By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—Following a presentation by Paris Native Crispin Powley, the Henry County Tourism Authority hired his firm to promote tourism and the lake on a quarterly basis.
Powley is sales manager for the Strike King Lure Co. and owns a media company which promotes the outdoors on the Fox Sports Outdoors and other media platforms.
The Tourism Authority hired Powley to create 24 airings at a cost of $3,600 for one quarter, after which the authority will review the programs and the response before deciding whether to continue.
Powley is the son of the late former WTPR News Director Gary Powley, who he noted “had a great love in his heart for Henry County”.
Powley is a reporter and co-host for the Fox Sports Outdoors programs and does fishing reports for Kentucky and Tennessee. He proposed creating programs that would spotlight Kentucky Lake and Paris Landing.
His programs appear in 20 million homes in ten states and 66 TV markets and air at 6 p.m. Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. Sundays. The programs are aired on television and are streamed on a variety of platforms including Youtube and Hulu.
Chairman Brent Greer noted that with challenges facing Henry County with the demolition and rebuild of the Paris Landing Inn and the growing invasion of Asian carp, there is a need for promoting local tourism.
He also noted that with the demolition of the Paris Landing Inn in August, the Boss Hoss rally will not be held locally, freeing up money in the budget for Powley’s proposal.
Photo: Crispin Powley, left, makes his presentation to the authority board. From left, Paris Mayor Carlton Gerrell, County Mayor Brent Greer, Commissioner Paul Mathenia, Commissioner Dell Carter, Chamber Director Travis McLeese. (Photo by Shannon McFarlin photo).
