Check presentation comes on heels of 50th year of the Campbell Senior Center

The Campbell County Senior Center received a check for $65,000 from the Campbell County Commission on Thursday at 12:30pm. Pictured left to right is senior center administrative assistant Pat Orta, senior center board vice president Wanda Hansen, senior center director Butch Kohlmeyer, County Mayor Jack Lynch, Senior Center Event Coordinator Judy Sexton, County Commissioner Beverly Hall, and Vice Mayor Randy Brown.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Renovations and upgrades are soon to be in the works for Campbell County’s senior centers after the county commission designated funds to both the center in LaFollette and the Jellico Senior Center.

County Mayor Jack Lynch, Vice Mayor Randy Brown and County Commissioner Beverly Hall personally delivered a $65,000 check to the Campbell County Senior Center in LaFollette on Thursday afternoon, with plans to have a check presentation in Jellico on Friday morning; a $35,000 check.

The senior center’s kitchen and pantry will get an upgrade with funds from the county commission.

Mayor Lynch thanked Commissioner Hall for “spearheading” the efforts on the commission in having “much needed” funds designated to the senior centers.

“These funds are going to provide renovations and upgrades throughout the senior center and will serve the citizens well. These funds will help update and modernize the senior center,” said Lynch.

County Mayor Jack Lynch and Senior Center Event Coordinator Judy Sexton hold up a hand-made quilt that was made at the senior center’s craft room during its craft program.

“We are so appreciative of these funds, and we cannot thank Commissioner Hall, Mayor Lynch and the rest of the commissioners enough,” said Senior Center Director Butch Kohlmeyer.

According to Campbell County Senior Center Administrative Assistant Pat Orta, the funds are going to help the center update its kitchen, pantry, fridges, freezers, flooring and more.

“We also have plans to have an American with Disabilities (ADA) door installed at the front as well,” Orta said.

The $65,000 in funding will go, in part, to buying new refrigerators and freezers as part of the update and renovation at the Campbell County Senior Center.

In November, the Campbell County Commission designated $100,000 in “leftover” American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, to the Campbell County Senior Center in LaFollette getting $65,000 of those funds, while the Senior Center in Jellico received $35,000.

The spending 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.”

The senior center’s kitchen and pantry will get an upgrade with funds from the county commission.

The Campbell County Senior Center has been serving seniors for 50 years and just recently celebrated its milestone anniversary on November 6th.

The CCSC has a mission of “providing education, recreation, nutrition and support in the areas of physical and mental health for the seniors of our county who are mentally and physically independent.”

“The center does meals on wheels to our local area and many other activities, not only arts and crafts, but exercises and evidence-based things to help us stay young,” Orta said.

County Mayor Lynch said the center offered invaluable services to the area’s older population.

“It’s seniors helping seniors,” Mayor Lynch said.

County Mayor Jack Lynch and Senior center event coordinator “Judy 2” share a laugh and a hug on Thursday during the check presentation event. 

“The Senior Center does so much for the seniors of the county; they offer so many wonderful programs like their meals on wheels, exercise classes and social activities and we’re excited to see these funds go to support the center and the seniors of Campbell County,” Commissioner Hall said.

For more information, call the senior center at 423.562.6672. You can also check them out on Facebook. The senior center is located at 102 South 8th Street in LaFollette, the corner of 8th and East Central Avenue. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-01/03/2025-6AM)

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