The Catskill Chronicle

Photos by Carol Montana

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY (November 20, 2012) – National recording artist Jimmy Wayne returned to Sullivan County on Saturday, November 17 as part of his “Where You’re Going” Tour.

The performance, sponsored by radio station Thunder 102, took place at the Seelig Theatre of SUNY Sullivan and included Al Stream (formerly of The River’s Edge Band), 2010 Texaco Country Showdown winner Jason Casterlin and Sullivan County’s own Ken and Barry Sommerville.

Emcees for the evening were Thunder 102’s hosts of Ciliberto and Friends morning show, Paul Ciliberto and Michelle Semerano.

Wayne is the national spokesperson for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), and the concert on Saturday benefited the Sullivan County Chapter of that organization.

You could hear a pin drop as the audience sat in rapt attention as Wayne recounted the story of his life. Growing up in Kings Mountain, NC, Wayne was in and out of foster homes and 12 different schools in two years, mixing tomato leaves (because they looked similar to pot) with marijuana leaves to make some money and living on the streets, he met up with a couple in their 70s, Bea and Russell Costner gave him a home, rules to live by, and most importantly, love.

Determined to raise awareness of the fact that children in the foster care system age out at 18, Wayne started his Meet Me Halfway campaign in 2010 and walked 1700 miles form Nashville to Phoenix, and through his efforts, the law was changed.

Now the author of a novella called "Paper Angels," Wayne is the youngest-ever recipient of the Salvation Army’s William Booth Award.

To see more photos or to purchase prints from Jimmy Wayne Returns to Thunder Country, visit The Castkill Chronicle on Zenfolio.