Mineral Wells Mayor Pro Tem and Ward 2 Councilwoman Tammy Underwood, above left, helped Rotary Club of Mineral Wells kick off 2019 as the year's first guest speaker. She is pictured with club President JJ Dugan.

The club met Wednesday, Jan. 2, at noon at Holiday Hills Country Club.

Underwood talked about the many positive things currently going in the city, highlighted by the improvements in downtown, and talked about some of the critical issues ahead, topped by council's working toward selection of a new city manager to replace fellow Rotarian Lance Howerton, who retired Dec. 31 after serving 25 years in the city leadership role.

Each year, Rotary Club presidents across the U.S. and around the world select a project the club and its members can support through grants using local club dollars that are then matched by Rotary International.

This year, Rotary Club of Mineral Wells President JJ Dugan wanted to help local homeless high school students. It was a matter weighing on his heart and mind after Rotarians the previous heard a program on homeless students.

For his president's project Dugan received club approval to provide financial support to those students in need and on Wednesday presented Mineral Wells High School counselors Hope Mesler, pictured center, and Stella Singleton, right, with a $4,000 check. Dugan submitted the project through a grant application that was approved for funding.