You can never tell how an activity will go over in Jellico on its first attempt. And that was certainly true of John Fawaz's inaugural "Health Walk" last Saturday morning. Although there had been widespread publicity, only about 20-25 initially showed up for the walk which was a temporary disappointment. (That low number was possibly brought about by some folks not being sure if the rain would resume - plus the fact that the time change had us starting one hour earlier with the cooler temperature at that time. But it was a beautiful, crisp morning for a walk and all of the early arrivals greatly enjoyed it.)

Some went ahead and made the walk and then left assuming that no more would come to participate. But a Boy Scout troop made its appearance and was then followed by several groups of from 2-5 people. Eventually somewhere around an estimated 60 people participated which was a very good number for the very first attempt.

Almost everyone present felt that the walk was a great idea and John was requested to sponsor it again as a kickoff for our second annual Fall Fest in October - rather than waiting until next spring. Hopefully he will follow through on that request although there is a lot of work involved.

A person would have expected that we would have had a very good turnout for the Saturday evening rally to support our troops and that everyone who did not have good reason to miss, would be present for that activity. And as expected, we did have good attendance on a beautiful spring evening. (Several folks have told me why they were not there and most did have a very good reason for missing.) Expressing our support for our troops and our country should encompass everybody - no matter our politics or personal feelings. Some issues simply have to be placed above politics and personalities.

Nothing elaborate or out of the ordinary was planned and it was simply a short program intended to express our support and appreciation for our troops -both servicemen and servicewomen. But we reportedly got some very favorable notice from America's top country music radio station, WIVK in Knoxville, that commended us and also pointed out that it was their strong belief that there would be "no anti-war protestors" at our rally. And as far as I know, they were completely correct in that assumption and if there were any in attendance, they certainly did not make their sentiments known.

There were far too many involved to name individuals without leaving out somebody who contributed in some way. But on behalf of the city of Jellico, I want to thank everyone who prepared and presented the tribute to our troops and for every single individual who devoted their Saturday evening to honoring and thanking them for their service to our country.

A lot of folks are still buzzing concerning that beautiful song "The Last Flight" written just days before the occasion by Larry Meadows and Larry Boles and sung by Bobby Walden. As I looked around the audience in attendance, there was more than one pair of eyes filled with moisture as we listened to the words. And folks like U.S. Army veteran Brooks Dowdy began requesting copies of the CD immediately following the program - and I understand that word is already spreading out of town concerning the song. As I told the audience, I don't know how anyone could hear it and not be moved! It's that good and its certainly that meaningful!

Mr. Garland "Bo" Robinson asked me to relay his thanks to our citizens for their patience while awaiting repairs to the front steps of our Post Office. Bo said that he reported the damage immediately after it was incurred but that a request for corrective action had to be approved through the appropriate channels. Final approval of funds for the requested repairs required a period of time and then the rains began which delayed the work for several more days. But work on the steps (and walkway) had been completed at the time these notes were being prepared.

The only problem that I had with the blocked steps is the fact that I am a creature of habit and I always started straight up the steps without even thinking - no matter the bright yellow tape clearly marking the blocked off damaged area and no matter how many times I went to the Post Office. Then I always had to back off and make a detour around to the side steps. Now I am so used to going around that I will probably have to relearn to continue straight on up the steps to the landing once again. (But on second thought, the exercise was probably good for me and I may just keep on making the same detour.. Like the mentally slow elevator operator, I might have trouble relearning the route.)

I am in receipt of correspondence from Charter Communications Re: Assest Purchase Agreement between Enstar Cable of Cumberland Valley, listed in the letter as the "seller", and citing "Access Cable Television, Inc., (Buyer) dated September 30, 2002.. The letter confirms the purchase of our cable TV system by Access Cable effective March 31, 2003. And it further states, "For your information and files, following is contact information for Buyer: Access Cable Television, Inc., Attn: Mr. Roy Baker, 5215 South Highway 27, Somerset, Kentucky, 42501, telephone 606/676-0610."

(It would be my suggestion that all cable subscribers retain the above address and telephone number for reference. Our cable system is aging and badly needs improvements and Mr. Baker informed the City Council at an earlier meeting that he will make improvements in our system.)

The Jellico Children's Community Choir (JCCC) is now underway and is meeting every Wednesday in the Community Center behind the Methodist Church. Meeting hours are 4:00 PM until 5:30 PM.

We need more activities for our young people and the JCCC can certainly help fill that need.

