If you missed the Selma City Showcase at the Larry D. Striplin Performing Arts Center, then you missed the first half of what proved an interesting and enjoyable explanation of different city departments.

City Clerk Ivy Harrison had minutes from city council meetings, ordinances, voter rolls and a smile for those at her table. Human resources displayed its various roles and handed out bottles of water.

The fire department provided some music, several displays (ask chief Mike Stokes how a fire extinguisher is related to a football), a superb slide show of city firefighters in action in various roles and plenty of fire safety information.

City buildings had something for everyone, including a beautiful table setting to show off the Carl Morgan Convention Center. Local artists were displayed at the Ceramics Building display.

The shocking award goes to the Cemetery Department. The folks in that department borrowed a mannequin from the fire department and placed it in a blue steel casket. After all, it’s what they do. They couldn’t very well bring in a hole. By the way, Old Live Oaks looks good these days.

Community Development had several displays with music set up in the Miss Kitti Theater. William J. Rowe III, the regional extension agent for forestry, wildlife and natural resources management had an interesting take on the trees in the city.

The second portion of this city show-and-tell is Thursday evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

This is an explanation of how your tax dollars work. Are you really sure what services your city provides? Here’s a chance to find out.

Kudos to Mayor George Evans, the department heads and employees of the city of Selma for a good job in putting this together.