The Drake Harbor Trails are bringing people to downtown Warsaw on a daily basis. I have spoke with over 50 people that are enjoying these trails 5 to 6 times a week. The majority of these people are driving 5 or more miles. They come to the down town area because of the safety, the flatness, and the beauty, of the Drake Harbor Trails. These Warsawians did not come to town that often until they began walking the new Drake Harbor Trails.
Truman Lake Mountain Bike Park began development in 2002. A couple of people (Mac Vorce and Ag Slavens) asked for the approval from the Army Corps of Engineers to clean up some old access trails. After completion, the Warsaw Parks and Recreation put together a learn to mountain bike class. This eight week class brought 5 riders together ages from 10 years old to 62 years old. The class finished early; again with approval of the Corps of Engineers, the group installed a 1.5 mile single track trail, moving the total mileage of trail to 2.5 miles. They maintained this trail for a year. This helped form the Truman Lake bike Club.
One club member, local circuit judge, Larry Burditt, had it passed to allow community service hours to be used on mountain bike trail projects. This helped to install another 2 miles of trail in a short time. The trails were maintained for another year and a half.
Truman Lake Bike Club, Warsaw Parks and Recreation, and the Army Corps of Engineers have now installed and maintained another 3 miles of trail.
The Truman Lake Bike Club formalized the volunteer user group permit with the Army Corps of Engineers early in 2008. This allows the continuation of trail installation and maintenance, thus creating the Truman Lake Mountain Bike Park. The Truman Lake Mountain Bike Park now has 6.5 miles of completed trail and 2 more miles being installed.
With the City, County, and State working together with the Truman Lake Bike Club the future growth will reach about 25 miles of mountain bike trail with in two to three years. This will link three areas together, Warsaw, Sterett Creek, and Teboe Creek. These trails are located 3 miles from down town Warsaw and will be linked into the Warsaw Trail system. Warsaw Parks and Recreation and the Truman Lake Bike Club will be putting on different style events to help raise funding for proper signage and the growth of these trails.
Many of you might have noticed road signs, banners, and commercials advertising the second Tour of Missouri. And some of you might have even seen these cyclists pedal their way through our district.
Missouri recently hosted the second Tour of Missouri, a seven-day elite professional cycling event that brought trained cyclers and biking enthusiasts to our great state. Fifteen elite international eight-man teams representing more than 20 countries were scheduled to compete in the event. Some of these countries included Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, European continental squads, as well as many teams from cities right here in the United States.
Fall is here, the weather is gorgeous, and its time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors! Truman Lake Mountain Bike Park is the perfect place to get out and experience the scenery and nature that Warsaw area is so well known for. Located off of North Dam Access Road, turn north on Benton House Avenue, and follow road to the park entrance (where the pavement ends).
The Business Appreciation Committee of the Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce will be having their annual golf tournament on Tuesday, September 16 at Clinton Country Club. Tee time is 11:00 a.m. and lunch will be provided. The success of the tournament depends a great deal on hole sponsorships, and we are calling upon you to help us make this event a success. A hole sponsorship is $100 and includes hole signs posted near the tee boxes and in the clubhouse. We ask that you return your contribution by September 5 to the Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, 200 S. Main, Clinton, MO 64735.
Proceeds from this golf tournament go toward our scholarship program for high school graduates looking to pursue careers in the business field. We appreciate your support of this event and of our youth. Thanks to you, many students may have the opportunity to pursue and achieve their dreams.
The Tour of Missouri is here again. Clinton was chosen a second time to host the second leg of this race on the 9th. It's a definite boon for the area, as tourists from all over will be coming to our fair state. It was estimated that statewide 26.2 million dollars were spent in Missouri with 365,000 spectators overall in 2007. Honestly, it was quite remarkable last year, with the althletes' names being called out with a foreign country like Spain or Argentina being called out after it.
It's also the main time when this little paper feels a little threatened since there are other people around that have cameras as well. That's right- this is a major sporting event. Major news networks are here and no one even died! In fact, there have been reports of several people watching it on the internet from as far away as Sweden. We have also had several compliments on the incredible scenery in Missouri, with comparisons to the Tour de France from riders going through our wine country.
Last year, Clinton did have a little mishap and became known as the 'armadillo leg' of the tour, due to an incident that caused a multi-bike pile up when Dan Schmatz ran into- you guessed it- an armadillo. The crash caused Mr. Schmatz to have to leave the race, as he broke his collarbone.
(From the Missouri Department of Transportation) Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation are working behind the scenes to make sure the way is safe for cyclists, motorists and spectators. Within the Southwest district boundaries, bicyclists enter St. Clair county at approximately 11:30 a.m., riding on MO 82 at 12:15 p.m.; entering Cedar County at approximately 12:30 p.m., MO 39 at 12:45 p.m.; MO 39/Route N at 1 p.m.; then MO 32/MO 39 intersection at 1:15 p.m., the Stockton Dam at 1:20 p.m. Most of the affected roads will be closed a few minutes ahead of the racers, reopening as soon as racers pass through, keeping road closings to about 20-30 minutes. Hopefully this will also include picking up any dead armadillos from the road.