Jay town council doubles up to help Lady Royals softball

Mayor Owens, Councilwoman Hayes offer funds for volunteering

Several Jay High School Lady Royals softball players will be volunteering at the Jay Historical Society's Jay Museum and Pittman's Supply to raise money for the 2021 season after Jay Mayor Shon Owens and Councilwoman Jane Hayes offered to match the town's pledge to purchase a $400 sign then upped the offer to $2,000 for volunteering.

Five players presented to the council to ask if the town wanted to purchase a sign for the field. A small sign costs $200 and a large sign costs $400. The town agreed to purchase a large sign for $400.

Councilwoman Jane Hayes made a motion to purchase a small sign for $200, which was seconded by Councilman Wayne Godwin, but there was no vote.

Councilwoman Nina Hendricks pointed out that the team lost thousands of dollars in revenue last year due to COVID-19 and suggested the town give $400 or $500 if the budget allowed.

Town Operations Manager Eric Seib said the money was available in the civic budget of $18,609.29, not including 'Joy in Jay', the holiday event the town holds.

Jay Town Employee April Watson, whose daughter is on the team, pointed out that football and basketball did not lose their season, but that softball and baseball lost almost their whole season and revenues resulting from it.

With the COVID pandemic lockdown last March, the girls softball team has not been able to raise the money needed for the program through concessions and gate fees. In addition, CDC safety guidelines require the girls have their own helmets, bags and water bottles which cannot be shared, according to Watson.

"It costs the programs about $500 or more per night to put on a softball game," said Watson. "As far as security, which involves a school resource officer being present, the lights, referees, umpires, paint on the field, it's a lot to consider. That's why they are having to work so hard this year"

Watson, whose husband is a coach at Jay, said the school sent out letters this year, which brought in about $3,000, which is very short of the average budget, with 25 games scheduled this year.

Councilwoman Jane Hayes made a motion to purchase a large sign for $400, which was seconded by Councilman Wayne Godwin. The motion carried.

Mayor Owens then said he would like some of the ladies to volunteer their time.

"If two players come up to Pittman Supply on two Saturdays and volunteered their time from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m., I will pay $500 to your program," said Mayor Owens. "I'll do that for two Saturdays in your season. You'll get to learn a little bit volunteering. For business owners, especially like me, I feel like I'm giving back when you guys are putting in your efforts."

"Add one more girl, and I'll match," said Councilwoman Hayes. "I'll put $500 in for two girls for two Saturdays to come to the Jay Museum to volunteer for the Jay Historical Society."

Owens said it's a way to give back to the community.

"I think its a great thing for the program," said Mayor Owens. "If you'll find other businesses like us that are in the community, when you volunteer your time and efforts, you'll see that people will go a lot further along to do things."

Hayes said she was going to challenge her alumni 1988 team to do something to support the program.

"We were the first ones to ever go to state when the program was really new," said Hayes.

She commended the job the players were doing at the school to promote the program.

The next town council meeting will be at 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 14, at Jay Town Hall.

 
 
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