Newspaper Page Text
Following
along thanks
to technology
Looking out from the
balcony, you can see the
indoor waterfall and green
ery, as well as the boat that
takes visitors on a tour of
the inside of the huge hotel
in Nashville, Tenn.
On the next stop, you-
could see the huge Arch
that makes St. Louis
famous from the window
of our hotel.
Thanks to technology. I
traveled along with my sis
ter and her family on a road
trip without ever leaving
Jackson County.
With Facetime and other
modern technology and
social media, I felt like
I was on the road with
Amanda. Jacob, Jake and
Grayson.
My nephews gave me
daily (sometimes several
times a day) updates on
their week-long road trip
to Illinois to visit Jacob’s
grandfather and other fam
ily members.
On one Facetime chat.
Grayson excitedly scanned
the view from their balcony
at the Opryland Hotel in
Nashville. He was amazed
at what all you find inside
this huge hotel and he
wanted to share it all with
me.
At their brief overnight
stop in St. Louis, the phone
buzzed and it was Jake on
Facetime to show me the
view of the Arch from their
window. He scanned the
city view and the room and
I felt like I was right there
with him in St. Louis.
As I write this column,
the Mylers have made it to
their destination. I’m sure
I will soon be seeing what
their surroundings look like
there as well as Gramps
and the other family mem
bers they visit.
The trip home includes
stops in Kentucky and
Pigeon Forge. I can’t wait
to see what the boys want
to share with me from those
fun destinations.
The boys find it hard to
believe we didn’t have cell
phones when we were their
age. If we wanted to share
vacation photos, we had to
wait until we got home to
get the photos developed
and then share them with
everyone. They also have
a hard time understanding
film and getting it devel
oped. With digital cameras
and phones that are also a
camera, you can immedati-
ately see the photos.
Each summer when the
Mylers take their week-
long vacation, I’m in charge
of their Maltese, Georgia.
I always look forward to
spending time with her. I’ve
never had a small dog and
it’s quite an experience to
be in charge of one.
It must be what it is like
to have a baby. I’m plan
ning my schedule around
Georgia. It’s not like hav
ing a cat, which I have
always had. With a cat, you
can leave the food and litter
box out with no worries.
It’s not quite the same with
a dog.
Georgia usually wakes
me up before my alarm
clock does. She jumps
up on the bed and dances
around my head. I know
it’s time to get up and take
her outside to go to the
bathroom.
Angela Gary is an editor
with MainStreet Newspapers
Inc. She can be reached at
Angie @mainstreetnews. com.
The Jackson Herald
Friends
June 7, 2017
Do you have an idea
for a feature story?
Email Angela Gary at
AngieEditor@aol.com
or call 706-410-1022.
Section C
Second graduating class from Foothills
Education Charter High School recognized
FOOTHILLS 2017 GRADUATES
The 2017 graduates of Foothills Education Charter High School are: A.J. Biddle, Ashleigh Boizo, Bridget
Bruce, Jiselle Gonzalez, Felicia Lawson, Marisela Linares, Dakota Rhea, Kevin Escobar-Perez and
Courtney Waters. Also (not shown): Randi Brooks and Julia Wilkes. Photo by Angela Gary
BYANGELA GARY
The second graduating
class from the Jackson
site of Foothills Education
Charter High School was
recognized May 30.
Hundreds of family and
friends gathered at East
Jackson Comprehensive
High School, which hous
es the school in the eve
nings, for the seniors to be
recognized
The 2017 graduates
are: A.J. Biddle, Ashleigh
Boizo, Randi Brooks,
Bridget Bruce. Kevin
Escobar-Perez, Jiselle
Gonzalez, Felicia Lawson.
Marisela Linares, Dakota
Rhea, Courtney Waters
and Julia Wilkes.
“You have truly made a
life-changing reality hap
pen through your perse
verance and commitment,”
stated Rachael Parr-Bed-
ingfield. co-site director.
“You have pushed yourself
and stayed the course.”
She added: “We are all
so proud of you. You have
taken so much responsi
bility to earn this diploma.
You are at the beginning
of wonderful new chapter
in your future. Thank you
for letting Jackson Foot
hills be the final step in
your high school educa
tion. It has been an honor
to encourage you and to
challenge you and now to
celebrate you. Congratula
tions and best wishes.”
Co-site director Mary
Ann Hale stated: “We have
thoroughly enjoyed watch
ing you reach this mile
stone. It is with tremen
dous pride that we wish
each member of the gradu
ating class of 2017 the very
best. Take this moment and
reflect all that you have
been blessed with.”
Dakota Rhea, top honor
graduate, also spoke, stat
ing: “Take your time and
live for the little things
because one day you will
look back and realize those
things were the big things
and they will always mean
the most.”
Others on the program
were: Jiselle Gonzalez, led
pledge; Marisela Linares,
welcome; Felicia Lawson,
introduction of guests;
Lisa Simmons, presen
tation of scholarships;
Courtney Waters, led turn
ing of the tassels; and Dr.
Sherrie Gibney-Sherman,
closing remarks.
Warren Tolbert, a teach
er and mentor at Foothills,
provided the musical inter
lude.
The graduates received
scholarships from Foot
hills to continue their edu
cation, as well as a gift
from Leadership Jackson.
Leadership Jackson,
which is a chamber of
commerce group com
prised of area business
leaders, hosted workshops
for the students during the
past school year teaching
life skills, such as applying
for jobs and social media
etiquette.
Scholarships were pre
sented in memory of the
parents of four faculty
members who lost parents
in the past school year.
This included memorial
scholarships recognizing
Mary Cantrell Ainslie,
Coach Royce Don Rick
man, Charles Jewell Sand
ers and Jean Saye Wilkin
son.
Foothills has been in
place for two years and a
total of 270 students have
graduated so far from the
10 sites. The Jackson site is
one of 10 Foothills Educa
tion Charter High Schools
located in the state.
For more information
on the school, check out
the website at www.foot-
hillscharter.org.
TOP HONOR GRADUATE
Dakota Rhea, top honor graduate of Foothills
Charter High School, is shown giving her speech
at the ceremony. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon
TOSSES CAPS
Foothills Charter High School students tossed their caps as they said fare
well during their graduation ceremony at East Jackson Comprehensive High
School. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon
‘BEST IS YET TO COME’
Ashleigh Boizo, a graduate of the Jackson site of
Foothills Education Charter High School, is shown
with her mentor, Tonya Simmons, after graduation
on May 30. Photo by Angela Gary
GRADUATE CELEBRATES WITH FAMILY
Jiselle Gonzalez is shown with her family after the Foothills graduation cere
mony. Photo by Wesleigh Sagon
PRESENTS CHECK
Leadership Jackson presented a $1,850 check to
Foothills Charter High School during their grad
uation ceremony last week. This money will be
used for gift certificates, supplies and other items
for student education. Site directors Rachael Parr-
Bedingfield and Mary Ann Hale are shown accept
ing the check. See more photos on page 12C.
Photo by Wesleigh Sagon