Just a reminder that the Eastern Rock Crawling Competition (EROCC) will be held here Saturday (April 25-27). The vehicles will arrive in Jellico early for this event and are scheduled to be here at 12:00 noon, Friday the 25th..

And don't forget that the free quilting classes start Saturday, April 25th in the Tramell Building (Library/Office of Tourism/Community Conference Room). 12:00 Noon - 4:00 PM

I have been contacted by several wanting to know if we are still going to have our annual Classic Car Show this year. And everyone can rest assured that we will. (Saturday, June 21st.) In fact, Tourism Director Jake Bennett, Tourism Commission members Wanda Perkins, Alla Faye Rutherford, Marion Ivey, Jill Boles along with Jerome Smith and others, are already at work drawing up the plans as well as designing the advance publicity materials. The printed advertisements to be sent to numerous areas are very impressive. (And W.H. Bowlin has again agreed to provide caps for the car show as he did last year.)

And Jake means to keep us all occupied. He passed out a schedule of future activities at our last meeting of the Tourism Commission that includes nineteen (19) activities between now and the end of the year. Not all of the upcoming activities are Tourism sponsored and they range from the free quilting classes this weekend to the free financial planning seminars starting next week to our annual Christmas parade. And that's good. The more activities that we have, the more folks are going to be attracted to Jellico. And more folks mean more business.

A motorist coming down North Main Street toward the center of town can't help but notice the new windows that Russell Edwards has placed in the old Mary's Kitchen (still Meldia's Restaurant to us old timers). That just goes to show that all renovations, no matter how large or how small, can make a noticeable difference in the appearance of our downtown buildings. (And Russell does have more extensive work planned for the future.)

Slowly but surely things continue to improve and we just have to stay at the task. We can get it done even if it is done one small step at a time. And we need to be sure to let owners who make improvements know that we appreciate their help. The building owners are the key to getting our downtown restored to something resembling Jellico prior to the collapse of the coal industry and the continuous deterioration of much of our downtown area. We cannot totally succeed without the cooperation and help of the owners and hopefully all will voluntarily join in our efforts. But I sincerely believe that the time is now quickly approaching when the City Council will take legal action against owners whose buildings present safety hazards and/or constitute a nuisance as outlined in the existing city ordinances and who steadfastly refuse to take any corrective action.

Some at our rally to support our troops last Saturday were pointing out how badly one particular building looks. And it was their belief that the building should be condemned. It goes without saying that that building greatly detracts from our downtown in its present state but it is my personal feeling that every building that can possibly be renovated should be saved. It is true that buildings let go for so long without any repairs eventually reach a point where they must be removed. But that needs to be the very last option. Our buildings are visual representations of the history of our town and in that sense, they are invaluable. Down through the years we have already torn down so many area historical landmarks including the home of Grace Moore, the old passenger depot, the Civil War Hospital, our old city hall, our old movie theatre(s) and many others. And of course they are all gone forever.

As an individual who readily admits that I did not even lay eyes on a refrigerator for the first time until I was a good size boy, I am still amazed over the invention and capabilities of the Internet. And I often mention that fact in these notes.

And an e-mail that I received last week just makes my wonderment even greater. A man doing research on his family tree did an Internet search utilizing "Jellico" as his topic since he visited here when he was only four years old and felt that he might still have relatives here or that someone living here might know something about them. He found this column through the search and accessed an earlier copy in the archives that mentioned my daughter Kasee and the fact that I had stated that my grandmother Mary Defoe Kasee and grandfather John Kasee, had come to Proctor Hollow in 1892. The name Kasee caught his eye immediately and he had been told that his grandmother's name was Mary. He knew nothing of his grandfather and he was even more shocked to find that my grandfather's name was John Kasee - since that was his name as well.

To make a long story short, it turned out that he is my mother's brother's son (my first cousin and apparently named for our grandfather) with whom I have had little knowledge and no contact in something like fifty (50) years. His family had joined the big migration to California right after World War II and he was born there. He made his one trip from Van Nuys, California to Jellico in 1952.. Then he eventually left the Los Angeles area and we just lost touch. (He now lives in Yuma, Arizona.)

In his e-mail he asked, "Did you ever imagine that your casual comments on the Internet could solve a mystery thousands of miles away and 50 years in the past?" I have to admit that I did not. And what's more, only a few short years ago I would never have even imagined that there would ever be anything like the Internet. It truly is an amazing invention!