In The News
Children Get Presidential Photo Op
November 5, 1999
By Jeanni Brosius/SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
MONTICELLO - As the dawn painted the early-morning sky, 16 eager
but sleepy-eyed children boarded a bus en route to see the
President Clinton in Hermitage on Friday.
Tammy Knight, program director of the Boys and Girls Club of Drew
County, offered a select few Monticello and Drew Central students
a rare opportunity.
"I wanted them to have a once-in-a-lifetime chance,"
said Knight.
Knight and the children braved the crowd of spectators to shake
Clinton's hand. Patrah Benton, a seventh-grader at Monticello
Junior High, presented Clinton with a poem she had written.
"I love the Boys and Girls Club," said Clinton as he
urged others to move aside so he could pose in a photo with the
club members.
"The kids were speechless," said Knight. "I
watched all of the kids' faces when they saw him look at them and
they felt like 'I am somebody,'" Knight added.
"His hand was cold and hard, but it was so exciting,"
said Colton Kelly, a fifth-grader at Monticello Intermediate
School.
Bonnie Raitt gives Boys & Girls Club Musical Opportunity
By: Jeanni Brosius, Regional Correspondent
Singing star, Bonnie Raitt, not only has multiple platinum albums
and armfuls of Grammys but her generosity to the Boys & Girls
Clubs of America has given many children the opportunity to be
involved in musical activities.
“Bonnie is hoping that this will give girls in the community
a chance to learn how to play the guitar,” said Donna
Becker, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Drew
County.
The local club has been selected to receive a grant from Raitt to
purchase twelve box guitars and one electric.
According to Becker, since Raitt is a woman, the grant is geared
toward girls. However, the program is open to boys as well.
The guitars have been ordered and should arrive later this
spring, said Becker.
Currently, the club is searching for an instructor to teach
lessons to the club members.
“We are hoping to find people in the community to volunteer
their talents,” Becker said.
Other musical activities are directed by Haley Greer. Greer
also teaches music at Monticello Intermediate School. Greer
meets with the club members once a week and teaches them musical
basics and positive, character building songs.
“I try to expose them to different kinds of music,”
said Greer.
Greer’s future plans with the club are to begin a
children’s theater and work towards a theatrical production.