PROM COST pg 8
SWINDLE pg 9
Vol 15, No. 11 • April 2016
News You Can Use
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
Paige Jackson Shines with Talent and Compassion for Others By Angela Rogalski When young people press toward the mark, both academically and personally, the results can be amazing. Paige Jackson is 15 years old, lives in Selmer, Tenn. and is a sophomore at McNairy Central High School. She loves to sing and dance and has a remarkable talent for both. While she's definitely young, her focus is clear and her determination is strong when it comes to the things that are important to her and her future. "I'm a member of our school's Women's Choir and we perform at different concerts as often as we can," Jackson said. "But I really became involved with AIM last summer, when we performed "Schoolhouse Rock," which was an adaptation of the Saturday morning singalong show. AIM stands for Arts in McNairy and is Selmer's art council. I really love the theatre and performing in musicals." Jackson is also involved with HOSA, which is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education Division of ACTE. HOSA promotes career opportunities in the health care industry. Jackson's plans see JACKSON page 4
Paige Jackson
Eye of the Soapbox Derby Races By Nathan Weber
of sheer childhood exuberance at soapbox derby racing is still alive and Driving down a hill on a bustle of craft- well. ed two by four wood planks, the driver of The Lion's Clubs of a soapbox derby car feels the rustle of Booneville and Prentiss counties wind at his or her face while trying with sponsors the annual race in the tedious might to steer the car in the right community. Lion's Clubs have existdirection down the hill to the finish line. ed for over 100 years as a communiFor children and adults alike in the ty service organization helping those Booneville, Miss. community, that dream in need by primarily supplying vision and hearing care. Today, the Lion's club is Return Address: P.O. Box 1292 Corinth, MS 38835 regarded as the largest service POSTAL PATRON organization in the world with over 1.4
million members found in over 200 countries in 47,000 clubs worldwide. Tommy Ragan has been a member of the Booneville chapter for the previous 10 years. He was an integral part in bringing the Boonville soapbox derby to the community to serve as a fundraiser for the local chapter. "We build our soapbox cars out of the Boy Scout handbook," Ragan said. "We started these races in order to find cost effective methods of fundraising. We encourage people and businesses
in the community to help sponsor kids in order to get their vehicles in the competition. " The Lion's Club in Booneville has used the races as fundraising effort since 2009. Ragan raced soapbox derby cars as a kid and brought that expertise in help designing the courses and the chapter's first two cars. "I built soapbox cars as a kid, and we take skates apart to use as the wheels," Ragan said. "In our races, we have two 14 foot long, 4 foot high ramps. Sponsors help supply the drivers' materials built on two by fours of plywood. The races are not just for children, we also encourage adult leaders in the community to suit up for the race." see SOAPBOX page 4