EDITION OF AUGUST 11, 2003

The storms and rains continue to come and looking up the long-range weather forecast for our area on computer is like playing a broken record (actually a compact disc this day and age). One front follows another that is filled with storms and rain. Most if not everyone agrees that this has been the wettest winter, spring and summer that they have ever seen. And the continuous stream of weather patterns bearing so much moisture promises to continue on into the autumn season.

And the rains have been very hard at times. Reverend Jerome Walden mentioned one rain that came down recently making it very difficult to see even for a very short distance. My wife Jenny and family members one day last week had to remain in the Knoxville West Town Mall for an extended period of time when they literally were unable to even clearly see the parking lot much less the individual vehicles. And one of our teachers at Boston Elementary School along with her husband, had to physically make "road repairs" so that they could get to work following a recent storm and washing of their road that occurred during the night..

I recently visited Newcomb's version of the Roman Forum (the benches in front of Jerry's Market) and talked to several old-timers like myself. And none of them could ever recall anything like what we are currently experiencing. In fact one long time gardener who has always taken great pride in the tomatoes he raised, said that he had suffered virtually a complete bust with his crop this year. However another whose garden is located on a hill side where there is great drainage, indicated that he is having a banner year with his tomatoes - and without ever having to water them as is usually required during our typically hot and dry summers. (I guess that just confirms the old saying that one man's loss is another man's gain.)

And thankfully I have not had to water Jenny's flowers this summer - a drudgery that I dread from one summer to the next. The strangest of it all is the fact that getting new settings of dogwood trees started with root development requires watering them often and on a regular basis. But this year I have lost two young dogwoods due to root rot from so much rain. That's sure a new one on me! (And I see other young dogwoods around town with strangely colored leaves that apparently are suffering that same fate.)

Maybe the rains will subside in time for some of our planned activities including the next Eastern Rock Crawling (EROC) competition August 15-17 and the "ladies only" version in September. (Tourism Director Jake Bennett has indicated that he also plans to contact local ministers concerning the possibility of some type of ceremony in Veterans Park to observe the second anniversary of 9/11.)

And we certainly hope that we have good weather for our second Fall Fest on October 3 - 4.. (We had a very hard rain on the first day last year but thankfully the weather cleared and we enjoyed a great second day.)

Following my last article in which I cited the fact that we will have judging of displays erected by local businesses, the question arose as to why not include residences as well. That could happen in the future but the Tourism Commission will need to evaluate this year's first experience with only business places included in the judging before including residences. And since residences in so many scattered locations might decide to decorate, some system will have to be developed to insure that none are left out in any future judging.

A meeting was held on Tuesday, August 5th (Tennessee State Highway Department, Jellico Utilities Department, telephone service representatives, traffic control personnel, etc.) to work out details in preparation for the paving of our downtown including all of North Main Street from the Kentucky line to our central traffic light; Fifth Street/four-lane to the interstate and possibly a little beyond; and South Main Street to Poplar Street. (Some work will also be accomplished at Indian Mountain State Park.) Dates for start of the project are not definite as yet but could possibly start as early as this Wednesday, August 13th or Thursday, August 14th.

The road to Jellico Hospital lies within our city but it is probably utilized by as many (and possibly more) folks from Campbell County living outside the city limits than those residing inside the city. And we have folks coming to that hospital from Scott County, Claiborne County, Whitley County, etc.. It is a route that needs to be maintained by all local governmental agencies. We plan to continue to explore every avenue in an effort to obtain assistance in getting the necessary major repairs made to that road that is so crucial when emergency medical treatment is required - no matter from where patients must be transported. Illness and injury know no geographical locations and when medical emergencies do arise, we are all equal in our need for quick response along with safe and fast transportation to the hospital.

Another problem that we have in conjunction with the state of Tennessee is the lighting (or lack of lighting) along our Jellico interchange at Interstate -75.. The Jellico Utilities Department recently placed all new and modern lights on every pole but the wiring that feeds the system has been there since 1979 and badly needs replacing. Additionally electrical storms that have been accompanying many of the recent weather fronts has played havoc with the section that continuously goes out - making an already dangerous entrance/exit even more precarious.

