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The City of
Sumiton
The
City of Sumiton is located on the eastern edge of Walker County
and the city limits extend into Jefferson County. Some of
the friendliest people on the planet live here.
Within the last several years Sumiton has
grown extensively with the addition of several national chain
stores and lots of new restaurants, and many other local businesses
which combined make Sumiton a bustling area of commerce.
Sumiton is also the home of Bevill State Community College
which has grown exponentially over the last several years.
Sumiton School which is K-8 is one of the largest schools
in Walker County.
The Library which is located at city hall has a large selection
of books for the entire family. Also available for Library
visitors is a computer with Internet access which is ideal
for research, job hunting, and educational pursuits.
There are upscale subdivisions and charming
older homes in the area depending on your tastes. Sumiton
recently completed construction of a multi-function Senior
Citizen Center which server the people of Sumiton and surrounding
communities. The Senior Center is a hub of activity for
Seniors and a place where they can meet, play games, eat
hot meals and enjoy companionship. The Senior Center is
also a safe shelter for the community during violent weather
situations.
Click here for photos
of the Senior Center.
All of this together makes Sumiton is a great
place to raise your family.
Sumiton Veterans Memorial Ceremony
Hundreds gather in Sumiton to honor vets
Mary Bailey
Daily Mountain Eagle Reporter
Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009
SUMITON — Hundreds of community members turned
out for “A Celebration of God and Country,” a
tribute to area veterans at the Sumiton Senior Center
Tuesday night.
Local
members of the police and fire departments as well
as area veterans gathered together to celebrate Veterans
Day.
During the ceremony, a presentation
of colors was given by Scout Troop 120.
After a reception dinner,
veterans were called by name and stood before the
standing room only audience.
“It’s an honor to be here tonight,” said
Sumiton Mayor Petey Ellis. “We honor all you
Veterans and I want to make an apology that it has
taken us this long to make plans for a Veterans Memorial,
but we hope that what we do will honor the sacrific
that has been made.”
Bill Fowler, member of the
Sumiton Area Veterans Memorial Board and a Sumiton
City Council member, thanked the veterans and their
families for their participation in the event.
“We anticipated a good group, but we have
far exceeded our expectations,” Fowler said. “We
appreciate everyone coming out tonight and also appreciate
the Veterans for making our freedom possible.”
Also during the
ceremony, an unveiling of blueprints for the new
Sumiton Veterans Memorial Monument was given by Richard
Bradley of Laser Works of Alabama.
According
to Bradley, a new walkway will be made in front of
the senior center leading to the monument.
The
monument will be 10 feet long and be 5-feet, 8-inches
tall. The front of the monument will contain the
six seals of the branches of the military. The back
of the monument will list the names of local soldiers
who were lost during the wars.
Around the monument will lay 550
granite bricks that families may purchase to honor
a loved one who served in the military.
The granite pavers are being sold for $100
each and can hold 20 characters per line.For more
information about purchasing a paver, contact Sumiton
City Hall at 648-3261.
Click here for photos of the event.
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The
Sumiton Frog Festival
October 3th 2009
The
2009 Sumiton Frog had picture perfect weather again.
The long-range forecast did not bode well but the rain
moved out on Friday afternoon and the skies were blue
as a swimming pool. It would be hard to order up a better
day off a menu of Great Day optiong.
The air was cool before sunrise but when the sun peeked up above the horizon
and burned off the early morning dew, the weather was perfect.
There is no way to count the number of people that attend the festival, but at
one point looking down main street in either direction was wall-to-wall people>
The vendors seemed happy this year as people were not only out in droves, but
they were buying more than in years past.
Below is a link to photos from this year's festival.
2009
Frog Festival Fhotos
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Frog Festival was a hoot?
Rick Watson
Syndicated Writer
Sunday, Oct 11, 2009
Jilda and I went to the Frog Festival last weekend and it was a hoot, or should
I say, a croak.
The weather was perfect! I had a booth at this year’s event where we
sold and signed copies of my book. The long-range forecast for the weekend
showed a chance of rain, and on Friday it did come a toad strangler, but the
low steel-gray clouds moved off to the east by late afternoon and the skies
on Saturday were picture perfect.
We arrived at 6:30 a.m. to set up our tent, and I regretted my decision to
leave my jacket at home. Once we got the tent, table and chairs situated, we
sat down for a moment and drank some coffee I’d bought from one of the
other vendors. Jilda hugged herself against the cold and her teeth chattered
like a typewriter. (I guess I need to be more mindful of my similes because
there are probably a lot of young folks out there that have never heard the
rattle of a typewriter.)
Just before 7 a.m., the sun peeked above the roofs on Main Street in Sumiton
and the sunshine felt warm on our faces. By the time the gates opened at 9
a.m. I knew it was going to be a great day for a small town festival.
Jilda and I have been involved with the Frog Festival since the beginning.
The first three years we helped do the planning and we worked our tails off. But
this year, our schedules didn’t leave much time, so we left the planning
to others. I think they did a remarkable job. The people who came by our booth
shared the same sentiment.
I may be prejudiced, but I think The Frog Fest is one of the best small town
festivals around. The event is free and has a little something for everyone.
This year’s event had two stages that rang out all day with the music
of local artists. Many of those walking on Main Street while munching on parched
peanuts and swilling ice tea would probably agree that we have a lot of talent
in these parts.
Each year, the booths are packed with hand-made arts & crafts, clothes,
candles, jewelry and many other interesting things.
I always use the food as a means of judging anything. “Yes, the Grand
Canyon was nice, but the food at that little restaurant was worth the trip!” You
get the idea. Anyhow, the food at this year’s Frog Festival was definitely
worth the trip.
While sitting at our table eating ribs on a stick and drinking fresh lemonade,
I basked in the moment, soaking in the sights, sounds and smells around me.
There were booths at the festival that painted faces and did “crazy hair.” Even
now, as I sit here writing, the memory paints a smile on my face.
Jilda and I had the good fortune to visit Ireland several years ago and the
thing we loved most about the
Emerald Isle was that it felt like the south we remember from our childhood.
People sat on the doorsteps in the afternoon greeting neighbors who happened
by.
As we walked past a small community park, we heard the sound of guitar music
and children laughing. It felt like home. I feel sure that if any of those
people found themselves on Main Street in Sumiton during the Frog Festival
this past week, they would have felt right at home. |
Sumiton Swears in
New City Council
The new Sumiton City Council has some new faces. On November
3rd, the city held their "Swearing In" Ceremony at the
Senior Citizen's Center.
Click here for more photos of the event.
On the first Saturday
in October (October 4th 2008), the city is the home of "The
Frog Festival". Last year's
inaugural FrogFest drew over five thousand people to
downtown Sumiton. Music, Arts & Crafts, great food,
and street performers all contributed to a carnival atmosphere
that people still talk about.
This year's festival was special in that it paid tribute
to our veterans. More than thirty veterans from our nations
wars were honored.
Petey Ellis; Mayor of Sumiton, and Bruce Hamrick, Chairman of the Walker County
Commission presented Leldon McLeroy (center) a belated Silver Star for his efforts
during World
This year's festival
was even bigger and better than last year. Click here to
see photos from the 2008 Sumiton Frog Festival.
Sumiton Mayor Petey
Ellis and the city council welcomes you to come for a visit
and see for yourself why they call Sumiton, Alabama "The
Friendly City."
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