I mentioned in these notes following the Christmas Parade how the weather and the flu "bug" had greatly diminished our participation and attendance for that activity. An awful lot of local folks were ill at that time or were afraid of falling ill.

Now in addition to flu, colds and other maladies, many of us are also suffering from a bad attack of the "Peach Bowl Blues Bug" that struck us the evening of January 2nd. That game definitely was not the way all of us football fans with orange blood wanted to start the new year. But a poet once wrote something to the effect that "Hope springs eternal in the human breast!" And most of us are sure hoping for much better results in the 2004 season - although a lot of universities would be tickled pink to have won ten games this past season or any season.

But football is a way of life in Tennessee and there is probably much more discussion right now among true Vol fans about the future of our football program than there is concerning who is going to be the Democratic nominee for President. Things are definitely going to heat up in both situations - especially pertaining to Tennessee football after suffering another humiliating loss in a bowl game!

Although Tennessee basketball is probably a year away from being ready for prime time, the prospects do look very good for the future of that program. Maybe we can lose ourselves in round ball until fall finally rolls around and we can get a "fix" that will bring us out of the football doldrums.

The temperature was 64 degrees last week when I was preparing my notes and it eventually rose to around 70 degrees. I cited the fact then that one fellow wanted to get out and start planting potatoes. But I also warned that we have our two or three worst months ahead weather wise and it was really flurrying snow this week when I began preparing these notes. And looking back on weather patterns down through the years, we almost always get sudden bad weather following unseasonably warm temperatures during the winter.

There was the possibility of snow at the time these notes were being prepared and keeping our city street and roads open and safe is always a big concern. But Councilman and Street Commissioner Alvin Evans says that the manpower and equipment are ready when called upon and that ample supplies of salt are on hand. Snow removal will be conducted according to a previously developed list of priority streets and roads starting with Hospital Road and Sunset Trail. If any streets are missed, citizens should call 784-7350 and crews will work those routes according to the priority list.

However keeping the streets cleared using salt has its problems as well. A recent article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel dealt with the ever increasing number of pot holes in that city brought about by the freezing, thawing and the utilization of salt and other chemicals. In fact the problems that we have with the very rough places in our streets and roads pale in comparison to the photos that were shown of some of those in K-town. Experiencing problems with pot holes and damaged roads and streets is certainly not unique to Jellico and it is a situation existing throughout this country. We did make some very visible progress this year in improving our streets and we hope to make further improvements in future years. We are certainly hoping that this winter weather will not do extensive damage and set us back with what has already been accomplished.

These upcoming months will also see us receiving higher utility bills due to the greatly increased demand for heating and we might as well expect them. During one article that I wrote last summer, I reminded readers of the fact that bills for January, February and March in particular are generally much higher and I listed some things that TVA had recommended for home owners to follow that could help hold down heating and cooling costs. Among those recommendations were adding insulation, storm doors and windows, caulking, etc. I also mentioned at that time that users could sign for the budget plan during the month of August to help balance out the monthly bills.

But unfortunately I did not practice what I preached and I was rudely reminded of an area of heat loss from our house during the bitter cold that we experienced Tuesday night. And I made it one of my New Year's resolutions to be sure to "winterize" next summer. (That's a resolution that shouldn't be as hard to keep as my traditional resolution to lose weight.)

Some of us attended a recent performance in Gatlinburg by the group "Exile". That group has had eleven songs to reach number one in the country music field including one that was also atop the charts in the "pop" field for a period of several weeks. They have won nominations for almost every category of country music.

Tourism Director Jake Bennett and I had an opportunity to talk with the lead singer following the performance and when we mentioned that we were from Jellico, his eyes really lit up. He surprised us both when he stated that he has been here many times and is well familiar with our town.

As I continue to emphasize, there always seems to be a connection with Jellico no matter where you go and whom you meet.

And speaking of music: I reported last week that some of our local musicians plan to once again perform in our Community Conference Room next to the office of tourism and our public library on weekends during these cold winter months.

