The more I report on the weddings now occurring at our wedding chapel, the more folks tell me that they are looking forward to seeing the interior of that facility (the old Presbyterian Church on Kentucky Street). Tourism Director Jake Bennett says that he hopes to have the external sign mounted within the next two weeks or so and that he will then schedule and announce an open house.

In a very interesting development a few days ago, a couple on their way to Gatlinburg to be married heard about our chapel and asked to see it. Once they entered the structure they immediately changed their plans and a wedding ceremony was hastily organized and conducted. They then continued on to Gatlinburg for their honeymoon.

When we see a speeding motorist or someone committing some other flagrant violation of the law, we often ask the question, "Where are the police?" It's a good question and one that I felt was worth researching to see just what our policemen are doing during a typical month. And the results utilizing the month of December greatly surprised me.

The official record furnished to me by Becky Monday, Deputy Court Clerk, indicates that our police department had a total of forty-six (46) arrests and citations during that month for any number of offenses ranging from driving under the influence to possession of drugs to serious criminal acts - and not including completing the paper work; court appearances; transporting prisoners; working vehicle accidents ranging from fender benders to larger wrecks; issuing warning tickets; answering calls involving domestic and other disputes; providing traffic control for fire scenes, school zones and various local activities; making routine rounds; delivering official notices and summons, etc.

The proverbial "doctor, lawyer and Indian chief" (as well as mayors, principals, cooks, mechanics and all other occupations and professions) have the good, mediocre and poor performers. Police officers are no different. And we can never determine exactly what other folks are doing on their job until we attempt to do their job. I recall one time shortly after high school when I was working in a factory on a job that I thought to be much harder than a higher paying one held by a co-worker. However when he left employment with that company, I was "promoted" to his job and found out in a hurry that it was much, much harder than it had appeared to me. The same can be said for our police officers and other folks who work for a living.

Councilman and Police Commissioner Jim Dobson said that he recently rode one patrol car for several hours to determine first hand what takes place and that the calls and responses were virtually non-stop for that unit during the time in which he was riding.

The Jellico Volunteer Fire Department sure proved its value during the holidays when it helped to prevent the downtown fires from spreading - especially the one on North Main Street. A fire in one of our downtown buildings threatens the entire block in which it is located and it takes some know how to prevent such spreading.

I am glad that we have folks willing to give of their time to train and to fight fires. And if a person doesn't think it is a sacrifice on the part of our volunteers, just leave a good warm bed some morning at 2:30 AM and go out into the cold to face even colder fire hoses along with heavy smoke - not to mention the potential for tragedy. That experience would definitely be an eye opener as to what our fire fighters contribute.

And concerning our emergency services, Rodney Minton, Board President of the Jellico Rescue Squad, asked me to run the following note of appreciation in this article:

"The members of the Jellico Rescue Squad would like to thank all citizens who made donations to our organization in 2002. We would also like to give a special thanks to the businesses who gave donations that helped with the grant we received from Rural Development USDA of $ 19,500. This helped with buying badly needed Personal Protection Equipment for our members. Without the citizens and business owners giving generously it would be hard for us to survive. We also thank the City of Jellico for all they do for us and also Campbell Co. commission and the commissioners of the 5th district for their donations. We are proud to serve Jellico and North Campbell Co."

The Jellico Rescue Squad is a volunteer organization that both needs and deserves our help. Members of the squad have for years provided a valuable service to Jellico and surrounding communities. But with all of the increased emphasis upon "Homeland Security", they and all of our emrgency services must now take on even more crucial roles in being prepared for a multitude of potentially threatening situations. I am certainly glad that we have them! And we need to support them in every way possible.

Local writer Cathy Rhoden has recently had one of her plays published and hopes to have her "More Grace" similarly accepted as well. "More Grace" depicts the life of Grace Moore and was recently presented at Cumberland College where it received very good reviews. Rhoden was born in Jellico and attended Boston Elementary School.

She recently e-mailed both Jake Bennett and myself stating that, "My overall vision still includes setting up a performance of "More Grace" in Jellico. I really feel this could be a tourist attraction that could be beneficial to the city as well as to the play."

It sure worked for the "Stephen Foster Story" in Bardstown, Kentucky as well as numerous other towns throughout the country. Who is to say that it won't work in Jellico? Jake says that he intends to discuss the possibilities with the writer to see what might could be developed here - indoors or even outdoors on our downtown stage. The Stephen Foster Story alternates between an outdoor stage and the local high school - depending upon the weather conditions.

It's surprising how we can be unaware of some of our own local history, people and events. Few area residents are cognizant of the fact that the winningest basketball coach at any level in the history of basketball was born in Jellico and grew up in Williamsburg. Coach Jim Smiddy graduated from Williamsburg High School and attended Cumberland College and the University of Tennessee where he also obtained a Master's Degree.

He began his coaching career at the old Knoxville Stair Tech in 1948, moved to Charleston High School and then to Bradley Central High School. During that career, he won two girls national championships and five state championships. One of his players became one of our country's first stars in womens' Olympic basketball competition. His lifetime record was something like 1220 wins and only 205 losses. (It was 1,189 wins and 200 losses going into his final season 1992-93). Smiddy's record has never been broken and may never be. He is a member of the National High School Sports Hall of Fame (and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame along with at least two other Jellicoans.)

Smiddy is now recognized on a Jellico internet site and well he should be. To have had the winningest coach in the history of basketball born in our town is something that certainly needs to be publicized.

And speaking of high school basketball, I now know how a tight-rope walker feels. I attended the basketball games between Jellico High School and Whitley County High School and tried to support both teams which is very hard to do. I live in Jellico, attended JHS and now serve as mayor. But even more importantly, I served as principal of JHS longer than any other individual in the history of the school. I saw numerous former JHS students and staff members at the game that were there when I was principal. And I purchased season tickets this year to support the Blue.

On the other side of the coin, I work in Whitley County, have made a lot of friends in that area and those folks pay me money that buys my bread. There were staff members from WCHS with whom I have worked and players performing for the Colonels that I taught when I was a "full time substitute" at that school. And there were several staff and students there that I have had since I became principal at Boston Elementary. It was one of those games that I sincerely wish both schools could have won. (Our former mayor Gary Owens who taught and coached at alma mater and who now performs those same tasks at WCHS, probably experiences those same emotions.)

Mr. Delmar Mahan, Chairman of the Whitley County Board of Education, got a real kick out of my situation and watching me work back and forth from side to side throughout the game. But he jokingly assured me that he would "still vote for me if he lived in Jellico". That's good news because he does such an outstanding job and is so well thought of that he ran unopposed in his last election. I am sure that he has friends in Jellico and maybe he will call them for me and explain my predicament.

Those looking for something to do on weekends in Jellico are again reminded that there will be entertainment in the Community Conference Room (Tramell Building) on some Friday and/or Saturday nights starting THIS Saturday night. (Ron Dabney and his Twin Rivers Band.) 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Dabney's band currently plans to perform one night every other weekend and other groups will be welcome to perform on some of the non-scheduled weekends. And Jake says that he has some other ideas in mind. (Watch the Community Bulletin Board for future activities as they are scheduled).