At Monday night’s meeting, Plain City council and mayor Darrin Lane, right, honored village Parks and Recreation Director Linda Granger, left, for her work organizing the recent bicentennial celebration as well as the July Fourth festivities and helping with the Steam Threshers’ show. Earlier in the meeting Police Chief Dale McKee recognized Granger for her compassion and professionalism in dealing with a fatal crash inside Pastime Park.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell)
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While the weekend was for celebrating Plain City’s Bicentennial, Monday night’s council meeting was for celebrating those who made it happen.
“As much as the residents enjoy these events, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes from the organizers to the volunteers,” Mayor Darrin Lane said.
Parks and Recreation Director Linda Granger called it, “a really great event overall.” She said there was no way to count the attendance, but on Friday, the village went through 800 hotdogs and more than 1,000 pieces of cake.
She said Friday was a bit of a rainout, but Saturday was a lot of fun.
“It was just really nice to see the community come together to celebrate the bicentennial,” Granger said. “It really is what is important about being in a small town.”
The mayor expressed gratitude to volunteers, the police department, local businesses, village staff, the Plain City Historical Society, the Plain City Uptown Organization, the Union County Milestone Committee as well as the county’s convention and visitor’s bureau. He also gave credit to council members.
“They not only volunteered for several events but their presence was greatly appreciated,” Lane said.
Police Chief Dale McKee said in his 22 years, he had never seen council ride together in a parade float.
Those council members echoed the mayor’s appreciation for all those that made the bicentennial celebration, along with the Fourth of July and Steam Threshers Show, a success.
Council and the mayor specifically honored Granger, presenting her with a framed certificate for her work.
“You are a perfect example of a person who was not born and raised here who can still do and love Plain City like you were,” Lane said, explaining that Granger had no ties to the community before coming to work.
He said that each day of the celebration, Granger was the first to arrive and the last to leave.
Council member Shannon Pine said she was one of the council members who pushed the bicentennial festivities. She explained that the time capsule did not get buried during the celebration. She said the village will continue to take contributions for the capsule until Aug. 15. Contributions can be delivered to the Plain City Library.
“I believe there will be a ceremony for when it gets buried,” Pine said.
Lane quoted a social media post he read.
“I don’t care what side of town you’re from, or how long you’ve lived here, (Saturday) night we were all Plain City. That’s what a small town is all about,” Lane said.
Granger was also honored earlier in the meeting for her response during an incident at Pastime Park.
Earlier in the summer an Arizona woman was killed at the park when a camper, being driven by her husband, hit and ran over her.
“As you can imagine, it was pretty horrible out there,” McKee said.
He said Granger stayed with the husband at the park and later at the hospital. He said Granger spoke with medical officials for the man who was “very distraught.”
The police chief said if Granger had not been so compassionate and professional, he or an officer would have been tied up escorting the man.
“That day, she became the police department’s hero,” McKee said.
He noted that often police become desensitized to difficult scenes.
“It’s not until you see someone like Linda on a day like that, you realize how hard it is,” McKee said.