When a writer runs thin on material about which to write, he or she can always bring up the weather. And the weather that we have enjoyed this fall - and so far this winter - is certainly worth writing about. Some of our days have been almost spring like and with the exception of the brief bad spell that just happened to arrive the weekend of our Christmas parade, we have had little to complain about.

One local gardener told me in town last week that this weather has made him want to get out and "plant taters". And although I am certainly not known as a farmer other than helping to look after Jenny's annual tomato plantings when I am absolutely forced to do so, I was eager to join him just in case he decided to follow through on his desire to get some "spuds" into the ground.

However the real blessing brought about by the warmer temperatures is the reduced utility bills that generally run much higher. Although they are never "low" at this time of year, they certainly are not what we experience when we have prolonged periods of sub-freezing temperatures. Of course we still have our worst two or three months ahead of us and we still may experience those very cold days and nights that require continuous heating. But regardless, we have benefitted greatly up to this point.

Occasionally I write a column that evokes quite a bit of response from my readers and that is true of my Christmas edition. Several had also read my statement in a local paper that I have no plans to ever run for public office again and they wanted to discuss that comment with me. Others complimented me and thanked me for what has been accomplished in our town so far and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to do so. But as I told them, it takes the help and cooperation of everyone to get things done and I have had that assistance from the City Council and an awful lot of our citizens. Little could have been done without that assistance and I am grateful to everyone that has joined in trying to restore Jellico to its earlier appearance and prominence that existed prior to the collapse of the local coal industry.

Two or three mentioned the personal goals and priorities that I listed for our town within the next year. They were more than a little skeptical that they can be accomplished in such a short time. And admittedly they were somewhat lofty! But I am a firm believer that if we do not establish goals and priorities, little if anything will get done. We have to have objectives and then apply our energy and efforts toward achieving those objectives.

One comment that I made concerning the fact that I believe that our City Council needs to place more of its attention upon the major problems that we face and less time upon the minor issues brought nothing but agreement from everyone who made comments to me (including one member of the local media). Some reminded me of the controversy that arose several months ago over an ordinance delaing with brush collection by our city crews. An awful lot of our citizens were angered by the sudden rigid enforcement of that ordinance and I and the members of Council were the targets of the wrath of a lot of folks. No one wanted to see our city employees injured by attempting to lift limbs that were too large and too heavy that could have injured them. But with a common sense approach that was instituted, the crews were told to pick up brush and if any could not be handled safely, to just leave it for the property owner. (And apparently that settled the issue since I have not had a single complaint since that policy was instituted.)

There are all kinds of ordinances and resolutions on the city's books that have long since lost their significance. If they have not been removed in recent years, we still have ordinances dealing with the riding of horses and driving of wagons into town. And one that was reportedly shamefully enforced many years ago, prohibited area coal miners from coming through town after their shift of work wearing their "bank" clothes covered with mud and coal dust brought out from mine shafts running deep beneath the earth. Few had motorized vehicles or even horses or mules so they had to walk to and from their work. And they had to go all the way around the downtown rather than passing through or face a fine that none could afford. Whether that ordinance still exists or not, I would be the first to rush to welcome a hard working coal miner into town in just that condition. In this day and age when hard work is held in disdain by so many, it would be good to see someone in that very garb although I am very, very glad that miners now do not have to work under such conditions and constantly risk their lives like they did in those days. (My grandfather was killed in a mine in Proctor Hollow and my great uncle suffered that same fate in the coal fields of Harlan, Kentucky. Other ancestors were badly injured.)

I am very proud to say that I saw my own father who hauled coal in similar shape on too many occasions to relate. And to me, the coal dust, mud and grease that he bore were badges of honor rather than something that should have offended a few elitists living in our town at that time.

In the same light, I am reminded of the time only a few years ago when Charles Allen had some great fun in pointing out that our city charter strictly prohibited females from voting in city elections. Although Charles raised the issue totally in jest, a great rush was made to change the charter provision that had been made obsolete many years before by an amendment to the United States Constitution. In view of that fact, its good to know that some over zealous individual(s) had not earlier tried to enforce that provision in the charter and to stop any ladies from voting.

