Concert to support building new Ozark high school

OZARK — Local artists will join some Ozark City Schools students on Saturday for a benefit concert to support building a new high school.

Sherry McCormick, director of sales and promotions at MediaTrax Recording Studios in Ozark, said the studio is hosting Eagle Jam ’09 from 2 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday to raise money for building a new high school in Ozark.

The concert will feature various genres of music from local artists, including Jury, the Bo Brannon Band, and The Legends, as well as performances from local kindergarten and elementary school students.

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What: Eagle Jam ‘09 Lets Build a School Concert

Where: Ozark Civic Center

When: Doors open 2 p.m. Saturday; last band takes stage at 8:30 p.m.

Cost: $10 adult/$5 K-12 students

Bands include: $The Legends featuring “Ronnie the Hat”; Bo Brannon featuring Christie Lynn, Jury; special guests The Gospel Exress, The Connection Worship Band, East Broad Street Band, True Stories by John Pruitt; performances by students from Thompkins Early Childhood Center, Harry N. Mixon Elementary School and Joseph W. Lisenby Elementary School between 2:30-4:45.

McCormick said all proceeds will go toward a new school.

Although a tax referendum that would support building the new high school has yet to take place, McCormick said school and studio officials hope Eagle Jam will be the first of several citywide fundraising opportunities to help.

Businesses outside of Ozark, including some in Dothan, have offered money to help the concert, McCormick said.

In time, McCormick said the money collected will be part of a larger pool of millions of dollars for construction work and more educators at the school.

“Ozark as a community has got to have something that will continue to bring soldiers, retirees and their families here to continue to grow the community. Nothing will do that like a new high school, and other communities support that because of the jobs such a project will bring,” McCormick said.

“With the economy down, Ozark has gone through trying times just like other school systems. Enterprise is building a multimillion dollar school. We as a studio feel like we can help bring Ozark something new.”

School officials have said the current Carroll High School building is not compliant with some federal regulations and continues to eat away a bulk of the system’s maintenance budget for repairs.

Local artist Steven Page, who has a son attending the high school, said participating in a concert to help the schools is an obligation.

Local artist Ronnie Robinson agreed.

“Our kids deserve a building that’s not leaking, that’s properly accessible for people with wheelchairs, that is safe,” he said.

“It’s all about the kids when it comes to a project like this.”