The city of Selma’s Parks and Recreation Department has a new leader. Selma Mayor George Evans named Carneetie Ellison as the interim director during Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Lebo Jones, who has led the department for more than a year, will step down to teach and coach full time at Meadowview Christian School.

Jones has spent about four years working at the recreation department, serving as the city’s baseball and softball director and then as the interim director. During that time, he’s always had a bright vision for Selma.

The department will surely miss Jones, who will hopefully still have time to contribute to the city’s youth programs in his spare time.

He leaves with the department in good shape, at least considering the state of its programs.  The city’s baseball and football programs seem to be as popular as ever. Hundreds of children take part in both sports each year and learn the values of teamwork and other traits sports can teach. The football program, which is currently holding registration, seems to add a new team just about every season.

Many don’t realize how much the department oversees. It’s not easy to make the football schedule at Memorial Stadium work, considering all the high school teams that play there and the youth program too.

We’re sure it’s difficult at times to make every parent and child happy, no matter how many drafts are held to pick rosters.

The good news is Ellison brings a wealth of experience into her new role. She’s been with the city for 13 years and has worked her way to the top. She started as an intern and is now over a major city department. That’s the ultimate success story.

After a decade working in the recreation department, there probably isn’t much she hasn’t seen.  We want to be among the first to wish her luck in her new role.