The point is that we have far too many big problems facing our town than to occupy ourselves with minor issues that may have long ago become irrelevant. And some members of Council have told me that they are in complete agreement and plan to follow that very policy in the future.

I wrote in last week's article concerning the fact that the Mayor and City Council well understand the problem with the ever increasing cost of health insurance and the amounts that must be deducted from the pay of our city employees. And my statement sure came home to me just a couple of days later when I went to the post office and received notification that the amount to be deducted for my own personal health insurance coverage has been increased by a significant amount effective January 1st.

As I commented in those notes, most of us are currently caught in a Catch-22 situation. Medical providers like everyone else, must meet steadily increasing costs which in turn forces the insurance carriers to increase their rates. (The media last week reported that a highly respected physician/surgeon in another state had just closed his practice rather than continuing to pay the extremely high cost of malpractice insurance.)

But the always climbing rates pale in comparison to the cost of medical care without such coverage and most of us do not want to be caught without some type of health insurance. It is a national problem and congress and the Federal Government seem to be giving the issue much more attention. But in the meantime, it is a major problem for us locally and one that we must soon address in our workshops as we attempt to develop a budget for the next fiscal year.

It was sad news to a lot of local folks when the radio station suffered a damaging fire that took it off the air. But it was good news when the owners, Marvin and Betty Douglas, stated that they hoped to soon be back on the airwaves (temporarily at least with reduced power) and may already be functioning again by the time these notes are circulated. Everyone has their own taste in music and an awful lot of our local citizens enjoy southern gospel carried by the station - including many of our senior citizens and "shut-ins" who stay tuned in from sign-on to sign-off.

The station also offers programs and announcements of local interest and provides a public service in doing so. And announcer Tim Zecchini has become so identified with the station and its listeners that some folks consider him virtually "a member of the family". It would be hard to imagine a Jellico without Tim (and especially at Christmas time when he makes such an excellent Santa Claus for so many holiday activities).

I have not talked to the owners but one of the Knoxville TV channels reported that the station will be fully restored and may be relocated sometime in the future. If it is to be relocated, it would be good to have its studios in the downtown area since it constantly has folks coming and going and that would further help to revitalize the area. And most of the radio and television stations of which I am personally familiar are located in downtown areas.

And in that same light, we are still very interested in the local cable television provider's offer to help us develop a closed circuit transmision to be utilized by our town and our local schools - especially our high school. The possibility for live televising of ball games, programs, meetings, and all types of school and community activities is an intriguing one and one that I hope will become a reality in the future. Some such systems reportedly even televise classes designed to help adults to qualify for high school equivalency (GED) diplomas as well as providing other educational opportunities.

We do not yet know what requirements will have to be met but it is an idea worthy of very serious consideration by both our City Council and the Campbell County Board of Education. Such systems can be found in many cities and towns across the country and the potential uses for a channel are virtually unlimited including the training and experience that our young people could obtain in helping to organize, perform and operate the programming and equipment.

Now that we are well into the winter season, I understand that some of our local musicians will again resume performing on weekends in the Community Conference Room (next to the Office of Tourism and Library) in the Tramell Building. I did not have a schedule at the time these notes were being written but I am sure that Tourism Jake Bennett will post it on the Community Bulletin Board on that building just as soon as he learns the exact dates.

I certainly appreciate those who voluntarily give their time to perform and entertain. It provides another activity that appeals to many of our citizens and it has the effect of drawing folks to the downtown - which also helps in our drive to revitalize the downtown area and making it an interesting and appealing place where folks will once more want to congregate.

Congratulations to Mark Tidwell who has been named as our new Jellico Public Librarian. Sue Anderson from the area Library Board came by the Mayor's office to inform us of his selection and we were all very happy that Mark will be assuming that responsibility. It is the consensus of opinion that he will mainitain the library at the same high level of service that was always provided by Mrs. Dorothy Potter who has retired from that position after many years.

I get an awful lot of comments on this column from both locals and out-of-towners. During the past week I had visitors to Jellico from Florida, Ohio and Michigan to make it a point to tell me that they read it on the Internet and enjoy it. I greatly appreciate their informing me of that fact!