Team and coach are also honored

By RANDALL ALLEN

Horizon Reporter

CELINA-The City of Celina recognized nine-year-old National Marbles Tournament Champion Myles Lacy and his teammates Emma Strong and Kendall Woods at their July meeting, and aldermen also voted to install signs honoring the newly-crowned Marble King.

“We have some very special people here tonight,” city mayor Luke Collins said when introducing the group at the meeting.  “As all of you people know, we have a rich history with marbles and go to the tournament annually.

“Coach Brian Cherry, could I get you to introduce these young people, and we have some things we would like to give them.”

Cherry happily did the honors.

“I have been coaching this for 20 years, ages 7-14,” he said.  “If any of your kids or grandkids are interested in this, just get in touch with me, and we will get them up to New Jersey next year, and bring home another national championship.

“This year, I took three kids from the county—Emma Strong, Kendall Woods, and the national champion Myles Lacy.  These kids put in a lot of work.”

Collins said there was no way the group could “know how much we appreciate and admire” them, as he continued to laud their accomplishments.

“The positive publicity that you bring our community is priceless,” he said, before presenting all three players and coach Cherry with a key to the city.

Alderman Kenny Westmoreland then made a motion to give each player a one-time $200 gift on behalf of the city.  Alderman Brittany Kerr seconded the motion and it passed 2-0.

Westmoreland also made a motion to have signs recognizing Lacy as the National Champion posted at all three entrances to the city and at the marble yard.

Kerr seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Other business

The second reading of the certified tax rate of 0.4366 per $100 was approved following a motion by Westmoreland.

He also made a motion to approve the second reading of adopting the 2018 IECC energy code and amendment to the 2018 international building codes.

Both motions passed by a 2-0 voice vote.

Kerr made a motion to approve two $5,000 scholarships to Clay County High School graduates.

The scholarships will be paid directly to a school of the recipients’ choice, and a committee from the high school will decide who receives the awards.  The motion passed by a 2-0 voice vote.

City alderman approved the purchase of a 16-foot trailer for $2,000.

The trailer’s primary purpose is to haul multiple lawnmowers.  Currently, the city can only haul one mower at a time.

Westmoreland made the motion, and it passed unanimously by a voice vote.

Aldermen also approved an increase in salary for the local Veterans Affairs (VA) representative.

Westmoreland made a motion to raise the city’s contribution from $3,000 to $6,000.

The VA representative’s salary is paid through a partnership agreement between the City of Celina, Clay County, City of Gainesboro, and Jackson County.

The motion passed by a 2-0 voice vote.

Alderman and vice-mayor Justin Rich was not present for the meeting.

The next city meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on August 13 at City Hall.