The town of Jackson kicks off centennial celebration

The town of Jackson kicked off its centennial celebration with a party Monday night.

Community members, business owners and city leaders all packed the historic Wort Hotel to learn more about what’s in-store for the 100-year anniversary, and to share ideas.

Mayor Mark Barron is in his sixth term with the town of Jackson.

“I’m proud to have served the town of Jackson, my friends, my neighbors, and it’s very exciting to invite our friends and neighbors out to become a part of bringing this centennial celebration together,” said Barron.

Ed Liebzeit is the chairman of the Centennial Committee. He says a bulk of the celebration will happen throughout summer and early fall.

“The Old West Days parade, the Fourth of July parade, we’re going to have an old fashioned picnic on town square, and then we’re having a big gala on Sept. 20, where we’ll really have the culmination of the celebration,” said Liebzeit.

The big celebration of Western festivities will begin Friday, Sept. 19, and continue through the weekend.

Monday night, the committee asked for suggestions and historic tidbits, they may not know about.

“Obviously, we’d love to hear stories that go as far back as they can,” said Liebzeit. “We’d like old photographs, and we’re using the historical society for some of that, but we want to hear more.”

That’s music to Dennis Conley’s ears. An active member of the Historical Society, Conley hopes the centennial honors the town’s very beginning.

“There’s a big ranch history here,” said Conley. “A lot of homesteaders came here and got land the hard way, so I’d like to see that celebrated.”