FTC Probe Blights Peabody Merger

Chafik Takes Heat Over Second-Hand Smoke

Saturday, June 21, 1997
The Camel Chronicles Continue
Part 12

A positive post election climate and excitement about the economic impact camel racing will bring to the Delta have fired renewed enthusiasm among the citizenship of Clarksdale, though not without some setbacks. City and county officials are feverishly making plans for the revitalization of the downtown area with grandiose schemes of turning the old railroad depot into an oriental caravan oasis. County attorney Tom Ross has been assigned to investigate any laws that might prohibit belly dancing within city limits. City commissioner Grady Palmer has launched a project for the construction a new coliseum on Anderson Boulevard to host future camel races. Venture capital from around the world is turning its eyes toward this small Delta farming town.

Jimmy "Joe Camel" Walker caused no small stir at last week's Delta Jubilee when he showed up with a camel named Helga and his wife Helen dressed in a polka dot jockey's outfit to challenge the winner of the frog jumping contest in a 60 yard sprint. The contest was suddenly aborted when the wary camel balked at a heavy waft of pork barbecue smoke. Perhaps it was his Islamic upbringing, or perhaps his vegetarian partiality that caused him to exhibit the uncanny speed of his species. He reared and spun and let out such an eerie bellow as has never before been heard on this alluvial plane. Every eye among the carnival revelers turned to behold the bizarre exhibition of flailing arms, a flapping polka dot jersey and frantic cries and curses as the pair vanished into the southern horizon down Highway 49. Helen's cries for mercy were reciprocated by her anxious husband's commands to "Gee" and "Haw," but to no avail.

Meanwhile, back at the Khan on 61, Chafik "Akabah" Chamoun's financial dreams have once again been thwarted with the collapse of his deal to sell the Rest Haven to the Peabody Hotel Group. The luxury hotel corporation suddenly reneged on the merger upon news that the Federal Trade Commission has filed an order barring Chamoun from using the Great Camel Race in his Rest Haven advertising campaign. Peabody management had hoped to monopolize on the race by owning both the start and finish line(see Part 11); but without a race, the Khan on 61 is just another mom and pop diner.

Last Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint charging Chamoun is promoting "an addictive and dangerous activity through a campaign that is attractive to those too young to ride and smoke camels legally." Jodie Bernstein, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, complained, "The Rest Haven Restaurant has conducted one of the most effective advertising campaigns in decades. 'Joe Radu' Chamoun has become as recognizable to kids as Mickey Mouse. Yet the campaign promotes an activity that causes serious injury, addiction and death. It appeals to our young people. It is illegal and should be stopped. 'Joe Radu' must grow up or go away!"

Matt Myers of the National Campaign for Tobacco FreeKids believes the Camel Race campaign is directly responsible for increasing the number of children who smoke. "Today, more than 13 percent of America's kids smoke Camel cigarettes. That's an increase that was unimaginable before camel racing was introduced to the Delta," he said.

Berstein's complaint arose from allegations that "Akabah" Chamoun is exploiting children in his quest to dominate camel racing in the Western hemisphere. The "Radu" Berstein mentions refers to a two year old Romanian boy named Mahlon recently adopted into the Chamoun family by James and Vivian Parnell (see Part 10).

Since the boy's arrival to the states in February, golfers at the Clarksdale Country Club have reported strange activities near Jimmy Walker's house. The precocious Radu has been seen trotting down Westover Drive at a high clip followed by Jim and Helen shouting commands like "Gee!" and "Haw!" To the curious duffers, it looked like the child prodigy knew a heck of a lot more about dromedary navigation than his coaches.

The FTC supported its complaint with photos of the "young" Radu sneaking a smoke behind Walker's camel barn. The Chamoun's are incensed that folks would blame this simple vice on camel racing. "He just arrived from de ol' country," protested Louise. "Give him a chance to adjust to our American ways. He can't even say the words, 'politically correct' yet."

James Parnell, Mahlon's father, retorted in a strongly worded statement, "Joe Radu has become the government's scapegoat for issues our society has been unable to resolve."

The Online Register contends (to the complete denial of the Chamoun family) that Mahlon Chamoun is no child at all; he is really the famous Romanian midget camel jockey, Radu Romaninsky, whom Chafik arranged to defect to the US under the guise of adoption (see Part 10). His clandestine penchant for stogies seems to add weight to the Register's accusation.

Upon news of the failed Peabody deal, Willie Campassi invited his close friends at the Khan to a duck roast at his home on the Sunflower River this Saturday. He announced plans to return to fishing on Monday.