Local News
Jeff Henson
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Jeff Henson E-Mail: |
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Hey Huntington: This Bud's For You Eagle Distributing Company hosts party By Jeff Henson
Several local businesses and organizations pulled together to help the City of Huntington pull together by staging a community party at Eagle Distributing Company. By the first hour of the five-hour festival Sunday, about 600 people mixed throughout the facility. They paid a few bucks to get in, got plenty to eat and drink, and had plenty to listen to and look at. The proceeds benefited the city. Michael D. Garrison, president of Eagle Distributing, surveyed the Eagle facility as Barboursville Police Chief Alan Meek prepped for his shift sitting for the dunking booth. "We are absolutely thrilled to be able to put on an event like this," Garrison said. Designated drivers were available. "This is the least we could do for the city. People in this city have been so good to us, in terms of business. We are more than happy to try to help." Although the image of Meek, a retired Huntington Police captain, wearing swim trunks was truly horrifying (Think "Tanning bed," Chief Meek), one could stand anywhere and witness plenty of The Kid, The Rik and The McCallister. As soon as Huntington Mayor David Felinton walked through the facility, people applauded and asked for him to stand for photographs. Dubbed "Kid Hope" on the June 1 cover of Charleston-based Graffiti Magazine, Felinton obliged every request. City Personnel Rik Baumgardner worked the crowd, shaking hands and listening closely to people speaking very close to his ear, as if the importance of the information could only be relayed by such intimate proximity. And, then, there was Huntington City Councilman "Mad" Tom McAllister, sauntering like a well-fed king through the facility, a sandwich in one hand and cup of Budweiser product in the other, his grin as wide as Texas. "This guy is from CNN," McCallister said, pointing to a thin member of the media, to anyone speaking to him. "HNN," the thin member of the media corrected. "Whatever," McCallister said. "You're all liars." Earlier in the day Sunday, after he used a coat hanger to gain entry into a Ford Taurus owned by the thin member of the member, McCallister asked, "What am I going to have to do to get into the newspaper today?" Answer: "Breathe." While Felinton and Baumgardner sat at one of the long tables with Real People enjoying hotdogs and baked beans, McCallister slipped behind them and sat next to Baumgardner. Mad Tom smiled. Baumgardner did not. Kid Hope listened to The Real People as the city collectively listened to the sweet sound of money coming in, coming in to take care of The Debt, to bring the city together.
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