By: Stephanie Reynolds
(…okay, it’s actually a thank you note, but that sounds less poetic…)
I walked into my office and let out a half “Oh, what a mess” and half contented “What a great day!” sigh. Red, White, and BOOM t-shirts, boxes, paperwork, decorations, candy, chalk, and more have taken over the room.
I scooch forms and clipboards and meeting notes to the side of my desk to make room for my coffee. After a week off, it’s time to get back to work. I glance around…
The t-shirts strewn on every flat surface make me think of Ana our graphics designer who always creates the most beautiful creations. It makes me happy to see the shirts and think of her. I also think of Randy with Athens Athletics who pulled out all the stops to help me get these shirts done in such a quick turn-around.
We couldn’t have done this without our sponsors and the amazing Brooke who helped me get them. My heart smiles when I remember how she reassured me when I thought I had messed something up, which meant more to me than she probably knew. I think of how our sponsors love our community and are willing to give generously for you and me to have a great 4th of July: Ramona J’s, Athens State University, Grayson Carter & Son Contracting, Window World of Huntsville, and Zach Conlon Insurance.
I stop writing and look around. My eyes fall upon boxes of sidewalk chalk. The memory is still fresh of me squatting down 80+ times to write booth slots and messages on the parking lot of the Sportsplex in the brilliant blue July sunshine. Our vendors were amazing, easy to work with, and such a blessing!
“Don’t get up, it’s just me,” Debra says in her sweet, deep drawl as she comes into the office, and I smile. She effortlessly takes care of all things HR. As anyone who has ever worked with the government knows, nothing can put a dead stop to a plan like a misfiled form, but she keeps us going.
To my left is a contract for a generator to supply power for the music. I think of Jerome Malone who organized the sound system for the bands. I am so thankful that I could let Mr. Malone handle their needs. I wish y’all could have heard all three bands—they were amazing!
I think about the social media run up. That is where Nikki comes in. Did you see that jump in quality from when I was doing the social media to when Nikki started? That’s what happens when you get a brilliant young woman who actually understands social media to take over! She and her new fabulous intern Alondra did a great job (you should follow us, hint hint!).
“Your office is a MESS! I’ve never seen it be a mess…,” a friend of tourism exclaims as I scoot the aforementioned t-shirts off a chair for him to sit in. I chuckle and am slightly pleased. The now dry t-shirts remind me of the two storms that made a liar out of the “zero-percent-chance-of-rain” forecast. The first skirted to our north, but the second bore down on us right in the middle of the festival. I hated that for the vendors and the musicians, but I have a beautiful photograph in my mind of strangers all huddling together under any canopy that they could squeeze into. For 15 minutes we stood shoulder to
shoulder, wrangled excited children and chatted, waiting for the rain to stop. No, that wasn’t in my plan, but, yes, it made my heart warmer than noon in July.
I think of two very special trucks I saw on the morning of the 4th: Mayor Marks came by just to check on me, encourage me and ask if I needed anything. That meant so much (though I do need to learn to recognize his truck—I wasn’t sure who was driving up at first!).
Then Chairman Daly brought his trailer for us to use as a stage and chatted with me about tomatoes. I wouldn’t have thought he remembered that I grew them long ago! Both men have been so incredibly supportive, and we couldn’t have done this without them.
I am running out of article space but not people who made our first Red, White, & BOOM community event so successful! Bret and EMS Chief and the police. Sheriff and his LEOs. Sunny, Johnny, Cindy who made the event more fun. Public Works and Public Health who ensured we were kept healthy, safe, clean. The fireworks crew. The news crews and papers who enthusiastically reached out to us.
Our boots on the ground: Keith, Ashton, Ana, and James. And a special thank you to Bert and Parks and Rec who always so generously works with us.
I am also incredibly thankful for Pammie whose enthusiasm, patience, and leadership skills are beyond compare.
There are many more people throughout the city and county I need to thank, but I don’t get the whole paper to list them. Please know I deeply, personally appreciate you.
And lastly thank YOU, my incredible Limestonians and guests, who joined us for our inaugural Red, White, & BOOM event. I can’t WAIT for next year!
By: Stephanie Reynolds, Athens-Limestone Tourism Association
June 20, 2025
