Last Saturday night's program and fireworks display has everyone asking if it can ever be topped or even equaled. And chances are it cannot be!

We had a series of events to develop that enabled us to provide such an outstanding activity. The fact that Corbin had their fireworks on July 3rd, Williamsburg on July 4th and Jellico on July 5th certainly added to our huge crowd in attendance. (Some told me that they attended all three and that our activities and fireworks were superior by far.) I personally talked with people from Clinton, Lafollette, Jacksboro, Caryville, Oneida, Williamsburg, Barbourville and Whitley City as well as numerous former Jellicoans from out-of-town and from out-of-state. Others told me that they had talked with folks in attendance from Corbin and Middlesboro. Chances are that we had many other out-of-town visitors that night and during the entire three days period. The weekend exemplified what we having been trying to do in promoting tourism. (I don't know for sure if the Channel 8 TV announcement had any effect but it had to be one of the largest crowds that we have ever had in our downtown. And Councilman Alvin Evans said that some of our young people indicated to him that it was the largest crowd that they have ever seen in Jellico.) Following the lead of several of our large cities around the country and having our fireworks on Saturday night sure paid off. And some have now requested that we have all such events on Saturday since it gives everyone - especially families - something to do on weekends in Jellico.

We had three days of truly outstanding gospel singing groups obtained by the Cupp family and the singers on Saturday and Saturday evening certainly fell into that category including at least one that performs on national television. Jake Bennett and I were working to see that everything stayed on schedule and as we walked among the crowd, we could see numerous folks singing along with the groups on stage. And there was frequent applause of appreciation.

Even the weather contributed in an unexpected way. A localized virtual downpour in the afternoon, rather than placing a damper on the activity taking place, actually cooled the very hot temperatures which led even more folks to come to the downtown. And the very beautiful clear sky that followed the showers permitted great views of the fireworks from all vantage points.

We had ordered additional fireworks this year and incredibly, "Pyro Shows" had some fireworks left from a previous show (Louisville, Ky. ???) and since we were the only area town having fireworks on Saturday, they threw those in free of charge to add to our display. (One senior citizen lady stated that it was not only the most beautiful display that she had ever seen in Jellico but that it was the most beautiful fireworks that she had ever seen anywhere.)

To top it all off, our new sound system worked almost to perfection and the patriotic music prepared by James Edward Branam and Gary Owens added greatly to the fireworks. (Councilman Evans said that he checked to see how well it would carry and that he could clearly hear the music and words to the first song well past the First Baptist Church. Yet folks in the park were not blasted by the volume since the speakers are mounted on poles several feet above ground. That was what we had hoped to work out and apparently we succeeded.)

Security and traffic control are always formidable tasks when an expected large crowd even exceeds all projections and we of course had a few incidents that had to be controlled. But overall, Councilman Dobson, the police department, rescue squad and all concerned did a great job in that respect.

Yes! It's going to be hard to ever top or even equal this year's Fourth of July. But the way that Tourism Director Jake Bennett and the members of the Tourism Commission work, don't be shocked if they do! However they are the first to point out that the help of numerous individuals, organizations, sponsors, city employees, etc. too numerous to list without leaving out many, are required to organize and conduct something so successfully. The help of all who contributed in any way was both essential and most definitely appreciated. Our entire town has the right to be extremely proud as a resident of the Boston Community emphasized to me following close of the event. It was a job truly well done and a Fourth of July Celebration to be remembered!

Our next events are the Mountain Assembly Week (Aug 4-9) and EROCC (Aug 15-17)

Speaking of Jake and the Tourism Commission: While they were completing details for the past weekend, they were already planning our second Fall Fest to be held October 3rd and 4th. Jake is also working on the possibility of a free wrestling exhibition in Veterans Park for benefit of our area wrestling fans. (Free to our city as well as for the fans.) He has also discussed the possibility of a future "community cookout" in Veterans Park with area residents who would volunteer their time and efforts required to organize the event and to do the actual cooking. But only the Fall Fest is a definite at this time!

It was great to see how well our newest publication, "The Christian Journal" was selling to the crowd. That first non-profit Christian publication had an awful lot of interesting items and expects to have even more in the future including color photos. You can subscribe by writing to: The Christian Journal, PO Box 96, Jellico, Tennessee 37762.

