Our first attempt at having an annual "Old Fashioned Fall Fest" was everything that we hoped that it would be - and then some. And if food consumption is any indication, it was extremely successful. Jellico may now hold some kind of record for most chicken and dumplings consumed during a two-day period. Food vendor after food vendor sold out of that delicacy. And some ran out, went after more and then sold them out as well. (One was actually debating bringing in big pots of dumplings for a third time.) And I sampled as many of them as I could but they kept running out before I could make my rounds.

We had the most vendors of arts, crafts and food that I can ever recall for an event. And the lady doing the portraits seemed to be doing a good business as well. She was sketching someone every time that I passed by. And she can confirm that I was there - because I kept looking over her shoulder.

The crowd on Friday morning was reportedly very good. But the bad weather began arriving with its high winds and occasional heavy rain which placed a temporary damper on the festivities. But even then most food distributors reported that they had had brisk sales up to that time.

A decision had to be made early in the evening as to what to do about the music and it was decided to move indoors (Community Conference Room) where the house eventually filled as folks learned of the new location. After a short stay in that area, the sky began to clear and the music moved to the stage. And for all in attendance at either or both locations, they heard some "mean picking and a-singing".

Saturday morning saw the return of the clouds and even some sprinkles appeared. But the crowd began to grow around 12:00 noon and increased until approximately 2:00 PM when we had as many folks there in a two hour period that I can ever recall. And the crowd remained very good throughout the evening hours. And they too were treated to some fine singing all afternoon and into the evening. It's shocking how many folks that we have around this area who have very good talent, but either don't always utilize that talent or are reluctant to demonstrate it in public. We had folks singing Saturday that I had never heard before and was not even aware that they could sing. But I - and a lot of other folks - got a real surprise.

The pumpkin and squash that took up nearly the entire back of a pick up truck attracted everybody's attention. The pumpkin (by actual scales weight) was 385 pounds. The squash weighed over 300 punds. (I kept seeing in my mind all of the pumpkin pies covered with whipped cream that could be made from that one pumpkin for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And there sure were plenty of good cooks there that could have made those pies).

The Hacklers had that beautiful new carriage for viewing and Charles Hackler brought his wagon. Charles took me around the park in that wagon drawn by a pair of mules named Rock and Tom. They were a fine pair of young mules but they badly need name changes to something a little more sophisticated. Joe Brown said that he went to some kind of "mule show" somewhere in Tennessee and pairs of mules there had names like "Assault" and "Battery". Some of us went to the Sugar Bowl several years ago and were taken on a tour of New Orleans in a carriage drawn by a mule named "Boris Karloff". Somehow Rock and Tom just doesn't measure up to such distinguished mule names.

Some were afraid that locating the "old-timey" skills behind the fence might cut the crowd going to that area and it may have decreased it slightly. But there was still a steady stream of folks going back there to watch hominy being prepared and molasses being made from scratch - starting with the sugar cane going through a press. (Some wanted to know if we could disconnect the motor turning the press and put Hackler's mules to turning it like in the old days. But I was afraid to push my luck.)

Alla Faye Rutherford located her horse shoe pitching tournament in that area also. Somehow she holds the horseshoe in what looks like an awkward manner, slings it back and forth a couple or three times and then lets it fly. And it's just one ringer after another ringer after another ringer. I think she said that she played well over 100 games and never lost a single match. (I doubt that she ever will lose one around here as long as she pitches like that. If I had played here, I planned to hire some kid to come up behind her and to give her a good push just as she let go.)

Anthony Clifton (no relation) had the gigantic pumpkin and squash. Freda Chitwood won the gourd competition. But the highlight of the entire affair (and a very entertaining one) may have been the segment for competition in ice cream eating, pie eating, best ladies/men's old-time costumes and mens' beards. Zachary Swafford took the youngest category in eating ice cream. In the boy's fifteen and under, Dexter Fitzpatrick ate two full pints of ice cream within five minutes to win that division title. (But not to be outdone, he later won his pie eating contest and finished off an entire pie.) Although much smaller, Justin Head wasn't very far behind him. Mitchell Lowe won the mens' division by eating four pints of ice cream within the five minutes. Then he sat down with the audience and ate a fifth pint for enjoyment. Fred Hughes won the mens' pie eating contest and he appeared to be taking his pie in with a suction pump. He didn't require anything like five minutes to completely polish it off.

The ladies in their costumes were certainly something to see and I hope that a lot of photos were made. The winner in the senior division was Mrs. Maude Young and she reminded me so much of my grandmother Mary Kasee that I wrote about in an article a few weeks ago. She truly looked the part. Sarah Creekmore was named winner in the young ladies' division. But there were many other ladies that were equally deserving of recognition and who added greatly to the entire Fest. (They were all truly beautiful in their dresses, bonnets and aprons and I sure would not have wanted to be a judge in that one.) David Davis won the competition for male dress. Payton Smiddy finished on top in the boys' division. (Drawing winners were Dorothy Potter, Gene Beck, Letha Buckner, and Doug Leach.)

I definitely can not use the word beautiful in describing the men in the beard contest. That event reminded me of an "ugliest truck" competition that was conducted in Knoxville a few years ago. The winner of the "longest" beard, John Thomas, didn't have anything to worry about. His beard reached halfway to his belt. Sam Farris had the "neatest" beard and Albert Kimberlin won the "honor" of wearing the "scroungiest" beard to the affair. But Mike Neely and others gave them all a run for their plaques.

