Reidsville continues celebrating All-America success

The All-America City celebration will continue Tuesday during the Reidsville City Council meeting. Mayor James Festerman has invited the delegation that represented Reidsville in Tampa, Fla., to attend the 6:30 p.m. meeting in City Hall.

“It will just be another pep rally,” said Festerman. “We might even break out some of those cheers we used down there — ‘Reidsville is in the house!’”

Festerman said some City Council members were not able to accompany the delegation to Tampa, so the council meeting will be a good opportunity to thank the delegation for representing Reidsville at the National Civic League competition.

The delegation learned the judges had bestowed the “All-America City” designation during a banquet Friday evening. Reidsville was one of 16 cities vying for 10 spots in the All-America City competition. Reidsville was the second smallest city to become a finalist and the smallest city to receive the title of “All-America City.”

Reidsville’s population in 2006 was 14,859, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Reidsville proved to the judges that it may be small, but it’s mighty. With 51 people, Reidsville had the second largest delegation of the 16 finalists in Tampa, said Tammy Spencer, Reidsville’s director of economic development.

“They asked, ‘Is there anyone left in Reidsville?’” she said. Reidsville City Clerk Angela Stadler chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“We brought half the city,” she said.

Spencer thinks Reidsville is the only city whose presentation brought the judges to tears. She and Stadler said the clients from the Reidsville Teen Center, Reidsville Outreach Center and Free Clinic of Rockingham County truly spoke from the heart while sharing their testimonies. Spencer said Ellie Bartlett, who received a set of dentures from the Free Clinic of Rockingham County, “choked up” at the end of her story about the clinic giving her a “new smile.”

“You could feel the emotion,” said Stadler. She said the judges told the Reidsville delegation they had done an “awesome job” after Thursday afternoon’s presentation, so they felt confident.
Reidsville was the second city announced, after Akron, Ohio. Lenoir, the only other North Carolina city in the competition, was the last to learn of its All-America City status. When the judges announced Lenoir was an All-America City, Stadler said, “All of North Carolina jumped up in their seats.”

“We were pulling for them,” she said. The other cities that received the title are Gladstone, Mo.; New Haven, Conn.; Aurora, Colo.; Kissimmee, Osceola County, Fla.; Goodyear, Ariz.; St. Louis Region, Mo./ Ill.; and Cerritos, Calif.

Stadler said Reidsville would eventually have a party to celebrate its All-America City status. For now, the city is still basking in the glow of victory.

“We’re still on a high,” she said. “It was just an overall wonderful experience. We’re thrilled.”

Also scheduled for the City Council meeting is a public hearing to consider the proposed operating budget for fiscal 2008-09. City Manager Kelly Almond said the proposed budget is free of tax increases, staff cuts and reductions in services.

“It’s a good year,” said Almond. “I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from council members and citizens.”

Staff writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.