By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

Dallas County Crime Stoppers received a $6,700 donation at the County Courthouse yesterday.

The money came from the proceeds collected at the third annual Billy Atchison Catfish Fry held this past May.

“This year we raised $6,700, which is the most we’ve ever raised, in conjunction with StreetFest and ArtsRevive,” said Tommy Atchison, chairman of the board of directors at Leadership Selma-Dallas County. “We did a great job.”

The Catfish Fry is named in honor of the late Alabama Power Company employee, community activist, and Tommy’s father, Billy Atchison.

Atchison said the money was given to Crime Stoppers because it promotes safety and community involvement.

“Crime Stoppers is a very important extension of our law enforcement agencies here because it’s community involvement,” Atchison said. “When a community member or a witness calls in and gives legitimate information to law enforcement they can receive up to $1,000 if that information leads to an arrest. It’s all anonymous.”

“It’s good because if you have witnesses who are potentially paid for their information that’s an eye and an ear where law enforcement doesn’t have to be there to see the stuff,” Atchison added.

Atchison said the success of the fish fry was due in large part to the help received from BankTrust.

“I’d really like to thank Charlie Morgan and Jeff Harrison of BankTrust and Jeff’s sons Lanny and Jebb for helping that day,” Atchison said. “BankTrust donated tables, employees and funds. They were an integral part and we couldn’t do it without them.”