In December 2007, The State published a photo by photojournalist C. Aluka Berry of J.V. Martin Junior High School student Gary Hyatt practicing with a school tuba which is over 30 years old. He noted that J.V. Martin submitted a grant to Hamburger Helpers "My Home Town Helper" in hopes of receiving money for new band instruments. There were over 100 students on the waiting list for band instruments at J.V. Martin. Assistant principal Numer Locklear told Berry, "We don't have kids who can buy or rent instruments. Even if we only get enough money to buy four instruments, that's four more students playing music than before." The Batesburg-Leesville High School band took donations of instruments that people had in their homes and were not using after seeing the picture in The State. The J.V. Martin Middle School band will be receiving those donated band instruments from the Batesburg-Leesville High school band on Tuesday, April 15th. C. ALUKA BERRY/FILE PHOTO