Jackson offers a variety of summer camps for kids. Recently the Jackson Sun published a tabloid that listed all the camps available. We've highlighted just a few of them.

Cultural Odyssey  - Lambuth University's Cultural Odyssey Camp "Circuses of the World" will be held Monday - Friday, July 7-11, from 1 pm - 4:30 pm.  Enrollment is limited to 30. Students must me in the first through 6th grades. The multi-disciplinary came includes art, music, theater, acrobatics and culinary arts. Fee: $100. For more info call 731-425-3275.

Camp Invention - The Camp Invention program is a weeklong nonprofit summer day program that fosters creativity, teamwork, and science literacy through hands-on fun for children entering grades one through six. Base price before March 31, $20 off. Register three or more children $40 off. www.campinvention.org, 800-968-4332. Dates and locations:

Thelma Barker Elementary School - Jun 9-13  8:30 - 3:00                 

St. Mary's School - Jun 16-20  8:30 - 3:00

Andrew Jackson Intermediate School - Jun 23-27  8:00 - 2:30

USJ - Jul 14-18  9:00 - 3:30

Camp Bear Track

Christian Resident Camp - Climbing, rappeling, horsebackriding, canoeing and other outdoor activities in the beautiful Mountains of the Ozarks.  Girls and boys ages 7-12, 1 or 2 week sessions. www.campbeartrack.com, 501-825-8222

Nurse Camp - Sponsored by West Tennessee Healthcare - June 9-13 and July 21-25 for students who are rising high-school juniors and seniors or recent high school graduates. Fee is $175. Deadline to register is May 1. Contact Jan Williams @ 265-1116 or jan.williams@wth.org.

Dogwood Stables Day Camp - Hunter/Jumper Riding Discipline - Jun 2-6 Beginner/Intermediate, Jun 16-20 Intermediate/Advanced, Jun 23-27 Beginner/Intermediate, Jul 14-18 Intermediate/Advanced. Space is limited to 10 per session. www.dogwoodstablesjackson.com, 731-424-9764.

Back 9 Farms - Annual Summer Camp - Campers of all riding abilities from beginning to advanced are welcome. Ages 6 and up.  Jun 2-6, Jun 9-13, Jun 16-20, Jun 23-27, Jun 30 - Jul 3, Jul 7-11. July 4th week will be open only to advanced riders and those attending multiple weeks.  Learn to groom, handle, nutrition, first aid, foal care as well as daily opportunities for riding. Just 15 minutes from Jackson in Lavinia. 731-402-0558 or back9farms@yahoo.com.

Freed-Hardeman University's Mid-South Youth Camp - Weekly camps running from June 1 - Jul 25.  Swimming, hiking, tennis, boating, fishing, rope course, crafts, Bible classes and more. 989-2520, 800-348-3481 ext 6987, www.fhu.edu/msyc

The Jackson Symphony Summer Music Camp - Jun 9-13 , Location TBA, Tuition is $175. Open to woodwind, brass, and percussion students going into the 7t grade through just graduated from High School. String students must have at least two years of playing experience and be at least 10 years old.  731-427-6440, www.thejacksonsymphony.org/htm

Cultural Odyssey VII - Lambuth Unversity presents this highly successful related-arts summer workshop for children (grades 1-6). Art, dance, drama, food, music, acrobatics. Limited to 30 students. 731-425-3275.

Covenant Ranch - 3-D archery, skeet shoot, marksmanship, map and compass skills, camping/survival skills, wildlife management, game calling, hunting/bowhunting seminars led by experts. Changing lives through adventures in God's creation. SonRIse Adventures - 731-642-2099, www.sonriseadventures.com

Victory Ranch - Amazing outdoor adventure. 550 rolling acres, paintball, climbing towers, mountain bike trails, 20 stall horse facility, recreation, lakes and pool, 800 foot zip-lines, rifle range, air conditioned lodged.  731-659-2880 or www.victoryranch.org.

We would like to express our appreciation to those who responded to the immediate needs in the wake of the tornado on Feb 5th.

We especially want to thank JEA, the Jackson Police Department, the TN Highway Patrol, the Madison County Sheriff's Department, the Fire Department, the Ambulance Services and the National Guard.

Thank you to all you other nameless others who came to the aid of your friends and neighbors. It is people like you who come out in the worst of weather and worst of times that make Jackson TN the best place to live.

Thank you to everyone involved in helping on a continual basis too. We certainly are a community of Tennessee Volunteers!

According to a report from RealtyTrac, more Americans are facing forclosure because of the mortgage crisis.  According to the latest U.S. Foreclosure Market Report there is 1 forclosure for every 196 households during the 3rd quarter of 2007. That was a 30% increase from the previous quarter.

Fortunately, not all mortgage resets will end in foreclosure. Some homeowners will still be able to afford their homes with new payments. Others will qualify for refinancing with fixed-rate mortgages. Unfortunately, for those stretched beyond their means, forclosure is a great possibility.  Another group of homeowners facing resets fall somewhere in the middle. It will be up to the lenders to identify which homeowners those are. With some assistance, they will be able to stay in their homes.

If you are struggling or you know of someone who is struggling to make their mortgage payments, we hope this information gives you a better understanding and you can estimate which group you fall into and act accordingly.

The other side of the coin is that if you're a buyer looking for a good deal, and you are thinking of buying a foreclosure, contact a realtor and they can help you identify which homes are available.

The latest mortgage crisis does have one silver lining. If you have a broker like Coldwell Banker with an in-house mortgage operation, you will find yourself in safer hands than before.

The advantages of using an in-house mortgage operation is that not only is it convenient, but the mortgage individual within the real estate firm has an equal interest in helping you finance a home that you can afford.

Independent research showed that people who used the in-house realty-based financing were glad they did. According to a Harris Interactive Survey, 90 percent of more than 2,000 buyers who didn't use the in-house financing believed they could have done better if they had.

This informatio was provided to us through an article written by Craig Hudson of Coldwell Banker Mortgage and written in Realtor.org magazine.