The Columbia-Lafayette Retired Teachers Association met at Miller’s Cafeteria on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Merilyn Jones, president, welcomed the 33 members present. She led the Collect and pledge to the United States flag.

J.P. Wilson, band director at Southern Arkansas University and choir director at Asbury Methodist Church, was the program leader. Wilson began teaching in 1992 and joined the SAU faculty in 2000. The band had 78 members in 2000 and now has 120 members.

He said that the new band building at SAU contains about 15,000 square feet and has been in ...