SALYERSVILLE – The 20th annual Community Day was graced with great weather and a big crowd for the first gathering since the pandemic.
Magoffin County Community Foundation Chairman Scotty Patrick told Mortimer Media Group that the Saturday, August 19 event went really well.
“The crowd we’ve had today has been outstanding, the weather has been really good and I think everyone has had a lot of fun,” Patrick said.
Donna Salyer, the vice president and treasurer of the Magoffin County Community Foundation, said the turnout was probably the best they’ve had for Community Day.
“It seems to be one of the bigger ones we’ve had in 20 years,” Salyer said. “I think everybody is glad to be back. Hopefully, if it’s God’s will, we’ll be back next year.”
Patrick said, “When you start, you never know when you’re going to end. So, we just said we just said we were going to do it the first year, second year, third year, and just kept going. We’ve changed a little bit over the years. I think the concept of having people out here and having them enjoy themselves, and supporting our nonprofits, I think it was a good idea and hope it continues for a long time.”
In the first 19 years of holding Community Day, $1,501,707.37 total has been raised for local nonprofit groups, with $271,518 of that raised during the three years the event was virtual due to COVID-19. For many local nonprofit organizations, traditionally Community Day is their largest fundraiser for the year, helping to keep these vital groups operational for another year.
The total amount raised has not been finalized at press time, but Patrick provides matching funds up to a certain amount, with checks to be cut for the groups in October.
District 3 Volunteer Fire Department Chief told Mortimer Media Group they sold 300 fish dinners on Saturday, which was the total they were prepared to sell at Community Day.
And since it’s not Community Day without the Bluegrass music, Mortimer Media Group talked with Bluegrass Legend Larry Sparks about his history with Magoffin County.
“Starting back in the ‘60s, with Ralph Stanley, and he played a lot through here at schools and drive-in theaters, playing in all the counties,” Sparks said. “I started my band back in ’69, and came in Magoffin and played the Alamo Theater. Had pretty good crowds there. A friend of mine, Castle Whitaker, he always booked me in there and set us up. Played the schools. Always enjoyed it and there’s good people here. I talk like they do and they talk like I do, so always felt at home. It’s been five years since I played here at the Community Day. Of course, COVID stopped it for a while – stopped all of us for a while – but I’m glad it’s still going and we got a good crowd here today.”
Sparks has been performing Bluegrass since 1963, celebrating 60 years this year. He started playing with the Stanley Brothers in ’63, and continued with Ralph Stanley until he started his own band in 1969.
“I don’t know how it happened, it went by so fast. It’s been good to me. God’s been good to me. The fans have been with me in New York, California, Canada – all kinds of places I’ve been. I feel very blessed to build up the fans I have. They’re good and loyal people.”
As they do each year Community Day has been held in-person, the Community Foundation honored
Doug and Sue Mortimer for their lifelong commitment to the community. They received $500 each to give to their favorite nonprofits, deciding to give those to the Renaissance on Main Street and Magoffin County Rescue Squad.
George Reed, with the help of his sister, Arbadella Reed, won the Cow Bell Contest, winning $2,000 for answering the correct number of wife Dale Evans was to Roy Rogers (answer: third wife).
Brenda Brown won the drawing for the Ford Crown Victoria.
The full list of the sponsors for Community Day is on page A6. Be sure to go ahead and make plans to attend next year’s Community Day, slated for August 17, 2024.
