Sometimes when I am extremely busy as I usually am, I decide that I will not write this article for a spell. But then I get several favorable comments from folks concerning one topic or another and I feel like I need to continue writing on a regular basis, And this week my column had barely been inserted on the Internet by Lisa Casey at our local Internet Server, Netlink 2000, when I received the following e-mail from Dan Burnette, former Jellicoan who now lives in Marietta, Georgia. And his response to my last article just makes me more determined than ever to somehow get 'em out. Dan writes:
"John, I too delivered those newspapers around Jellico in the late 50's and early 60's and my customers treated me the same way. Especially those Sunday deliveries, when the folks would greet me with donuts, cookies and hot chocolate. Then they would want me to visit for a while. That could cause a problem getting back home in time for "Sunday School".
Other memories that I would like to do again would be: swimming in the strip ponds on a summer day; eating Pecan Pie at "Tibbies"; meeting my date at the movies; riding my sled down Logan Street when it snowed; and stopping by the Shoe Shop and talking to "Tootie" Culver about the Yankees or UT football.
All this is said to let you know how much I appreciate your Articles about how great it was
growing up there and updating us on how things are now.
As a USAF Veteran I appreciate all the recognition the community gives those of us that
served our country. Thank you! Dan Burnette"
If anyone doubts that former Jellicoans all around the country follow this column religiously on the Internet to keep up with the ole hometown that they love, just read what an e-mail from Martha Anderson Harrison, Pensacola, Florida has to say. Mrs. Harrison suggests possibly starting a fund to obtain contributions from present and former residents to help with our town's renovation and revitalization project. And she states:
"I have been thinking about all who read your weekly messages. The readers all seem to think a lot about the past and future of Jellico .."
Mrs Harrison mentions that the name of her brother, John E. Anderson, is on our Veterans Memorial. She also cites the fact that the Oswego industrial site was obtained from her family. And she too remembers yesteryears in Jellico.
"When at Jellico High the Junior class had to give the Seniors a dinner that was to be formal.
Times were hard and my sister and I decided we couldn't go as it was money that we didn't have
(for the dinner and the formal attire). But we paid our class dues although we didn't go because we wanted it to be a grand time for the Senior Class of 1943.'
"You're are doing a great job and so is your staff. I honor each of you for keeping on keeping on. God bless each of you."
And speaking of yesteryears, I wonder how many can remember the days when United States Highway-25 W was the North/South highway and came right through the middle of town. Tourists and other motorists kept two hotels on North Main Street near the Kentucky line well patronized. And we had a very popular "Tourist Court" on Fifth Street on what I believe is now the Thornton property. I well remember that neon sign sitting near the sidewalk advertising the Court that was so popular that it usually had no "No Vacancy" lighted. I don't think that sign was removed until possibly well into the 1960's - although I am not sure exactly when it came down.
Also sitting on that property was a very popular fenced tennis court that seemed to be utilized many days when the weather cooperated. I well recall seeing older boys and young men playing on that court while others awaited their turn. I never knew if it was city operated or placed there by the Tourist Court operators -Earl and Rachael Scott or possibly the Bills family.
(Mr. Scott was well into the advancing years when I first recall seeing him and he ran a printing shop above one of the buildings on South Main Street right by the central traffic light. Anytime that we were assigned a school project requiring poster board, construction paper or other such items, we went downtown to his shop to purchase them. It was only in later years that I learned that Mr. Scott came to Jellico in its very early days and possibly helped to organize our town's first amateur baseball team. He had a reputation as a having been a great baseball player in his younger days and was an avid sports fan until his death.)
Dealing with the present - have you noticed all of the very nice window displays at several of our downtown businesses? Most have the Fall theme and some had mixed in Halloween. I especially like those with the lettered messages in the windows: "It's Fall Y'all", "It's the Giant Pumpkin Charley Brown" etc.. We have creative folks in Jellico and having the building fronts so alive with color and interesting displays is a far cry from just a few years ago when several of those - including those standing empty - presented very drab appearances.
