Partnering for Progress in Mentone

Mentone’s citizens, businesses, and visitors heard some great news last month. As you’ll read elsewhere in this issue, our fire department received funding from the Alabama Forestry Commission to help build a new fire hall in the heart of town. Our dedicated volunteer firefighters provide an invaluable service to our community, and they’ve worked hard to build one of the best departments in the region. In addition to the state funds, the department has been raising funds for years for this project. The department is fully equipped with vehicles, equipment, and gear — all debt free — and now these volunteers will have a modern Station 1 that will allow them to serve us even better.

Last month, volunteers, board members, and guests gathered at the current station to enjoy food and fellowship and to welcome Alabama Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter. He was joined by officials from the Alabama Forestry Commission to present a check for $250,000 to our fire department for construction of the new fire hall. As our local representative in Montgomery, Speaker Ledbetter has been a tremendous help to Mentone and all of this district; as speaker of the house, he’s a champion of the issues that impact rural Alabama. This is another example of his efforts to support the great work that groups like the North Lookout Mountain Fire Protection District are doing in our communities.

Later this month, education will return to the Moon Lake campus for the first time since the school closed in 2021. Northeast Alabama Community College will begin holding classes this fall — a huge development for our area. Not only does it mean local citizens can advance their education right here in Mentone, but it also positions the campus for future opportunities.

If the community support is there, NACC hopes to work with the Town of Mentone to convert the gym into a performing arts center. Imagine plays, concerts, and other types of performances in a renovated center. The facility would also be available for community events. The possibilities are endless.

This could have a major impact on Mentone, creating cultural events for our local citizens while attracting visitors who will come to enjoy our town, support our local businesses, and contribute to our tax base. The arts may be cultural at their core, but they are also an economic driver.

In order for this to happen, however, we need to show support for NACC today. Take a look at the classes being offered, outlined elsewhere in this issue. Enroll online, or visit the campus August 1 when staff will be there to answer questions, register students, and help with financial aid applications.

Speaking of Moon Lake Village, the new public art display there is getting lots of attention. The Little River Art Gallery is now open on the campus, with new local artists being added every week. This fall we will see the opening of a new Creole/Cajun restaurant called Moon Lake Kitchen. In October, the campus will host the Mentone Fall Festival, bringing thousands of visitors to town for music, arts, and food. Now sponsored by the Town of Mentone in partnership with citizen volunteers and the Little River Arts Council, this event promises to grow and have a significant impact on our town. The money raised from the festival goes into a separate town account and is used to pay for improvements to the Moon Lake campus.

We need more sponsors to make this event a success. See the story about the festival elsewhere in this issue for full details on how to partner with the Town of Mentone on this great event.