My thanks to all of the Jellico folks who attended our "open house" at Boston Elementary School on Sunday, August 8th. Some even said that they have no children or grandchildren that will ever be attending B.E.S. but that they had heard so much about our school that they wanted to see it for themselves. And everyone in the big crowd in attendance for the first time, left genuinely impressed with our beautiful and wonderfully equipped facility that is such a source of pride to our area - including Kentucky Hill, Black Oak, High Cliff, etc.
We have been a finalist for the "Campus of the Year Award" for the very large Fifth Congressional District of Kentucky for the past two (2) years. After touring our building, some commented that they could certainly see why - and we greatly appreciate the compliments.
It's finally football time and the first kickoff can't come too soon. We pigskin junkies can only go so long without a fix and it has been nearly four (4) months since the Orange and White game. Our men in Orange will open at home on September 4th versus the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). (The list of UT alumni members in this area is really growing and I have been surprised by the number of our recent JHS graduates who have attended - or are now attending - school on the Hill. That will stimulate even more interest around here in the Big Orange - if that's possible.)
Our JHS Blue Devils will already have three games under their belts by that time - opening on August 20th at home versus Scott High and followed by games at Williamsburg on August 27th and at Midway on September 3rd. Those first two will be against especially tough competition.
(Our Fall Fest is now only a very few weeks away. Friday, October 1st and Saturday, October 2nd. The football game that Friday night is at Cloudland which will allow many of those young folks to come to Veterans Park for "Eddie Barber and Kentucky Bred" that had such a great time during that group's recent appearance in Jellico.)
For the benefit of folks living in Southern Whitley County, the Whitley County High Colonels (now becoming better known as the "Red Storm" following their recent success) will open on August 20th, playing Perry County High at home in the Alumni Bowl. August 27th will see them at Knox Central and they will have an open date on September 3rd.
As I wrote in an earlier article, the home football games sometimes give me a chance to see and talk with Mr. Mike Ross, developer of Rarity Mountain. And I am looking forward for the opportunity to meet with him at that first home game on September 4th and discuss what is currently taking place concerning that project. I am anxious to really get caught up concerning the progress that is taking place.
(Mr. Ross has already committed to be in Jellico Friday, October 1st along with radio talk show host Hallerin Hill, to help kick off our Fall Fest. We will know a whole lot more following that activity.)
Since Rarity Mountain property will start at the $ 300,000.00 level with a wide range of prices available, one can only imagine the number of business people and potential investors that will locate there. That is why it is so important that we complete renovation and revitalization of our downtown area within the next year or two. Who knows what effect a favorable impression of our town will have upon those folks? (It is not totally out of the realm of possibility that some own/operate businesses located throughout the country and might possibly be considering possible sites for relocation. And it's for sure that there will be plenty of potential customers for local businesses if we offer the goods and services that they will desire.)
We have got to stay with downtown renovation and revitalization until the job is finished!
An e-mail from Terry and Esther Loudin, The Galleria Flower and Gift Shop, North Main St: "…….We have also added another service to our shop to help the people of Jellico. We have teamed up with Williamsburg Cleaners and we now offer drop off and pick up service for dry cleaning. If you could please make a note in your next Mayor's column we would appreciate it."
Happy to do so Terry and Esther and I thank you for adding that service. It will save some folks from having to make trips to Williamsburg. (But I still look forward to the day out there somewhere in the future when we have our own dry cleaners in Jellico. And Rarity Mountain could certainly add greatly to the demand for that service as well as a lot of others.)
(Some who have explored the idea of opening a dry cleaning business in Jellico in the past have been greatly discouraged by all of the environmental regulations dealing with such a business that are very expensive for compliance. But if there are enough potential customers in the future to off-set the costs, I am sure that we will have someone to eventually establish a cleaners here in Jellico.)
And e-mail from James Ridenour, Secretary and Treasurer, Jellico Rescue Squad:
>EM>
"Mayor Clifton,
I know that you are busy and might not be able to put out another column soon, but if you do, could you include this?
The members of the Jellico Lifesaving and Rescue Squad, Inc. would like to say thanks to Johnny Buckner for the food and drinks he recently delivered to the Squad during our assistance with parking cars at the Church of God Mountain Assembly building. We were standing in the parking lot in the heat, and since most of us had just arrived there straight from work, most of us hadn't eaten dinner. Johnny drove by and saw us and went and picked up two large pizzas and a twelve pack of cold Pepsi on his own and delivered it. It's nice to see little reminders that people do appreciate the Rescue Squad for what we try to do. We are here for one reason and one reason only: To serve the people of Jellico and the surrounding communities in any way we can."
I'm never to busy to print positive things happening in Jellico so just keep sending them! And what you said about appreciation for the Squad includes an awful lot of us that greatly appreciate what you folks do for our town and our area.
E-mail me at: mayor@jellico.tn.us
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Visit the City of Jellico's Web Site at: www.jellico.tn.us