The Meridian Police Department visited students at Magnolia Middle School as part of a mentorship program that pairs at-risk young men with community role models. 

“A lot of times kids look at us as taking people to jail or writing tickets and we wanted them to see the other side,” Meridian Police Sgt. Dareall Thompson said. “Yes, we protect but we also serve the community.”

Thompson and a handful of officers visited the school Thursday, as part of “Bowtie Thursday,” which “Coach” Kenneth Rue, who oversees the program, said encourages the young men to “dress for success.”

“We focus on leadership, respect, community involvement,” Rue said. “On Bowtie Thursday, we talk about things in their community such as peer pressure and invite community leaders.”

Rue said the seventh and eighth-grade students could learn from the examples of the officers.

“It gives them an idea of what they can achieve. Some of the officers that came today started at Magnolia,” Rue said. “They’re young men and they can still go down the right path. Even if they start off bad, they can still change their ways.”

Jones honored for volunteer service

The Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, also known as Volunteer Mississippi recently announced the recipients of the 2018 Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Awards. Receiving one of the 12 awards was Betty Lou Jones, who was awarded the Meridian Outstanding Servant Leadership Award.

“Mississippi’s legacy in volunteerism runs deep”, said Monica Ritchie, Executive Director for Volunteer Mississippi.  “We are honored and privileged to recognize and honor 12 outstanding individuals and institutions representing volunteer excellence for the state of Mississippi.”

The GIVE Awards were established through the Office of the Governor and Volunteer Mississippi to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made an outstanding impact through their gifts of service, advocacy, and outreach on behalf of the citizens of Mississippi. 

This distinguished group will be honored at a private ceremony at the Mississippi Museum of Art on April 16. 

Local students serve as pages 

Anna Kate Henry and Edie Long, both of Meridian, recently served as pages for the Mississippi House of Representatives. Anna Kate is the daughter of Neil & Amanda Henry and attends West Lauderdale High School. Edie is the daughter of Trey & Enley Long and attends Lamar High School. Pages generally run errands for officials and House staff.

Hyde-Smith presented with Agri-Science 4-H polo shirt

Zeke Pulido, President of the Lauderdale Agri-Science 4-H Club, presented  Cyndi Hyde-Smith, Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Mississippi, with an Agri-Science 4-H polo shirt recently.  Alana Worthy, Vice-President, Ashley Jackson, Secretary and Shani Hay, Extension Agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service-Lauderdale County were also present for the presentation.