By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
What bear are you talking about, Mr. Mayor? Well, for openers, the desire for everyone that is a part of the annual Relay for Life team here in Athens wants to do way more than give cancer a poke. It’s more like put cancer out of its — and everyone else’s — misery…forever. As far as “poking the bear” where Mayor Ronnie is concerned, that was an affectionate throw down to all of the Celebrity Waiters against whom he would be competing for tips. He laughed as he told me that back in the day, Athens City Councilman Jimmie Gill would send out postcards to all kinds of folks before the annual event and ask for their “vote,” or perhaps more accurately, their tips. We then both talked about how much we missed Jimmie, and how it did not seem possible that it had been nine years since he passed. “He fought cancer,” said Mayor Ronnie, and I added, “He fought hard for a long time.” The main Relay for Life event will be held at the Sportsplex on May 9 beginning at 6 p.m.
One of the things that makes Celebrity Waiters’ Night so fun is the teams and how much fun they have. This year we had the Val Kilmer version of Batman, the Pink Ladies in matching cowgirl hats, a football coach, and more. Everyone was “out to get” Mayor Ronnie, which he didn’t mind at all. The night’s take in tips was a grand total of $5,368, and my favorite part was watching everyone have such a good time.
The “team roster” for this year’s Celebrity Waiter’s Night included Matthew Jimmerson, owner of Athens Florist; Mayor Ronnie Marks; Athens Police Department Officer Michael Stainbrook; Athens Fire Department Firefighter Brinten Barclay ; Jackie Jackson; Coach Cody Gross; Kay Burlingame; and Emma Prier. Emma is the granddaughter of the late Kathy Cothren, another fierce warrior against cancer who has passed on.
We talked about how the year had absolutely flown by and that high school graduation is fast upon us. That also means that this year’s graduates from the Mayor’s Youth Commission will be heading out as well. I asked, “How are you doing with that, Mr. Mayor?” He replied, “You know those TV commercials where the parents are dropping their kids off at their college dorm and then they drive down the road for a little bit so that they can pull over and get through it?” “Yep,” I said. “That’s how,” he said.
The mayor had received a request that was going to be entitled, “Chalk It Up For Mental Health,” and it will be held from May 1 through May 12. This is the second year, and the purpose is to raise awareness for the need for upgraded mental health resources in our area. “The artwork on the sidewalks is amazing,” he said, and I agreed. He continued, “Some of that stuff almost looks like it is 3-D,” he said.
The mayor had to get going, as did I, and so we did what we always do, and that is pray. The once again, it was time for Ronnie to roll.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
April 18, 2025
