First responders honored for service

First responders who entered damaged areas after the tornadoes of April 27, 2011, were honored between games of the Hackleburg at Phil Campbell basketball match-up on Jan. 7 at Northwest Shoals Community College’s Phil Campbell campus.
The men and women who risked their lives to enter the ravaged areas to help those affected by the storms were commended by Phil Campbell girl’s basketball head coach Darit Riddle in a short ceremony after the girl’s varsity contest between the two schools.
“We knew that both schools were going to be here tonight, so we decided to have a reception for those people who gave others help in their time of need,” Riddle said.
Luanne Vickery and boy’s varsity basketball head coach Will Copeland of Phil Campbell put the honoring ceremony together.
“We knew back in the summer that both schools would be at this gym on this date,” Copeland said. “We thought, wouldn’t it be great if we do something for everyone who risked their lives to go into those areas and help people?”
The ceremony between games was very important to Copeland.
“There are things that mean more to me than basketball, and seeing these two communities come together after what happened is one of them,” Copeland said.