Story By Donna Thornton
During the work session that precedes Rainsville’s city council meeting, Rainsville Freedom Run founder Jerry Clifton told council members registration for the run is above last year’s numbers so far.
The race is four weeks away, and more than 800 people are registered now – about 100 more than at this point last year. Last year’s total number of runners was 1,236 and he expects 1,300-1,400 runners this year.
“I run a lot of different places. Every place I run needs a mayor and council and support staff like Rainsville,” he said. He thanked city leaders for ensuring that whatever is needed for the run is available. Over the years, it has enabled the Freedom Run to give $550,000 to charities.
He said he’d talked recently to the director of The Father’s House, and he learned that as a result of support to the run and other sources, that charity has been able to help mothers get back 141 children. The Freedom Run will be supporting Sleep in Heavenly Peace – which builds beds and furnishes them for children who don’t have a bed of their own – among many other charities.
“Those are the kind of things we don’t see, we don’t think about,” Clifton said. He said he thanked the council for helping to make the run possible, so that support can be provided to deserving organizations.
The council approved spending $1,200 for a portable stage that will be needed for the first-ever Miss Freedom Festival Pageant being held as part of Freedom Fest festivities. The pageant will be at 4 p.m. Friday, June 7, at the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center. Miss Freedom Festival will receive a $500 scholarship. Ages 0 to 12th grade are welcome. Applications are available now at Rainsville City Hall. For more information people may contact Kalie Davis at kaliedavis7@gmail.com.
In other action, the council:
Approved participation in the state’s Back to School tax holiday – begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 18 and ends at 12 a.m. Sunday July 20.
Approved purchase of a portable stage for the beauty pageant that will be held in conjunction with Freedom Fest at a cost of $1,200.
Accepted Adam Facteau’s resignation from Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Approved an upgrade to a blower control at a cost of $4,785, by SCADA-FrixCo. Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt said the last time this had to be done a company from South Dakota sent someone at great cost.
Approved a $500 sponsorship for Race to Embrace.
Approved parttime employees for the pool this summer.
Approved a request for training for Dawson Westbrook for the fire department.
Fire Chief Williemac Wright reminded people that the state-wide no burn order is effect.
Lingerfelt reminded current Rainsville garbage service customers that Spring Clean up is still going on through May 31 at the city shop, from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday.
