TOP PHOTO: County Mayor Jack Lynch, on behalf of the county and county commissioners, presented the Jellico Senior Center with a $35,000 check on Friday. Pictured left to right Jellico Senior Center Board Member James Owens, Jellico Senior Center Board Secretary Liz Smiddy, County Mayor Jack Lynch, Jellico Senior Center Board Chairman George Hackler, and Jellico Senior Center Director Rebecca Ivey.

By Charlotte Underwood

JELLICO, TN (LWAF)- On Friday, the Jellico Senior Center was presented with a $35,000 check from the county for upgrades and equipment purchases.

According to senior center officials, the center plans to purchase a van with the funds.

County Mayor Jack Lynch and Vice Mayor Randy Brown delivered the $35,000 check to Jellico Senior Center Director Rebecca Ivey, Jellico Senior Center Board Chairman George Hackler, along with board secretary Liz Smiddy and board member James Owens at 10 am Friday morning.

Jellico senior center officials said the funds were “much appreciated” and thanked the county and commissioners for working out the details over the past couple of months.

In November, the Campbell County Commission designated $100,000 in “leftover” American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with the Campbell County Senior Center in LaFollette getting $65,000 of those funds, while the Senior Center in Jellico received $35,000. The center in LaFollette is using funding for renovations and upgrades, while Jellico will be purchasing a van with its portion of the funding. The deadline to spend the money is September of 2026.

Due to it being ARPA monies, the funding can only be “used for Capital Outlay projects and to purchase equipment.”

County Mayor Lynch said that both senior centers offer “invaluable services to the area’s older population.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-01/06/2025-6AM-PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMPBELL VICE-MAYOR RANDY BROWN)

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