Note to those who read this column on the Internet and who may be as close to computer illiterate as I am. On occasion the most recently installed addition may not be accessed when my column is called for but can be brought up by utilizing the View function of Windows and then the "refresh" designation. (I hope that readers will know what I am talking about because I don't always know myself.)

I was at work most of Friday during our second Fall Fest. But three classrooms of our students at Boston Elementary School came to the Fest that afternoon and watched demonstrations of some of the old time skills that now exist mostly in the memory of us corresponding old-timers. And in my opinion, all area schools should take the opportunity to introduce their students to such local history that is so rapidly being lost. Few if young people have ever seen the making of molasses, lye soap, or hominy or the churning of butter or the grinding of corn meal - all of which at one time virtually determined our survival. (And not too many adults are around who remember them either.)

The students' reactions to what they saw reminded me of the time as a boy when some of my cousins in Chicago insisted upon coming to Jellico one summer for vacation because they wanted to drink "cow's milk". (Apparently they thought that the milk delivered to their house each morning in the windy city was manufactured in the bottles.) They got the thrill of their lives when our neighbor Bessie Housley milked her Jersey cow and handed them a metal cup to drink the warm white liquid straight from the spout. I'll bet they really had something to talk about at school that fall during "show and tell".

As stated above, these notes were written during the Fest and I did not have the results to report at that time. But from all accounts it was going very well and accomplishing just what Jake Bennett intended when he started that activity - to draw folks to our downtown. And it gives everyone something to do that is of interest for all age groups. I know that local media will give the event more than ample coverage so I will not report the results of all of the competition, etc.. But I am very interested myself in the results of the decoration judging. We really had some great theme displays and as I stated last year, I would not want to be one of the out-of-town judges who selected the award winners.

More local activities will be held next week including the Church of God, South Main Street "Autumn Gathering" (October 13-18) and the Jellico High School Homecoming 2003 (October 17-18).

(The Tourism Commission has a Veterans Day observance tentatively planned for Sunday, November 9th. But no definite plans have been developed at this time.)

I reported earlier about the work that Roy Price and Jake have been doing in an effort to bring the Virginia State Theatre's (Barter Theatre of Abindon) production of "Grace Moore: The Tennessee Nightingale" to Jellico (Jellico High School Auditorium/Theatre).

Jake applied for and has received, a mini-grant from the Tennessee Arts Council that will pay one-half of the cost of bringing the play here. And ticket sales should cover the remaining expense. The tentative dates are November 15th and November 22nd although nothing had been confirmed at the time this article was written.

The play would represent an outstanding cultural activity for Jellico and it should also attract folks from surrounding towns including staff and students at Cumberland College, Union College, etc.. But music lovers in general should also greatly enjoy the show that features Nancy Arnold, a finalist for the Grace Moore Scholarship. And believe you me as I reported in that earlier article, a singer does not reach that plateau who does not have a truly outstanding voice. Some of the winners of the Grace Moore Scholarship have gone on to reach the very pinnacle of success including Mary Costa, former diva of the San Francisco Opera Company. (I will never forget the day that Costa came to Jellico for the dedication of the Grace Moore Memorial. She patiently signed every request for autographs and the line got to be lengthy - especially when the young folks learned that she is the voice in some Walt Disney movies including the classic "Sleeping Beauty". (If you haven't seen "Sleeping Beauty" since you were a kid, get it out and once again enjoy a truly great voice possessed by a beautiful lady with an equally beautiful personality. She took time out from her busy schedule and called me long distance following her visit here to tell me how much she enjoyed being in our town and meeting so many nice folks It was truly an honor to have her in Jellico for the dedication.)

Here's hoping that details can be completed that will be required to bring the play to Jellico High School that portraits the life of Moore, the world renown singer and actress and certainly the most famous person ever to come from our town. Upon her tragic death in a plane crash in Europe following a command performance for the King of Denmark, magazine covers everywhere had such headlines as, "No Grace Moore wasn't a Queen! But the world considered her one!"

As the website www.gracemoore.com states, we need to keep the legend of Grace Moore alive. Prior to the performance it might be good to air the once popular movie of her life, "So This is Love" starring Katherine Grayson, on our local TV cable prior to the presentation of the play. And some of her movies - especially the award winning "One Night of Love" would be good viewing for those who have never seen her truly great acting skills and her voice that many call one of the greatest sopranos ever. It was that same voice that helped give Irving Berlin his success on Broadway and later writing for movies. Although he later composed "God Bless America" for Kate Smith and "White Christmas" for Bing Crosby, he was always grateful to Moore and always praised her. ("One Night of Love" is black and white but some of us have seen it many times and continue to enjoy it no matter how many times we view the film credited with bringing grand opera to the screen.)

