I feel like getting on my soapbox! When France was nearing collapse before the German Army in World War I, the American Army arrived in time to turn the tide of that entire conflict and to save that country. We lost thousands of American boys before Germany finally surrendered!

In 1944 France had again been overrun and conquered by the German Army in World War II. We lost even more thousands and thousands of American lives in driving them out of France and eventually defeating the Nazis and ending their domination of all Europe.

After the end of WW II, countless millions in Germany and France and all over Europe were literally starving and freezing to death and we initiated the Marshal Aid Plan that cost us millions and millions of dollars to provide them with food and fuel. In 1948 when the Russian Army surrounded and blockaded Berlin from receiving any supplies, we carried out the famous Berlin Airlift that saved that city - again at tremendous financial cost to the American people.

Now when we finally need THEIR help in our conflict with Iraq, some of those very same countries including France and Germany have united to fight us hard in both the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Now that's real gratitude for you!

A few state governments are in good financial condition but a large percentage are presently having budget problems including some like Kentucky that have a state lottery. And the news concerning the projected deficit for the current Tennessee state budget certainly is not good. Some estimates indicate that the deficit may reach in the neighborhood of six-hundred million dollars ($ 600,000,000.00). Obviously there is going to have to be "belt tightening" all over the state and a lot of programs are going to be evaluated for possible austerity measures.

The media has reported that state funds allocated to cities and towns will now undergo close scrutiny and any reduction in those funds could present a BIG problem for Jellico. We expect to receive a total of something like two-hundred and forty thousand dollars ($ 240,000.00) from the state this year in the form of local option sales tax, state sales tax, gasoline tax, beer tax, street aid, etc.. And that projection has been incorporated into our operating budget. A large revenue short-fall in state funds could greatly diminish or even wipe out our reserve funds. And if the reduction should be a permanent one, we might be forced in future budgets to raise that revenue locally in order to maintain our present level of services. (I have not heard any reports as yet that closing state parks will be discussed and let's just hope that they are not ever mentioned. We all know how badly our Indian Mountain State Park was missed when the gates were padlocked!)

I have been asked several times concerning the nature of the work presently taking place next to our baseball field. According to Utilities Director John Leach, the work is being done by the contractor responsible for constructing our new sewage disposal plant. The trunk (main) line that carries sewage to the plant had to be readjusted due to inadequate elevation. That section of the large pipe is located in the flood plain of lowest level and the incline of the pipe was not sufficient to allow for proper gravity flow which could have created a major problem for us. But the contractor is taking care of that situation at no cost to the city.

The Utilities Department has been in contact with the Tennessee State Department of Transportation and the problem with the lights on our Interstate interchange should soon be corrected (if the corrective action has not already been completed). An entire section of the lights went out several days ago and has really plunged that area into darkness.

Leach also said that the local demand for electric power continues to increase and that the sub-station located next to the Jellico High School football field has recently been updated with a corresponding raise in its capacity. According to him, we are more than capable of supplying any new demands for increased power that might be brought on by annexation and any new industry. And more power can be made available to Whitley County if required.

And speaking of electricity, February and March are two of the months of greatly increased bills that I wrote about in these notes of December 11th. I listed some measures in that article that could be taken at that time that might result in reduced utility bills. And Leach says that a few did contact his office for the outlined assistance including home surveys conducted by the department and by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Heat can escape from a house in a number of ways and finding and sealing those escape routes can result in a significant reduction in the monthly bill. And the Utilities Department has a budget plan to "even out" monthly bills for those who apply at the specified time (August) each year.

But as I pointed out in that December issue, regardless of whatever measures are taken, electric bills for this time of year are traditionally much higher - here and throughout the country. And although it sure hurts the pocket book just when Christmas bills are coming in along with property taxes, income taxes, etc., the higher bills are a fact of life with which we must learn to live if we are going to stay warm and out of the darkness. (A lot of us are old enough to remember instances in the past when snow and ice broke down power lines coming into our sub-station during periods of bitter cold and how we were scurrying trying to find other means of heating our homes. Like water, we don't often miss our electric power until it is cut off and it was sure a great relief during those times when power was finally restored.)

