Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Family Dollar in Jemison will soon be expanding its merchandise to include beer and wine (for off-premises consumption) following license approval by the Jemison City Council during a voting session on Oct. 8.

A public hearing for approving the license was held prior to the vote. No one spoke in favor or against the motion.

The license was approved unanimously. Councilman Rex Bittle said he had not been aware that Family Dollar stores sold beer and wine. Councilman George Brasher said this was one of the changes that was made after Dollar Tree bought the company.

The Council also approved donating $750 to the Jemison High School FFA to attend the national conference.

“This is a trip we take every other year,” FFA sponsor Clay Mims said. “This is a once in a lifetime trip for many of these students.”

Visits to agricultural operations or colleges are also incorporated into the trip. This year they will stop at a large grain farm.

FFA student Tylan Rudolph said the experience helps students prepare for life after graduation by learning what it takes to get into college agricultural programs.

Also during the meeting:

• Shannon Welch was approved to serve on the Industrial Development Authority. Mayor Eddie Reed said the board wanted someone with Welch’s profession background to serve on the board.
• The Council approved purchasing a Scag lawn mower and side by side for the maintenance department. The equipment will be purchased using funds the state paid to the city to reimburse them for mowing the grass on the state right-of-way.
• Reed thanked all of those who had been a part of getting the Jemison Library ready for the open house that had been held on Oct. 6 and for those who had attended the event.

“It was an outstanding turnout,” Reed said. “The old part of Jemison has become a feature now … that is a lively place now and we thank God for it.”