FRIARS POINT — Mayor James Washington discussed a partnership between the town of Friars Point and Coahoma Community College that would help individuals get their GEDs.
“We’ve already signed an agreement with the college,” Washington said during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“Our plan is to work closely with the college and try to encourage young people and old people to go back and get GEDs and enter programs that they have down at the college. Believe me, they have quite a bit.”
Washington said the partnership with CCC would be on the agenda for every city council meeting going forward, noting it was imperative all Friars Point residents are able to make a living for themselves and be successful in life. He said education was a key to that success.
“They will provide equipment, computers and all that if we can get enough people to make a GED program,” Washington said.
Washington said if enough people are enrolled from the program, representatives from CCC would come to Friars Point to work with the students. As of now, he said 11 individuals from Friars Point are enrolled and the goal is to increase the number to 25.
Marcia Martin-Gatewood, a career and technical counselor at CCC, spoke about the vocational programs the school has to offer and passed out a brochure.
The career and technical programs are in accounting technology; administrative office technology; automotive technology; barber/stylist; brick, block, stone and masonry; carpentry technology; collision repair technology; commercial truck driving; cosmetology teacher training; culinary arts technology; early childhood education technology; health-care data technology; hotel and restaurant management; industrial mechanics and maintenance technology; and welding and cutting technology.
Gatewood said in just eight weeks, it is possible to become a commercial truck driver.
“I understand we have a lot of people in Friars Point that are interested in the commercial truck driving program,” she said.
In other business, the council:
* Discussed Friars Point homecoming, which will be celebrated this weekend. A block party will be on Washington Street in downtown Friars Point from 6 p.m. until late at night Friday and Saturday and no one will be able to drive on the street during those hours.
* Heard that dedications for two streets will take place in Friars Point on Saturday.
The first dedication will be at 11 a.m. when the street, which was Sheriff Ridge Avenue, will be named after former Coahoma County sheriff and Friars Point resident Andrew Thompson.
The next dedication will be at 3 a.m. where a street will be named after the late Geraldine Collins, who died in 2013, lived most of her life in Friars Point and was known throughout the community. The street previously was Osage Street.
* Heard the mayor declare an emergency for dilapidated and rundown property in several parts of Friars Point. The properties are on Webb and Kendall streets, Oak and Washington streets, Third and Webb streets, the street that will be named after former Sheriff Thompson on Saturday, and Walnut and Kelly streets.
“In order to get it cleaned up, I declared it an emergency,” Washington said. “I didn’t want anybody to end up getting sick.
“From my standpoint, that’s top priority. We’ve got to make sure as a town that we get it done.”
