The compliments are still coming in for the outstanding fire works display that we had during the Fourth of July and the great job done by our city employees in firing them - for the third straight year during a rain that always seems to arrive about 9:55 PM with the starting time scheduled for 10:00 PM... A couple from Crossville, Tennessee said that ours compared very, very favorably with those in their town. And when told the cost of our display, they were amazed at the fact that our employees undergo training and do the firing which greatly reduces our cost.

A couple from Deerfield in Lafollette greatly enjoyed them as well as the singing and other activities, and went out of their way to be sure that we were made aware of that fact. And almost everyone who has commented on the display this year has been extremely complimentary..

But the most outstanding compliment came from Marjorie Thornton Chellew who has recently returned to Jellico from Jekyll Island, Georgia and who told me that she has been all over the country during Fourth of July celebrations and other activities that included fireworks. According to her, our display was one of the best -if not the best - that she has ever witnessed.. And she emphasized that ours are clearly superior to those of Jekyll Island..

That is some awfully high praise for our town and our city employees who do the firing!

Early voting for the election of August 3rd is now in progress.. Voting is taking place at the Jellico Municipal Building and will run through Friday, July 28th.. Hours Monday thru Thursday are 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.. Friday afternoon and evening is 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Saturday voting is 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM..

"Back to school time" is suddenly almost upon us. Campbell County Schools including the Jellico area will register students on Wednesday, August 9th in an abbreviated day. Meals will not be served. First full day of classes for students is Thursday, August 10th and meals will be served.

Whitley County Schools will register students on Tuesday, August 8th with a full day of classes that day and with meals served.. (Boston Elementary School will have its annual "Back to School Open House" on Friday, August 4th 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM..)

Everyone is reminded of the upcoming 100th Anniversary Assembly for the Church of God, Mountain Assembly that starts Monday, August 7th and concludes on Friday, August 11th.. The parade through Jellico will start at 1:30 PM that Friday and it is the hope of CGMA officials to have every church in that now national and international organization represented in the parade. Uniform banners are being made available for that purpose and can be ordered by calling 859/588-7711..

If successful in having every church - or even a large percentage of all churches - represented, it will be a most impressive sight. Developing from a very small group of worshippers on Ryan's Creek, Whitley County, Ky. in 1906, it has had phenomenal growth over the past 100 years and now has a very long roll of churches located in this country and in several other countries..

The fire works display to conclude the assembly will immediately follow the Friday evening services..

Again I want to encourage all of our area citizens to welcome the large number of delegates and visitors expected in Jellico for this very special occasion. (It is my understanding that all of our motels may already be booked solid for those dates although I have not confirmed that.)

I hope that everyone will begin planning for the Downtown Day/Night scheduled for Saturday, August 26th.. Tourism Director Jake Bennett is organizing the Tractor/Engine Show that day and it is apparently stimulating a lot of interest. There is even some possibility of a "tractor pull" and a bluegrass music fest that day.. We will have music that evening provided by locally very popular Bill Rigney.. Concessions will be available.. It should be fun..

But I want to again emphasize that the purpose for having the special day/night is to celebrate the progress that we have made to date in renovating and revitalizing our downtown and to give us added impetus to continue that progress.. I once again ask all of our downtown businesses that can to remain open until 10:00 PM that evening. We want to have as many attractions as possible that day/night to draw folks to the downtown - as we once did every Saturday and Saturday night.

And although still several weeks away, it's not too early to also begin planning for our annual 9/11 Candlelight Vigil at the stage in Veterans Park.. And this year, all towns, cities, schools, groups, clubs, churches, other organizations, etc. across our country are being asked to join in an "America Supports You Freedom Walk" to demonstrate our support for the men and women that we have in uniform - and especially those that are in harm's way.. We plan to have such a walk from the baseball fields to the stage. (More details will be announced later.)

One Jellico resident very recently gave me some news that really sounded good to me and certainly to him.. He said that his son had left Jellico several years ago while expressing the opinion that our town was on a steady downward spiral with absolutely no improvement in sight. Since then no amount of strong coaxing from his father has been able to entice him to move back home along with his family.