And I hope that everyone had a chance to see the "Tennessee Festivals" publication that has widespread circulation in Tennessee and other states.. The current edition has our Jellico EROCC activities as its lead story on the front page! (The story included both extensive coverage of the event and provided great publicity for Jellico and the White Oak area.)

An awful lot of folks were extremely complimentary of some of our renovated buildings and I sure hope that they will pass those compliments on to the owners who are responsible for getting the work done. We yet have a long way to go to make our town look the way that it needs to look and no matter what legal action we may have to take, nothing will be as good as having our property owners to voluntarily accomplish the needed work on their buildings.

President Abraham Lincoln once stated that, "You cannot help men by doing for them what they should be doing for themselves"! And that is true whether dealing with individuals, countries, towns, etc.. Some have blamed former mayors and councils for the terribly deteriorated condition that our town had reached just a few years ago. But it has never been the responsibility or fault of our city government when private owners let their property continue to go down. We do have an ordinance on the books dealing with such situations but understandably no one has wanted to have to resort to such a measure. Nothing can take the place of personal and civic pride in our town that will motivate property owners to do something.

I was absolutely overwhelmed by the reaction to my last column in which I indicated that I would seriously consider leaving the office of mayor in the upcoming weeks and months. Following distribution of that article I was contacted by so many individuals and groups requesting that I not leave the office that I actually lost track and I felt more than a little guilty. In writing that article it was never my intention to let our citizens down who have supported me so strongly. It was just the fact that I had become so discouraged by criticism from a very few and had had so many requests for services from our citizens (some unreasonable and others impossible) that I had become very, very disheartened.

But I was more than assured that the vast majority of our citizens see and support what I have been trying to accomplish for our town and someone referred me to a poll on the "Miss Jellico" web site entitled "Clifton for Mayor Again" - which I assume was intended to learn how many would support me in the next election (although I have no plans to ever seek office again.) "Miss Jellico" clearly points out that the poll is highly unscientific but on Tuesday morning when I accessed the site, eighty-five percent (85%) were indicating that they would support me if I interpreted the data correctly. That is both gratifying and humbling to say the least!

It was great to have Mr. Bill Partin in Jellico for our Fourth of July activities and here's hoping that he will relocate back "home".. (Mr. Partin was the first chosen for city administrator and he definitely would have been a good choice for the position.) He too was extremely complimentary of the improvements that he sees being made in Jellico and he very emphatically encouraged me not to even consider leaving the job. Coming from someone with his military and municipal experience, that was a very welcome endorsement and one that I greatly appreciate!!

Two of the most meaningful contacts that I have had came from couples who live on Wolf Creek and in the Newcomb area. Each couple made an effort to find me, told me that although they do not live in Jellico, that they love our town and that they are extremely glad to see all of the improvements being made. They asked me to stay on as mayor and the couple from Newcomb even told me that what has been taking place has helped to influence them to now strongly favor annexation into our town. (And from some indications that I got from others with whom I talked, that may be a growing sentiment among folks in that area!)

As I indicated in that last article, I would never leave the office before my term expires without very, very careful consideration of the consequences. And I definitely feel much better now about the situation after having talked with so many supportive folks.

Aside to Jeannie Rose Prendergast (no location, web site or e-mail address given) who evidently reads these column on the Internet: I remember your grandfather, Earl Smith, very well. In fact I used to hot patch the "inner-tubes" on my bicycle at his service station. The site of your grandparent's home place is now occupied by the Herman Heath family. And the Campbell County Sheriff's office now utilizes the old service station.

The hospital where you were born in '43 was the "Jellico Hospital" building that is now the location of Barton-Carey Medical Products (replaced by a modern "Jellico Community Hospital" in Tannery Hollow area if you still remember much about Jellico.)

I leave you with a fable: After much resistance, I have just recently joined the ever increasing number of folks who carry cell phones. They do come in very good at certain times. But I am convinced that they are quite dangerous when utilized by motorists as they travel the roads and highways.

One day I was traveling on Interstate-75 and a lady started to pass me at seventy-five miles an hour while at the same time talking on a cell phone. Her car kept slightly swerving in the lane and she was getting closer and closer to the side of my truck. Finally she came so close that I had to grab the steering wheel with both hands.

The cheeseburger that I was eating splattered all over the cab of my truck - mustard, catsup, pickles, etc. went everywhere. A real mess..

Repeat: Cell phones are dangerous! Dangerous I tell you!