Now that the August election is -or soon will be - over, we now must just turn around and start getting ready for the November 7th election.. And for the first time ever to anyone's knowledge, our Jellico city election will be held in conjunction with that election rather than in the traditional month of January.. The obvious reason for the change is the fact that our taxpayers had to pay several thousand dollars to conduct a special election in January. By holding it with the November election that includes so many other offices on other levels, there will be little or no charge to the city. (The elections for Lafollette and Caryville will also be held on November 7th..)

This will be a very important city election for the future of our town and I hope that everyone will insure that their registration is current and be sure to vote. Your eligibility to vote can easily be determined by calling the Campbell County Election Commission at 562-9777.. If there is any doubt at all concerning your registration status (change of name, change of address, failure to vote in recent elections, etc.) it is better to be safe than sorry by giving them a call.. The deadline for updating registrations and for new registrations is Sat, October 7th..

I have had numerous folks who do not have children, grandchildren or relatives that attend Boston Elementary School to talk to me about our school. They say that they would like to see the interior to our building and they are certainly welcome to visit us Friday, August 4th (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM) and see what a beautiful and well equipped facility that we have.. In fact everyone is invited to attend our annual start of school "Open House"..

Food will be served to our visitors free of charge as long as it lasts.. We never know just how much food to prepare but we generally have a very good attendance with an ample supply of food ready and waiting for everyone.. And we will have lots of activities and information available!

Arnold Musick and some other members of the "unofficial legislative body" that meets each morning at Hardees laughingly told me that this may be the longest Assembly in the history of the Mountain Assembly. I erroneously cited the dates for this very special one-hundred (100) years commemorative Assembly as August 7th - July 11th in my last notes. (I informed them that it's just more evidence of "old-timers" slowly - or maybe not so slowly -creeping up on me.) The correct dates are of course Monday, August 7th thru Friday, August 11th..

Our local CGMA Church pastor Rev. Jerome Walden, will conduct Sunday, August 6th services in the newly renovated and expanded facility prior to the opening of the Assembly on Monday evening.. The congregation will march (by vehicle as well as on foot weather permitting) from the present building on South Main to the Tabernacle starting the march at around 10:00 AM that Sunday morning to officially make the move to their new home..

I encourage everyone to utilize any opportunity to visit the Tabernacle and visually take in the tremendous progress. And during your visit as you enter the Tabernacle you will immediately have your eyes drawn to a mural on the wall. As I understand it, the idea for the mural came from Assistant Pastor Ray Landes with the great art work by done by Glen Hall.. It depicts Founder Rev. John Parks and current General Overseer Rev. Ray Cornelius standing in front of the CGMA's first church on Ryans Creek in Whitley County, Kentucky and symbolically reaching out to each other across the past 100 years.. (Following its 1906 founding, the Church very quickly established congregations in the Jellico area including the "Hackler Church" on Indian Mountain and their headquarters church at the present location on Florence Avenue.)..

The contrast of that initial building in the background with the present Tabernacle is a wonderful representation of the fact that the CGMA has in a century grown from a very small congregation meeting in that single rude structure into a national and international organization.

(Everyone is reminded of the Parade of Churches through Jellico on Friday, August 11th starting at 1:30 PM as well as the fireworks display following the evening service on that same date that will close out this year's Assembly.)

I again ask our citizens to exert special effort to make the large number of visitors expected to be here that week feel both welcome and appreciated. There have been overtures in past years by other cities and towns to attract the CGMA headquarters from Jellico but thankfully the church fathers have steadfastly remained solid in their determination to remain with their roots.. And by remaining in Jellico, the CGMA brings positive attention upon our town - not to mention the economic benefits that the annual assembly week creates for our local businesses. (As I wrote earlier, it is my understanding that all Jellico motels may be booked solid for this Assembly.)

In addition to the CGMA Assembly, we have several activities scheduled in Jellico between now and December 31st.. I always list them well in advance since an awful lot of planning and work is involved in conducting such activities and folks need quite a bit of advance notice.

