The Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center 24th Blue Suede Dinner & Auction was held to benefit the Prevention of Child Abuse Center. Multiple tables were filled with silent auction items and with several live auction items by Randy England, Auctioneer. Neal McCoy provided the entertainment after the auction.

Lights, Camera, Fashion has entered its 7th year from its humble beginning at Jackson State College as a prom runway event to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It is now held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center with models from area high schools. Jenna Hamilton King is the owner of My Best Friend Jenna boutique, and she is the producer of Lights, Camera, Fashion. Family and friends also assist in this endeavor.

West Tennessee Women’s Center and West Tennessee Heart and Vascular Center held their annual “Boots and Bling: It’s a Heart Thing” at the Jackson Fairgrounds on Friday evening, February 9. Women from all over West Tennessee broke out their cowboy boots and danced the night away at the well attended event. 

The Carl Perkins Civic Center was host to the 5th annual Night of the Caribbean, the Dream Center’s largest fundraiser of the year. About 400 people attended the event, enjoying music from Scott Myatt and Steve Short and delicious food from Coyote Blues. They also had a silent auction and an art display managed by Frank Poppelaars from C-MACC.

The Jackson Symphony League held their 2018 Crystal Ball at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. As guests arrived they entered the silent auction area to view and bid on their favorite items. Steve Bowers could have a future career as an auctioneer. He was excited about auctioning a Labradoodle with the winning bid being $1,000. The Downtown Band from Nashville rocked the night away with a mix of old and new upbeat music.

There was a rumble in Jackson on January 6 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center with the 2nd Annual Black Tie & Boxing event. Ronnie and Susan Morris of Express Employment Professionals attended an event in Fort Worth, Texas and brought the idea home and asked friends to assist them in organizing a similar event in Jackson. This is a benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The emphasis is on Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Charles Savaggio is the president of the West Tennessee Board of Directors for JDRF. Daily requirements for diabetics include checking blood sugar, taking insulin shots, making daily logs and counting carbs.

As guests arrived at the 28th annual West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation Charity Gala, they were greeted with glittering streamers and a Broadway-themed event. The Civic Center was decorated with extravagant white silky drapes, masses of balloons and streamers and tables beautifully decorated to the nines as guests partook of a fabulous meal before the silent auction and music began.

The 2018 Law Enforcement Ball, presented by Crime Stoppers, was held at Jackson Fairgrounds Park. This was an area-wide ball with attendance from multiple local law enforcement agencies and supporters.

Awards were presented to five recipients, one of which was presented to Mike Johnson by his daughter, Brittney Mehr, for his years of service to law enforcement. Johnson is the Director of Crime Stoppers, which may be contacted at 731-423-TIPS.

The champagne glasses were chilled on the outdoor table as guests entered the grounds of Oakmont estate. Students in tuxedos were there to assist the ladies. Matt was playing the grand piano in the atrium as guests entered the elegant home. And Christos Garkinos returned this year with his popular California clothing to the delight of the female guests.

The 2017 USJ Holiday Mart Preview Party was an opportunity to view all the wares offered for sale at the largest holiday shopping mart in the area. Vendors were present from Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, and elsewhere. Many vendors are private family businesses.