The torrential downpour and blocked roads really cut down on the expected attendance for last Saturday night's entertainment and the Sunday "open house" for the wedding chapel. But those who did attend Sunday's reception and viewing were more than favorably impressed and all could understand why the facility has such great potential to attract both local and out-of-town weddings. In addition to the very beautiful chapel itself that has been so tastefully decorated, a pastor's study has been established for pre-nuptial counseling and a small chapel is available to the groom for private meditation as he awaits the appearance of the bride. Remarkably both the piano and organ have been adjudged to be in "perfect" tune after all these years. And a high quality and separate FM sound system - in addition to the traditional bridal music - can also offer such wedding favorites as "Ava Maria", "You Are The Wind Beneath My Wings", "Theme From Romeo and Juliet", "Morning Has Broken", "Unchained Melody:, "Endless Love" and others.

As Jake Bennett pointed out to all visitors, it took a lot work by a lot of folks to bring the chapel to the appearance that it now presents. And it is something of which we can all be proud!

As I committed to do several weeks ago, I now remind everyone during every meeting of the Jellico City Council and in every issue of these weekly notes to be planning for our special "Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up Month" in April. We need for every individual in our entire area to get personally involved and to get others involved! And pray for good spring weather! We want to make a real impact on the appearance of our town during that 30 days period.

But if weather does prevent us from making as much progress as we are hoping for, we will continue on throughout the summer. We are determined to get our town renovated and revitalized regardless of what is required to accomplish that goal!

We have members of the Armed Forces from Jellico and from the Jellico area and with the world situation being what it is, any and all could be sent into harm's way in the very near future. I would like to recognize and thank every one of them in this column and to let them know that we are proud of them and that they have our full support. (And at least some of them do read this column on the Internet - even in foreign countries.) So if you know any local members of our Armed Forces, I would request that you call the office of the Jellico City Recorder and leave their names. Please include any other information such as rank, branch of service, number of years served and anything else that is pertinent such as area of assignment, etc..

We sometimes hear sports and entertainment figures referred to as "heroes". But they are not heroes in the way that those who must place their lives on the line in defense of our freedom are heroes. (Many sports figures and entertainment individuals have been heroes in that sense as well. Hall-of-Fame member Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, possibly the greatest hitter in the history of baseball, had his brilliant career interrupted by service in both World War II and Korea where he was shot down in the U.S. Marines fighter plane he was piloting and miraculously survived to once again play baseball. Award winning actor Jimmy Stewart was a General in the Air Force. Author and actor Audie Murphy won the Congressional Medal of Honor, our highest decoration for bravery. And the list could go on and on.) But whether affectionately called "doughboys", "dogfaces", "ground pounders", "grunts", "snuffies", "flyboys", "gyrenes", "swabbies" or whatever, the fellows and ladies who are prepared to face whatever dangers may develop are the defenders of our liberty and they are all truly heroes!

I want to extend special congratulations on behalf of the city of Jellico to Thomas Collins and Brent Mozingo who live in Wooldridge and attend Jellico High School. Both are scheduled to receive the Boy Scout Eagle Rank that is the pinnacle of achievement in scouting. Only two percent (2%) of all Scouts ever successfully reach that plateau.. And Thomas and Brent are reportedly the first Scouts that we have had in this area to qualify for the Eagle Rank in over thirty-one (31) years. That is truly an outstanding accomplishment on the part of Thomas and Brent and we all proud of those two young men! (Both will be officially awarded the Eagle Scout Rank at a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, March 1st 6:00 PM at Newcomb Baptist Church.

In case you have not already noticed, requests from local and out-of-town users have led Netlink to add Jellico weather to http://www.jellico.com/jellico/jellico.htm. Although http://www.weather.com and many other sites have offered that service for quite some time, it will be nice to now be able to call up current weather conditions and forecasts for Jellico on our own site and anytime that we want. And what's more, all of the former residents and those who access the site - in this country and out of this country including those in the Armed Forces - can know what kind of weather we are having at any time. Even that kind of information is welcomed when you are a long way from home. And an awful lot of folks still call Jellico home - no matter where they now reside and no matter how long they have been gone.

It's hard to get Jellico out of the blood! And if you doubt that statement, just watch the counters clicking on the Jellico Internet sites as folks from all over log on to catch up on the news from "home". And of course our local papers all have extensive lists of out-of-town subscribers.