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Statement on Sparta Revisited: In the Heat of the Night 30th-Anniversary Reunion Event

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September 2018

All:

With respect to the cancellation of "Sparta Revisited: In the Heat of the Night 30th-Anniversary Reunion," I would like to take this time to offer my perspective to everyone involved.

"Sparta Revisited" was planned and organized to be a wonderful weekend event in so many respects. Yet through a variety of interacting circumstances, a "perfect storm" evolved.

While we (event coordinators) were attentive to closely examine comparable television/motion picture reunion events throughout the Southeastern region (and abroad) as a means to help shape our pricing and delivery of a professional event, the main takeaway here is that regardless of the time, effort, energy, research, resources, and preparation invested in seeing this event through to its desired conclusion, at the end of the day, it was only half the journey. As with any event, it is ultimately up to the audience to take it across the finish line.

Although "Sparta Revisited" ticket sales were initially strong -- our VIP ticket package (valued at $157.00 each) sold-out in less than a week -- the data (our guiding document) began to indicate the improbability of (a) reaching our "break-even" goal, and (b) generating a respectable return for our chosen beneficiary, Action Ministries, with approximately two weeks remaining on our timetable. With general admission ticket sales at a typical midstream impasse, it didn't seem sensible from any angle to proceed, given our primary obligation as a *fundraiser* to Action Ministries.

Prior to the event, we executed a well-produced, online sponsor acquisition campaign (reviewed and approved by Action Ministries) targeting more than 80 Newton County businesses for cash support. To our surprise, not a single business responded in favor. So "Sparta Revisited" proceeded as a self-supporting effort via ticket sales. Subsequent to the event's cancellation and prompt issuance of refunds, we learned that (1) a significant number of people had the intent to purchase tickets but simply did not feel a sense of urgency to do so, and (2) a number of folks did not hear about the event in time, despite a widespread marketing campaign. Moreover, it would appear that our "General Admission" ticket option for the Saturday evening main event was an unintended contributor to the "last minute shopper" state of mind.

In terms of community outreach, and as part of our broad marketing campaign, I contacted the Covington Visitors Bureau/Newton Chamber -- in specific, Chamber of Commerce President Ralph Staffins [Update: Staffins has since resigned his position, May 2019] and Tourism Director Jenny Hilton McDonald -- requesting basic PR assistance via their community social media pages on Facebook e.g., Go Covington and Downtown Main Street Covington. This would have been a quick and simple, community-minded gesture on their part to get involved with zero financial investment. To our dismay, and without explanation, they refused to (a) post a single blurb via their social media, and (b) add "Sparta Revisited" to their official dot-com's "Events Calendar" to help promote this historic, one-time-only charity event; however, they did offer counter space at the Welcome Center to place "Sparta Revisited" flyers. Even though the Welcome Center is a location that appears to receive very minimal foot traffic, we accepted their offer.

If this type of reception from local Chamber officials is the new normal in Covington, God help us all as event organizers, visitors, celebrities, citizens and yes, the "Heat" faithful.

What's more, when an area resident and prospective "Sparta Revisited" attendee initially heard about this event by word-of-mouth, he proceeded to the Chamber's "Go Covington" Facebook page to inquire. The page administrator reportedly told him that they knew nothing about it. This response came as a bit of a surprise to us, considering that our designated event beneficiary kept an open line of communication with Newton Chamber President Ralph Staffins from the outset.

Despite the bizarre attitude and lack of cooperation exhibited by the Covington Visitors Bureau/Newton Chamber, it was quite encouraging when the mayor of Covington, Ronnie Johnston, was respectful of and receptive to the ideas I had proposed for the "In the Heat of the Night" Day proclamation -- a highlight initially planned for our 30th-Anniversary event. I am happy to say that together with the mayor's partnership, "In the Heat of the Night" Day was officially proclaimed on August 4, 2018.

One for the books!

Unfortunately, the unanticipated resistance that "Sparta Revisited" encountered did not end with the Covington Visitors Bureau/Newton Chamber. It was Memorial Day weekend when one of our event coordinators, Tate Skinner, was subjected to a fusillade of abusive online attacks, out of pure and unbridled rage, by a small-scale, lunatic fringe of the fanbase shortly after posting a "Sparta Revisited" promotional video at an ITHOTN "fan" group on Facebook. Spearheaded by odd couple Ray Witt and Laurie Louks Lowman, they willfully utilized Facebook to peddle false accusations -- most notably, the libelous and deceitful insinuation that we intended to misuse "Sparta Revisited" funds to "pad" our pockets in lieu of donating the money to our partnered beneficiary Action Ministries, (see, e.g., attached corresponding screen captures for full context).

As anyone involved with this event can attest, we organized "Sparta Revisited" on a 100% volunteer basis for ZERO financial compensation. Furthermore, 100% of collected ticket sales were FULLY and immediately refunded per Sparta Revisited's written policy.

