Following last week's article I was determined to make no more statements concerning the City Administrator vacancy. But I have had so many expressions of support that I feel compelled to extend my thanks for all that support.
Several have asked me to reconsider my pronouncement that I would not accept the position under any circumstances. And some ladies even suggested carrying a petition on my behalf.
I certainly appreciate everyone who has discussed the situation with me but I would have to think long and hard before I would agree to assume the job under the present situation.
But regardless of who is hired - it needs to be a local person. Every surrounding community that I have checked has some full time person whether it is a full time Mayor, City Administrator or Mayor/City Administrator. And all have hired local people. And all seem to be doing very well by entrusting their local people with that responsibility.
The mention last week concerning the Official in Alaska that was born in Jellico (taken from internet) reminded someone that a former Official in Columbus, Ohio was also born and reared in Jellico. So Jellico people must have at least some ability in the field. If they can succeed in large cities and relatively large cities, then surely they can administer the business affairs of the city of Jellico.
It is ironic that immediately after writing last week's column and forwarding it to the Advance-Sentinel, I learned of the passing of Mrs. Roussia Belle Gault. Mrs. Gault was 95 years old and living in Ohio at the time of her death.
I discussed the old "Yellow Row" and "Frog Level" days last week. And Mrs. Gault was the last link to those wonderful people that I mentioned who lived and raised their families in those two sections of town that now live only in the memories of a few of us who grew up there.
With the passing of Mrs. Gault brings the realization that an era in the history of Jellico now comes to a close.
The "Old Fashioned Night" was so successful that folks are still asking for a repeat of that event. But the evenings are getting cooler and we have the Jellico High School homecoming weekend coming up as well as other activities. We may not be able to work in another special night for this Fall.
But we definitely plan to do it again next Spring and Summer (possibly several times). And we hope to have the Citizens Market/Farmers Market ready to go at that time as well as our activities that are currently taking place in the downtown area.
And I want Bill Smith and "Blackie" Muse and the other fellows to keep that community barbeque on the front burner until that time.
We expect to make the downtown an even more "lively" place next year.
The "Old Fashioned Night" sure led to discussions about many events and items that people could recall from previous years. I have already mentioned the Estil Roundtree popcorn stand, the hot food push cart and the old raincoat factory.
But there were probably more references to the old water fountain that sat on the corner of North Main Street and Fifth Street (in front of the old Trammel Building) than there were for any other topics of conversation. Mr. John Mays has saved that old water fountain and plans to place it on the walkway leading into Barton-Carey Medical Products. I know a lot of folks, including myself, are looking forward to seeing it once again. (How long has it been???)
And I wonder how many other such items there are that have been saved of which we are unaware.
If our visitors center is funded with a grant (application to be filed next Spring), we will have an appropriate place in two or three years in which to display such items.
This is the big Jellico High School homecoming weekend and a lot of activities are scheduled at the school. Activities involving the city of Jellico include the Twin Rivers Band playing Friday in Veterans Park Annex from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM (tentative depending upon weather conditions and availability of musicians). If that event goes through as scheduled, some members of the alumni are expected to play and/or sing and all others are invited to participate.
The Twin Rivers Band has discontinued the "Saturday Nights in the Park" until next Spring. But the bluegrass/gospel presented by Robert and Dessie Johnson hopes to continue throughout the month of October and will probably be held on Friday night.
The "Parade of Classes" will line up at the Tabernacle on Florence Avenue starting at 6:00 PM. The Jellico Police Department will escort the column of vehicles that will move out at 6:45 PM and come through town and on to the high school football field. Mr. Jay Meredith will organize that event this year.
And Mr. Bobby Daniel has asked me to announce that the "Old Timers Baseball Game" will be held at the City Ball Park on Saturday starting at 2:00 PM.
Our town has just lost two fine men who were stalwarts in our community for many years. Mr. Glen Queener always seemed to have a funny story to relate about that "other political party". He once told me that he always voted for the best man in any election and that he could not help it if the best man happened to always be a Democrat.
It was an enjoyable experience to run into him anywhere and to get involved in a humorous conversation.
Harold Moon's years in Jellico are almost legendary. Amateur and professional baseball player, bookkeeper, fireman, service station operator, City Recorder, Councilman, Mayor, Mason, amateur golfer, fisherman and other activities were just a few of his pursuits. And talking with him was always an enjoyable experience as well.
We had a special day of recognition at homecoming a couple of years ago and I am glad that we did it while he still was able to enjoy the event.
Newcomb too, lost one of it's former leaders - Mr. Barton Sharp.
I recently met with Mr. Billy Bowlin. Billy is interested in helping with the drive to revitalize our town and he has agreed to help in our attempts to bring an automotive show to Jellico.
