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 David Fee, of Fee/Hedrick Entertainment is flanked by members of the Smoky Shadow Girl Scout Troop and several performers from the Smoky Mountain Opry for the presentation of a $4,000 check.  

On the Fourth of July thousands of area residents converged on Patriot Park for the annual Patriot Festival. Among those in attendance was a local troop of Girl Scouts that were selling souvenirs to raise money for their unit. Little did the young girls realize they were about to become the victim of a crime and, in the aftermath, they were to become benefactors of a caring community.

   The girls of the Smoky Shadow Service Unit had spent the day selling souvenirs at their booth alongside other booths designated for charities. After a day of laboring in the hot sun the girls turned their attention skyward for a dazzling display of colors as pyro-technicians lit up the twilight sky with a fireworks display.

  For just a moment, the girls and the scout master took their eyes off the cash box that contained their hard earned cash. Troop leader Jerri Ewell turned in the nick of time and saw the hands of a man reaching across the booth for the cash box. Ewell ran toward the box just as the man snatched the cash box and fled. Ewell and others chased the individual to a nearby campground where they lost him.

  In that instant, the girls lost an estimated $4,000.

  “The girls were devastated,” said Ewell. “They had worked so hard. This money was to be used for training, uniforms and educational programs. Some of the younger girls didn’t understand why someone would do such a thing.”

  Ewell attempted to put a positive spin on the situation in an effort to make sure the children didn’t lose faith in their fellow Sevier countians.

  “I reminded them there are a few bad people in every community but there are a lot of good people that care,” Ewell said.

  Ewell was unaware of how his encouraging words would play out. Soon, word of the theft passed through the community and the community stepped up to help the girls in their hour of need.

  Mountain National Bank set up an account for donations for the girls. Shades of the Past donated $1,200 and other donations from individuals and businesses began pouring in. But, the largest donation was yet to come.

  When Robert Kalina, general manager of the Smoky Mountain Opry heard about what had happened to the Girl Scouts at Patriot Park, he went to David Fee, president of Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group in Pigeon Forge and asked if there wasn't something the company could do. Fee wanted to do something to help. This past Thursday he presented the Girl Scouts with a check for $4,000 from The Smoky Mountain Opry  just before the 8 p.m. show. The girls were also treated to an evening of free entertainment as a reward for their hard work. Fee allowed the Girl Scouts see the Opry Show that night for free.

    “The Girl Scouts is a very worthy organization and we have had a very good year and we appreciate all the support the community has given us and we always try to give back,” said Fee. “ After the girls worked so hard to raise money for uniforms, books, training and other troop needs we wanted to help them.  My mother was a Girl Scout leader as I was growing up and my sister was a Girl Scout troop member so I know what scouting is about and how important it is.”

   Ewell, as well as the girls, was all humbled and grateful for the outpouring of the entire community.

  “This community has been phenomenal,” Ewell said. “This has truly been a blessing. Now the girls have the money to do everything we planned to do before the money was stolen.”

  Police are still looking for the man responsible for the theft of the money. He was described as a young man in his late 20s with dark. He stands approximately 6-feet tall. Anyone with information about the theft is encouraged to call the Pigeon Forge Police Department.