Thursday, February 15, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

Members of the Mayor’s Youth Council listened with interest

Thursday as city recreation director Ralph Tedder presented them

with plans for a proposed recreational complex near Natchez High

School.

When will construction start? What will the park include? How

will it affect the high school?

All were questions Tedder attempted to answer for the council

– composed of high school students from around the city – who

said they have a difficult time finding something entertaining

to do in Natchez. &uot;We really don’t have too much to do in

Natchez,&uot; said Renee Davis, Natchez High student and council

secretary.

But recreation was just one topic on the agenda for the youth

council’s mock board meeting at Council Chambers, an agenda the

council put together themselves on issues that interested them.

City leaders such as Adams County Youth Judge John Hudson and

City Engineer David Gardner reported to the seven-member board

on projects ranging from the Adams County Juvenile Justice Center

to recruiting industry to the area. An update on a recycling program

for downtown presented by James Johnston, community development

coordinator, perked the council’s interest.

&uot;Because that’s something we can help out with,&uot;

said council president Kelly Fuller, a Natchez High senior.

Michael Winn, also a NHS student, asked Johnston about the

possibility of placing recycling bins in local schools once the

program gets off the ground.

Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith said he was impressed by

the maturity of the council members, reflected in the issues they

chose to tackle during the meeting. &uot;It has been a great

pleasure of mine to have this group associated with my position,&uot;

he said.

Smith said he was particularly proud of the council’s Make

a Difference Day Rally Against Racism held in October.

Assistant City Planner Gretchen Kuechler, who has worked all

year with the group, agreed the council showed both maturity and

courage with the rally. &uot;All of the programs we’ve worked

on have been very impressive and showed a lot of initiative,&uot;

she said.

Other members of the council are Michael Anderson, NHS; David

Sesser, NHS; Bennie Jones, NHS; Casey Etheridge, Adams County

Christian School; and Caroline Hungerford, Trinity Episcopal Day

School.