante. The museum’s summer hours are 2-4 p.m. Sundays and Wednesdays plus 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays to coincide with the
Photo by Mike Dunn
CHARMETTA MANN
CLAYTON
this 1957 Chevrolet Nomad in 1964 and still drives it 46 years later. The Nomad is the one and only car she’s ever owned, and it’s on display every Wednesday evening through September 15 as part of the Classics of the Road and of the Heart exhibit at the Clayton Museum. OF
BOUGHT
What’s Inside Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Church News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Two-wheeled trip filled with memories
weekly Main Street Car Show coordinated by Skipolini’s. ELVIS IS IN THE BUILDING Museum curator Mary Spryer explains that a student docent, Brad Shackleton, thought of the car exhibit five years ago when he was in sixth grade and Spryer asked him for ideas for interesting exhibits. “Every summer since then, we have had a Clayton’s Classic Cars exhibit. Fortunately, we have had numerous people who have collections related to cars, pictures of old cars, old cars themselves or friends with collections and/or old cars so each year’s exhibit has had a different, fresh look.” This year’s exhibit includes vintage gas station, drive-in restaurant and road signs, license plates, photos, owner’s manuals and the perennial life-size cutout
See Museum, page 4
Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Community Calendar . . . . . . . .14 Directory of Advertisers . . . . . . . .5 DVMS Student Reporter . . . . . .10 Estate Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Financial Sense . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Photos courtesy of Britten Family
JERRY BRITTEN
from his 1744-mile bike ride with wife Carrie to visit his hometown’s namesake, Clayton, New Mexico. The town is near the Santa Fe Trail. TOOK A BREAK
JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Carrie Britten and her husband Jerry decided last October that their 2010 vacation would entail a trip from their Clayton home to their cabin in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, where
From the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Garden Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Letter to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . .5 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 On the Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Parenting Today . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Carrie’s family lives. But rather than flying or driving, they decided to ride their bikes. So began the planning of an adventure that culminated in them leaving Clayton on May 12 and arriving in Flippin, Ark., peddling up a dirt road to the
See Britten, page 8
Police Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Real Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Teen Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Theatre Review . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 What Really Matters . . . . . . . . . .7