On Tap Tonight:

Demolition Derby,

Gospel Quartet

BY STEPHANY NAPIER

Staff Intern

Many of those at the Greene County Fair on Thursday evening came to see Ricky Morton verses Brain Logan in the American Wrestling Affiliates Championship, or to hear the southern rock sounds of Stephen Cochran.

Thursday's overall attendance at the fair on Thursday was 3,716 people. According to Lanny Love, the fair's presdent, that figure was down about 500 from the same day last year.

"It was a good night, cool night and mild. I expect tonight will be a big night; everybody wants to see the demolition derby," Love said.

World Title Wrestling

At 7 p.m., approximately 300 people filled the Jim Saulsbury Arena to watch another Championship Wrestling Event. Thursday night featured two World Title matches: the World Tag Team Title and the AWA World Title.

In the series of matches that began at 7 p.m.:

* Cody Ices pinned Nick Hammonds.

* Robbie Cassidy defeated Chase Owens.

* United States Tag Team Champions Beau James and Moe Jenkins defeated "The 420 Hit Squad," keeping their title, after "The Mysterious Ginn" was unmasked and ran back to the dressing room.

* (T.V. Champion) Wayne Adkins and (National Champion) Alyx Winters wrestled to a 15-minute time limit draw in a title-versus- title match.

* Tony "The Dragon" Givens pinned the Russian Assassian.

* In a women's match, Misty James pinned Rebecca Lynn.

In the main event, Ricky Morton appeared to have won the AWA World Title when he pinned champion Brian Logan, but the referee disqualified Logan for throwing Morton over the top rope, so Logan retained the title.

Ironically, Logan said 17 years ago his very first match was against Morton. "I lost my first match, but I feel confident about tonight," said Logan before the event.

(Championship Wrestling will be at the Eastview Parks and Recreation building elsewhere in Greenville on Saturday, Aug. 16, starting at 8 p.m. For more information about Championship Wrestling go to www.championshipwrestlingtv.com or tune into CW4 on Saturday at 2 p.m.)

Rockabilly Music

Stephen Cochran won over many in the crowd of about 300 at the Main Stage on Thursday night with his southern style and real lyrics. "I love his voice," said June Johnson, one of those in the crowd.

Cochran sang his song "Everything We Knew" which reached number 36 on the Top 100 Billboard, and his new single "Thinkin I'm Drinkin."

Cochran covered many well-known artists including George Strait, Waylon Jennings, and Garth Brooks. One audience member said Cochran sounded like Garth Brooks and another member agreed. Fairgoer Paul Oaks described Cochran's sound as "rockabilly."

Accompanying Cochran was the band New Country Outlaws with Derek Parnell on the electric guitar, Mike Barnett on the drums, Mark Erhardt on the acoustic guitar and Ryan Byrne on bass.

Cochran got the crowd started with his energetic song "Friday Night Fireside" and won them over when during the performance he shouted, "Don't worry, I'm a hillbilly, too. We're going to be Appalachian Americans tonight!"

Cochran was born in Pikeville, Ky. and raised in Nashville. His father was a songwriter so he said he had grown up with country music.

After the 9/11 tragedy Cochran joined the U.S. Marines and was sent to Iraq and then to Afghanistan.

Cochran came back from Afghanistan with a broken back suffered in combat and was paralyzed from the waist down. Before he left he signed with a major label and when he came back the label dropped him. Later his fiancee dumped him which inspired him to write the song "Everything We Knew."

After a procedure called kyphoplasty, which involved putting four pounds of cement in Cochran's back that can never be removed, he regained the ability to walk.

Cochran said he loves country music because "it's real people singing about real problems."

For more information about Stephen Cochran go to www.stephencochran.musiccitynetworks.com.

Greeneville Sun Winners

Thursday's prize winners at The Greeneville Sun booth at the Greene County Fair were:

Matt Newton, Chrissy Coleman, Thomas Quinn, Brenda and Donald Barnette, Carolyn Roark, Kimberly Hensley, Amy Britton, Mary Hite, Renee Gray, Ronald Jennings, Ann Hixson, Brandi Glasscock, Betsy Ramsey, Melissa Meyer, Lisa Mathes, Jeremy Sims, Teresa Idell, The Turbyfill's, and Jordan Cox.

Today At The Fair

Today's festivities begin with the Open Beef Show at noon.

At 7 p.m. Majestic Heights Gospel Quartet will be at the GreenBank Pavilion and One Purpose will be at the Main Stage.

The Demolition Derby starts at 7:30 p.m in the Jim Saulsbury Arena.

At 9 p.m. Majestic Heights will be singing again at the GreenBank Pavilion and the WIKQ Youth Talent Contest will take place at the main stage.

Gates open at 4 p.m. and close at 11 p.m.

Admission is $7 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-11 and free for children ages 5 and under with a paying adult.

For full coverage of the Greene County Fair, go to www.greenevillesun.com.