June 3-8 has been chosen as the week for festivities to begin for the 2008 edition of

"THE STEVENSON DEPOT DAYS FESTIVAL"!

Watch for more information, as it becomes available.

http://stevensondepotdays.com

 

"SEE YA' at DEPOT DAYS 2008!"

STEVENSON MAYOR ELECTED 2007 DEPOT DAYS GRAND MARSHAL

Mayor James Rickey Steele

During Mayor Steele's nearly seven years in office, he has led the City Council in many projects to improve the City of Stevenson, while never losing his "personal home-town  touch"! Rickey, a former student of mine at old Stevenson High School, entered the "political arena" as Campaign Manager for Co-Beta Club member, Bo Jack Loyd. Rickey made many friends at the State Beta Club Convention in Birmingham, AL , which was  instrumental in the  successful  campaign of Bo Jack as  " the one and only State National Beta Club President ever elected" from Stevenson, AL! Ms. Jan Britton and I, Senior National Beta Club Sponsors,  were not surprised when Rickey Steele entered the political scene, himself, nearly twenty years ago. First elected to the Stevenson City Council in 1992, Rickey was in the first graduating class of Certified Municipal Officials in the State of Alabama in 1996. Among his other honors, was his election as "Stevenson Civic Club's Man of the Year". Other activities include: Member of the Jackson County and North Alabama Executive Committee with the Alabama League of Municipalities,Past-President of the Jackson County ARC, and  membership in Bolivar Masonic Lodge of Stevenson, The Scottish Rite, and Cahaba Masonic Temple.

Congratulations, Rickey!

This post is intended to serve as a chronicle of past "Depot Days Festivals" as well as to provide UPDATES for 2006 at my personal website at:Stevenson Depot Days.Com  . Please feel free to post your own announcements, too. "See You at Depot Days 2006 in The Stevenson Park as well as at the traditional "Depot Days" activities held in front of the Stevenson Depot Railway Museum in Historic Downtown!"

 Mrs. Jennifer Shrader Swoboda, Chairperson of the 2004 Festival Planning Committee, urged visitors, "to join us in Historic Downtown Stevenson Wednesday, June 9th, through Saturday, June 12th, for an array of exciting Events. A new feature this year is the ALUMNI BAND REUNION to be made up of past members of the  SHS Panther Band (1950s-1988 ) and  the NJHS Chief's Band (1988-2003) ...!  All past members of both bands are invited to lace up their shoes and join other alumni for one more romp down Main Street to hoot, holler, toot, and strut their stuff and show everyone they've still got it!" Other announced events with details yet to come are.....WEDNESDAY:Community Worship Service, THURSDAY:Ice Cream Social with Live Gospel Entertainment, FRIDAY:Hobo Stew Cook-Off and Live Entertainment on The Flat Car Stage, SATURDAY:GRAND PARADE, ALUMNI BAND REUNION, Children's Activities at the Stevenson Public Library,Arts and Crafts Fair at the Cowan House, All Day Entertainment on the Flat Car and Playhouse Stages, Stevenson Railroad Museum Tours, and the Street Dance on Main Street (Admission $1.00).

Swaboda said, "This year's Festival Theme is, 'THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES', so join us in Historic Downtown Stevenson JUNE 9th-12th, 2004, to stroll down Main Street and enjoy the rich history and strong COMMUNITY SPIRIT of this lovely Southern Town called STEVENSON, ALABAMA."

For more information, or to get involved in the planning yourself, please let us know what you'd  like to contribute to this year's effort by phoning the FESTIVAL PLANNING COMMITTEE at  (256) 437-3012.

WEBSITE: http://stevensondepotdays.com/ 

2005 DEPOT DAYS UPDATE!

Most events from 2004 were continued in the 2005 Depot Days Event, featuring JOHN H. GRAHAM as GRAND MARSHAL for the 2005 FESTIVAL PARADE. Although there was a light rain threatening to dampen spirits, all went well and CLASS REUNIONS of SHS Classes graduating in years ending in 5s were enjoyed by THE CLASS OF 1980 celebrating at  FRIDAY'S RESTAURANT, while THE CLASS OF 1955 REIGNED SUPREME at THE AMBER HOUSE on their BIG 50th! The CLASS of 1980 touted their classmate, JOHN H. GRAHAM, as the youngest GRAND MARSHAL ever! Another NEW EVENT was a book-signing by SHS alumnus, Jennifer Parcus, co-author of "HIGH COTTON" with her mother, Sandra Poole, who autographed for a "sell-out" crowd, their critically acclaimed locally-set novel at THE STEVENSON PUBLIC LIBRARY in HISTORIC DOWNTOWN. For MORE about DEPOT DAYS 2005 and LINKS to the newly launched websites for STEVENSON, ALABAMA ....see POST BELOW!

THE 2005 QUILTING CONTEST was won by: THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF STEVENSON! The Cash Prize of $25 was donated to a fund sponsored by ladies of the church for ongoing projects, and the prize-winning quilt will be auctioned off for additional funds. Chances on the quilt may be purchased for $1 each or 6 for $5. See: Louise Kennedy, Joy Singleton, or Shirley Patalas for more information. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES, and a special thanks for all you do! To support these talented "quilting ladies" in their worthy projects, and to purchase your chances to win their lovely hand-made prize quilt: Please contact:  THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF STEVENSON: Rev. Bill Stone, Pastor PH: 256)437-8776.  You'll be glad you did!

UPDATES: Stevenson Depot Days Festival 2006 Schedule of Events:

Stevenson Depot Days & Quilt Show 2005!

GRAND MARSHAL: John H. Graham

Festival Parade: 10:30 AM, Saturday, June 11, 2005

Quilt Show: 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 11, 2005

Book Signing: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM, Saturday, June 11, 2005 at Stevenson Public Library in "Historic Downdown" during "Depot Days 2005"!

Local Authors: Jennifer Parcus Youngblood & Sandra Poole are former residents of Jackson County, Alabama.  A mother-daughter team, their fascinating story is found at Novel: Livin' In High Cotton

NEW: Official Websites launched for Historic Downdown:

"Stevenson Friends of The Library"   

"Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum"

Santa & "PETE"

CHRISTMAS PARADE was Saturday, December 4, 2004!

3:00 PM on Main Street

The Gin-Tai Tibetan Spaniels

We have joined a new group at TheSiteFights called "The Sunshine

Hearts"!  This group  is dedicated to spreading a little Sunshine ! 

Having a birthday?  Send a Musical Birthday Card: LINKS HERE!

TibbiesLuvSpirit!

The 2004 Depot Days Festival will feature  REUNIONS  of GRADUATING CLASSES and BAND MEMBERS from the OLD SHS STEVENSON HIGH SCHOOL PANTHER BAND and THE NJHS CHIEFS BANDS! Please add the year of your HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, if you are an ALUMNUS of one of these GROUPS! Did you play SPORTS at one of these schools? Did your TEAM go to STATE? Win COMPETITIONS? Those were "THE DAYS", as they say! Help us build this JOURNAL with POSTS from each of YOU about your MEMORIES of FAVORITE TEACHERS, EVENTS, FRIENDS, and just tell us about.............YOUR MEMORIES.............that brought you back to YOUR HOME IN STEVENSON, ALABAMA!!

We hope you enjoy this Web Journal. Be sure to tell all your friends about this great new service from Bravenet!