I want to thank the Jellico Advance-Sentinel for the great increase in monthly salary that I received in last week's edition of the paper. I actually clear one hundred and fifty-six dollars ($156.46) monthly ($1,877.52 annually). But the listed figure of $15,645.40 each month for a total yearly salary of $187,744.80 sure made me feel awfully good - at least until I looked at my pay stub and until I remembered that I committed that monthly salary for the next sixteen months to pay for the awnings for our new building.
Seriously I know that typographical errors are made in doing copy work and I have made more than my share. And I do sincerely appreciate the work of the Jellico Advance-Sentinel staff in printing my column.
The number of people who regularly listen to my weekly radio program with Tim Zecchini on WJJT, AM 1540, Jellico (Thursday at 1:00 p.m.) apparently is gaining in each week. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Allen, J. Darren Murray, Bobo Buckner, and Reba Loudin Moses took the time this week to tell me that they regularly listen to the broadcast. Many others have done so in the past few weeks.
Much of the information is the same as I run in this column but some do not have access to this newspaper and some say that they don't mind hearing the same information again.
This column can now be read in the Advance-Sentinel, taken from the internet and heard on radio. That's not bad for a town of 2,447 folks.
Jellico badly needs a permanent covered stage and public restrooms for the Veteran's Park addition. (I hope to build that property up to the level of Veteran's Park and the Family Dollar Store).
I mentioned in last week's column that Mr. W.H. Bowlin has agreed to pay the cost of the stage materials and construction and we are greatly indebted to him for that gesture that will benefit our entire community. Mr. Bowlin has always been a consistent contributor to a multitude of community activities and I want to publicly thank him on behalf of the citizens of Jellico and surrounding areas. That is the type of tangible support that will enable me to get some things accomplished toward the revitalization of the downtown area.
I do not yet know where I will be able to locate the money for the public restrooms but I intend to search for any potential source. And I have asked Mr. Roy Price, Chairman of the Planning Commission to assist me in that search.
We need the restrooms badly - especially during the Fourth of July celebration and other activities. The money that we have been forced to spend for port-a-potties over the past several years for those activities would probably have already paid for the construction of some permanent facility.
Some filling of the Veteran's Park Annex will be required before Mr. Arnold Musick can start the actual construction of the stage. (Section upon which the stage will be located).
However my original plans of having the dirt loaded by Mr. Danny Blankenship did not work out due to the fact that the dirt is compacted and requires a bulldozer to cut it loose and push it down. But Mr. Tommy Heatwole is securing dirt there for his own use and also sells the dirt for $35.00 per load. He has agreed to haul several loads for me for $20.00 per load as a donation toward my Downtown Renovation Project. I have contracted him to initially dump 25 loads on that site and I will pay with the $500.00 earlier donated to "Christmas in the Park" (with the approval of Mr. John Mays who originally gave me that money). If the charge exceeds that amount, Mr. Heatwole has told me to pay the remainder when I can or if I can.
Enthusiasm and support for next week's "Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up" seems to be rapidly gaining momentum. I have been contacted by several individuals and businesses expressing support for that upcoming activity since I made the original proclamation. Some simply wanted to say that they think it is a very good idea while others have made firm commitments to get involved in some manner.
A group of our high school students including Aaron Lay, and Brad Sharp (I do not know the names of the others but will list them in a later article) have volunteered to help with one project so we will have a "kick-off" this Saturday by beginning the painting of the Tschudy Property and the Caboose in Veteran's Park. (The official week starts on Monday).
Mr. Sterling Baird has again assured me that he will paint the old Coca- Cola Plant and do additional work as labor becomes available; Mr. Bill Payne is in the process of planting redbuds and cherry trees on his Fifth Street property; Mrs. June Maiden plans to plant dogwoods on her property on that street; Mr. John Trammell states that he will begin clearing property on Fifth; Postmaster Bo Robinson wil have dogwoods planted on the wide sidewalk in front of the post office; Heritage Pizza will plant dogwoods between the restaurant and Rocky Top Market.
