Writer's Strike but not at KAAY

We never had any unions so never had that DJ can't touch the records that must be played by union engineers.

Maybe I will join the writer's union so I can have some time off.

Continuing the coon thread. Read below stories and comments.

Raccoons have always played a roll in Arkansas politics. Most notable is the Gillette Coon Supper. In an election year this event draws politicians from across the state to mingle and I'm not sure how they are killed but the cooking takes a couple of days.

Arkansas is full of festivals. KAAY always tried to participate in any way possible.
We entered a turtle in the Gould turtle derby, but totally missed the idea of the event. (locals wagering on the critters).

Here is a current list of some of the events in Arkansas:

Altus, Wiederkehr Weinfest
Bismark, Eagles Et Cetera Weekend Festival
Clarksville, Johnson County Peach Festival
Dermott, Crawfish Festival
Des Arc, Steamboat Festival
Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival
Gillette, Gillette Coon Supper
Gould, Turtle Derby Festival
Hazen, Prairie County Rice Festival
Heber Springs, Greers Ferry Lake Water Festival
Hope, Watermelon Festival
Lincoln, Arkansas Apple Festival
Malvern, Brickfest
Mount Ida, Quartz Crystal Festival
Murfreesboro, John Huddleston Day Diamond Festival
Paris, Arkansas Championship Grape Stomp and Cowie Wine Fest
Parkin, Riverboat Festival
Sheridan, Timberfest
Smackover, Oil Town Festival
Stuttgart, Wings Over the Prairie Festival
Tontitown, Grape Festival
Trumann: Trumann Wild Duck Festival
War Eagle, War Eagle Mill and Crafts Festival
Warren, Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival
Washington, Jonquil Festival
Weiner, Arkansas Rice Festival
Yellville, Turkey Trot Festival

There is even a website established to oppose the Coon Supper. Here is a segment from that website: (whoever did the site made many misspellings including the name of the town. Most have been corrected)

Every year The high School in Gillette, ARK plays host the annual Coon supper. Let's put a stop to this event! Each year 600-800 pounds of Raccoon meat are served at this event. This is considered a political event, every politician in Arkansas must attend this event and eat Raccoon meat.

"In most places, a politician has to kiss babies in order to succeed. Arkansas politicians have to eat raccoon.

The small east Arkansas town of Gillette doubles its population on the second weekend of every year as candidates and political junkies gather for its annual Coon Supper.

More than 60 years old, the event has become a required stop for anyone seeking or holding political office in Arkansas. Originally started as a fundraiser for high school athletics, it's now the ultimate meet-and-greet for the state's politicians"

And I found this positive comment:

I've been to the Coon Supper and its actually pretty tasty! Its a wonderful custom for a good cause...all of the top politicians in the state attend and a good time is had by all (except the raccoons of course). If you're against eating any and all animals, then I can understand why one might oppose this event. However, I think its difficult to argue that its okay to eat pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys, etc., yet not raccoons. What exactly about the event upsets you? People in Arkansas and other parts of the country have eaten raccoons for centuries. Just because its not so common in urban areas anymore is no reason to oppose the Gillette Coon Supper.