A local community agency has asked Adams County to manage the finances for its organization.

Bettye Bell, program coordinator of the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, asked supervisors Monday to become the fiscal agent for her organization.

In her second year with the program, Bell said its purpose is to &uot;reduce initiation of tobacco in Mississippi’s youth.&uot;

&uot;We want to stop young people from smoking,&uot; Bell said.

Serving children ages 6 to 18, Bell runs an after-school activity program at Morgantown Elementary School that allows approximately 200 children a safe environment for learning and playing.

&uot;We were selected as a model program for the state of Mississippi,&uot; Bell said. &uot;The state will be replicating our program.&uot;

Funded through by tobacco funds through the Mississippi Attorney General’s office, Bell will receive $88,000 for operations between Dec. 1, 1999 and Dec. 1, 2000.

&uot;We’re in the business of helping children,&uot; Bell told supervisors. &uot;We need a non-profit agency to dispense the money.&uot;

Chancery Clerk Tommy O’Beirne and County Administrator Charlie Brown volunteered to research with Bell the requirements for the county to serve as fiscal agent for the Partnership for a Health Mississippi.

The county would receive $4,000 from the partnership to offset incidental expenses in bookkeeping, check printing and other office expenses.

Supervisors will vote on the proposal their Nov. 29 meeting.