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Students show appreciation for law officers

Dec 11, 2009

The West Jones Middle School and High School Peer Councils paid tribute to local law enforcement Wednesday with the 10th annual appreciation breakfast.
Cindy Williamson, sponsor for the Middle School Peer Council, said students use the event to say thanks to members of both the Laurel Police Department and Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
“We’ve even had investigators from Jackson when they’re in the area,” she said. “This is something to thank them for all that they do. They speak to our Peer Council, and talk to them about using no alcohol, drugs or tobacco.”
Among the Jones County law enforcement officials in attendance Wednesday were Chief Deputy Don Seeley and Deputy Danny Gibson, both of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
Seeley said that he and Gibson have participated in the breakfast for several years now.
“We appreciate everything the school does for us,” he said. “They make our jobs a lot easier. We appreciate them taking the time out to fix us breakfast.”
Williamson said the members of Peer Council and their parents handle the entire event with the school just providing the classroom space. Wednesday morning’s spread included pancakes, sausage, biscuits, eggs, muffins and even the traditional party favorite, pigs in a blanket.
Chuck Beningo, director of school improvement, called the breakfast a “great day to honor law enforcement officers.”
“They are very supportive of the school system and help us with drug dogs and traffic,” he said. “Whenever we call upon them, they are always willing to help us. We like to have this breakfast to honor them and tell them we appreciate the job that they do for us.”
Williamson noted that Peer Council is a select group of students that are recommended a three teacher panel.
“They must meet the academic standards and have good citizenship,” she said. “They can’t have any write-ups.”
Williamson said messages taught through Peer Council include drug, alcohol and tobacco awareness and bullying.
“We have about 20 members in the middle school and seven in the high school,” she said. “There’s not a limit (in the high school). It’s per application.”
Williamson said only an “elite group” can make the Peer Council at West Jones Middle School because there are more than 200 applicants annually. She added that the groups also work with the American Red Cross in two programs — Scrubby Bears, which teaches handwashing, and WHALE (Water Habits are Learned Early) Tales, a water safety course.

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