By Staff
Atmore: My kind of people
By Chandler Myers
Atmore is a place where people wave and say hello in passing whether it be in a car or on foot. This was the first thing I noticed about the town, other than the one screen movie theater, which made me comfortable for some reason. Coming from a city like Birmingham into a small town atmosphere can be a culture shock for some people, but with a friendly atmosphere like this, who could be uncomfortable?
Great food at the Whistle Stop combined with a great interview spoke one plain and simple truth: Atmore is the place for me. While it may not seem like this town has much to offer, that would be a quick judgment to the naked eye. Seeing the city as a whole from the state line to Interstate-65 and both directions down Hwy. 31 gives a different perspective.
Catfish is a personal favorite and seeing Dixie Catfish on the way into town and David’s on the other side will cause a tough decision to be made because I have heard that both have top-notch food and service. Going to movies is another hobby and the theater will be a place I will visit frequently to catch a new flick.
Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth and Martin Luther King leagues will be fun to watch while I get to know new people and cover the kids who’s excitement to play will light up the field more than lights during a night game. Memories will be more vivid than ever for me because it has been 13 years since I rounded any bases or played second base. To all the players and coaches, enjoy this time with each other because it goes by faster than you think.
Look for me at your local high school athletic events and be sure to say hello. Everyone has a story that deserves to be told whether it is just in conversation or in this paper. If you catch a winning touchdown or motivate from the sidelines, you are doing something to contribute to your team and the outcome of the game. I want to know these things so you can be heard.
So getting back to the point, Atmore has several things to offer anyone considering living here. A deep southern town with a “these are my people” feel is a great thing, especially when the closest family member is two-and-a-half hours away in a tiger town that rivals the crimson clad background I come from.
Everyone is encouraged to stop by and introduce himself or herself because a large part of this job is meeting people and knowing who to talk to. Never meet a stranger is a philosophy to live by and it has helped lead me to the city I now call home. So please keep up the polite greetings and welcome smiles and the new guy in town will do the same. So here is to seeing you around town or wherever we meet. Whether it is at one of the several places to eat or your child’s baseball or softball game, I look forward to meeting all of you.
Chandler Myers is sports editor of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123 or emailed at sports@atmoreadvance.com