If you haven't walked the downtown streets recently, you just might enjoy taking a stroll for old times sake and viewing some of the displays. Better yet - stop in and see the folks, socialize and maybe do a little shopping. We badly want to make our downtown a place where folks will once again want to congregate as they did in the past. And having folks coming to the downtown can serve as an incentive for new businesses to open and succeed there.
The once open ditch on South Main Street has now been closed and Councilman Alvin Evans reported at our last meeting of the City Council that work is expected to start in the near future toward constructing the planned walking trail starting at the caboose in Veterans Park and continuing all the way out South Main Street to London Avenue and then to the baseball fields.
And I recently signed a grant application for funds with which to construct a beautiful "Gateway to Jellico" that was recommended by the committee that earlier studied our town. We have always been concerned that motorists stopping off Interstate-75 often come only to the top of the hill near Hardees and do not continue into our downtown. The sign will probably be brick with colonial style lights on top and be located somewhere near the traffic light at the corner of Fifth and Sunset Trail. It will need to be as visible and as appealing as we can possibly make it.
At our last meeting of the City Council, a letter from Wanda Bruce was read submitting her resignation as our contracted individual for recycling cardboard and other items. Rather than immediately advertising for bids on the contract, Council Member Dwight Osborn, Sanitation Commissioner, proposed that the city assume the responsibility and work to expand the program.
We will give that proposal a try but there will probably be a transition period when the service may not function as well as it has been functioning. But with time and experience, hopefully we can have an even more comprehensive program to include more recyclable items.
I do write a lot about the good things that we now have happening in our downtown and I take great pleasure in doing so. But we have problem developing there that we are going to have to soon address. Pigeons seem to be multiplying there (and in other areas) well beyond an acceptable level and we need to take appropriate corrective action.
None of us want to harm any living creatures and seeing the large flocks of pigeons flying overhead can be an impressive sight at times. But there is also a potential for health problems brought on by all birds including pigeons, and we cannot let them reach the point where they endanger public health - not to mention the messes they create on our sidewalks. We have contacted several governmental agencies in an attempt to determine what actions we can take that will be humane, lawful and acceptable in reducing their population. And in our last meeting of the City Council, Dwight Osborn mentioned that devices are possibly available to create noises that pigeons seem to avoid. In the meantime if anyone knows of other acceptable solutions, we would appreciate hearing from them. Since this column is read all over the country, should any readers know what their states, cities and towns are doing to deal with similar problems with pigeons, we would like to hear from them as well. Please contact me at: E-mail address: mayor@jellico.tn.us or by US mail address: 410 South Main Street, Jellico, Tenn 37762
Everyone is reminded of the Veterans Day Ceremony Friday, November 11th at 1600 hours (4:00 PM).. A large crowd is expected including keynote speaker Congressman Lincoln Davis. And it will be great if we can have some representatives there from the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) that is just returning from Iraq.. (It was good to see so many of our state and other public officials along with family members, going to Mississippi to welcome them home.)
Many of the men and women of the 278th have retired or left the unit since several of us in the Jellico area served in the ACR.. But there will always be a kinship with those now serving and losing so many soldiers in recent months has saddened us all. And as I have written before, the death of Barton Siler was an especially tough blow to me since I had Barton as a fine student while serving as principal at Jellico High, had earlier served in his same unit, and have both his widow and daughter at Boston Elementary School.
All active and formerly active servicemen and women who have served or are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan who may be home on leave are especially invited. It goes without saying that we welcome all active and reserve service personnel and veterans to the ceremony. And of course the public is invited. Let's all fly the flag all over the area that day! Final Note: Jenny and I were honored to have been invited by the Office of Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher to accompany her relative, State Representative Charlie Siler, along with Whitley County Executive Mike Patrick and Mrs. Patrick to last Sunday's reunion at St. Boniface Catholic Church. Representative Siler was there to present a check for $ 10,000.00 to the church from Governor Fletcher's office for restoration and improvements of their historic cemetery that includes the graves of some of our early Italian, German and Irish immigrants that came here in the late 1870's and early 1880's.. Those hard working folks built the railroads and worked the then opening coal mines and were instrumental in founding St. Boniface and the City of Jellico. .
E-mail me at: mayor@jellico.tn.us
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