By NANCY KARRICK
Special to Atmore News
The Atmore Lions Club met March 20 in the Mayson Auditorium of Atmore Community Hospital. President Lion Renee Hardy called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Invocation. Chuck Brooks and Chance Thompson were recognized as guests. In addition to the two visitors, there were 14 members in attendance.
Lion Taylor Lee reported that 47 signs were sold and 7 teams paid to participate in the club’s recent golf tournament. Profits of over $7,000 were realized and will be used for Lions Club charity projects. Lion Renee recognized Lion Taylor for receiving the Membership Key from Lions International for helping to grow the organization with new members being added to the Atmore club.
A softball tournament was discussed as another possible fundraiser. Tentative plans were made to move forward with this idea. Lion Renee also read the inscription which will be on the brick the club is buying at Ivy Green, Helen Keller’s birthplace, as a fundraiser there to do cleanup and restoration of the house and grounds in time for the International Convention which will be held on site at an upcoming date.
Lion Anne Hetzel introduced Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks who then introduced another member of the department, Chance Thompson. Thompson spoke to the group about Project Eye which is a partnership with downtown merchants and the police department to use shared information from surveillance cameras to catch criminals quickly. He also explained the drone which the department has and spoke of various cases where it has been used to catch criminals and missing people with great success.