Independence Day celebration set June 30

BY Deborah Goodwin

THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

VALLEY GRANDE &045; The drought won’t stop this year’s fireworks.

The Independence Day celebration is slated for Saturday, June 30, at 5 p.m., at the new walking trail on County Road 16. Lots of fun is planned for the event.

The Valley Grande Volunteer Fire Department will wet down the field beforehand and will be standing by &8220;just in case&8221; when the fireworks start at 9 p.m.

Councilwoman Donna Downs is coordinating the event.

According to Downs, there will be lots of games, barbeque, hot dogs and just plain fun.

Downs is looking for volunteers to help with the event. Any interested persons should call City Hall at 875-2929.

The council voted to put Ordinance No. 2007-39 first reading for the next meeting with Councilwoman Julie Drinkard opposing.

The proposed ordinance, if passed, will establish the terms of office and salary step level for the position of Public Safety Director.

The first step was the creation of the position, which took place two weeks ago, Lee said.

According to Lee, the Public Safety Committee &8220;will meet this week to discuss that last and final step.&8221;

Councilman Donald Chandler reported the weather siren to go up in the Summerfield area will arrive in Montgomery in mid-July and will be installed a week later.

Lee gave the finance report for May, reporting $1.191M in total assets and $377K in total liabilities.

Councilwoman Patsy Moore wanted to thank Stevie Smitherman who worked on removing trees from the walking trail area during the last phase and Randall Averitt who removed the hard-to-kill kudzu from the site.

Moore opened the meeting with the invocation thanking God and asking for guidance.