In this episode of "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.," the host interviews Brooks Shaw, Old Country Store general manager, about the inaugural Casey Jones Village Festival, which will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 56 Casey Jones Lane. This event is part of the Jackson-Madison County Bicentennial celebration.

This free event will include arts and crafts, local artisans, vendors, food trucks and activities for children. All of the activities will happen on the grounds of the Village surrounding the Old Country Store.

Shaw also spoke about the Old Country Store being a second-chance workplace, the company’s mission statement, upcoming updates to the store, future plans and hiring opportunities.

For more information about the inaugural Casey Jones Village Festival, visit https://fb.me/e/2rhlQl9SS.

For more about Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store, visit www.caseyjones.com/.

So be sure to tune in Sunday, July 3, 2022 at at 6:15 a.m. on Jammin' Jackson 97.7 FM, www.radio731.com or tune in to the Radio 731 app and listen to the show live by clicking on the Jammin Jackson 97.7 FM station.

In this episode of "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.", the host interviews participants of the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce’s Follow Me into Business program.

Tyrone begins the show interviewing JMCAACC Executive Director Don A. McCorry about the JMCAACC, its history, who it serves and about its programs, especially its Follow Me into Business program. Participants (their name, their age and the school they attend) interviewed in this episode include:  Kenyon Manning, 17, Liberty Tech; Dana Jones, 15, Madison Academic; A’dereon Blalark, 13, North Parkway; Ashton Hart, 15, Madison Academic; Bray’lon Klyce, 14, Early-College High, and tony Billingsley, III, 13, West Bemis.

JMCAACC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a three-fold mission: The Growth and Development of  Member Businesses, Youth Entrepreneurial Development and Community  and  Economic Development in West Tennessee and particularly in Jackson  Madison County.

According to the organization’s website: “As the resource for African American business owners, partnerships and corporations in Rural West Tennessee, our objective is to help new and existing businesses reach their potential by using its resources to connect them with major corporations, community leaders, and other business owners so that they learn, grow and network for greater economic development and success. The strength of the businesses determines the strength of our communities and families. Our watchword is focus.”

The organization’s website also said: “In keeping with that mission, the organization highlights outstanding contemporary and historical business owners through our Annual Jewel Awards Banquet.  We train and educate young people, ages 12-18, for success in business (and in life) through our Follow Me Into Business® youth workforce development program that offers soft skills training, shadowing, mentoring and internships or paid summer jobs.  As part of the eight-week summer program, we also offer a tour of government offices and provide community service opportunities. We provide support for business owners with workshops and our latest effort is a new small business conference, the West Tennessee Business Showcase and Economic Development Conference.”

It also offers a morning of golf in fun with its Follow Me Celebrity Golf Classic held the second Tuesday in September.

For more information about JMCAACC, its programs, how to join and how to donate, visit jmcaacc.org.

In this episode of "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.", the host interviews Mary Ross, Director of Sales, Catering and Marketing at Doubletree by Hilton Jackson and who is a member of the West Tennessee Veterans Coalition.

Ross spoke about what the West Tennessee Veterans Coalition does, who it helps and about three upcoming events the coalition will be holding soon.

The first event is the 2nd annual "Salute Our Veterans" Military Ball, with guest speaker Congressman Mark Green, Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Madison Downs, 4506 US-45 Bypass, in Jackson, Tennessee. All proceeds benefit the 2024 Veterans in Crisis Grant Fund. For more information or to purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit 423-341-3330, wtnvetscoalition@gmail.com or Facebook.com/WTNVeteransCoalition.

The 10th Annual “Celebrating Our Veterans” Program will be held Friday, November 10, 2023, at Englewood Baptist Church, 2239 N. Highland Avenue, in Jackson, Tennessee, 38305. The keynote speaker will be Roy Cash, the grandson of Johnny Cash. The event is free to attendees.

The 8th annual Downtown Veterans Day Parade will be held in downtown Jackson beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 11, 2023, Veterans Day, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. 400 South Highland Avenue, Jackson, Tennessee. Parade line up will be at the center. Churches throughout Jackson and West Tennessee are invited to ring their bells to acknowledge the veterans. Anyone wishing to ride, march, or walk in the parade is urged to pre-register by phoning (423) 341-3330. Military veterans from all eras are encouraged to participate. There is no entry fee for the parade participants.

For more information about the West Tennessee Veterans Coalition, visit https://www.facebook.com/WTNVeteransCoalition.