Achievements recognized

By Staff
Oct. 19, 2001
Michael Medlin of Brandon received the highest award available in the Boy Scouts of America scouting program as he earned the Eagle Badge. A member of Boy Scout Troop 29, Medlin's court of honor was held at Brandon United Methodist Church. He is the son of David and Patti Medlin of Brandon. Michael is the grandson of Jack and Nauvaree Medlin and Robert and Nita Pierce, all of Meridian.
Benjie Barham, formally of Meridian, was one of 20 people who completed the Leaders for a New Century Class last week in Hattiesburg.
The leadership development program is a 10-month activity sponsored by the Area Development Partnership of Forest and Lamar counties. Participants were split into three teams, each charged with developing a community oriented project.
Barham's team is currently in the planning and fund-raising stages of creating a special needs playground for children with disabilities to be built at Kamper Park and Zoo in Hattiesburg.
Barham is the son of Dwight and Berneice Barham, formally of Meridian, who now live in Hattiesburg.
Barham is currently transitioning from Hattiesburg to Jackson, where he is Business Development Director with the Hinds County Economic Development District. In this capacity he fosters business recruitment efforts for the county, works with business prospects and attends trade shows on behalf of the county.
Prior to accepting his current position in mid August, Barham served as business liaison for southeast Mississippi with the Mississippi Development Authority for more than eight years.
Barham earned his bachelor's in journalism, public relations and marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi and he has completed the Economic Development Institute and Community Development Institute. He is a member of the Mississippi Economic Council and the Southern Economic Development Council.
He is active in numerous organizations, including the Area Development Partnership, the Pearl River Community College Workforce Development Council, the Mississippi Polymer Institute Advisory Board, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and the Bouie River Watershed Committee.
Barham and his wife, Pam, have three children and the family attends Heritage United Methodist Church.
Several area residents recently enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
They include:
Patrese Watts, daughter of Gloria Moore, a 2000 graduate of Quitman High School.
Donna Scott, daughter of Frank and Maria Scott, who will be a 2002 graduate of Northeast Lauderdale High School.
Demetrious Hellen, son of Marvin Jackson and Gloria Hellen, who will be a 2001 graduate of Northeast Lauderdale High School.
Eric Jimenez, son of Eduardo Jimenez and Prencesita Panjalinan, a 1999 graduate of Meridian High School.
Benjamin Douglas, son of Steven Douglas and Lori Fowler, who will be a 2002 graduate of Meridian High School.
Upon successful completion of the Air Force's six-week basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas, they will receive technical training in their chosen career field.
Each enlistee will be earning credits toward an associate in applied sciences degree through the Community College of the Air Force while attending basic and technical training schools.
Joseph F. Konkle has joined the U.S. Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.
Konkle, a 1997 graduate of Indian Valley High School, Gnadenhutten, Ohio, will report for basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
He is the son of Debora L. Taggart of Meridian and James L. Konkle of Barberton, Ohio.
The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty.