D Brown wins JCMS sixth-grade essay contest

D BROWN

Jenkins County Middle School sixth-graders in Mrs. Barbara Daniel's language arts classes recently participated in the Georgia Municipal Association's statewide "If I were mayor, I would ..." essay contest. One local winner from the sixth grade, D Brown, was chosen.

The contest gives students a chance to creatively use gradespecific language arts skills and civics knowledge to express, in 250 words or less, their visions of what their community would be like under their guidance and what they would do as Mayor to make the city a great place to live.

All sixth grade students were required to write the essay by using the writing process. Their essays were mailed to the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) where one winning essay will be selected from each of GMA's 12 districts. Winners will receive a $250 savings bond and other prizes. The winners, along with their parents and a teacher, will be recognized at an awards luncheon during April, 2008.

Brown's essay reads as follows: "If I were Mayor, I would ..." If I were mayor, I would put Millen on the tourist map. Millen is in such a crisis for jobs. People are losing their jobs and, because they don't have any money, they are losing their homes."

"With Jockey and MI closing, jobs are very scarce in Millen. Jockey and MI were two of the largest employers in Millen. Millen's economy is based on agriculture which is not that profitable. All the traffic on Highway 25 is a great opportunity for work at convenience stores and restaurants. Restaurants would be great since we don't have many in Millen."

Robert Jenkins' grandfather came up with a great idea to build a lake in Jenkins County. We could build hotels by the lake. The lake would bring tourists to fish, water ski, and jet ski. The lake would also increase Georgia's water supply. We would have to dam up Buckhead Creek. They would call it Clark Lake. It would be near Magnolia Springs State Park, which would bring more tourists to the park."

"I would build houses for the homeless to live in. I would also start food drives because that is a big need for people in Millen. We could also use a new Recreation Center where we could host tournaments which would earn money. I would support the schools because education is Millen' future."