The Jonesburg Area Optimist Club’s mission is to support local youth and a construction project that is underway is meeting that pledge.The nonprofit organization is constructing a new concession stand at the Jonesburg ballpark, located next to the elementary school. The new structure is expected to be ready when the youth ball season opens this spring.The old concession stand was built in 1986 and it was time for a replacement, according to club members.“It was falling apart,” secretary/treasurer Rick Smith said. “We will be better equipped. Now we will have everything inside the building.”The club was the recipient of a $2,000 Operation Round Up grant to be used for the project. The Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board approved the grant request at its January meeting.So far, concrete footings have been poured and a pre-fabricated steel building is expected to be arriving soon. Interior work will need to be completed before the concession stand is ready to open for the first game.“This is a project that has been talked about for several years,” President Jerry Bextermiller said.The Optimist Club supports a number of programs that benefit youth in Jonesburg through their fundraising events, which include an annual sweetheart dance, fireworks show and concession sales. Besides assisting youth at the elementary school, the club also awards multiple college scholarships annually to high school seniors.“We do a lot of stuff to help our town,” Smith said.New members are welcome. The club meets every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at Frumpy Joes, located at 105 E. Booneslick Road in Jonesburg. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/jonesburgoptimist.Operation Round Up was created to address needs in the areas of health, education, home weatherization, youth, community and emergency services that cannot be met with other resources. All contributions are tax-deductible, and 100 percent of the funds allocated to Operation Round Up are used for grants.To download an application or for more information, visit www.cuivre.com, email tschmidt@cuivre.com or call 636-695-4837.Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Troy with a branch facility in Lake Saint Louis, is the largest member-owned electric distribution cooperative in Missouri. It provides service to more than 64,500 residential, business, commercial, industrial and agricultural members in Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties.
A $2,000 Operation Round Up grant was recently presented to Jonesburg Area Optimist Club. The funds will be used to help construct a new concession stand at the Jonesburg ballpark. Pictured, from left, are club members Jerry Bextermiller and Rick Smith.
Submitted photo
