It was kudos to the city’s youth recently as the Centre City Council paid tribute to the local Cherokee County Career and Technology Center Robotics Team and also three Girls’ Softball teams who advanced to state competition this summer.

The council recognized the teams and coaches during its Tuesday, June 26 meeting. This past spring, the robotics team advanced to international competition in St. Louis after winning at the state level.

In the international competition, there were more than 50 countries represented. Randy Randy is the coach for the robotics team and Betsy Rainer is the assistant coach.

Also present was Mike Dodd, coach for the 12 and under girls softball team who won first place in District Four and advanced to state competition. Dodd says he has coached the team for six years now.

Gary Abernathy is the coach for the for the Girls 10 and under team who now advance to state competition.

“Mike and I have coached six years,” said Abernathy. “These girls went out at 9 a.m. and played three games back to back as hot as it was. One girl was injured, she went to the hospital and came back to the team. Another girl got sick, stayed out as long as she could. It is just the determination this team has, wanting to go to state. Mike and I have worked together hand and hand for this 10 and under team which really showed some grit Saturday.”

“Just today I started feeling normal,” said Abernathy. “It was that hot. With the injuries and things that happened and all, they did an extremely great job.”

Dodd noted that they also had prayer and congratulated the other teams as well, other signs of their unity and sportsmanship.

The local 8 and under team also advanced to state competition, but were nto represented at the meeting.

The state tournament will be played in Winfield July 6-8.

The council voted to assist with travel/lodging costs for up to $1,000 per team.

On behalf of the 12 and under team, Billy Garrett requested permission to set up a lemonade stand at one of the local upcoming opening day for the r Dixie Youth Minor tournament to raise funds which will assist with the trip to the state. The council gave its approval as long as it does not conflict with Dixie Youth fundraising and provided they meet health department specifications.

On another recreation matter, Tommy Moon requested that the council consider putting up signs at each of the four city limits signs (two on Highway 9 and two on Highway 411 with a detailed list of state championships Cherokee County teams have won.

The four signs, Moon said, would each be approximately 36 inches by 48 inches, for a total cost of $864.

Mayor Pro Tem Bess Yarbrough, who presided in the absence of Mayor Tony Wilkie, said the problem is that the city does not own those right-of-ways where the city limits signs are place. Moon suggested that these signs could be placed off the right of way on private property (with the property owners’ permission.)

The city’s health and beautification committee will consider the matter further.

Moon also suggested for the council’s consideration naming the National Guard Armory after the late Jeff Johnson, former mayor of Centre.

The council met with Tommy Loder, chairperson, Centre Alcohol Review Committeed and upon Loder’s recommendation, approved the sale of retail beer (off premises only) and retail table wine (off premises only) for Sarah and Ammar LLC, S&M Mart, 902 West Main St, in Centre and sale of retail beer (on or off premises) and retail table wine (on or off premises) for JPH Foods, Inc., 3 Style Pizza, 750 Cedar Bluff Road.

In other business, the council met with Vickie Robinson with the Cherokee County Herald and agreed to purchase an advertisement in the Herald’s upcoming Past Times edition for $345.44