Our "Downtown Day/Night" is next on the schedule followed by the "Freedom Walk in Support of Our Troops/Candle Light Vigil"; our annual Fall Fest; the Jellico High School Homecoming; possibly a Veterans Day observance; our Christmas tree lighting on Thanksgiving evening and our Christmas parade.

Eddie Archer and Stewart McNealy are contacting area bluegrass groups concerning possibly performing during our Downtown Day/Night on August 26th along with our "Tractor and Engine Show".. They would like to eventually develop a "Bluegrass Festival" for our town such as those that have become so popular in other areas.

We will also have locally very popular Bill Rigney agreeing to perform that evening. Everyone is again asked to be sure to mark the August 26th date on your calendar and plan to come to town that day and evening to socialize, shop and be entertained.. And we again ask all of our businesses to remain open until 10:00 PM that evening as they did when we had our first "Downtown Night" eight years ago.. As stated earlier, if folks only come to town to walk the streets, it will at least bring back a touch of what we once experienced every Saturday and Saturday night.. And who knows what it can lead to in the future?

As I have announced on several previous occasions, we plan to have an "America Supports You Freedom Walk" on September 11th to demonstrate support for our troops - and especially those in harm's way. We will line up at some point - possibly the baseball fields - and walk to the stage in Veterans Park as darkness arrives where we will then conduct our annual Candlelight Vigil.. (We can work around the construction of the new sidewalk/walking trail.)

Such a walk was held in Washington, D.C. last year and it received so much favorable acclaim that our entire nation is being asked to conduct similar walks this year. E-mail and other correspondence has been forwarded to cities, towns, communities, schools, veterans organizations, etc. asking them to join in the nationwide movement to demonstrate our support. Participants in the march held last year in the Capitol carried American flags, banners of support, photos of their relatives and friends in uniforms, etc.. Please mark that event on your personal calendar also, participate in the walk and make it an event to remember.

Fortunately that great entertainment that we had last year at our Fall Fest has already been contracted for this year by Tourism Director Jake Bennett.. An informal poll of the large crowds in attendance on both Friday and Saturday night requested a return performance by Eddie Barber and his "Kentucky Bred Band" for this year. Barber and his group that were such favorites of everyone - and especially the younger generation - will be here Friday night, October 6th.. The same was true of the group, "Klassyc Tymes", that will appear Saturday night, October 7th with all of that great range of music- including so many songs from the 1950's and '60's that are near and dear to the hearts of all of us old timers..

I have been in contact with the family of Lieutenant Colonel Scott Cuel, Squadron Director of Operations, U.S. Air Force 172 Squadron based in Michigan and a pilot who has been highly decorated for his heroism in Iraq.. At the time of this writing, chances were fairly good that we can have a repeat of last year's jet flyover by Colonel Cuel at this year's Fest.. (And it would be great if his wingman can join him once again.. They certainly presented an impressive sight for all of us as they came in over the stage in Veterans Park, circled our town and then made their return trip over Veterans.)

Numerous folks have told me that they sure wish that they had been among the huge crowd that we had on hand that evening during the flyover.. And without exception they state that they will be in Veterans this year if there is a repeat performance..

However clearance for the flight will depend upon several factors and nothing is definite at this time.. But we will sure keep our fingers crossed that everything works out!

As I have stated before, Colonel Scott's parents live in Wooldridge and although I have never personally met him to the best of my knowledge, we need to honor him in our town.. His action in saving a contingent of U.S. Marines from death or capture in Iraq is worthy of all honor and we also need to show our appreciation to him for his willingness to contribute to our local activities Hopefully we can arrange for such an opportunity - possibly Veterans Day..

"Habitat for Humanity" is prepared to construct yet another home in our area but a lot suitable for construction of a residence is needed.. I have been asked to announce that fact and I am happy to do so.

Anyone who has a lot that they would be willing to donate to such a worthy cause is asked to contact Tanya Brock at 784-8083.. Tanya has long been a contributor to that program and it is my understanding that other locals including our Jellico Community Hospital are now becoming extensively involved as well.. (And they can always use volunteers to help with construction.)

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

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