News From Home:  December 2, 2010

Mark J. Tidwell

 NEW DAY IN TOWN: I’ve sort of left the Alumni site hanging since the October 5 column.  Things have been incredibly busy here at Jellico Public Library and otherwise in life.  So, without further ado, let’s get into some of the happenings in your hometown since we last spoke.

     Jellico has gone through an election cycle.  We have a new Mayor and Council.  The race sized up thusly:  Les Stiers was overwhelmingly elected as the new Mayor of Jellico.  Mayor Stiers is a former CSX Railroad employee with a long span of service.  He says, “It’s a new day in Jellico.  We’re going to be about the town’s business and get to work for our town and its people.”

     Venita Johnson made history by being the first African-American ever elected to Jellico City Council.  And, she proved the top vote getter which makes “Cissco,” as she is known locally, the City of Jellico’s Vice-Mayor.

     Newly elected to City Council are Charles Vermillion, Tommy Bowlin, and Pam Carbaugh.  Only two members of the previous council returned to serve another term; Alvin Evans and John Davenport. 

     As in all governments these days, from the local to the national level, there are many challenges to be faced. Here’s to progress for our little town!  Jellico has a wealth of untapped potential.  Let’s hope our newly elected officials can unlock some of it.

NEW WATER TANK:  The town’s old reservoir is located above Robbins Street, just a few hundred yards from the Library.  A completely new, from the ground up, tank is nearing completion.  Massive amounts of work have occurred on the steep side of the mountain this summer as load after load of concrete has been poured.  As always, a picture is worth a thousand words, so check out the attached photos.

   

   

New Additions to 25W/I-75 Interchange:  The Tennessee Department of Transportation spent a good deal of time, money and effort in alleviating some of the problems associated with the Cloverleaf Section of Jellico.  New turn lanes and merge lanes were added along 25W where it intersects with Interstate 75.  This upgrade will certainly help the flow of traffic and be a little more welcoming to those passing through “The Gateway to the South,” Jellico, TN.

New Sign Commemorating 1944 Troop Train Wreck:  A replacement sign has been mounted to the Haystack Rock, just outside of Jellico, in the Clear Fork River Gorge.  On July 6, 1944, a trainload of US Army soldiers were the unfortunate victims of a tragic derailment on the outskirts of Highcliff.  Over 100 were injured and 32 soldiers were killed (33 by some accounts) as well as the engineer and fireman (whose famous last words were, “She jumped the tracks!).

     Dr. John Boll, of the Clear Fork Clinic, led the effort to secure a new sign.  The last one had been there for several years and had been seriously damaged by some fierce winds that roared up the Narrows a couple of years ago.  Boy Scout Troop 310 helped in the tedious and dangerous job, of mounting the new sign.  Jellico Alumni Roy Price hung precariously off the Haystack Rock and performed all the drilling and installed the mounting screws.  Thanks to everyone who helped in this endeavor.  The battlefields of Europe, or the Islands of the vast Pacific, weren’t the only places American soldiers perished during the “huge one,” World War II.  Blood was spilled right here in Jellico.

   

   

Trunk R’ Treat:  Jellico held its annual Trunk R’ Treat on Saturday evening, October 30.  The event was organized by Melissa Chitwood of Heritage Pizza. An unbelievable turnout ascended upon downtown Veterans Park.  1,300 little Halloween cards were given out, so we know at least that many children passed through the lines.  Estimates ranged as high as 1,750, but no one knows for sure.  What an evening for Jellico!  See attached photos.

   
   

Gorgeous Rainbow over Area!  On Thursday, November 4th, on my way home from work, I witnessed the most vivid, largest rainbow I’d ever seen in my lifetime.  It hung over the area for around 45 minutes.  What a scene crafted by the Creator! 

That is all for now.  Be sure and check out the new Jellico website:  www.jellico.us.