Jackson County Legislature names Older Americans Month, Mental Health Awareness Month and honors fallen firefighter

The Jackson County Legislature on May 5 adopted three ceremonial resolutions acknowledging older adults, mental health awareness and honoring a fallen firefighter.

Legislator Donna Peyton introduced a resolution declaring May 2025 as Older Americans Month in Jackson County under the national theme “Flip the Script on Aging.” Peyton presented Janet Baker of the Casey Shepherd Center, who thanked the legislature for recent passage of the Jackson County Senior Levy and described funding shortfalls: she said Meals on Wheels clients had dropped from about 1,200 to 600 because of financing reductions and that senior-serving agencies have scaled back programs, including a senior companion program.

The clerk recorded the roll call on the Older Americans Month resolution as nine yes votes.

The legislature also adopted a resolution honoring firefighter Graham Hoffman (presented for the family), naming May 9 annually in Jackson County as Graham Hoffman Day and authorizing the downtown Jackson County Courthouse to be lit red in his honor from Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9. Legislator Marshall presented the resolution to Hoffman’s family and the clerk recorded nine yes votes.

A third resolution designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month was introduced with multiple sponsors. Dr. Jennifer Keller, identified at the meeting as a senior director at University Health’s Behavioral Health service, thanked the legislature for support of behavioral health services and said the issue affects every community and family. The clerk recorded the roll call on the mental health resolution as nine yes votes.

All three resolutions were adopted by the legislature and presented on the floor; the firefighter resolution included an in-person presentation to family members and a ceremonial courthouse lighting schedule.