But according to that father, during his past several trips to Jellico the son has seen improvement on each successive visit and now feels much better about our situation. In fact he is giving serious consideration to moving back here. That is the type of thing that we have been working toward for over eight (8) years now and I am again reminded of the Bob Dylan song of the 1960's, The Times They Are a Changin'.. I really believe that we are now witnessing a reversal of the outward migration of folks from this area as we see more and more returning or informing us that they are planning on returning to their roots.

And it also points out that those of us who live in Jellico see the changes as they are occurring so the impact is not as great. But those who come here on an infrequent basis see things in an entirely different light based upon what they remember from previous experience(s).. And according to them, unquestionably we are making progress!

As I have written numerous times in the past, I simply cannot believe the popularity of this column that is taken from the Netlink site www.jellico.com/mayor.. And if anyone doubts that statement, they should receive my e-mail that comes in from all over the country. Within the past few days Alex Abrams in the Los Angeles, California area has e-mailed to say, I read your news letter and it is very good. (He jokingly asked if I would mention his name in a column and make him famous all over the country.) Curtis Westphal in Denver, Colorado signed on to ask for information concerning Rarity Mountain and adds, Very nice website. Martha Harrison, Pensacola, Florida has written to say, Hello Mayor Clifton, I am so happy to see the improvements in Jellico. Kaye in Chattanooga (e-mail under name of Michele Young) writes, "Dear Mr. Clifton, I would like to make a comment on your beautiful town. I visited there recently. She went on to say how much she enjoyed herself while here and especially her stay in Indian Mountain State Park.. Nancy Todd Overall in Louisville, Kentucky expresses similar sentiments. (She, Harrison and others asked me to post the photo of North Main Street circa 1948 or '49 to my website. Former Jellicoans, they would like to see if they can identify the individuals in the photo that I mentioned in an earlier issue. I will need to check with First Volunteer Bank and Netlink to see if the photo can be posted on the site as part of this or a future column - as Lisa Casey did with the photos of the tickets to the movies at the old Gay Theatre when I wrote about those good ole days a few weeks ago.

Brenda Willis Revels, Monroe, Michigan asks that I announce the annual Pruden Reunion at Cove Lake State Park and adds, I read your column on a regular basis and I sure that others from the area do.. . Dr. Fred Worth, Professor at Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas asks for information concerning the Jellico Cemetery and states, I saw mention of the Jellico Cemetery Association in your column on your web site.. Ron Campbell, media representative for the Tennessee State Legislature in Nashville, requested my website address during his recent trip to Jellico and after reading my comments concerning his time spent here, writes, Mayor, Just want to thank you and your staff for a great time on Friday, June 30th.. The hospitality was great and we felt right at home. (I will have to pass those compliments on to the WJJT Radio staff who arranged for his visit..)

Those are only a few of the many that I get on a regular basis. Others of which I need to reply as I can find time have come from Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio, etc..

Jenny and I were recently having dinner at a local Jellico restaurant when Roddy Harrison, Mayor of Williamsburg, and his family came in and were seated next to us. So of course he and I engaged in some interesting conversation and shared some laughs concerning the job of mayor as we usually do when we run into each other. A very personable and popular mayor described by many as one of the best mayors in the history of Williamsburg, Roddy too apparently faces reelection this year and laughingly said that he had just now started learning what a truly terrible person he really is.. I welcomed him to the crowd and assured him that it will get much worse!

Roddy said that he has become very interested in some of my ideas and especially the publication and distribution of these notes. And he asked if I would mind if he should decide to start the practice of writing them and circulating them in Williamsburg. I of course told him that I would be greatly honored and flattered for him to do so.

Then I asked him if he in turn would mind us borrowing some of his ideas including the "lawnmower races" like the ones he has in that town during their activities that draw so many entries and spectators. And he too was more than willing.. (The race has become so popular that some folks are now modifying their lawnmowers for more speed by adding larger wheels and making other changes.) Roddy himself "drives" his mower in that competition.

But if we should start such an activity here, unfortunately I cannot enter unless I am given a very good head start. I'm just not very swift with my several years old push mower!

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