Bank honors city’s first responders

Published 9:27 pm Thursday, September 1, 2016

First Cahawba Bank employees Donna Minor and Shelene Connell serve lunch Thursday to first responders from the city’s police and fire departments as well as the sheriff’s department.

First Cahawba Bank employees Donna Minor and Shelene Connell serve lunch Thursday to first responders from the city’s police and fire departments as well as the sheriff’s department.

First responders from across the city were honored Thursday with a luncheon hosted by First Cahawba Bank and other partners.

Members from the Selma Police Department, Selma Fire Department and Dallas County Sheriff’s Office attended the lunch, where they enjoyed steak, sausage, baked beans, coleslaw and cookies.

Bank president Catesby Jones said the bank wanted to do something to thank first responders for their work in the community. He said the idea came from Chief Financial Officer Richard Walters.

First Cahawba Bank president Catesby Jones and Selma Police  Department Captain  Johnny King share a laugh during Thursday’s luncheon.

First Cahawba Bank president Catesby Jones and Selma Police
Department Captain Johnny King share a laugh during Thursday’s luncheon.

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“I thought it was a great idea to do it with everything that has been going on in the country,” Jones said. “Policemen, firemen and first responders, we feel are totally under-appreciated, and we wanted to do something to show our appreciation.”

Jones, along with bank employees Donna Minor, Shelene Connell and Kristi Wallace served the first responders as they came through over a couple of hours.

Several businesses helped First Cahawba with the lunch. Golden Ranch BBQ & Grill donated baked beans, while Hancock’s added the coleslaw. Pepsi Bottling Company furnished drinks.

Selma Fire Chief Toney Stephens said the gesture was much appreciated.

“I’d like to thank First Cahawba for making this possible. Firefighters, police officers, all the first responders, they go all the time unnoticed,” Stephens said. “It’s something that we really like to do, but every now and then just to see the appreciation from the public really makes us feel real good.”

Stephens said firefighters came in shifts and that even those not scheduled to work were invited to come have lunch.