A reminder that we will have the UROC competitors here again this weekend for the second Extreme Eastern Competition of the present season. UROC has it headquarters in Utah and UROC officials from that state have been in contact with Tourism Director Jake Bennett concerning this week's activities. Several national officials may possibly attend the event.. Jake says that he expects a good number of folks to be staying in Jellico - especially if the forecast is for good weather.
State Representative William Baird called last week to inform me that a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) has recently been awarded to Jellico in the amount of $ 240,000.00 to assist our utilities (water department) with some expansion..
I happened to overhear a conversation of some local ladies the other day and they were glowing in praise of what the Bucks are doing to restore their recently purchased buildings on North Main Street. And some former Jellico residents now living out of town also commented very favorably to me over the weekend about the way our downtown is starting to look.
I again want to encourage everyone and especially those working in the downtown area to check our the new coffee/sandwich shop out as soon as it becomes available. The Vannetts hope that the establishment will eventually develop into a "community watering hole" where folks can meet, eat and socialize.
In that same light, I have received an e-mail from Darrell and Ouiza Chambers in Texas
who write that they will be in this area for the weekend of August 13th and are interested in exploring the idea of establishing a business in downtown Jellico. ………………". They also state that they are "interested and determined to rejuvenate a downtown building as remembered when young. ……………………… " And they add, "We are excited and enthused about our new business venture."
The Chambers are located at
I sometime mention the almost unbelievable renovation that has taken place in downtown Knoxville as an example of what can be done to restore downtown areas. Jenny and I usually attend the annual "Saturday Night on the Town" and we were totally amazed this year at what is taking place there. If you are in Knoxville, be sure to drive down Gay Street.
Better yet, park and walk from Gay Street through the beautiful new park to the old
Market Square, What has been done there is something to behold. And they have a pavilion (just as we have a stage in our park) for entertainers to voluntarily utilize at about any time they choose.. And some come to the square now just to shop, eat, socialize and be entertained.
(We did not receive confirmation, but some say that they old S & W Cafeteria is going to be restored and reopened. If and when that happens, I am going to try to be one of the first in line.
The Tennessee Theatre has already undergone a multi-million dollar restoration and bringing back the S & W would sure put a lot of us old timers on a real nostalgia kick.)
The Cassinelli Family that has been having its annual reunion in Jellico for something like the past twenty-five (25) years, held this year's event last Saturday and it was great to meet so many very nice people. Folks were in attendance from as close by as Cumberland Avenue (Eva Dolcini) and from as far away as Los Angeles, California. And James Edward Branam, who has become a fixture at the event and who is now generally regarded as one of that group, was there to make photos as usual.
And one senior citizen lady, Lucia Cassinelli Schoening, Coca, Florida who writes beautifully concerning many topics, gave me a copy of something that she had written about Jellico in honor or her parents called "Memoria" - and I want to share it with my readers: (Mrs. Schoening's parents are buried in the St. Boniface Cemetery on Kentucky Hill. And she stated that her father came here from Italy and almost beyond words, loved Jellico and the freedom that he found:)
Every year since 9/11 we have had an observance in Veterans Park to commemorate the anniversary of that tragedy. And one is listed on the Tourism Commission's Calendar of Events for this year as well.
It is very fitting that we continue to remember that event on an annual basis. With all that is taking place around the world, one has to wonder if we will ever be faced with another similar
terrorist attack. But a man recently appearing on one of the TV news outlets who was identified as an expert on terrorism, stated flat out that, "It is no longer a question of if but rather when!"
Everyone keeps saying that we need to get prepared. But how do we prepare for the actions of
someone who is willing to blow themselves to bits as long as they kill others when doing so?
I earlier announced that Jake Bennett has been lining up some great entertainment for our Fall Fest (Friday, September 30th and Saturday, October 1st). The group "Classic Tunes From Klassye Tymes" has already been scheduled for that Saturday evening.
And in what may turn out to be a real coup, there is a good possibility that we can have Ray Cummins, one of America's greatest guitarists, here on Friday evening, September 30th.. Cummins has been called, "The greatest guitarists I ever heard" by Al Hurt... Chet Atkins called him one of the best finger pickers around and he has appeared recently with none other than Les Paul of the fabulous duo of "Les Paul and Mary". Although now in advancing years, Paul is probably still the best known guitarist in America and more than qualified to call Cummins one of our country's best.
Even more interesting is the fact that although he has performed with the Boston Pops,
Symphony Orchestras, Nashville productions, etc., he loves to play Southern Gospel songs and especially the "old timey" ones. (Hearing his rendition of "Take My Hand Precious Lord" can run cold chills down the backs of most.)
Details are still to be worked out and plans finalized before a definite announcement can be made about his appearing here. But it speaks well for our Fall Fest that it has reached the point where entertainers of that level will consider booking us for performance during that event.
In the May 19th edition of these notes, I wrote about the experiences of one of the most senior members of our Jellico High School Alumni while she was attending alma mater so many years ago. In that article I mentioned that Mrs. Martha Evans Thornton who grew up in the mountainous Clearfork area and who had such a difficult time in getting to JHS and back home each day, would be a very worthy recipient of recognition at Jellico High Homecoming '05 scheduled for Friday, October 14th and Saturday, October 15th.. Mrs. Thornton was very happy with my writing and thanked me for my comments. She seemed very pleased that I had included her in these notes.
However Mrs. Thornton recently passed away - precluding her personal recognition during our annual Alumni Assembly on Saturday, October 15th.. But it would still be most appropriate to do posthumous honors to her since she well have been our longest surviving alumnus until the time of her passing. Born in 1908, Mrs. Thornton had recently celebrated her 97th birthday. And she remained a wonderfully sweet, alert, independent and extremely interesting person to talk with right up until the very time of her death.
(It would be interesting to learn the identity of our present most senior surviving members of the alumni and render them honors at homecomings each year - either in person or in absentia if they should be unable to attend the alumni assembly. They are a very important part of our school's heritage.)
On a personal note: It appears that this entire summer may get by without our having a home baked blackberry cobbler at our house - and I just don't know if I will be able to face life if that happens. Blackberry cobbler at our house when I was growing up was considered to be virtually everyday fare after the big, juicy berries finally ripened. And Jenny has always made at least one cobbler each summer as well.
But we have had nary a blackberry this summer -nary 'un! I have been told that there are/were plenty of them but I have not had time to go into the wilds and pick any. And not a soul has contacted me about buying any as they usually do.
Summer is just not summer in thee here parts without blackberry cobbler!
It's almost back to school time!
Boston Elementary will have its annual "Back to School Open House" on Sunday, August 7th
(1:00 PM - 3:00 PM). Food and drinks will be available.
The Whitley County School System will register students on Tuesday, August 9th and have a full day of classes that first day.
The Campbell County School System will register students on Thursday, August 11th.. Students will attend one half (1/2) day on Friday, August 12th.. The first full day of classes will be Monday, August 15th..
(I may have to cut back on my writing for a few days until school is well underway.)
E-mail me at: mayor@jellico.tn.us
Visit the Archives of the Mayor's Column .
Visit the City of Jellico's Web Site at: www.jellico.tn.us
A place I love
Where time began and freedom beckoned from the hills
The wind whispered I will treat you well
The seasons will smile on you
And when you are tired, I will grant you rest
This is good!
JOHN CLIFTON, Mayor, City of Jellico