Oct. 14, 2017, forever changed the lives of many Poplar Bluff residents after a tragic accident on Highway W prematurely took the lives of three local high school students.
Camille McCain was one of those young lives taken too soon. McCain was an avid sportswoman with a passion for softball. She, along with her three friends, were cruising town before the accident, like teenagers so often do, according to McCain’s mother, Tawana Ashcroft.
In her honor, M.I.L.L.I.E Fest and other activities are held each year. The second annual M.I.L.L.I.E Fest is scheduled for Oct. 29, in the parking lot of the Black River Coliseum. The event helps raise funds to provide scholarships and other activities to benefit youth.
One of those goal for McCain’s family is to provide a facility where community youth can go to participate in things like mentoring, tutoring, sports and overall assistance in any area they be struggling.
“We’re never going to stop the kids from going out cruising, but maybe having a sports complex or something else for these young people to do, there would be less running around town,” said Ashcroft. “We want to keep her memory alive because when we’re gone, we still want people to know who she was.
“She would love the sports complex idea and then helping other people. She was definitely that person — she would do anything for someone else.”
The nonprofit corporation established to help keep Camille McCain’s memory alive offers a $1,000 scholarship to a Poplar Bluff senior and they are hoping to increase that amount over time.
“We offer a softball award to the Poplar Bluff High School softball team and the head coach is in charge of choosing the recipient of that award — we also do a softball tournament every year to fundraise,” said Ashcroft, “Of course she would be playing in it because she loved the game.”
The corporation also has an ad booklet they are doing this year.
“People are buying ads and when we create the booklet, we’re going to hand that out that day, and then they’ll also be at other businesses for people to grab later on,” Ashcroft said.
This year, the M.I.L.L.I.E corporation is organizing M.I.L.L.I.E Fest on Oct. 29, starting at 11 a.m. The festival will be located in the parking lot across from the Black River Coliseum on Ditch Road and they are still accepting vendors.
According to the flyer, food trucks and live music from Cynderblok, Zed’s Dead, Breaking Point and Glen Thurman will be present at the event, as well as bounce houses and face painting. It is encouraged to bring a lawn chair, a hungry belly and a listening ear to support a good cause.
“Camille would be very proud of us for keeping her memory alive,” said Ashcroft.
If you are interested in becoming involved or being a vendor there is still time, contact Ashcroft at 573-714-5948 for more information or visit www.cmillie24.com.