Representative Johnny Mack Marrow presents a check for $2,500 to Jerry Hovater and the Jonesboro neighborhood watch program Tuesday evening. | Nathan Strickland/FCT

JONESBORO- Members of the Jonesboro community gathered Tuesday evening at the local community center to thank Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow for helping them form a neighborhood watch program.

Morrow presented the community with a check for $2,500 to aid the watch program as well as update the community center.

Sen. Roger Bedford also contributed $1,000 to the effort prior to Tuesday’s presentation.

Jerry Hovater serves as captain of the 45 member watch group and said a couple of homes were broken into last year and everyone thought it would be a good idea to look out for each other.

“Since our neighborhood watch has been put into place we have been able to catch two people stealing,” Hovater said. “This community has really come together and supported each other. We want to thank Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and Sen. Roger Bedford for all they have done for us.”

Hovater said the group has added 20 neighborhood watch signs throughout the community and a patrol where one member drives the 48 miles around the community looking for any suspicious activity.

Morrow said he has never seen a community pull together quite like Jonesboro does.

“I believe rural areas such as Jonesboro are key to our nation’s success,” he said. “Real people are stepping forward and protecting each others property and those aspects make for a strong, united community, which many people dream of being a part of.”

Morrow said there is more funding coming from the Tennessee Valley Authority to aid projects such as this and those will make Franklin County an even better place to live.

“There is nothing more important than a neighborhood watch and I commend you for that,” he said. “In addition, I would suggest that you half the funds and use it for the community center because centers such as this are what keeps communities together. To have one central place where everyone can get together and talk about life is one of the things that help with keeping strong relationships with everyone living in this area.”

Morrow told the Jonesboro community that his biggest honor in life is serving people like them and is grateful that they have shown confidence in him as a leader.

Morrow said he would continue to fight for small town America while in office.