Helton Urges Community Support For Football

During the public comments section of last Tuesday’s Jeff Davis County Commission meeting, JDHS Head Football Coach Lance Helton spoke to the commissioners, not to ask for money but, rather, to ask for the commission’s support of the Yellow Jackets football program and for the support of the entire community.
Helton said the program was planning two major fund-raisers, rather than “nickel and diming” the business community with fund raising projects throughout the year. To do that, the football boosters needed community support for both fund-raisers.
Helton said the first Yellow Jacket Golf Tournament would be held June 16 at Twisted Pine Golf Course to raise funds and to bring the community together to support the kids playing football.
Also planned is a legends banquet at which time a JDHS Football Hall of Fame will be established. As the initial honorees, Helton mentioned the names of former Mississippi State linebacker Calvin Harrison, former Florida State linebacker Mike Stewart, all-time leading Yellow Jacket rusher and former Valdosta State running back Barry Jones, all-time leading passer and former Georgia and Oklahoma quarterback Nate Hybl, former Georgia defensive lineman Deshay McKever and former Troy State receiver James Earl Cray.
Rather than retiring the jerseys of honorees, Helton said players would be selected each year to wear the Hall of Famers’ jersey numbers in their honor during the football season. He said plans were to have JDHS graduate and former Georgia Southern player Matt Wise as the speaker at the banquet which would include the ceremony, dinner and a silent auction.