In a seemingly calculated attempt to create doubt in the readers' mind, Louks-Lowman and Witt proceeded to propagate their smear campaign across several ITHOTN "fan" groups on Facebook, through the creation and spreading of false rumors and ludicrous accusations, as a means to dissuade prospective event goers from attending "Sparta Revisited," (see, e.g., screen captures below for full context). When I shared the aforementioned screen captures with Church First Films -- Sparta Revisited was blessed to partner with Church First Films to schedule a screening of Alan Autry's latest film "Victory By Submission" -- their first reaction was to issue a cease and desist/restraining order against disturbed duo Witt and Louks-Lowman. Upon further examination, we were alarmed and troubled to learn -- through a tip validated by public record -- that Ms. Louks-Lowman has a rather extensive criminal record out of Howard County, Indiana, (see, e.g., corresponding screen capture below detailing this matter from a concerned source).

Although I do not believe this crazed couple's actions are responsible for this event's cancellation, their intent to sabotage or impede "Sparta Revisited" is clear. While I cannot ascribe a motive for their abusive, repeated, and willful misconduct, I suspect that it was our ability to plan, organize, and book a one-of-a-kind "In the Heat of the Night" event that triggered an insanely envious and uncontrollable reaction from them over their own lack of ingenuity to execute such an event.

Furthermore, this statement would be remiss if it did not properly acknowledge an additional contributor to this adverse flow of unneeded drama. The few telephone conversations I've had with fanatic Jason Cook led me to the conclusion that he is a self-serving, star-struck kook who is overeager to establish associations with celebrities, and then spreads unverified rumors about them and others in private. This would seem to explain why Cook encountered the need to divulge an embellished story to me about former ITHOTN cast member Randall Franks' departure from the show - a lie that Franks categorically denied to me in a follow-up conversation.

Cook, Louks-Lowman, and Witt share a common denominator: territoriality. They are driven by extreme insecurity and severe desperation to preserve a self-indulgent, hyper-emotional investment in "Heat," as well as frantic to preserve an incredibly warped sense of ownership toward all things related to In the Heat of the Night (e.g., actors, Covington, et al.).

This cast of characters are not "Heaters"... they're Haters, and pettiness is their signature trait. Suffice it to say that this is the most despicable example of "fans" that we've ever encountered.

The aforementioned disrespect toward this event is unprecedented, and we hope that every surviving cast member remembers this if solicited for a future appearance in "Sparta."

Event organizing isn't for the faint of heart -- especially, for those who are clearly out of their league. The Covington Tourism/Visitors Bureau/Newton Chamber is a case in point. This past August, the Covington Tourism/Visitors Bureau co-organized an event for the television programs The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. In short, a credible source at the event recalls actor Daniel Gillies observing the event as the most disorganized thing he had ever been involved with, while further expressing that he felt bad for those in attendance. The event apparently devolved into such a tailspin that the co-coordinator and previously-mentioned Covington tourism director, Jenny Hilton McDonald, reportedly had to issue refunds to numerous angry fans for autographs they didn't receive.

Although our sympathies go out to the dissatisfied attendees, Sparta Revisited's event plan wouldn't have permitted this to happen.

In closing, I would like to extend the deepest gratitude to (a) Sparta Revisited's amazing staff of volunteers for unselfishly contributing innumerable hours of their time, effort, and talent toward the planning and organization of a first-class In the Heat of the Night reunion charity event; (b) our beloved "In the Heat of the Night" main cast -- Alan Autry, Denise Nicholas, and Anne-Marie Johnson -- for their kind-hearted interest, philanthropic spirit, and consummate professionalism in support of our pursuit to make the impossible seem possible; (c) the numerous "In the Heat of the Night" crew who planned to help make this 30th-anniversary reunion extra special; (d) the administrative and technical officials of Porter Performing Arts Center and Newton County School System for their community-minded support within the strict confines of a very demanding calendar of events; (e) Tamara Richardson and Action Ministries for their two-year partnership with this event's commitment to giving back to the community through hunger relief, homelessness, and education initiatives that impoverished Newton County families with school-aged children rely upon year-round; (f) Church First Films for partnering with "Sparta Revisited" to include a professional premiere screening of their film "Victory By Submission" in the Great State of Georgia; (g) CBS 46 personality and devout HEATer Rodney Harris for being "all in" for the cause; (h) Covington Mayor Ronnie Johnston for helping to restore our faith in the leadership of modern day Covington; (i) our social media support, including Sparta's most exclusive, one-stop fan site "In the Heat of the Night Fan Club" -- https://www.facebook.com/InTheHeatOfTheNightFanClub; and last, but certainly not least, (j) the true believers who spent their hard-earned money to support a great cause.

I hope that this statement has provided you with clear insight. Even though we share the disappointment over the cancellation of In the Heat of the Night's 30th-Anniversary charity event, it remains a high honor and privilege for "Sparta Revisited" to be the first and only event to have booked three main cast members from the greatest Southern crime melodrama ever, and to remain in good standing with not only them but our partnered event beneficiary Action Ministries.

Yours for a better Sparta,

Chad Moore

Event Coordinator