By By Adam Prestridge
Busy best describes the past couple of weeks for me.
If I haven't been working, I've been taking care of my family, which has been bitten by the sick bug, or working to check some items off my honey-do list.
As if running a newspaper or fulfilling my duties as a husband and father weren't enough, I've also been running in circles attending meeting after meeting to fulfill my obligations for the many clubs, committees and boards I serve on. The community needs to be informed of the many activities slated for the city and hopefully this column will help.
The 2007 fundraising campaign for the United Fund of Atmore recently ended and once again, this year citizens and businesses in the area opened up their pocketbooks and gave generously. For that reason, the board's goal of $75,000 was exceeded and agencies in need of additional funding will benefit.
The board will meet soon to prepare for the 2008 campaign, which will kickoff later this year.
Also on tap is Atmore's centennial celebration slated for Saturday, May 19 at Heritage Park. Serving on the committee has been interesting because of all the exciting activities the event will offer. The Chamber encourages residents in attendance to dress in vintage attire to help celebrate the city's heritage. Also, baking contests, games, tours, a firework show and much more are planned for the day.
Leading up to the 100-year anniversary celebration, the biggest event will be the "Human 100" photograph, which will be taken on North Main Street this Sunday at 2 p.m. The photo, which will feature 100 citizens forming a 1-0-0 with other residents acting as a border, will be featured on a postcard residents can purchase and have cancelled with the centennial logo at the Atmore Post Office.
Also on tap are several huge Relay For Life events. The First National Bank &Trust Soc Hop this Saturday night at the Atmore Area YMCA and Community Center is the next big event on tap. A night of 50s do-wop will be followed up by an Easter egg hunt and photos with the Easter Bunny on April 5 at Heritage Park hosted by the Advance. Another huge event will be a four-person scramble golf tournament, which will be held on April 13 at the Atmore Country Club. Other Relay teams are also holding fundraisers throughout the month of April in the final stretch prior to the actual Relay on April 28 at the Herbert Barnes Stadium at Escambia County High School. See page 11A for a complete list of Relay For Life events.
The Atmore Rotary Club has also been busy prepping for the Academic All-Star Program scheduled for May 15 at ECHS. Students from area schools that have excelled in the classroom and made the grade will be recognized by the civic organization and the Randolph B. Luttrell Sr. Rotary Club Memorial Scholarship recipient will be announced. So business owners and operators remember this when a Rotary member requests a donation from you in support of the All-Star program. The funds will be used to help educate the future of Atmore.
As you can see, the next couple of months are going to be busy in Atmore. So be sure to come out to all the events and support the efforts that your friends, family and co-workers have made to make our small town even better.
Adam Prestridge is publisher of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123.