JACKSON JAYCEES WILL ERECT FIRST PERMANENT HOME

JACKSON -- The Jackson Jaycees are getting the first permanent home the chapter has ever had since it was formed 35 years ago. At the same time, the new building will also be used to help generate funds for the Jaycees' community service projects.

During the chapter's Distinguished Service Award dinner Saturday, it was announced the Jaycees will erect the new building on the Old Toll Road near the Jaycees haunted house.

Jackson Jaycees spokesman Brent Wills said the 50-by-100-foot steel-frame building was donated by the Lee-Rowan Co. of Jackson. The building was used by Lee-Rowan until it was dismantled to make room for a larger building as part of the company's most recent expansion project.

The building, which is now in storage, will be erected on a concrete slab on a tract of farmland that will be lease-purchased by the Jaycees from Freddie and Edith Ristig.

"Our plans are to have the building re-erected by this fall," said Wills. "It's going to take a little longer than normal to put it up because we'll be using volunteer labor supervised by professional building engineers," Wills explained.

After it is completed, the building will include space for offices and a meeting area for the Jaycees. But more importantly, said Wills, the building will also generate funds for the Jaycees' community service projects.

"We plan to use the building for fund-raising events, dinners, and rental to other groups and organizations for meetings and events," he said. "The building is designed to hold between 300 and 400 people seated at tables."

One major project the Jackson Jaycees plan to fund with the new building is the development over the next 5-10 years of a city park near the haunted house and the Jaycees building, at the southwest edge of the city.

"The Jackson Jaycees have taken an option on the remaining 23 acres of the Ristig property. Our plans are to acquire the property over a period of years, as funds allow. The land will eventually be developed into a new city park that will include ball diamonds, soccer fields and a playground area," Wills said.

He said the Jaycees wanted to put the new building on the Ristig site because of the chapter's close association with the Ristigs. "Several years ago, while we were looking for a location for our haunted house, we came across the house on the Ristig property," he said.

"During the past several years, we've developed a very close relationship with Fred and Edith Ristig, who are very community-minded and youth-oriented. From this relationship came the idea to locate our building on their land, and to develop a new park from the rest of the property. The Ristig's see this as an opportunity for them to work with the Jackson Jaycees for the betterment of the entire community."

The Jackson Jaycees chapter was chartered in 1958. It now has approximately 163 active members. The chapter meets at a Jackson restaurant.