Jubilee to include beer garden

Jubilee will be held in a modified format this year. The long-standing three-day event has been condensed to run on July 11 with some aspects spread throughout the week.

There will be another change as well, though not as apparent. The event has been losing money for the last couple of years, according to Moorcroft Chamber of Commerce President Neal Gray.

At Monday night’s meeting of the Moorcroft Town Council, Gray requested permission to host a beer garden along the east side of South Big Horn during the event, saying, “We get almost zero participation from the businesses that make all the money.”

After a moment of consideration, Councilman Ben Glenn asked, “How does this work? The chamber represents the businesses and now you’re going to compete with the businesses?”

Gray expounded, “We have tried in every way possible in the past to get the local liquor establishments to hire the band so we didn’t have to and we have gotten absolutely no response. One of the bars, last year, gave us $100 toward a $15,000 band and the other one gave us $350.”

He assured the governing body that the chamber does not want to compete with local businesses, “But we don’t have any way to recoup the expense of putting on the Jubilee and [this year] our band is going to cost us $4000-$5000.”

Mayor Dick Claar agreed, “As long as it’s legal.” Councilman Paul Smoot also found the arrangement acceptable under the circumstances, “Then, individuals who actually want to help support [Jubilee] could do so.”

Addressing the question of selling beer without a liquor license, Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Schneider contacted a representative of the state liquor division, who referenced statute allowing one-day permits for “any responsible party” without the requisite license. However, to ensure the validity of that conversation, she will contact the division again before approval is given at the next meeting of the council.