We would of course have to start with a small show and hopefully grow as we gain experience with such an event.
I sincerely appreciate Billy's offer of assistance.
Two weekends ago I visited the Senior Citizens Center for one of their dinners and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Those in attendance voiced their great pleasure with the progress that we are now making in Jellico and encouraged me to stick to what I and others have been doing to improve our town. Several expressed their desire to see downtown Jellico restored to some of it's earlier prominence.
And the homemade chili, pinto beans, fried taters, fried apple pies, cookies, etc. did not hurt my feelings either. But I can't say as much for my waistline.
I certainly appreciate the hospitality that I was shown.
The Jellico Police Department has announced that "Trick or Treat" night has been scheduled for Saturday, October 30th (5:30 PM - 9:00 PM).
Several building owners/business operators that we originally asked to get involved have done so. And some have already completed work on their buildings. Included in that group are the post office, old First National Bank building, Jellico Video, old "Used Treasures Building" (now Ambassador Thrift Store), the Adventist Mission, John's New and Used Furniture, Mike's Graphics, and the Tschudy property. There may be others.
Two nearing completion are the Old Family Drug Store and our new city building with library, Office of Tourism and Community Conference Room (that building lacks only the identification lettering and the historical plaque). Little visible progress has been made on the building leased by Taylor Manufacturing but I was told that some painting of the interior is underway or planned.
Jerry Downs has indicated that plans are still in development for improvements to that property (old Ford dealership). One of the new owners of the old Union Bank building says that he expects work to begin there shortly. As reported earlier, Wayne and Deana Barton did brighten up the front of the old Firestone/Begliutti building and hope to construct a new front for the building in the not too distant future. Russell Edwards has told me that he has not yet decided what approach he will take in renovating the old "Mary's Kitchen" but will sandblast and/or paint the exterior.
I have announced on several occasions that I will file for a grant next Spring with which to tear down and save the old City Hall and reconstruct a single story building on that site. The new structure would serve as a visitor center.
Jamie Dugger has completed much of the required renovation to the interior of the city owned building next to the Municipal Building. She says that she is now looking to contract a painter to do the exterior of that building.
I have met with the owners of the Stooksbury property located just below the old City Hall and they have stated their willingness to take corrective action. And hopefully that will be accomplished within the next few weeks.
Sterling Baird has indicated that he will do work on Bill's Dollar Store and that is very important to our renovation program since that building sits in the center of town.
I intend to request that painting and other work be done to the exterior of the old Central Drug Store that already has a restored interior. The Methodist Church hopes to do exterior work and painting next Spring.
The creek in Veterans Park Annex has been lined with white stone and the bridges should be constructed within the next few days. Robbie Woodson will furnish the needed benches. We still badly need the area blacktopped and some rest rooms constructed. And I am still working to obtain a donor for the decorative fence to separate the two tracts of property. And we will soon add the 1.4 acres to that tract.
The prospects still look good for at least a small grant that can be applied to the prospective "Miners Memorial" for Veterans Park.
Our volunteer project for next Spring's "Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up Week" will be the painting of the metal awning on North Main Street.
As I wrote in a previous column, the town is slowly but surely being renovated and the appearance greatly improved. And I hear rumors of possible future development of other property.
A man told me recently that he talked with a gentleman from out of town who might be interested in a piece of property for development. And that individual informed the prospective buyer that if he did eventually decide to purchase the property, that he could expect a visit shortly from the Mayor to talk about improvements that he would like to see accomplished. And the prospective buyer considered that a positive!!!
Final Note:
Rev. Bill Branam recently introduced me to a very nice couple, George and Lorraine Burkholtz?, who recently moved to our area from Michigan. They are extremely impressed with our people, our beautiful scenery and the spirit of community that was displayed at the Jellico Community Hospital celebration and during other activities.
I asked the Burkholtz's to contact their relatives, friends and former neighbors in Michigan and invite them to move here also. They informed me that they have already been doing just that. They were way ahead of me.
I ran into Tony Douglas before the Tennessee/Memphis football game a few Saturdays ago. Tony grew up in Jellico and is one of the countless graduates of Jellico High School of whom I am very proud. He now lives in the Knoxville Karnes Community.
Tony told me that we are doing a great job in bringing Jellico back. And according to Tony, the improvements are enough to make former residents give serious consideration to returning to Jellico to live. That was truly a compliment.
But the most meaningful comment may have come from a Kindergarten or First Grade student who reportedly cried to come to town on Saturday night. When asked why he wanted so badly to be in the downtown, he is said to have replied, "Because that's where everybody goes".
If I ever learn the identity of that young man, I plan to buy him the biggest hamburger and order of fries in town (he probably wouldn't want steak). We need all of our citizens including our very young ones, to begin thinking that way.
View the Archives of this column.