The group that will perform has not yet developed its schedule but there is a possibility that they will begin next weekend (January 16th or 17th) although that has not yet been finalized. (Jake will post the schedule on the community bulletin board as soon as he receives it.) However several who just like to play and sing have been gathering there for several weeks now for the sheer personal enjoyment. And I am sure that they would not mind having listeners to drop in on their sessions.

The Southern 4-Wheel Drive Association has announced that it will conduct its annual meeting in Jellico on March 20th. Seventy-five (75) or so representatives will attend that activity and they will plan for several additional events to take place in this area during the coming spring, summer and fall seasons.

The Association was first attracted to our area by Robert Cox and its membership has since been very appreciative of his help along with the help of our citizens and our area. They have repeatedly thanked area folks for their acceptance and support. In return, several of our local businesses along with Indian Mountain State Park have benefited from the fact that they virtually make Jellico and the Jellico area their "headquarters".

I am still amazed by the number of people who contact me to inform me that they faithfully read and enjoy these articles. Utilities Director John Leach told me recently that after virtually ignoring them or reading only sections of the issues for a period of time, that he now thinks that they may be "addictive" and that he and his wife look forward to each issue. Shirley Norman in the Elk Valley area says that she comes to Jellico virtually every week to get her copy. A lady living and working in Williamsburg sent me word that she reads every copy that she can get her hands on. Several folks including James Edward Branam and Brenda Brown have indicated to me in the past that they mail them to out-of-town relatives and friends. And as I cited in the last issue, I get a lot of contacts from out of our area and from out of state saying that they call them up each week on the Internet.

Even more amazing is the fact that so many tell me that they believe that they have saved every single issue since I started them five and one-half years ago with a lengthy break of a year or so. I constantly get requests for certain issues and I always remind individuals making those requests that most, if not all back issues can be found on the Internet www.jellico.com/jellico/jellico.htm with link to Mayor's Column and link to "Archives" of Mayor's Column. However I try to take or mail the copies to them when they inform me that they do not have access to an on-line computer and cannot otherwise locate the issues that they have missed.

Want a used washer and dryer? Mike Siwinski says that he has several from the former laundry mat on North Main Street/state line to be given away free of charge simply for the claiming and removal. If interested, contact him at 784-7877 or 562-7672. The used appliances must be removed before renovation can be done to the interior of that building. As I reported once before, Mike says that he has every intention of making that the "best looking building in Jellico" before he is done with the structure. And that should sure make a big contribution toward realizing our goal of completely renovating and revitalizing our downtown. We need to keep getting the eye-sore buildings done one at a time until the job is finished - although I am hoping that we can get several done simultaneously this spring and summer.

I realize that I have constantly pushed for downtown renovation and revitalization since the first day that I assumed the office of mayor. And I know that my constant "hammering" on that subject may have become a little tiresome to some folks. But as someone once remarked after the coming of the interstate highway system that took most traffic and businesses from the downtown areas and left them looking almost deserted, "If you don't have a downtown, then you don't have a town!" There's a lot of truth to that statement and you only have to drive through many small towns located throughout the country to realize that fact. You see "ghost" towns in many different locations and many others are virtually "dead" as far as pride, interest and use are concerned. And those of us who love Jellico and can still remember what it once was when the north/south highway (US Highway 25-W) passed right through our downtown and all of the local mines employed hundreds of workers do not want to see that happen here.

Jellico will never be the same as it was then and we all realize that fact. There simply have been too many changes in the way that we live and work. But our downtown can once again present a very pleasant appearance and be a place where folks will want to congregate. And when people do start coming back downtown, there will be incentive for new businesses to open. It goes without saying that it takes potential patrons to attract business investment.

We are making slow but definite progress toward restoring and revitalizing our downtown and that is apparent to everyone. And I will just keep on "hammering" until the job is finished or I leave the mayor's office. So let's all get ready to go back to work this spring!