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Lions Club welcomes two speakers

Wed, 02/17/2021 - 5:00 am

Jacksboro Lions Club members welcomed two speakers to their Feb. 10 meeting.

Leo Banuelos, a JHS senior, spoke first about his project to get playground equipment at Sewell Park. Through donations from two large groups, he already has more then $20,000 raised in just more than a week.

It was through his training as a Ford Leadership Scholar hat the Sewell Park project was developed.

He had some other ideas such as creating a roadside marker but that was turned down by the Texas Department of Transportation for possible legal issues.

One of his FFA teachers asked if he’d considered Sewell Park. He walked around while a break in his training and decided to put some playground equipment there.

The playground equipment includes a play structure, some swings and some freight to get the items to Jacksboro, Banuelos explained. The money he is looking to ear right now will be used for the surface below the playground items, including some wood timber and stakes. The structure, which will be Americans with Disabilities compliant, will also have an ADA ramp so everyone will have a chance to use it.

He still needs to raise about $6,700 for the wood and fiber material. Once installed the structure will occupy an ’32 by ’84 size space.

Those wishing to donated money for the project, which he hopes to have completed by June 25 or the 100th anniversary of the park.

“I want to better Jacksboro with something for the residents to look for,” Banuelos said.

Those wishing to donate can email him at lbanuelos@jacksboroisd.net.

Gladys Ritchie Library Director Lanora Joslin said COVID has forced changes on everyone associated with the library, the facility now being run by Joslin and her retired husband. The pandemic forced the library to adjust what it does.

“I spoke with Kelly Hensley and we talked about what we needed to do,” Joslin said. “We knew kids needed internet because we have pretty good internet compared to other areas of town and the county. We also need to keep books and videos because folks will be bored.”

The doors remained open with Corox wipes and hand sanitizer in abundance. Joslin said the questions have been at times different than what you’d expect.

“We’ve had people ask about divorce papers and online will information,” Joslin recalled. “We had one guy who hadn’t gotten his tax refund, his stimulus or any unemployment compensation. He didn’t have a computer so when we went back and checked he had used his phone for all of this and had one number in the zip code wrong.”

Joslin said the number of people hasn’t been as many and what was anticipated because of the number of hotspots around the district but the library has been able to help a lot of people over the last year or so that have never been in the facility.

“Books are as important as food because it’s entertainment right now for our seniors,” Joslin said.

Hours at the library right now are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday.