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Sunday, March 4, 2007 10:13 PM CST
Seniors swing at JROTC ball
By KATE HENDERSON, Staff Writer
khenderson@jg-tc.com
MATTOON -- Pauline Lawrence and Ray Hoelscher of Mattoon try to make it out dancing every Saturday night, but they made an exception and did their dancing Sunday this weekend at the Mattoon High School JROTC Senior Citizen Ball.
“I love it!” Lawrence said. “It’s great of the kids to do this.”
The Mattoon High School JROTC battalion has been putting the dance on for two years now and said it’s all about “reaching out to other generations.”
Zach Miller, the JROTC battalion commander, said by working with local businesses for funding and coordinating groups like one senior group from the Odd Fellow Rebekkah Home, seniors and JROTC members are able to dance the afternoon away while learning a lot about each other.
“It gives us an idea of what their culture was like then (when they were our age),” Miller said. “It also teaches us how to be friendly and charismatic.”
Col. Ron Yelk, head of the MHS JROTC program, said the JROTC Ball took place Saturday night and decorations were left up for the seniors Sunday afternoon.
The two-hour dance featured Scott Wattles & the Blue Suede Crew, who performed for the group of nearly 100 seniors at a reduced rate. Wattles also performed last year at the first Senior Citizen Ball. The ball was free to anyone over age 55.
His music was working for the entire group at JROTC members danced with seniors and seniors danced with other seniors. Even the Heartland Senior Line Dancers came out to enjoy the day and do a little line dancing.
“I think it’s great,” said Cinda Moran of Mattoon, who teaches line dancing and has a granddaughter in JROTC. “The cadets are always very polite and dance with us.”
Refreshments were also served and door prizes were given out.
Yelk said he suspects the dance will continue to be a tradition.
“The interest is growing and as long as it grows and we get participation, we’ll try to keep doing it,” Yelk said.
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CLICK TO ENLARGE
 ERIC HILTNER (JG/T-C)
Kay Kimbrell of Champaign-Urbana is spun by her dance partner, Lowel Stewart of Neoga, during the annual JROTC Senior Citizen Ball on Sunday afternoon. The Mattoon High School JROTC Battalion hosted the event in the MHS gymnasium.
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