150 Years ATLANTA
Miss Atlanta Greta Feimster waves to an adoring crown from the back of a classic car as Founder’s Day festivities begin. Shelley Endsley, pageant coordinator, presented Greta with a $500 scholarship from Atlanta Area Rotary Club.
The crowd went wild as a steady stream of classic cars and trucks made their way down East Hiram Street.
Kelly Cox joined in on the fall fun as he pulled a scarecrow reclining on a bed of hay behind him on a trailer.
Atlanta High School’s award winning marching band proudly strut their stuff to show parents, local residents and parade goers what champions are made of. Go Rabbits!
Bessie Coleman made an appearance in the parade and posed for photos with children. Born in Atlanta, Coleman was a young black female who dreamed of flying someday and eventually did just that! Coleman made waves in the aviation industry as a professional pilot by shattering the highest of glass ceilings as she took flight, proving herself an inspiration to both women and people of color everywhere. Coleman’s hard won success in aviation proved that if you can dream it, you can do it! Coleman was portrayed Saturday by the amazingly talented Melody Cranford.
Teena Tolleson Weetmoreland, AHS alumni, rides up to pass out goody bags to those nearby.Teena and her husband, David Westmoreland have had a horse farm in neighboring Doddridge,AR near Red and Sulphur Rivers for a number of years, with horses being one of their greatest passions in life other than helping out their community, family and friends. Teena has volunteered her time with Miller County 4-H in the past and worked as a bus driver for a number of years.
Veterans from local American Legion JE Manning Post 258 led the Founder’s Day parade as they marched carrying American and Texas flags.
Jimmy Smith demonstrates using a Dutch oven to bake cobbler, a method 1872 founders would have seen as common.The proceeds from 3JC chuck wagon were to go to Ranchers’Table Meat Ministry.
Fifth generation Atlanteans, brothers Elijah, 10, and Evan Woods, 13, walk Evan’s bike down Hiram Street Saturday during the Founder’s Day Fair.The brothers, along with baby sister Elle Woods, 8, (not pictured) are the great grandchildren of late businessman Edward Ben“EB”Woods Sr,who ran Woods Furniture for many years on this very street. EB was born in Cass County in 1926 to sharecroppers Jim & Mae Woods, who settled in the area after a wheel fell off their wagon this side of the Sulphur River, according to family.
Atlanta 150 Visionary Kate Stow took the stage to thank volunteers and attendees for participating in the town’s 150th birthday celebration before Rev. Nelson came up to pray over the community and days events.
Jimmy and Connie Smith under the canopy of their chuck wagon,dubbed“3JC”,where they served peach cobbler and ice cream at Founder’s Day Fair Saturday.
Physician Liason Morgan Williams. with HealthCARE Express was more than happy to keep parched festival goers hydrated and healthy as she passed out complimentary reusable cups filled with fresh lemonade.