Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Youth Day Proclaimed In County

For the second consecutive year the Boys to Men and Girls to Women has participated in the business affairs of Nevada County and the city of Prescott.

Tuesday, May 16, these young people were involved in the daily activities of most of the county, city and government official's duties.

Youth day activities started at 8:15 a.m. at the steps of the Nevada County Courthouse with Mayor Howard Taylor and County Judge James Roy Brown signing a proclamation as Youth Day in Prescott and Nevada County' (a shadowing program).

A brief ceremony was held, pictures were taken, student lunch money was issued and each participating official was assigned one or two students for the day. They then went to their duty stations.

Several of the proxy' officials performed some of the same duties as the elected/hired officials.

Twenty-two students in grades 8-12 and 14 city, county and government officials participated in these activities. This was a new experience for most and a second time for some.

The selected students were assigned as follows: Daryl Tidwell and Trenance Hardamon to Mayor Howard Taylor; Lashena Gillard and Latisha Heard to Christy Neal on behalf of the Chief of Police; Chad Burton to County Judge James Roy Brown; Rafael Marlow and Tiffany Walker to Juvenile Judge Duncan Culpepper; Marie Smallwood and Johnny Burton to Sheriff Steve Otwell; Vontrice Flemons and Sophia Dunn to Circuit Clerk Carolyn Steed; Latisha Smith to Tax Assessor Pam Box; April Marks to Deputy Tax Collector Lee Jones; Chassity Burton to Treasurer Karen Cobb; Ashley Gulley to Janet McAdams at the Health Department; Calandra Mitchell and Jason Butler to Nevada County Ambulance Service on behalf of Chad Cornelius; Ora Wiley and Lasonya Hopson to Nevada County Library and Librarian Joyce H. Gibson; Jumilya Anthony and Tiffany Young to Department of Human Services and Twyla Arnette; and Cyneque Haynie went to Nevada County Recycling with Elaine Williams.

The goal of these activities was to help give these students a better understanding and an appreciation on how city and county governments are established and operate.

The experience they enjoyed as proxy officials will be remember for a very long time and will make them a better citizen in the process. This was also a civic class action. They now have a better understanding and an appreciation for city and county governments.

Youth day activities ended at 2:30 p.m. as they returned to the middle and high school campuses.