Tim Zecchini took the words right out of my mouth! "We may have had more activity and folks in Jellico on some Memorial Day weekend in the past. But I cannot personally recall one!" We were well prepared for a big weekend and there had been quite a bit of planning involved.

But certainly no one was prepared for the tragic news that we received on Thursday. That news and other events sure made it a Memorial Day to be remembered!

I was personally grateful on Thursday when I drove through town that afternoon to see that several businesses had erected American Flags as I had requested. But I was also disappointed that others who had committed to place them on their buildings, had not yet done so. But not to worry! More were placed later that day and on Friday - and others had constructed beautiful window displays.. Only a very few businesses for what ever reason, chose not to participate. But we certainly appreciate all business owners and their employees and our residents who did help us show our patriotism and our gratitude for our veterans - both deceased and surviving. And as it turned out, it was an especially appropriate time for everyone to do so.

Saturday morning was a very tough time for me.. I was not involved in the planning of the program to be conducted at the Veterans Memorial by the Jellico Honor Guard Saturday morning; was not scheduled to be on the program; and I expected to be there as a spectator only. However Mrs. Lincoln (Linda) Davis called to say that she would be at the ceremony to honor Sgt. Barton

Siler who had just lost his life in Iraq. Mrs. Davis was to be here representing her husband Congressman Lincoln Davis who was in Afghanistan at the time. When I relayed that news to organizer Gary "Boo Boo" Leach as everyone was gathering at the Monument, he indicated that he would like for me to help welcome everyone and especially Mrs. Davis.

Although I had Barton at Jellico High School for his entire four years, there are also several other ties. I had talked with Jenny Siler who had been working at Boston Elementary just a few minutes earlier and I was fine up until the point just a few seconds before I was to appear at the podium. But something happened at that time involving Barton's beautiful and very sweet three years old daughter, Micah, who is sometimes at Boston Elementary School, that really touched me. I needed just a few minutes to deal with that but I did not have that time available to me since the ceremony was starting. And during my remarks I became somewhat emotional. I know that according to some, grown men of my age aren't supposed to let their emotions show in such a manner - especially in public. But an awful lot of folks including a few who may have known what had taken place with Micah, later went out of their way to tell me that they felt that my reaction was more than appropriate. And in the words of Mr. Jim Hurst, "If you shouldn't show emotion at a time like that, when should you show it?" His and the very supportive comments of numerous others following the ceremony sure made me feel better.

It was an outstanding ceremony by the Jellico Honor Guard and the Jellico High School JROTC.. Leach, HermanHeath, Sarge Collins and other veterans will now plan a ceremony for the placement of Sgt. Siler's name on the plaque- possibly within the next couple of weeks.

I had not yet seen the video clip at the time that these notes were written but I understand that the Weather Channel showed a portion of Saturday's ceremony at our Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day. That channel is seen nation wide and I believe world wide. Lisa Casey at Netlink 2000 has obtained a copy, and has placed it on the Internet at:. http://www.jellico.com/jellico/jellico_weather_channel.html (Webmasters note: I have requested permission from The Weather Channel to keep this up and awaiting their response).

The performance Saturday night by Eddie Barber was outstanding and I doubt that anyone even in their wildest hopes, could have anticipated the crowd that we had in town for that activity. Former Jellicoan Vickie Heath Chapman who now lives in Lafollette, told me that she didn't realize that there are that many people in all of Campbell County. And had all parking areas not been virtually exhausted, the crowd may have been even larger.

A lady from Williamsburg, Mrs. Phyllis Harrison, a close friend of Mrs. Frances Steely and an acquaintance of mine, came to the performance with Frances and was so impressed that she informed us that she plans to talk to the mayor of that town concerning having similar activities there. That's a real compliment for Tourism Director Jake Bennett and the members of our Tourism Commission.

And Phyllis probably has some strong pull with Williamsburg Mayor Robby Harrison, also a school teacher. (She is Robby's mother!)

And true to expectations, the American Flags in cemeteries throughout our area as Herman Heath promised area veterans would have in place ready for the weekend, were there and standing out beautifully in the slight breeze And also true to form, Helen Ruth Sharp along with Trula Housley, Josephine Siler, Eva Dolcini, Princess Moon and possibly others that I did not see or were not there when I visited the Jellico Cemetery, were in the tent collecting for the Jellico Cemetery Association. Without exception, everyone visiting our Jellico Cemetery this year termed its condition the best that they have ever seen it. Again on behalf of the City Council and all of our citizens, I want to thank everyone who helps the Association and especially Helen Ruth for performing another truly outstanding job that is done totally voluntarily.

