Take Me To Post Comment Form When I phoned Portal's Mayor Larry Motes a few days ago, we discussed Portal's new pride and joy, Jasimin Graham.
For those of you who haven't heard or read the news, on July 2 Jasimin won the 2008 AAU Level 3 National Champion Gymnasts Competition held at Florida's Multi-Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
Quite a feat for an 8-year old! Especially when you consider that she also won the 2007 AAU Level Two National Champion Gymnasts competition award in Tampa.
The Mayor and I discussed celebrating with Jasimin soon after her arrival back to her home in Portal. The date was set for 7:00 p.m., July 10 for an open house at Portal City Hall.
As luck would have it, I had written and submitted an article featuring Jasimin for inclusion in the July/August issue of the Statesboro Magazine. When Jenny Foss, Editor, asked me to attend a photo shoot with local noted photographer Frank Fortune for some action shots of Jasimin, I knew something good was in the Editor's mind.
Apparently, we both had a gut feeling that Jasimin would bring home the gold in 2008 as she did the year before.
We were right!
It was when I contacted the Editor on July 2 and told her that Jasimin had won, she then revealed to me that Jasimin's photo would be on the front cover of the upcoming Statesboro Magazine and at the July 10 local launching party, she would present a framed Statesboro Magazine cover to Jasimin.
This set me into motion to contact Coach Suzanne Yocular, University of Georgia Gymnastics team (the Gymdogs) who immediately responded with a congratulatory e-mail letter for me to frame and present to Jasimin on July 10.
Fast forward to the open house/launching party.
Dedicated local residents Julie Ann and Thomas Anderson, Charlotte and Walton Newton, Peggy and Mayor Larry Motes, Helen Sparks, and I put our aprons on and produced a nice reception for Jasimin, Statesboro Magazine's Jenny Foss and Erica Sellers, Jasimin's family members, and friends.
The Mayor congratulated Jasimin and presented her with the framed letter from the Gymdogs coach, Suzanne Yocular. Jenny Foss congratulated Jasimin and presented her with the Statesboro Magazine framed cover photographed by Frank Fortune and two boxes of the Statesboro Magazine to distribute within Portal. After congratulating Jasimin on her success, I presented her with an envelope from the group for opening later.
The evening ended after Jasimin had autographed copies of the Statesboro Magazine for those assisting with the event.

P.S. Happy Birthday Jasimin on your 9th birthday, today, July 14th!!!