I mentioned in my last notes the coverage that we had received from an out of town paper for the Antique Tractor/Engine Show.. The Lafollette Press and Christian Journal Leader had not been received at that time and Jake Bennett asked me to be sure and thank them too for their coverage.. Both had color photos and the Press even did a great full page layout on the activity.. We greatly appreciate their coverage as well..

(These notes were written prior to our Emergency Preparedness Day, Our March in Support of Our Troops and our 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony.)

It's time now to get ready for our annual Fall Fest on October 6th and 7th. That activity has grown with each successive year under Tourism Director Jake Bennett's direction since he organized and conducted the first Fest five years ago.

This year we expect more of the same learning opportunities, fun and food. The entertainment scheduled for both Friday and Saturday nights is truly outstanding and is returning this year by popular demand. There was an outcry last year to have Eddie Barber back on Friday evening and "Klassyc Tymes" on Saturday night. And so numerous were the requests that both were contracted for repeat performances before they could even get away from Veterans Park..

I have not discussed this year's Fest in detail with Jake but if all goes as planned, we will finally have one of the nine (9) extremely high tech emergency vehicles stationed all over America.. This is the hurricane season but unless required for hurricane relief, Derrick Brown is adamant in his intent to bring the vehicle stationed in Louisville, Kentucky to Jellico for the Fest.

At the time these notes were written, I had not yet talked with Lt. Col Scott Cuel but as I wrote earlier, his parents have indicated that he can in all probability make a repeat flyover.

And as always, it will be interesting to see what old time skills will be exhibited and demonstrated.. It is those old time skills and customs that serve as the theme for the Fest and Jake certainly welcomes everyone to exhibit and demonstrate. Friday is School Day at the Fest and area students are brought for the fun and food but mainly for the purpose of learning about our mountain heritage that will be lost to antiquity if not practiced.. I remember a comment reportedly made by Alex Haley, author of "Roots" who, after viewing some exhibits at the Appalachian Museum, said that he had not realized the tremendous ingenuity of our forefathers.

But an early warning to everyone! Jenny will probably milk a cow again this year and it pays to stay back a' ways from the Jersey or whatever kind of cow is there to be milked! Milking every morning while growing up, she is still pretty dad gone good at it and can use both hands at the same time too.. It's not uncommon for her suddenly to send two streams of milk a' flyin in opposite directions. Better keep your mouth closed because she can virtually pinpoint where it's going to hit. (The wide eyed elementary students who attend the Fest love it!)

Since his visit to Jellico several weeks ago and learning the website location for these notes at that time (www.jellico.com/mayor), Mr. Ron Campbell in Nashville now reads them on a regular basis.. He loved our town and he now occasionally e-mails me concerning what I write.. He recently e-mailed to say hello and catch me up on what is happening in the entertainment end of his work.

I am certainly greatly honored to have the Media Representative for the Tennessee State Legislature as a regular reader.. Maybe he can put us in a good word with the members of the Legislature sometime. We can always use outside help! And Mr. Lloyd Dodd e-mailed from lddodd@fullnet.net searching for an old World War II buddy and I hope someone can assist him:

"I am hoping to find a friend that grew up and was a member of your community. My friend's name is Bill Elliott. His father worked in some kind of a mine as an engineer. I knew Bill from WWII. We were close friends. We both were from small towns. We both joined the Navy. We volunteered for P.T. Boat training. We were both in Quarter master School.

We were young, we both married after the war. Bill was very Blond headed. He was about 6ft. 1 or 2 inches tall. Had blue eyes.

I realize that this is asking a question "like how far is up". However if you or some one in your community can help me I would truly appreciate it."

I personally don't remember Bill Elliott although I seem to recall the name. But if anyone can help Mr. Dodd, I hope that they will contact him at the above address. If a computer is not available, contact me and I will forward the information.

Note: The Jellico High School Class of 1946 will have its 60th year reunion at JHS Homecoming this year and to anyone's knowledge, it will be the first ever 60th year reunion by any Jellico High class. (The 1946 class also has the distinction of being the first graduating class following the close of World War II and the return of our troops. Some of them had left school early to serve in our armed forces and came back to graduate in '46.. Maybe someone in that class will remember Mr. Elliott.)

And speaking of reunions, I greatly appreciated the invitation to attend the annual reunion of the original Jellico Hospital employees at Indian Mountain State Park on Saturday, September 2nd.. Former employees that once worked at that hospital originally staffed by Dr. Ned Watts, Dr. Carl Ausmus and Dr. Charles Prater have gotten together each year since 1983 to fellowship and share memories.. I was greatly honored that they included me this year.

The first reunion many years ago had fifty-three (53) former employees present but the number has annually decreased until there were only sixteen (16) present in this year including Dr. Don Gaines who once also served on the hospital staff but is now retired and living in the Nashville area. In attendance were Sarah Fredericks, Princess Moon, Mae Collins, Bobbie Cox Davis, Wilma Cox Meadors, Zora Siler Perkins, Rose Malone, June Moses, Geneva Creekmore, Gladys Creekmore, Bonnie Bishop, Cleada Allen Biggs, Flora Mae Bowlin, Lorraine Powers Jones and Edna G. Fredericks. Others were prevented from attending due to illness and other reasons.) But accompanied by relatives and friends they completely filled a shelter.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the fellowship with folks - some that I often see, some I see occasionally, and some that I rarely ever see- and swapping stories with them concerning those by-gone days at the hospital on Fifth Street (not to mention partaking of their home cooked food.)

I'm not hinting mind you but I hope that I am invited back next year. It was a very enjoyable time for everybody (and the food was great! You can take that from me!)

I have been following Tennessee football since the glory days of Hank Lauricella, Herky Payne, Andy Kozar, Ted Dafer, Doug Atkins, etc. and I have heard some awfully noisy crowds in Neyland Stadium down through the years - especially for some past Alabama and Florida games.

But the noise that went up when the Vols ran through the "T" for the California game reached and all time high level. I placed my index fingers in my ears and it still sounded like a fire alarm going off in my head. I haven't talked to any of the large number of Jellicoans who were there but all those sitting in our section of the stadium stated that it was the loudest crowd that they could ever recall. (Even Coach Fulmer said as much on Monday night's "Vol Calls" and its for sure that he has come roaring through the "T" countless times - both as a player and as a coach.)

This is being written before the game with the Air Force Academy and we sure definitely did not need to be looking ahead. (But it's always hard for me to pull against one of our U. S Military Academies anyway since as Fulmer stated on that same call in radio show, we must depend upon those young men and women to provide the future leadership required to defend our country.) But I sure hope that we again have that noise level for Florida. We need the Gator Haters out in force! One-hundred and six thousand (106,000) folks can get awfully loud if they really put their hearts (more importantly their vocal cords) into it as they did for the California game.

And it's great that our local radio station, WJJT AM 1540, has begun airing the popular "Southeastern Conference Report" every Friday afternoon at 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM.. Both local Vol and Wildcat fans can now catch up weekly on what is taking place all around the SEC..

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