LEEDS TRIBUNE YOUR ONLY SOURCE FOR LEEDS AREA NEWS www.LeedsTribune.com
July 18, 2019 | Volume 4, Issue 25
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'Blessing' a new engine for Leeds Fire & Rescue Leeds celebrates new $500K fire truck, promotion of firefighters BY NATHAN PREWETT Leeds Tribune Staff A ceremony was held on Saturday morning for the blessing of Engine 51, a new truck at Leeds Fire & Rescue Station No. 1. The ceremony also honored the promotions of seven firefighters at the department. Opening the ceremony was Capt. Adam Couvington, followed by Chief Charles Parsons who was the keynote speaker. He gave his remarks on the department, as well as the functions of Engine 51 and gave a brief overview of the history of fire trucks leading up to the modern age. Pastor Steven Weems from Leeds First Baptist Church blessed the truck, which is a tradition for new fire engines before being put into service. Parsons spoke about the purchase of Engine 51, which was $510,000 though he said that
the money didn’t come out of the general funds from the city. St. Clair County has a fire tax and “every year they divide out whatever amount is brought in” for the 26 fire departments in the county, including Leeds. In January, checks are sent out in which the Leeds department received around $50,000 with an additional $12,000 in July, making an estimated $62,000 $63,000 this year and can pay off the truck over time. The new engine is a Sutphen Monarch Custom Pumper with a 50 horsepower diesel motor. It was purchased from the Sutphen company headquartered in Ohio. One of its features includes a backup camera that functions similarly to a rearview mirror as well as spacious compartments to store equipment.
See BLESSING, Page 2 Leeds Fire Chief Charles Parsons led the ceremony to bless the truck and promote firefighters.
First Thursday Street Fest returns downtown on Aug. 1 BY DONA BONNETT Special to the Leeds Tribune
Weather was perfect for the First Thursday Street Fest in May. The next one is Aug. 1.
Plans are firming up for Leeds Downtown First Thursday Street Fest for Aug. 1 scheduled from 5- 8 p.m. It’s going to be another afternoon of great entertainment, food trucks, street vendors, car cruise-in, downtown shopping on the Parkway and just a wonderful time of building community. Live performers at the gazebo on the corner of 9th Street and Parkway include Cody Howell, Paul Sisson and Mandi Rae. Cody Howell is a Birmingham-based singer and guitarist. With influences in R&B, blues, folk, and pop, his music is punctuated by soulful vocals and moody guitar licks, never quite fitting into any genre. Cody grew up in Moody, Alabama and began playing music for school events. Since then, he’s continued to develop his style and regularly plays at numerous local venues. Paul Sisson is also a local songwriter and musician. Paul
is from Moody. He’s a barber by trade and has entertained with his voice and guitar for a very long time. Paul has performed almost everywhere in Birmingham and currently works at Salon U Midtown. Mandi Rae, a military brat with her roots from Leeds, gives us a genuine taste of the sincere, straightforward narrative and powerful songwriting voices of the real south. Always known for being full of humor and straight to the point, she has a natural affinity for entertaining and offers a refreshing break from any of the standard expectations in today’s Americana or Country styles. More in line with Jonathan Richman lyrically and Loretta Lynn in presentation, Mandi Rae’s good humor and lively stage presence keeps the audience engaged in Southern storytelling through song. The car cruise-in will include the Porsche Club sponsored by Eurasian Auto Services which will have a 1967 Porsche on display. All
See STREET FEST, Page 3
Acting couple who met on the Leeds stage presents first play written together ‘Esther’ cast includes Leeds teens, adults at Leeds Arts Council BY BLAKE ELLS Leeds Tribune Staff Eight stage performances of the play “Esther” will be presented by the Leeds Arts Council beginning Thursday, July 18. But the real beginning of the play dates back to the Leeds stage in 2009. The musical is based on the story of an orphaned Jewish girl who becomes Queen of Persia. Show times are at 7 p.m. on July 18-20 and July 25-27. Sunday matinees will be at 2 p.m. on July 21 and 28. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. The musical was written by an alumnus of the Leeds Arts Council, Martin Landry, and his wife, Janice. It was the first
musical that the duo co-wrote. Completed in 2009, it first went on stage in 2010 at Janice’s home church, Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. “Before I was ever in the picture, she co-wrote a musical based on ‘Pilgrim’s Progress,’” Landry said. “We decided that if we could write a show together, there’s actually a chance that we can live in harmony as a married couple.” There was some existing material based on Esther at Janice’s church. The couple decided that they’d like to expound upon it. The story goes like this: After Esther discovers that her people are to be annihilated, decreed by her husband the king, she is forced to face
difficult and frightening circumstances, with the survival of her entire race seemingly on her shoulders. Told with humor and pathos, the show has generated enthusiasm wherever it has been performed. “As we began to dig into the background of the story and some of the commentaries that bring out more detail, we were fascinated with it,” he said. “We thought, ‘Well, yeah. We have to write this.’ It started out as the practical matter of, ‘Hey, we’d like to do this,’ and then it became something much more involved.” At that point, it was a quick process. The duo had completed the musical in just
See LEEDS COUPLE, Page 4 Many of the actors are from Leeds.
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