The fate of the Derrick Days Chili Cook-off (an event that has a 30 plus year tradition going back to the beginning of the Derrick Days Celebration) is still up in arms as event organizers and Derrick Days officials are currently trying to figure out where it will be held.

A letter from a “concerned” citizen, stating their anger over an incident that happened during the 2007 Derrick Days Chili Cook-off, was sent to Community Newspaper Holdings Incorporated (CNHI), owner of several newspapers including the Corsicana Daily Sun.

Officials at the Sun were told by CNHI the event could no longer be held on property owned by CNHI.

The incident that spawned the controversy was the result of one of the chili cook-off teams’ bad behavior.

A few female participants/spectators performed in a lewd manner around a strippers pole, despite the presence of an off duty law enforcement official.

“I’m not condoning this type of behavior,” said Brandy Hurford, with Black Jack McCanless Chili team. “No … not at all. It shouldn’t have went on, but I find it a little disheartening to me and members of the other chili cook-off teams that our city leaders have no room for tradition and local history! One bad apple shouldn’t spoil 30 years of tradition!”

“The chili cook-off, in my opinion,” said Amber Richardson, with the Sloppy Seconds Chili Team, “is a big part of Derrick Days. This will be our sixth year to participate and we always look forward to the excitement that the chili cook-off brings.”

“This event raises local interest in our community,” Hurford added. “It also creates an environment of local competition and civic pride! It benefits everyone in our city especially with money generated from tourism.”

Some team members grew up going to Derrick Days and visiting the chili cook-off. Those same people are now participating in the event.

“I’ve been coming to Derrick Days since I was a kid,” said Jason Payne, member of the Black Gold Chili Team. “I remember when all of the events were held downtown and all on the same weekend. We (family) had a great time walking around looking at all the vender’s booths, buying confetti eggs and rubber band guns and having a blast! After I got bored with that, I would walk over a few blocks and be at the chili cook-off. The city has gotten away from this in the past several years and I think it was a great tradition to have. I’ve been competing in the chili cook-off since 2001. My team and I look forward to the cook-off every year. We all get together, come up with shirt designs and a façade for our booth and just have a good time hanging out … we get to see some people we haven’t seen since the year before and we get to make new friends as well.”

Derrick Days officials tried to secure the front of the Navarro Exposition Center to hold the event there but were denied usage by the NEC board as was noted during the most recent meeting.

Wendy Huffman and Malinda Sharpley came up with the idea of holding the event on the abandoned railroad property next to the old Wolf Brand Chili Plant (now AllChem) located between South Main and South 12^th Street.

The site is divided up into two sections with one being an east location, and the other a west location.

Twelfth Street runs in between the two locations, and the property is in dire need of a “good” cleaning up which has chili team members very angry at the moment.

Richardson said she is not sure this location is the best place for it.

“This type of event is becoming more and more popular each year with new participants and more elaborate set-ups,” Richardson said. “From what I could tell, the area did not look to be big enough, and I’m not sure everyone likes the idea of being split up into two separate areas.”

The set-ups Richardson refers to is the show part of the chili cook-off where teams put their best foot forward to entertain visitors and judges throughout the event, and a chance to win “Best of Show” during the competition.

Payne said he has not visited the proposed spot, but is familiar with the location.

“I don’t really like the idea of splitting the cook-off up over two blocks,” Payne said. “Who wants to walk back and forth to visit all of the teams … it is a hassle and could pose a problem with traffic.”

In an interview with Sharpley Tuesday evening, she explained that a lot of changes to the area will take place, and should put to rest some of the teams concerns.

“We are definitely planning to clean up the area and smooth it over,” said Sharpley. “Once it is smoothed up we will bring in a load of small gravel to put in places as well.”

Sharpley was asked about traffic problems between the two locations.

“We have the ability to close off that section of the street so that should not be a problem,” she added.

Sharpley said both her office and the Derrick Days committee want to see the tradition of the cook-off continued.

“We thought since Derrick Days pertains to oil history that it would be an ideal location to have the cook-off close to Petroleum Park where a lot of artifacts related to the industry are displayed for people to see and visit, too,” Sharpley said.

Still, chili team members have suggested the possibility of other sites around town as well.

“Why not have it at the old K-Mart store parking lot?” Payne suggested. “I have participated in the Go Texan cook-off in Houston for the past six years and it is held in the parking lot of the old Astro-Dome and it works great! I think there are several locations around town that would be better than the one they have chosen for this year … maybe someone will get it figured out and we can still have a great 2008 Derrick Days Chili cook-off.”

Richardson shared the same feelings as well.

“Hopefully, they will find a place for everyone to be together and make it another successful year at the chili cook-off,” she said. “It’s really about celebrating our town heritage and that’s what we all want to do!”

“We are still working on the details of the new location,” said Ken Swart in an e-mail correspondence on Tuesday.

Swart was the organizer of the 2007 Derrick Days Chili Cook-off after taking over the event from longtime coordinator Al Hopkins.

“I won’t make any announcements about the new location until all of the details have been confirmed,” Swart stated.

Swart has stated that he will coordinate the event this year, but would like to have someone assist him to take it over as he and his wife Robbie have made their home in the state of Georgia.

---