Jake Bennett was totally exhausted when the event ended Saturday night. And I am sure that several members of the Tourism Commission were extremely tired as well including Charles and Carolyn Leach who again did a super job in decorating the stage. Jamie Ivey manned the registration desk for the competitive events; Wanda Perkins was available where needed; Marion Ivey worked a booth and John Davenport came to the Park immediately after his work hours. Alla Faye stayed busy with the horseshoe tournament. The Cupps and Ron Dabney took care of the music and the sound system. They all did a tremendous job working with an event for the very first time. Their efforts are all greatly appreciated.

And our city departments really pitched in as did our utilities and GASCO. Business owners and agencies put up great decorations in keeping with the theme. And many of them bought sponsorships as was evidenced by a large sign bearing their names that was posted by the stage. All of their help and support is equally appreciated by our town. And we most definitely thank all of the participants.

But the main thing was the enjoyment that everybody seemed to get from the entire affair. One of the first ladies that I talked with at church on Sunday morning asked that we be sure to do it again next year. Later a lady from another church told me that it had been the main topic of discussion following the services there. We all heard countless requests to make it an annual affair and we most assuredly will do so. As I have stated all along, the Fest has the potential to really grow into something good for our town.

Visitors that I met from Georgia and Ohio plan to return next year and set up booths. Numerous spectators vowed to become actively involved next year. And Joe Brown promises that a permit will be obtained and a "still" added. Some "corn squeezings" will be prepared just for demonstration purposes of course. If anyone does insist upon taking just a small sip of "that powerful stuff", I am sure that it will be strictly for medicinal purposes such as treating snake bite and other "miseries" that might suddenly afflict!

Some other ideas for next year include blocking off North Main Street to through traffic after lunch on Saturday and allow parking only from traffic light to traffic light as they do in other towns. We could then set up tables and have many of the competitive events right in the middle of the street. Some requested that we have both line dancing and traditional square dancing as well on Saturday night. We do have several square dancers in this area and I am sure that a "caller" could be obtained from somewhere. They might want to get to practicing!

I sure do not want to fail to thank John Mays, CEO of Barton-Carey, and Rocky Slover and his crew for setting up the water fountain. A lot of us took a drink from that fountain for the first time in over thirty years. And signs placed around the fountain gave statistics about its history including the fact that well over 2,000,000 drinks were estimated to have been taken from it during the 60 years that it occupied the sidewalk in front of the old Trammel Building. It really brought back some memories. And John plans to have it running during our annual Jellico High School Homecoming.

John presently has a real life "Charlene Darling" of the "Andy of Mayberry Show" working for him although she does not know the words to "Let Me Be Your Salty Dog". (She's just way too young to remember that "romantic" song.) Honey Brassfield who has been playing almost every stringed instrument since she was 11 years old - along with Marshall Puumala (who can make a Dobro talk) and R.D. Rigney on guitar - entertained from the front steps of the old Jellico Hospital on Fifth Street. Honey picks the strings of a madolin so fast that your eyes can hardly follow her fingers.

She has written and sings a song dedicated to her deceased brother who drowned when he was only two years old. It is beautiful and can bring you to near tears. It definitely needs to be recorded. It's that good! (And she really does look a lot like Charlene.)

Eleven year old Andrew Hamblin also appeared and he too picks a banjo very, very well (Just wait until next year when we get all of this talent together.)

I did make one serious mistake on Saturday. I failed to wear a cap and the sun was burning my head. I accepted a Kentucky Wildcat hat out of sheer desperation. And of course Jake just happend to be right there to snap a photo. But he says that he missed it.

And belive it or not, I was enjoying myself so much that I even missed a home Tennessee football game. (And I guess it's a good thing since it seemed that they would play all night!)

But our first Fall Fest is now over and we need to be ready for the Church of God, South Main Street, first "Autumn Gathering" that starts this Sunday morning as I understand the schedule. A large number of visitors are expected and we need to be sure to go out of our way to make them feel very, very welcome. The cool nights should help with some color changes in the leaves in time for our visitors. (Leaf colors promise to be at their peak by our annual Jellico High School Homecoming on August 24th and 25th.)

Our country and the world are now faced with a man, Saddam Hussein, that appears to be literally the second coming of Adolf Hitler. Had Hitler been stopped by world ruling officials and world religious leaders in 1938, millions and millions of people would not have lost their lives. Those leaders did not act and their total failure will be a black mark upon civilization forever.

But we are blessed with a President that is willing to act - if he must - to prevent another Holocaust and a Holocaust that may occur this time within our very own country. September 11, 2001 may be only a small taste of what we may have to eventually face. None of us want war and the very thought of war is abhorrent to our section of the country that has given so many of its finest young men to defend our freedom. But the ages old phrase, "He who hesitates is lost!" didn't just drop out of a clear blue sky!

I certainly hope that the United Nations is able to dismantle the Iraqi war machine without the loss of a single life. But if the UN can't or won't, I am certainly glad that President Bush is willing to do whatever is required to protect America and the entire world. And as our President, he - along with our military - deserve our full support. We certainly do not need or want a repeat of 1938! It may be us this time!