By Ben Lawson
ben@seymourherald.com
As the Seymour High School band continues to grow, so does the cost of maintaining it.  Fortunately, the community has stepped up to help out, though more is needed.
Growing by leaps and bounds, the band now has 125 members and is one of the most expensive organizations at the school.  The band operates year round with the marching band, two concert bands and a jazz group.  With major competitions out of state, the cost can be prohibitive.
“This is an expensive program and we try to help the students however we can,” said John Staser, band booster president.
The band has sponsored its own fundraising projects like selling Tupperware and fruit and is planning a yard sale on Sept. 10 in the empty lot beside the Flower’s Baking store on Chapman Highway.
“We have to come up with the money,” Staser said.  “The county won’t provide it and we can’t ask so much of the students.”
Help recently came during the band’s acquisition of a new trailer for hauling their instruments to competitions and away games.  Purchased for just under $12,000, in part with donations, the trailer is currently being repainted for free by J&H Automotive.  Sponsors Floyd’s Autoparts and Greg Coleman Law will have advertisements on the trailer’s sides.
“We’ve been in a Penske truck before, but they don’t make one big enough for us now,” Staser said.
Since students are forbidden by the state from carrying instruments on school buses, the trailer will be a huge help in safely transporting the equipment.  In addition, Staser hopes it will draw attention to both the band and its sponsors.
“We try to make Seymour look good anywhere we go,” he said.
The band is currently selling ad spots on the trailer.  Anyone interested can contact Staser at john.staser@yahoo.com, Richard Mann at rcmann814@gmail.com or band director Rhett Butler at rhettbutler@sevier.org.

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