But Utilities Director John Leach says that the department is well aware of the situation and is working toward finding a permanent solution that will keep the lights burning.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has announced that electric rates will be increased by that agency throughout the entire TVA system. The raise is tentatively scheduled to become effective on October 1st. Although the rate increase will affect every town, city, area and user supplied by TVA - and although neither the Jellico Utilities nor the City of Jellico will have absolutely any say in the matter - we will be those who receive the complaints and criticisms once the raise becomes evident on the monthly bills! That is inevitable regardless of the fact that there is absolutely nothing that we can do about such increases.

Additionally, we always get bombarded every winter - especially in February and March - with complaints concerning utility bills (including our own) that are always high at that time of the year. That is true in spite of the fact that we constantly remind users that they can enroll for the budget plan every August. If your bills are extremely high during the winter months, talk with folks at the utility department about signing up on the budget plan which will help even your bills out each month over the entire yearly period. (The plan can be especially beneficial to folks on fixed incomes.) But remember: You can only sign for the budget plan in August of each year.

The technology age has arrived and no matter how hard it is on us old timers, we are just going to have to adjust. Computers with all of their applications are definitely here to stay.

I was first introduced to computers in the military where we utilized two large Western Electric Computers (WECO) that operated on the old vacuum tubes and generated tremendous amounts of heat. Then I had computer science classes at the University of Tennessee where we had to punch-press cards with information, feed them into a card reader that then sent them to a compiler for conversion to machine language and have them finally processed by an IBM 360.. I struggled greatly to learn a little FORTRAN and COBOL programming languages only to have them become totally useless to me with the development of the desk top computer that could do hundreds and even thousands of things that the two above listed computer types could not do.

Then we went through word processors, spread sheets, floppy discs, internet and e-mail services, discs, etc.. And now the rage is becoming "smart boards". And they definitely deserve that descriptive name. They threaten to totally revolutionize power point presentations and many other functions- especially in the area of classroom instruction.

Many of us can remember when we went to school with two pencils and a notebook. Those items along with textbooks and a chalk board and erasers (later "marker boards") were all we had and according to our thinking, all that we needed. But not so in the modern age! All of those may soon be replaced by the smart boards which allow students to do any number of things at the board simply by touching them. And the teacher can evaluate and make corrections simultaneously by using a keyboard at her desk. (The Whitley County School System is at the forefront of installing technology in schools and Jenny and I attended open house for the beautiful new Whitley Central Intermediate School on Sunday, August 3rd that has state of the art technology. Students demonstrated some of the instructional functions that are available on a smart board and we were both in complete awe.) I simply cannot imagine what is next!

I recently was able to overcome a situation that has frustrated me for the entire summer. Due to my work schedule, vacation and personal matters, I had been unable to participate in a single "old timers" baseball game this season. But I finally did get the opportunity to play first base in a contest and it had its rewards for me - including a bruise on my shin bone from mishandling a sinking throw from deep short; two "stoved" fingers on my right hand as a result of trying to field a hot ground smash with my bare hand; a possible strained ligament to my left thumb brought on by gosh knows what; a very seriously wounded pride incurred by a tumble at second base and three days of stiffness and soreness that come with the ravages of Father Time.

But it was great fun and Bobby Daniel, Jim Hurst, Carlos "Carbide" Warmin, A.B. Foreman, Gene Tye, Bobby Teague, Ray Maiden and others do a great job in keeping the sport alive that once totally dominated our town and our area. And the old timers contests bring participants from Williamsburg (including former professional Charlie Jones who can still play the game), Lafollette (Cracker Welch, another former professional David Davis and others seldom miss). Former Jellicoan Virgil "Soapy" Herron makes the trip from Madisonville, Tennessee to play in every game. And some have come from as far away as Dayton, Ohio.

My day with the bat resulted in my hitting into a double play followed by a weak grounder to third. However I did get good wood on the ball during my third trip to the plate and sent one deep enough into the outfield for a possible double. But by utilizing my God given speed I was able to stretch it into a single. (Actually a relay from the outfield followed by a good throw across the infield would have gotten me at first with plenty of time to spare. But thank goodness for a special old-timers' rule that uncaught balls hit to certain parts of the diamond result in automatic singles. That rule helped to restore some of my badly injured pride. But I am sure that my performance was not what the author had in mind while writing "The Boys of Summer"!

Final note: All veterans will miss Bob Hope, a real American treasure. During my years in the U. S. Army and the Army National Guard, I never met a GI who did not love Bob Hope. JOHN CLIFTON, Mayor, City of Jellico