What a difference a year or two can make! Several months ago our Indian Mountain State Park was closed and we were worried about its future even after it reopened. However when I first reported that the state of Tennessee had agreed to do some work in Jellico, I also mentioned that they planned some paving, etc. at the park. And that work is now in progress and may possibly already be completed. Regardless of our political preferences, we owe the administration of Governor Bredesen our thanks!

I get a lot of e-mail and sometimes I go for quite a while before I have a chance to catch up and reply. And in some cases I never get the opportunity. But there are a few that always stand out and on occasion, I respond to them in this column.

One that I received dated September 24th is from Sheila Michelle Megson of Huber Heights, Ohio. She writes concerning her late grandmother Louise Mossie Douglas and her grandfather, John Trim Douglas, who was known and liked by about everybody. In her correspondence she mentions that John Trim salvaged and restored the old clock from the Glan Morgan Hotel and that it remains in her home even until today. That truly is an artifact from the past and one that I can barely recall. It would be great to see it again. (I have never gotten used to those hotel buildings gone that were such Jellico landmarks!)

She also requested information concerning the possibility of a plaque in Jellico for volunteer firefighters that bears his name. She would like to know if it actually exists and if so, where it can be found. Additionally she would like information as to the owner(s) of her grandfather's house after his death and until the time that it burned.

I heard from Marvin Brown, JHS class of 1980 and one of the finest students and young men that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He now has a computer degree and a religious education degree and works for a major utility company in the south. Marvin lives in Daphne, Alabama right across the bay from Mobile and he says that it's a nice place to live but that sometimes his mind drifts back to Jellico and the great people that he hung out with. He says that he likes to bring his family to Jellico to see where he grew up and the beauty of our surroundings. Marvin paid me several extremely nice compliments as his high school principal and stated that, "I just read one of your fine articles and was cheered up by the wonderful bits of news that you always send out. Take care Mr. Clifton…..and keep those stories coming"! (Thank you Marvin! If all of my high school students had been like you and Robert Day and Tony Douglas and the others that you mention, they would have had to drag me out of JHS and into retirement.)

Amie Smith, no city or town given, writes that, "My husband and I are currently looking to relocate for my husband's job. We have decided to live in Williamsburg, because it is hard to find a home in Jellico. We were reading the Mayor's Column on the web and were glad to see that there will be some changes in the town. I wish that it was actually going to happen a little sooner so that we could live in Jellico, closer to my husband's job." (What you wrote Amie is true in an awful lot of cases and there is no question that we have lost a lot of fine folks simply because our town reached such a deteriorated condition. But the Council and I are determined that it will look a whole lot different when we leave office. Continue to look us over before making your final decision as to where you will settle.)

Anne Kruszka, no town or city given, logged on to say, "My husband and I are considering a move to Tennessee. We had heard that there was a proposed development called Rarity Mountain, but can find nothing on it. Do you know anything about it? (It is true Anne and it is another in a series of developments by Rarity Properties of Maryville, Tennessee. You can go back into the archives of my mayor's columns at www.jellico.com/jellico/jellico.htm and find some information concerning the project. Or you can contact the developer in Maryville.)

(Webmasters note: Go to www.jellico.com and use the Google search near the bottom of that page. Make sure you choose the jellico.com domain as the domain to be searched and search for Rarity Mountain. You should find everything John Clifton has written on the subject!)

And someone that many of us remember well, Patsy Downey Paulson, no town or city given but I believe that she lives in Florida, says, "I love your column. I was trying to find out when the Class reunion will be." (Sorry to get to you so late Patsy. As stated above, JHS Homecoming 2003 is scheduled for October 17-18 but you are probably aware of the dates by now.) Hope to see you!

I wrote this article prior to the Auburn game so I didn't know how the game would go at that time. It was a big game whether we won or lost but it still did not loom as big as our game this week with Georgia, an SEC eastern division team. And it sure will be a big game at our house!

This is the week of our family's version of the Civil War when the Vols and Dawgs meet.. I have had Orange blood flowing through my veins since I was a very young boy. I have followed the Vols all through the years, did my post-masters degree work there and even had the very enjoyable experience of once serving as a graduate administrative assistant on the staff of then head football coach Bill Battle. And I have had season tickets in football and basketball for too many years to mention.

My daughter and son-in-law took their doctorates from the University of Georgia; live and work in Georgia; and even named my granddaughter Georgia. But I have no problem with that since Georgia might be a little better name for a girl than Tennessee anyway - although that's debatable. But my step-grandson Michael Ray Culver is known as "Tennessee Michael" right in the heart of Kentucky's Big Blue Country. (He's a smart boy if I do say so!)

Once the game is over Saturday, there will be much gloating and a super sized helping of crow - depending of course upon who wins and who loses. (Admittedly I much prefer gloating to eating crow!) Then things will eventually get back to normal in the family. However it starts over again in November. Jenny is still a Kentucky fan in spite of all that Michael Ray and I can do! She's just unreasonable!
JOHN CLIFTON, Mayor, City of Jellico         GO VOLS!!!         BEAT THE DAWGS!!!