Editor, The Commercial:
On behalf of the ICVR Board of Directors and the KingFest Executive Committee, we say thank you. Thanks to the more than 3,000 youngsters as well as the many volunteers for making the 2017 Original KingFest Celebration the best ever.
Thanks to our Grand Parade Marshal and Justice Sunday speaker Mr. Torii Hunter, Pastor Gary Bell and the First Assembly of God Church Family; Thanks to Gov. Asa Hutchinson for Justice Sunday Proclamation, Mayor Shirley M. Washington for kicking off the 33rd Annual Original KingFest Week, Pastor Charles S. Boyd Sr., First Missionary Baptist Church Family for hosting the Original KingFest Youth/Adult Gospel Extravaganza.
We thank the many clergy black and white who support the ICVR Original KingFest. Thanks to all of the volunteers who participated in the youth Saturday “Clean Sweep” cleanup and thanks to Tyson Foods Inc. for providing the food.
Smart Chevrolet, Simmons Bank, Welch Motors, Central Moloney Inc. Relyance Bank, Fox-Trot Therapy Services, Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Pine Bluff Convention Center, Trotter Ford-Lincoln, Vikki Newton and Randy Kelley at UAPB TV 24 for magnificent TV coverage, Raven Harris at KHUC 99.3 FM, Stuff in the Bluff, Women United for Christ, Paradise Funeral Home, Pine Bluff CARES Affiliate, Republican Party of Arkansas, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Delta Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Henson-Holcomb Mortuary, Sydney Hopson, the ABC Girl (All aBout Christ) from Conway,
ICVR King Team and Pen or Pencil mentee Jordan Sims for a powerful Pen or Pencil MLK Birthday Bash motivational speech at Robert F. Morehead Middle School, Pine Bluff High School Art Club for nonviolence posters, What’s Next Pine Bluff for helping organize the KingFest citywide youth cleanup and the many youth volunteers.
Bessie S. Lancelin and organizers of the Youth/Adult Gospel Extravaganza, Watson Chapel ROTC, Pine Bluff Transit and Waste Management. Thanks to the 72 marade entries. Pine Bluff has consistently had the longest and biggest MLK Marade/Parade in the Arkansas. Chiefs Hubanks and Whitfield, the Pine Bluff Police Department for serving refreshments following the marade. The coverage by the Pine Bluff Commercial was again, outstanding.
Rev. Jesse C. Turner
ICVR Executive Director