(Charles Douglas who now lives in Pensacola, Florida and takes this column from the Internet, e-mailed to ask how he can donate to the Association. To Charles and to others who might have the same desire: Send your donation to Helen Ruth at the Union Bank!)

Our motels all reported as being completely booked up when I checked with them over the weekend And Indian Mountain State Park again filled to capacity. In face George Deuel stated that at least another fifty (50) camper pads could have been rented had they been available. The need for more room in our park is now constantly increasing under the directorship of Jerome Cummins and his staff. And from all indications, it is going to continue to increase.

(I did not participate in the contest conducted by the Gem Restaurant to give that business a new name. But Indian Mountain Park was conducting a contest to name a snake they have there.

With absolutely no dig of any kind intended toward Jake Bennett, I submitted my nomination of "Jake" for the slithery one. "Jake the Snake" just has a real ring to it, don't you think?

Now we must prepare for our Annual Car Show and Jake, the Tourism Commission, Jerome and Deborah Smith and others long ago began working on that activity that is scheduled for Saturday, June 18th.

But prior to that weekend, another activity is being planned for Veterans Park that will in all probability draw a crowd. Not everyone (and probably not even a large percentage of folks) like wrestling. But a lot of folks love it and some are almost fanatical in following that sport. Wrestling matches/exhibitions held in the park in the past have drawn big crowds.

In fact those matches/exhibitions have been so well received that a local group plans one for Saturday, June 11th.. Although it will be locally planned, locally conducted and with some local wrestlers, the group expects to also have wrestlers from several surrounding areas.

I had several comments concerning my special edition of these notes that I distributed just prior to this past weekend. Several who talked to me were in agreement that we do seem to have a new and very positive attitude developing among our folks that our town is on its way back.

Mrs. Bessie Steely recently gave me a copy of the Jellico Advance-Sentinel dated Sunday, October 5, 1965.. And even away back then, the decline of Jellico following the collapse of the coal industry led that paper to publish an extensive story on our plight. According to that story, "There is no area in Jellico which does not contain blighting influences; yet it is within the capabilities of Jellico to eliminate many of those blighting influences in a relatively short period of time and to remove many of the remaining blighting conditions with a long-range program.'

"Regardless of the need, improved business and living conditions and an increased tax base can come to Jellico only when the people of Jellico decide that these goals are desirable and when there is a willingness to work for those goals. Jellico's leaders months ago, met this criteria head-on. They are willing. They are working!"

Those statements are as true today as they were forty years ago. And we did have some leaders back then who went to work to bring about a lot of improvements. I was in the Army and then attending college during that period and I am not familiar with everything and everyone who was involved in bringing about an awful lot of improvements. But I do remember some such as A.B. Foreman and Rev. Paul Light and I know that there were numerous others who helped.

And I am sure that they could have used an awful lot more help from their fellow citizens. As the article emphasized, improvements will only come when there is a willingness of everyone to work toward that goal! No Mayor, Council, individuals or groups can do it alone!

A few items of interest as I ramble around town:
Have you noticed the Dogwood tree in front of Jellico Housing Authority? That particular tree was so late putting out that it appeared to be dead until well into April. Then it put out leaves just as the blooms on the other Dogwoods were disappearing. Now it is bloomed out beautifully in late May and early June? What's going on? What kind of Dogwood is it?

What about all of those young Canada geese at Indian Mountain State Park? The Canadas once became so numerous that the Park Service removed many to other parks that did not have them. Now this year's nesting pairs have an average of from 8 to 10 young and park employees tell me that some have even more - and that one pair actually has 15 young. Must be something in the lake water! (If a problem develops again, we may have to send Jake back to the park!)

And Wanda Perkins told me that these articles have become so popular and that so many are picked up in the office where she works, that she believes that they have now become "a way of life" in Jellico. She laughingly said that she is not sure that Jellico could survive without them!

In signing off for this column, I want to be sure to thank some folks who don't often receive a lot of praise. With the tremendous crowd anticipated over the weekend, we wanted to be prepared for any increased number of incidents requiring police assistance should that be necessary. And we knew that a lot of rubbish, etc. would be created by such a large gathering.

But our police officers had a very visible presence and their activity for the weekend was described as "relatively quite". And Leroy Ruiz with his helper David Vanderpool had the downtown area looking great early Sunday morning. On behalf of the city Council, the Tourism Commission and our citizens, we appreciate all of the tremendous effort that is applied by everyone toward having that and many other such activities that attract folks to Jellico.

E-mail me at: mayor@jellico.tn.us

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