A weeping Marco Barrios stands with his family in front of the crowd gathered Saturday night at RULH Elementary school as Brown County Probate and Juvenile judge Danny Bubp tells him all of the proceeds from the Gary West dinner/concert will be to benefit he and his family who tragically lost loved ones in the Ripley floods on July 18.

Barrios turned to hug his children, gripping them tight in a family moment as sniffles rang in from the crowd in front of them. The somber moment was shared with loved ones, friends, and community members.

“It says a lot about the people of Ripley when they all come together when their neighbors are in need,” Bubp said.

Hundreds of people gathered to attend the benefit concert, which was supposed to be for the Rural Heritage Festival. Those plans came to a halt when JoAnn Morgan and her team decided the event should be used to help raise money for Barrios and his family.

“When I had heard what had happened in Ripley on Saturday night and Sunday morning, I immediately called board members and we made the decision to donate all proceeds to the family,” Morgan said. “We felt it was the right thing to do. We were fortunate that Gary West lowered his fee and the caterers lowered their fees.”

Morgan said she was pleased with the turnout with so many other events going on in the Ripley/Aberdeen area that night. Hundreds of people walked in and out of the gate at RULH Elementary School to nearly fill the school’s cafetorium to capacity.

After dinner, attendees were treated to a rocking show of Johnny Cash music from Gary West and his band. The singer, a tribute artist, entertained the crowd with familiar favorites and some off-the-wall jams from deep in the Cash catalogue.

More money continues to come in to benefit the Barrios family from the event and Morgan said she hopes the final tally will exceed her expectations for the evening.

The Barrios/Kennard family learns all of the proceeds from the Heritage Festival dinner and concert will be awarded to their family. Marco Barrios lost his pregnant girlfriend, Victoria; daughter, Rosalinda; and son, Gabriel; to the flood waters in Ripley on Saturday July 18.
https://www.newsdemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_IMG_8610.jpgThe Barrios/Kennard family learns all of the proceeds from the Heritage Festival dinner and concert will be awarded to their family. Marco Barrios lost his pregnant girlfriend, Victoria; daughter, Rosalinda; and son, Gabriel; to the flood waters in Ripley on Saturday July 18.

Gary West performs his Johnny Cash tribute for the benefit of the Barrios family in Ripley.
https://www.newsdemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_IMG_8637.jpgGary West performs his Johnny Cash tribute for the benefit of the Barrios family in Ripley.

By Brian Durham

bdurham@civitasmedia.com

Reach Brian Durham at 937-378-6161 or on Twitter @gnd_bdurham.