Sir Isaac Newton's "third law of motion" formulated in the mid-1600's, holds that "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". That may be true in the field of physics but in the case of our April meeting of the city council, the reaction to the meeting may be greater than the action taken by the council.
Judging from the comments that I have received, there may have been a "backlash" since word has spread concerning the meeting. One citizen told me that a member of the council has gone exactly opposite on everything that he said prior to the election. Another used more colorful language by saying that the same councilman has "flip-flopped" over and over since taking office.
A business operator who became very irate after hearing of the council's action, told me that he and some citizens who frequent his business are looking forward to the time when some of the concilmen come back to see them.
One lady called to tell me that there are some businesses in Jellico that she may never enter again and might go out of town to purchase items if necessary before she will go back in them. (I told her that we do not need to lose business in Jellico and to trade here whatever she does -- but at other local businesses if she prefers). Another senior citizen lady who lives in one of the towers called me to say that she could not believe some of the things that she had heard about the meeting. I confirmed most of the things that she repeated to me. I could go on and on about the reactions from our citizens (some I could not print) but the above is pretty much representative of so many comments that have been made to me in the past few days.
I related to one lady who often attends council meetings that I had recently heard the comment made that everything happening now will be long forgotten two years from now when our next city election will be held. She said that that might have been the siuation in past years but that it will not be true in 2002. She said that she hopes the proposed recall election can correct some of the problems but regardless, she and some friends have pledged to go door-to-door before the next election to insure that our citizens remember exactly what has taken place. I requested the honor of tagging along whether or not I am a candidate for reelection.
I want to again make it clear that Jim Dobson and I have absolutely no quarrel with most of the members of the Tourism Commission. Some of them I appointed and some I reappointed to their present seats. They work hard and everything they do is greatly appreciated. Most of them came to at least some of our activities last summer and enjoyed them. But a very few did not attend a single night because "they were not invited".
In my articles last summer, it was pointed out repeatedly that we wanted the activities in Veterans Park Annex to be a true community effort under the "control" of all of our citizens. And over and over again, I made it clear that we welcomed the attendance and the help of every single individual. (Those articles can be called up and read by accessing www.jellico.com/jellico/jellico.htm, clicking on my column and then clicking on the "archives" of the column.
One man who almost never missed a Friday or Saturday night last summer came by the office last Thursday and told me that the park and stage were placed under control of the Tourism Commission to appease two or three individuals. He said that Councilman Dobson and I were successful beyond all expectations with the activities that many expected to fail and that "jealousy raised its ugly head" and brought about the council's action. According to him, our citizens are well aware of the entire situation.
Regardless of what motivated the three councilmen, I sincerely hope that the Commission is very successful this summer and rest assured that Jim Dobson and I will attend some of the activites. Some have pointed out that I stated during the council meeting that I would not be attending any activities this summer. That was not my feelings nor my intent and I misspoke. But I was doing my best to conduct an orderly meeting while facing some obvious obstacles that were evident to those attending the meeting. Dobson and I will not intentionally stay away as a few members of the Commission did last summer. Those who read my statement in the recent article know that I stated plainly that Dobson and I would no longer accept responsibility for the activities because the responsibility was legally placed with the Commission by those three councilmen. And that has not changed!!! But that statement in no way indicated that we plan to boycott anything.
And speaking of the summer activities, I read on the Internet that the Cupp family will sponsor a "Mountain Gospel Jubilee" on June 17th. (The Cupps have been very supportive in the past of what we have attempted to accomplish and we had numerous conversations with them last summer concerning the potential for future events.)
I hope that everyone will remember and attend the open house at the public library this Thursday, May 4th (4:30 pm - 5:30 pm). All of the new computer technology donated by the Gates Foundation will be explained. The new computer services will provide additional reference opportunities that are almost beyond description.
I still cringe when I recall a council meeting (on audio tape) two years ago that almost killed the construction of the new building now housing the library. Thank goodness that some of us stuck to our guns and followed through with the project.
Librarian Dorothy Potter says that the usage of the library since occupying the new facility has increased to where she and the available help are having difficulty keeping up with the demand. She has some volunteer help and can use more (contact her at 784-7488 if you would be willing to volunteer some hours each week). The city council also needs to look at the possiblity of hiring some additional help. As I have pointed out many times in the past, a good library is a real asset to any town and area and well worth anything that we spend for its maintenance.
I constantly state that one of the objectives of this column has been to promote Jellico and to interest folks in visiting and relocating to our area. From some of the most recent comments on the www.jellico.com/jellico/jellico.htm "guestbook" I am succeeding at least to some extent in accomplishing just that.
