Thank you for making PC festival a success

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that came out to the 10th Annual Phil Campbell Hoedown Festival (P.C. Relief Festival/”I’m with Phil”) in June. I hope everybody enjoyed it. I want to thank a lot of people who made this festival a success.

Thanks so much to the Park and Recreation Board members and Hoedown Committee members Denise and Bill McCulloch, Tennille Barton, Lloyd, that worked tirelessly to put this festival on. I really appreciate all of your hard work. Thanks also to Tierney and Kara Barton.

A special thank you to Phil Campbell (Brooklyn, N.Y.) for coming to our town with an “all together different plan than when we first started.” You really were a huge help to me and the town. We’ve told you and the other Phil Campbells that this is your hometown too, and we really mean it.

I also want to thank Phil Campbell (Nottingham, England) for everything you have done for the town of Phil Campbell. You were a huge help with all your Internet skills and need to be commended…thanks a lot!

Thank you Phil Campbell (Birmingham, Ala.) and your wife, Sherri. I have wonderful things to say about you too. You came to Phil Campbell several times and helped when you really didn’t have to, but that shows what kind of people you really are. I commend you and your hometown highly. When you came to help on the first day, you brought homemade cards that were made by the children of Valley Intermediate School and Oak Mountain Intermediate School, as well as Wal-Mart gift cards.

I have to admit, I was stunned by the generosity of all the people who contributed. I am never speechless, but I have to admit, I was then. That shows that people do care and love our town as much as we do.

We have to thank the other people who sent us the cards also — Trinity United Methodist Church, Phil Campbell (Greece) and all of your family and friends as well as other states donating gift cards and money to all that needed them.

Thanks to all the other Phil Campbells and their families who came from all over the world and assisted in many ways. Please keep in touch with us, because this is your town too.

We got to see a screening of “Grassroots” and appreciate director Stephen Gylenhaal and Jason Biggs for allowing us to watch it in the Bevill Center at the Northwest-Shoals Community College campus. It was enjoyed by all who attended. Thank you so much.

Thanks also to the town of Phil Campbell workers, Water Department, Street Department, Fire Department, Police Department, Mayor Jerry Mays, Councilman Eddie Barton and all the many volunteers that had a part in this festival.

I know the public looks forward to this event each year and I realize that this festival couldn’t have taken place if it were not for all the many people that came to assist during the tornado devastation.

Thanks to all of the state and county officials, Roger Bedford, Johnny Mack Morrow, FEMA, Hemphill Contractors, Barry Pounders and the Rescue Squad, Ralton Baker & Crew, EMA, Senator Richard Shelby, Governor Robert Bentley, the Alabama State Troopers and the National Guard

I also want to thank Georgia Power and all the other power companies, gas companies, telephone companies, cable companies, water companies as well as the many churches and organizations that assisted where ever they could.

I had begun to think we wouldn’t have the festival, but then decided it would be the best thing to do. Thank you so much for helping us in any way you possibly could. We would love to thank all of you personally, but there are to many to name individually. You gave a lot of yourselves to come to assist Phil Campbell, Ala. and we are so appreciative.

Special thanks to all the sponsors and merchants that helped with ads for our T-shirts and give-a-way prizes. We appreciate the use of our mules from Scott’s Equipment in Russellville. I would also like to thank our entertainers, vendors, food vendors, newspaper advertisers, radio advertisers and dance entrants. I would also like to thank Derral Dobbs for our new stage; we really enjoyed it this year.

We have had some major donations to help us out on the Habitat for Humanity homes. Without your contributions, this would not have been possible. Thanks again, and hopefully these well needed houses will be built and used some by families who lost their homes.

We had many news people from around the world come to Phil Campbell, including The Wall Street Journal, Parade Magazine, Time Magazine, The Franklin County Times, The Birmingham News, The Times Daily and the Northwest Alabamian, Alabama Public Radio, CNN News, ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, BBC News and local affiliates. Thank you so much for caring.

We would also like to thank Billy Sherrill and his daughter, Cathy Sherrill Lale and family for taking the time to come back to his hometown again. We enjoyed seeing you so much, We are very proud of your achievement, being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The town of Phil Campbell will be putting up signs on each end of town reading: Phil Campbell — hometown of Billy Sherrill, Songwriter, Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. It has been a privilege to have met you.

We all enjoyed the 100th year celebration featuring the 100th year birthday cake, parade led by Alabama Pipes and Drums, games, rides, reunion classes and Steven Smith and his team of workers.

Thanks again to everyone that came out to the festival and enjoyed the weekend with us. We will never forget your generosity, love and caring for our town.

God bless you all.

Rita Barton, Chairwoman — Park and Recreation Department