Derrick Brown, "Tater" Davis and others have volunteered to work during much of that week while Jay and Betty Murray have offered their services and the services of their towing equipment for any job that might require heavy lifting or moving; Mr. Bill Neely and Mr. James McNealy have already been involved in work on their downtown buildings; John and Corky Leach have been working on the interior of their building; Gail Sharp has been working around the Municipal Building to plant flowers, etc., and I am sure there have been others since this article was written.
But perhaps the most meaningful commitment came from Mrs. Bessie Steeley. Mrs. Steely says that she loves the idea of a special week for cleaning up, painting-up and fixing-up and that she plans to get involved as much as possible. "I can't do much but I plan to do something if it is nothing more than picking up around my area. We all need to do something!"
That is exactly the type of positive attitude that some of us who are interested in the present appearance and the future of Jellico are trying to create. And it is the type of attitude that we must have if we are to be successful in what we are trying to accomplish.
Note: I will be out of town on Saturday, May 8th myself. My daughter Kasee will receive her doctorate in philosophy (Ph.D) that day from the University of Georgia and Oxford University.
The dogwoods that were planted along our sidewalks have not yet reached their first year of age but several have bloomed out enough this spring to give an idea of what they can add to the appearance of our town once they reach maturity within the next few years.
Late last summer, Walmart in LaFollette donated several flowering trees and some of those were planted on the McComb property next to the Post Office. They had only a few blooms this spring, but they too were beautiful.
The Library and Office of Tourism have now moved to the new Trammell Replacement Building although much work still remains to be done in getting everything in place.
The Office of Tourism badly needs one or more glass cases in which to display historic and other exhibits. Mrs. Joann Watts would be willing to attach a plate designating the name of the donor(s). Please call her at 784-3275 if you case(s) that you would be willing to contribute for that purpose.
(Gatliff Coal Company has indicated to City Administrator Mike Jones that that firm may be willing to donate some furniture for the new building.)
Note: We are still undecided on the date for the official "Open House" although the Memorial Day Weekend has been suggested. But nothing definite has been decided as yet.
City Administrator Mike Jones, city employees and utilities department employees have done a great job in working to restore the tennis courts in Tannery Hollow to at least playing condition. We did not have the money (I'm told) to do extensive repairs to the court but Jones and the city crews have worked hard to make it available to local tennis enthusiasts.
The adjoining basketball goal is already playable and lighting will be added to make it usable at night.
The golf driving range that we are attempting to establish behind the baseball field has been cleared and mowed and will be kept mowed as much as weather and available time will allow. And we welcome any volunteer help from the community with the mowing.
Some have already begun hitting balls there although the ground is still very, very rough.
I have just received a copy of the recent audit of the Jellico Housing Authority compiled by the Auditing Firm of Darnell and Thompson of Lawrenceville, Georgia under contract with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The audit is highly complimentary of both the bookkeeping procedures and the actual monetary accounts maintained by the Jellico Housing Authority. A report to the Board of Commissioners includes the following introductory statement, "We noted no matters involving the internal control over financial reporting and its operation that we consider to be material weakness."
That is truly an outstanding audit report.
I want to thank Shannon Buckner and Dessie Johnson for a suggestion that I acted upon immediately. They pointed out that we have placed a large sign on the four-lane pointing the way to our downtown for those exiting the interstate from the north. But no similar sign has been available to those exiting from the south - sometimes creating confusion for those possible visitors to our town.
I also want to be sure to thank Wanda and Charles Bruce of Wanda Bruce Sign Company for agreeing to have the signs prepared and to donate the cost of the material and the labor for the crew to get them erected in the most advantageous location.
Bruces Signs will also replace the vinyl lettering on the caboose after it is repainted free of charge as an additional contribution to my Downtown Renovation Project.
Final Note:
We are losing an outstanding employee in Gary McLemore who has worked for the department of Parks and Recreation for the past fourteen months. Gary has worked very hard and has been willing to perform any task that anyone that I know of has asked him to do.
He is leaving for a much higher paying job in North Carolina and we certainly can do nothing but wish him well in that new job. But he will most assuredly be missed.
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