NEIGHBORS: Boy Scouts kick off popcorn fundraiser

Published 12:11 am Sunday, August 26, 2018

Local cub scouts and boy scouts have officially kicked off their annual popcorn fundraiser. Ken Kercheval, Executive Director for the Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, was on hand on Aug. 20 to give an overview of the popcorn sale during a press conference held at Citizens National Bank’s Downtown Banking Centre in Meridian.

 “This fundraiser is vital to our Scouting program,” Kercheval said. “The popcorn sale supports our local scouting units in east Mississippi, which include Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, Newton, and Clarke counties, as well as Choctaw County in West Alabama. The funds are used to help area boys pay for scouting uniforms, attend camp and purchase the equipment they need,” he added.

The Council is selling Trail’s End brand of popcorn this year, and the flavors include their Chocolate and Cheese Lover’s Collections as well as Unbelievable Butter, White Chocolate Pretzels, and Classic Caramel Corn, just to name a few. The Council’s fundraising goal this year is $185,000, and some big prizes are in store for their top sellers.

In addition to their door to door sales, local scouts will be setting up at various locations around town for show and sale events. In the meantime, door to door sales have already begun and the sale will continue through late November.

“When our Scouts ask you to buy their popcorn, we want everybody to know that there’s a lot more to it than just enjoying great popcorn,” Kercheval said. “Your popcorn purchase is a vote of confidence for local boys who are training to become our leaders of tomorrow,” he said, adding that the fundraiser is important because it teaches Scouts to set a goal, develop their selling techniques, and learn to interact with people.

Kercheval also said Citizens National Bank’s support of the sale has been a huge asset to the council’s fundraising success over the years. The bank promotes the popcorn sale in a number of ways, including digital billboard messages, and radio commercials.  “We are truly grateful for our partnership with Citizens National Bank over the years to help us get the word out,” Kercheval added.

Archie McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer of Citizens National Bank, agrees that the partnership between the bank and the Scout Council has been a great one over the years as the bank believes in supporting local youth.

“Area youth have a much greater chance of being successful when they know that local community leaders support their efforts to make the right choices and develop leadership skills that last a lifetime. As a locally owned, community bank, we truly believe it is our civic responsibility to make a difference, and we refer to it as the Power of Local,” McDonnell added.

To learn more about the Choctaw Area Council’s popcorn fundraiser, or to sign up your child for scouting, call 601-693-6757 or visit their office in person at 4818 North Park Drive.

Freeman named ambassador

Mary Margaret Freeman was recently selected as an ambassador of Clarkdale High School for the local seminar of Mississippi held on Millsaps campus in Jackson in June. There she was chosen to receive a scholarship that paid for her to represent Mississippi at the Hugh O’Brian Youth World Leadership Congress in Chicago in July.

At the congress, over 400 ambassadors from 40 plus states and 15 plus countries such as the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and Hong Kong gathered for a week on the Loyola Chicago campus.

Freeman said they were fortunate to hear from esteemed speakers such as “The Chew” host Carla Hall and founder of Kids Off the Block, Diane Latiker, as well as participate in activities that challenged them to explore their own personal beliefs and values.

While there, they toured downtown Chicago, participated in choir, writing, and service projects, and attended the 50th annual HOBY WLC gala. Every ambassador performed with the choir to present a rendition of “I Believe” by Fantasia, a personal favorite of the 2018 WLC Chair, Sedley Tomlinson.

Freeman said she felt eternally grateful to Clarkdale HOBY, HOBY WLC, her family, Nazm Rahat, and Sarah Pasha for putting the time and effort toward her going to Chicago.

Mississippi Nurses Foundation awards car tag stipend

The Mississippi Nurses Foundation awarded a $5,000 car tag stipend to Catherine of DeKalb, a nursing student at the Mississippi University for Women. Eldridge will receive a check for $500 for ten consecutive months to support her nursing education.

Meridianites join St. John and Waters on Italian road trip 

Among those who traveled with Robert St. John and Wyatt Waters on their Spring 2018 Italian Road Trip to Tuscany were Meridianites Tony and Dee Dee Fouts, Cathy and Lester Williamson, Susie Broadhead and Jaime Broadhead Levins (of Blairsville, Georgia.