Agnes Sherman, owner of Sherman Fashions, 239 Yazoo Ave., led off the concerns of a host of merchants about Club Champagne, a lounge in the 200 block of Yazoo Avenue which has late-night entertainment five nights a week.
"Four months ago I found broken glass, several items stolen and a white t-shirt with blood stains," Sherman said.
Elaine Daho, co-owner with her husband George, of the Super Soul Shop, 238 Yazoo Ave., said she found "broken glass two months ago."
Floyd Shankerman, owner of Shankerman's Men's Wear, 228 Yazoo Ave., said a business adjacent to his has created "loud noise" with musical instruments during daylight hours. The business is called Mirage.
"My business depends on law and order," Shankerman said. "Something needs to be done."
Members of the Clarksdale Downtown Merchants Association, who changed its name to Clarksdale Downtown Business Association, met recently to hear Mayor Henry Espy address the positive impact of becoming a part of the Main Street program.
That meeting was held at Mag-Pie, 253 Delta Ave., whose owner, Emily Cooper, was also in attendance at Monday's board meeting.
Others gathered included Stan Street, owner of Hambone's, a blues music galleria located in part of the old Conerly Shoe Store, and Theo Dasbach, owner of a rock n' roll museum adjacent to Street's business.
Street told the mayor and board that Madidi, 164 Delta Ave., was burglarized recently.
"Madidi was broken into one night," Street said. "They (burglars) went through an easement (the back alley) and climbed over some iron grating and got into Madidi from upstairs."
Street said the incident gave him "scary vibes."
He looked over to Police Chief Greg Hoskins, asking for more night-time police protection.
Hoskins said while his department "can't control the roofs (of businesses)" his officers do make "front and back searches," in the downtown sector. Hoskins said once six additional officers come on board Oct. 1, the start of fiscal year 2008, he will be able to "beef up patrols."
Hoskins told Sherman the bloodied t-shirt is being kept as evidence, adding that "we need a suspect even with the blood."
Hoskins acknowledged that he has found "broken beer and whiskey bottles" in front of Club Champagne after its Wednesday night "club night" activities.
"I have officers working that block on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday nights," Hoskins said.
Karl Hatten, a frequent contributor to The Clarksdale Press Register's editorial page, said his residence has been hit by "four (recent) burglaries." Hatten said his long-time friend, Gloria Mitchell, lost her home to a fire started by arson recently.
Hoskins said an arrest had been made in connection with a recent break-in at Super 10, a discount store at 224 Yazoo Ave.
After the meeting, Hoskins told board members and others that citizens and merchants alike have to "file a complaint" before police can take action. Espy agreed that enhanced police protection might alleviate some of the problems, concurring with Hoskins that the additional new officers will augment the enforcement.
As for the reported rowdiness coming from the Club Champagne, Espy said the board could take legal action to "declare the business a nuisance."
City Attorney Curtis Boschert, who has tracked the number of complaints about Club Champagne, said the procedure involves a formal complaint and consideration by the Coahoma County Chancery Court which has the power to "declare it a nuisance and have it closed."
Roger Stolle, owner of Cat Head Delta Blues and Folk Art, 252 Delta Ave., suggested that the city confer with merchants on Yazoo and Delta for additional input.
The owner of New York Hi Style, 221 Yazoo Ave., reported continued disturbances adjacent to his business which he has owned and operated for 20 years.
Hoskins said he had asked that owner to make a formal complaint to expedite police action.
Regarding the complaints about overgrown shrubbery and trees, Espy said he has obtained an agreement from Bob Priest, general manager of Clarksdale Public Utilities, to have them trimmed.
In other business, the board:
n Agreed to a resolution honoring the late Dr. Vera Pigee.
n Acknowledged a letter dated Aug. 14 from William Shannon Smith seeking "designated local Main Street participants." He asked for donations to support the effort. He also said that WROX is planning to air a one-hour per week community chest program. The program would allow for callers to offer "solutions to problems" as a constructive means of addressing needs in Clarksdale.
n Received bids on solid waste collections and took them under advisement.
n Authorized the mayor to execute the grant agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration, state and county regarding the construction of improvements at the Clarksdale-Coahoma County Airport.
n Received the monthly report on sales tax turnbacks from the state. The report stated that receipts were up $1,462.24 over the previous month and that the total sales tax revenues were $51,894.37 above what had been projected in the fiscal year 2007 budgeted.
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