Gem City News
From your roving hometown busybody, Mark J. Tidwell, Blue Devil Class of 1982
Why am I doing this? In two words: Condy Alley. That long-tall rascal, from the Alumni Association, has been after me for some time, to provide JHS Alumni, scattered hither and yon, with a modicum of information from their hometown.
I am really far too busy to take on such a chore. But, I will try it for a while and see how it goes, or how interested folks are in touching base with the place of their rearing. Please send all complaints to Condy. Feel free to curse and yell. Compliments are okay to send my way. I can be reached at jellico2@birch.net.
Who the heck am I? My name is Mark Joseph Tidwell, son of the late James Tidwell Jr. and Wilma Tidwell. I have a sister, Susan, and brother, Ray, both JHS graduates. I graduated in 1982, went on to Cumberland College, graduating there in 1986. I am currently the Library Director at Jellico Public Library. I just completed the Public Library Certification program at Jackson State in January of 2011.
My wife Yvonne and I have one daughter, Rebekah Jo, a senior at JHS this school year. We live on a little farm in Highcliff where we have far too many animals to take care of. From hedgehogs to horses, you’ll find them there. Yvonne is a 21-year-employee of the State of Tennessee. We met in the third grade playing on the trampoline at Wynn School, when I visited one day with my sister, who taught for years at Wynn. Our daughter, oddly enough, went on to win 3rd Place in a National Gymnastics competition a few years ago, on the trampoline.
Some of you may know me from my column in the LaFollette Press, Section C, From The Mountain. I really enjoy being at the “epicenter of Jellico” here at the library, where 25W and 297 come together. We have a lively little library! I certainly enjoy writing for the paper. I’ve made so many new friends. I’ve had folks contact me from places I’ve never heard of, due to something I’ve written.
Occasionally, I even pen a few words of truth! In actuality, the way I begin every column is like this. I say, “Lord, there are enough troubles and woes in this old world. Give me a few words to take someone’s mind, somewhere, off their troubles, and enjoy life, or have a laugh, if only for a fleeting moment.” I have found that the Creator has allowed me to be successful in that endeavor from the comments I get from column readers. So, I claim no credit whatsoever in the deal.
Well, enough of introductions. Let’s see what we can come up with from the Gem City of the Mountains, Jellico, TN.
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Weather: We had a long, hard Winter of 09/10. Snow fell in abundance. Just about every Thursday, a new front came through bringing more snow and bitter temperatures. Now, we’re in the throes of a heck-hot summer. As I type this out on Wednesday, August 18, we have experienced, (by most meteorologists’ accounts) SIXTY-ONE days over ninety degrees! Heat advisories and heat warnings are par for the course these days.
Politics: (I don’t delve into political ramblings. This is merely the factual data from our recent August 5 Campbell County election. It is provided for informational purposes only. No affiliations or other inferences are to be taken from the report.)
5,048 early votes were cast in Campbell County, far surpassing the 3,855 early votes cast in the last county election cycle.
With 10,330 votes cast in the County Mayoral race, incumbent William Baird was the winner with 3,455 votes (33%). The remaining candidates lined up thusly: David G. Young, Fred Cole, Scott Kitts, Ron W. McClellan, Bob T. Andrews, and Ronnie L. Murray.
Incumbent Campbell County Sheriff Gary Perkins, a JHS graduate of ’80 or ’81 (I’ve been out too long to recall exactly) lost out to Robbie Goins. Perkins garnered 3,046 votes to Goins’ 5,452. Four other candidates split the remainder of the votes.
Fifth District Commissioners will be Terry Singley (761 votes) JHS Class of ’81, J. L. Davis JHS Class of 64 (701 votes), and Alvin Evans JHS Class of 65 (648 votes).
5th District School Board race was won by Johnny W. Creekmore (1,458 votes) to Chad Sieber’s 359 votes.
5th District Constable Paul Webb defeated all comers to win another term with 727 votes.
Jellico city government will be going through an election cycle this coming November. Petitions for candidacy are being signed and a host of names are being added to the lists for mayoral and council hopefuls.
Business: Douglas IGA Market, formerly Creekmore’s has, or will shortly be closing its doors. It saddens me to see any business go out in J-Town.
A new, larger, much-improved Dollar General Store has just opened in Jellirock. It is spacious and really nice inside, with a large parking area outside.
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I have been here at the library for seven years now, day-in, day-out being in tune with the traffic flow occurring outside the library’s windows. I have never seen as much coal flowing through town as I have in the last few months. Truck traffic is phenomenal! Secondly, logs are carted by all day long. Log trucks of all sizes and descriptions greets ones gaze constantly. Thirdly, scrap metal goes by in great quantities! At least some sectors of the economy seem to be booming during the so dubbed “Great Recession.”
Buck Brothers’ Hardware is an absolutely bustling place of business just down the street from the library. And, when some of you alumni are in town, the museum portion of the business is a must see. The collection is fabulous! Proprietor Ronnie Buck, and his brothers Oran, Albert, and Steve, have really made a difference in downtown J-Town’s appearance. Naw………they’re not that handsome, it’s the store fronts I’m speaking of. Gail Douglas Garrett’s meticulous arrangement of town history paraphernalia is awesome!
Nature: Several oddities have popped up around the area this year. Right now, at Indian Mountain State Park, one can find Great Egrets, Blue Herons, Green Herons, and Cormorants. Visiting alumni should drive through the lovely park grounds when in town. The panorama of mountains spans 360 degrees. It would be hard to find a prettier view anywhere!
That’s all this time around. Stay tuned for more hometown news in the weeks to come……….