Sam Osborne in Washington, D.C. noted on April 21st that he checks out my column each week on the web and "looking forward to a visit this summer". Marie Blanchard in Marietta, Georgia also on April 21st states, "I just caught the latest column from the mayor's desk. It makes me want to pack my bags and move back to Jellico". I am sure that others have logged in as well since the 21st but trouble on the net where I work had prevented me accessing at the time this article was written. And those who call up the guestbooks are familiar with the numerous similar comments going all the way back to the time the guestbooks entries have been retained. All of the respondents are very, very welcome back in their hometown.
The current controversy in east Knoxville concerning the desire of the H.T. Hackney Company to construct a 2-3 million dollar warehouse facility near the Knoxville Center (East Town Mall) and the opposition that has developed over that proposal, reminds me that the H.T. Hackney Company began in Jellico. It apparently remained here for several years before moving to Knoxville. (I recently saw a photo of their store here but I do not know its exact location. I'll bet Gail Garrett knows!) The old "Jellico Hardware" was located in a large building on the big concrete slab next to the Municipal Building that we now use for a parking area.
The proposed warehouse complex that is being so strongly opposed in east Knoxville will apparently require several employees. I wonder if "H.T. Hackney" might consider moving back home!
Mr. Kenny Powell, principal at Whitley County High School, recently showed me some very old copies of the Jellico Advance-Sentinel that he has in his possession. They included numerous items in Jellico's history including photos of the old buildings on Kentucky Street when they were new and advertised "quality horseshoes for sell", the Tanning Factory on North Myrtle Street that gave Tannery Hollow its name; some of the breweries that operated here around the turn of the century; the Tannery Hollow Elementary School attended by my mother before World War I that was located very near to the present residence of Jim and Marie Todd; the "Carmarthen Inn" that I believe was located along Fifth Street in the block between First Volunteer Bank and Kentucky Street; a music store that actually had "Edison Phonographs" (wind-up of course); the first St. Boniface Catholic Church on Kentucky Hill shortly after its completion in the 1880's; Mrs. J.B. Montgomery who got here before Jellico did (Jellico was called Smithsville when she arrived here on June 18, 1883); and many photos of the great explosion with a notation that the Advance-Sentinel had not exaggerated the extent of the damage in its accounts of all the deaths and damage that had been inflicted. In fact the reporter insisted that "the half had not yet been told."
What a great idea! Some folks in the town of New Amsterdam, Indiana have recently taken an over 100 years old building and turned it into a real "general store" resembling something out of the early 1900's. Complete with shelving and glass counters, the center of the store features a big "pot-bellied" coal stove surrounded by several can-bottomed rocking chairs that has become a "watering hole" for local residents. Over one-hundred showed up for the opening although there had been very little advance publicity given to the event. Originators of the idea have only a small amount of money in the project but a lot of hard work/labor of love invested in the venture.
The owners and workers wear high bib overalls, flannel shirts, etc. According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, quick breakfasts are available 5:30 AM - 9:00 AM; lunch time sandwiches and drinks 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM and from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM for folks on their way home from work. Stocked items include canned goods, lunch meat, milk, bread, "soda pop", etc.
Some of the main attractions of the store include the opportunity to get involved in a game of checkers at the tables and chairs provided for that purpose; sitting around in the rockers and talking over a hot cup of coffee; enjoying a bologna sandwich sliced fresh from the roll; and browsing through old photographs and antique items in an adjoining room.
Would that idea be successful in Jellico? We still have so many buildings and store fronts remaining vacant that I wish somebody would consider it.
I often write about the way that the Internet is fast taking over almost every aspect of our culture ranging from information, to marketing (much like the old "Sears and Roebuck Catalog), to music and far too many areas to list in this column.
To further emphasize that point, the United States government has announced that it will discontinue having exhibits at world's fairs after 150 years of participating. Instead of having a presence at the world's fairs, the United States will now build a virtual site on the Internet showing American culture that can be seen all over the world (as can anything on the net including Jellico and our individual Jellico user web sites).
And the University of Tennessee has announced that it will soon start a degree program on the Internet that can be taken at home, at the office or wherever a computer on line can be located. We are fortunate in Jellico to have an Internet server (Interstate 2000) and the number of local people who now tell me that they are on line is also increasing. But one word of warning to anyone even thinking of joining the web -- just like smoking, gambling, drinking, etc. -- surfing the net (like surfing the TV channels) can become addictive. Take it from me!!!
Note: There are now three guestbooks on the Jellico web sites with over twenty-six (26) pages of comments from users as of April 20. I mentioned above that more have come in since that time and the rate of responses is steadily increasing.
FINAL NOTE:
I am like everyone else in that I get very discouraged at times and all of the kind words of encouragement that I receive do certainly help when that happens.
Mrs. Arlene Leach a few weeks ago encouraged me to "hang in there" and gave me a copy of a poem that I refer to on a regular basis. Some of the lines in that poem state that, "The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds -- think big anyway!"; "What you spend years building some people may destroy overnight -- build anyway!"; and "If you are successful, you will win false friends and make true enemies -- succeed anyway!"
How could things be put into any clearer perspective than that?
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