Chris Wilson news blog

Amory’s 30th annual Railroad Festival went into the history books as a major success, attracting one of the biggest crowds ever.
While rain is seldom a stranger to this spring event, this year’s dose of rainfall came on Friday night, in the form of a thunderstorm that caused the cancellation of all of that evening’s musical acts and chased the crowds away. But first thing Saturday morning, city crews were in the park preparing it for all the guests.
Festival co-chairmen Heather Holman and Debra Strawbridge said the event came off well considering all the details that need to be handled to stage a party this size.
Country music legend Marty Stuart got things started Thursday, playing to an overflow crowd, many who had placed their folding chairs in Frisco Park to reserve their spot a day or two ahead of time. The crowd stood all the way to First Ave. to hear Stuart sing. He said he loved being in a place like Amory. “I love small town America,” he said. “This is a great way to start my tour.”
Stuart said he enjoyed a cheeseburger in Amory that was “the size of a hubcap.”
With BNSF trains signaling their arrival to Amory’s railroad yards beside the downtown park, Amory Mayor Howard Boozer welcomed everyone to this rail city. He gave a special welcome to the hobo guests who he called “faithful hobo friends” who come every year from all over the country. He also cited all the work that has to be done by the festival committee of volunteers.
Boozer said upwards of 60,000 people attend the festival over its four-day run.
“Families use the festival as a special time of reunion …,” he said.
The food court was one of the most popular venues for festivalgoers, with apple fritters, snowcones and funnel cakes taking the spotlight. Some churches’ booths had to shut down early because they had totally run out of food.
A record number of antique and classic car enthusiasts turned out Saturday to compete in the car show due to the sunny skies that prevailed Saturday and Sunday.
The 5K run also attracted about 165 runners of all ages with a Plantersville runner, Israel Melendez, capturing first place, covering the route in just over 16 minutes.