Local Briefs 3.07.24

Leaders Ed. Foundation college scholarships now open for application

Leaders Education Foundation, a non-profit 501c (3) organization, will award $25,000 to graduating high school seniors. 

The Leaders Education Foundation Collegiate Scholarship Program will award scholarships of various amounts and requirements to high school seniors attending an accredited college or university. 

Scholarship applicants must be a graduating senior in a West Tennessee private or public high school or home school program. The student, parent or guardian must be a member of Leaders Education Foundation to apply. Applicants must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited fouryear bachelor’s degree program at a college or university in the United States. 

For more information about Leaders Education Foundation membership, please visit leadersgives.org/impact. 

The scholarship offerings will be awarded based on financial need, community service, or academic achievement. All scholarships awarded are given on a one-time basis: Financial Wellness Video Scholarship (2), Leaders Credit Union- Martha Britt Scholarship (2), Town & Country REALTORS® Scholarship (1) - $1,000, Ellis Insurance Agency Scholarship (1) - $1,000, Founders Scholarship (1), Community Scholarships (13) - $1,000 each.

The scholarship money received may be used at the applicant’s discretion to help cover costs associated with education, including tuition, books, fees, and various living costs. Applications must be submitted by March 10, 2024. The application may be completed by visiting leadersgives.org/scholarships. 

Scholarship details and application information can be found at leadersgives.org.

Bemis Historical Society

Bemis Historical Society extends an invitation to its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 19, at 6:00 p.m. at the Bemis Mill Village Museum, located at 2 North Missouri Street in Jackson. Dr. Kenneth Newman will present a program titled “Delores Ballard – Jackson’s Own Emily Dickinson.”

Delores Ballard, a West Tennessee treasure, was a senior writer for The Jackson Sun for 27 years before becoming the Public Information Officer for the City of Jackson. She was the author of Barbeque and Butterbeans (And Other Essentials of Life), A Collection of Columns. The columns were published in The Jackson Sun between 1987 and 1991, and the book was published in 1992. Dr. Newman, Delores’ senior English teacher at North Side High School in 1964-1965, will highlight special memories of Delores, as well as readings from some of her essays and poems written for her senior English class.

Prospective members and guests are welcome to attend. The 100-year-old museum building is handicap accessible. Browse the museum to enjoy the artifacts and to visit the museum’s Company Store or visit online at bemishistory.org. Membership in Bemis Historical Society is an opportunity to contribute to the preservation and celebration of Bemis’ rich history. Annual society membership dues are $25, and they can be conveniently paid at the meeting or sent by mail to PO Box 9266, Jackson, TN 38314-9266.

Republican women invite potential new members

The Madison County Republican Women welcome all women who desire to support the Republican philosophy of less government control and stand for our Constitutional freedoms to join them. If you would like more information, contact us at madisongopwomen@gmail.com or Facebook-The Madison County Republican Women. 

Local Democratic convention

Madison County Democratic Party will host its Democratic County Presidential Convention on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Lane College Chambers McClure Auditorium, 805 North Hays, to select representation from the county to attend the Congressional District Convention on April 6.

The doors open for registration at 11 a.m., and the convention is open to all registered voters in the county who are supporters of the Democratic Party, have voted in the March 2024 Presidential Primary, and who agree to support the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2024 Presidential election. The convention will begin at noon. The party welcomes all who wish to participate in selecting Tennessee's delegates to the Democratic Presidential Convention in Chicago the week of August 19, 2024. 

Information about becoming a DNC delegate and the rules governing the DNC Delegate Selection Process may be obtained from tndp.org, or from the Tennessee Democratic Party, 4900 Centennial Blvd, Ste 300, Nashville, TN 37209, 615-327-9779. 

Lifeline blood donation schedule

Here’s a look at the mobile blood drives in Madison County coming up in March:

• March 19 - U of M – Lambuth Campus –from 9-11:30 a.m. and noon until 3 p.m.
• March 26 - Union University – Jackson – from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• March 28 – Jackson-Madison County General Hospital -  from 9-11:30 a.m. and noon until 5 p.m.

Upcoming public meetings

Here’s a look at upcoming public meetings held by the Madison County Commission. Unless otherwise noted, all county commission committee meetings happen at the County Finance Complex at 1981 Hollywood Drive:

March 11 – Republican caucus meeting at 5 p.m. at Town & Country Realty at 1944 Highway 45 Bypass

March 12 - Democratic caucus meeting at 6 p.m. at Martin’s Restaurant at 1410 East Chester Street

March 18 – County Commission meeting at 8:30 a.m. at 605 Airways Boulevard at the Tennessee Ag Research Center

Jackson-Madison County School Board meetings happen at the Central Office at 310 North Parkway:

March 7 – Special-called meeting at 9:30 a.m.

March 7 – Education Foundation meeting at noon

March 18 – School board work session at 5:30 p.m.

March 19 – Education vision meeting at 9 a.m.

March 21 – School board meeting at 5:30 p.m.