It is no secret that the newest industries in Butler County caused a lot of buzz, but Thursday night, local leaders; businesses and others celebrated longtime existing industries.

Judy Gettys of Alabama Power, one of the evening’s sponsors, said the night was a way of thanking the industries that have been here and remain here.

&uot;This night was our way of saying ‘thank you’ to those companies that stuck around and kept our county working,&uot; she said.

&uot;We are very grateful to them.&uot;

Other sponsors of the evening were the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greenville Industrial Development Board.

Chamber Executive Director Carol Lee echoed Gettys’ sentiments about the reason for the evening.

&uot;We have had so much going on with the new industries moving in that we didn’t want to lose sight of our existing industrial base,&uot; she said.

&uot;This is our thanks to them for sticking with Butler County.&uot;

Gettys told those present that celebrating the county’s industry reminded her of an old Girl Scout camp song.

&uot;Make new friends, but keep the old for one is silver and one is gold,&uot; she told those assembled at the Depot.

&uot;To our existing industries, you are truly our gold.&uot;

She also saluted the newest industries representatives from Hwashin and Hysco, by thanking them for choosing Butler County to build their new company and family lives.

&uot;We know you will do well here,&uot; she said.

&uot;We wish you only a wonderful, prosperous life here in Butler County.&uot;

Back to the existing industries, she thanked the many industry managers present for making decisions to keep Butler County as their home.

&uot;You didn’t leave us when others did,&uot; she said.

&uot;You made decisions, sometimes not popular with others, to remain here. You make decisions regularly that are necessary to keep your companies here.

Your friendship is the backbone of our community.&uot;

Also in attendance at the event were Sen. Wendell Mitchell and Rep. Charles Newton.

They left early in the evening to attend the legislative dinner in Georgiana.

Other notables at the events were former Luverne Mayor John Harrison who now serves as the director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Mayor Dexter McClendon, Commission Chairman Jesse McWilliams, Commissioner Frank Hickman and Georgiana Mayor Lynn Watson.