News From Home

September 21^st Edition

Mark J. Tidwell

 Elementary Devils:  The Jellico Elementary football team won a homecoming game for the first time in seven years by defeating Robbins.  They had lost the prior game against Fairview 22-0.  They will next play Coalfield on September 23^rd.  The team is said to be “pumped, enthused, and ready to win!”

     The new field is not yet ready at Jellico Elementary.  The fencing still needs put up, the field will require sod, and bleachers, lights, and a scoreboard need to be added. 

    Twenty letterman jackets have been ordered for the 7^th and 8^th grade players.  $125.00 has been raised for each player to get one.  Some of the obstacles for the team are getting fed before each game and also paying for the buses to take the kids to the games.  Concession proceeds cover most of these costs. 

     48 kids total are on the team.  Coach Les Stiers has big plans for getting eight games scheduled to give the sixth graders some experience.  He also wants to host a playoff game at Jellico.  There is also a plan to build a field house at Jellico Elementary complete with lockers and an exercise room. 

     There’s definitely a lot of work, effort, and focus going into the Elementary team these days!

Trans-Am Trail:  Many of you may not know this, but your hometown is currently the jumping off point for a major adventure.  Days Inn parking lot is the starting point for the 4,800 mile long Trans-America Trail (TAT).  This trail begins in Jellico and ends at the Pacific Ocean on the coastline of Oregon.  It was pioneered by an adventure thirsty motorcyclist named Sam Correro.

     The object of the ride is to travel across the length of the United States, as much as possible on off-road trails, jeep roads, dry creek beds, old railroad right-of-ways, and Forestry Service roads.  One obviously needs a dual-purpose, street and trail capable motorcycle.  We’ve witnessed all brands and displacement pass through, from Hondas to KTMS, ranging in size from 250cc to well over 1000cc. 

     Sometimes riders pass through J-Town with the intention of riding a portion of the trail, then picking up where they left off later. Hardcore enthusiasts, on the other hand, generally have taken about six weeks off work to devote to the endeavor, thus riding the trail in its entirety.  We have folks come through from all over the States.  We’ve had them from Spain, England, Canada, and Africa.  The rush is mostly over for this year.  Most riders won’t attempt the high mountain passes in the Rockies after the snow begins to fall out West.  I’ve met some neat characters due to the TAT.  Two of the last riders to come through were of Japanese-American heritage.  They rode their bikes all the way from California to the Atlantic in South Carolina.  Then they came back to Jellico to formally begin the TAT.

     I’ve included a photo of three intrepid riders starting the TAT at Days Inn, and two of the original three at the Pacific Ocean upon completion.  Unfortunately one fellow in the group totaled his bike in Arkansas and did not complete the trip.  Another photo is of a bike with a sidecar getting some repair work done in front of Bucks Hardware in J-Town.  Most riders comment that Jellico is one of the friendliest, most accommodating places they’ve ever been. (3 photos included.)

High School Devils:  The Devils defeated Kings Academy at home on September 10^th by a score of 33-14.  They lost this past Friday, September 17^th to Sunbright.

Candlelight Vigil:  On September 11^th, at dusk, a candlelight service was held in downtown Veterans Park in remembrance of 9-Eleven.  Approximately 100 people turned out for the event, organized yearly by Tourism Director Jake Bennett.  Patriotic and religious songs were sung as Jellicoans, always a tad more patriotic than most, commemorated the event that shocked a nation and led us into war.  Three names, gleaming in raised bronze letters on the Jellico Area Veterans Memorial, could be seen behind the candles.  Gregory B. Hicks, Alfred Barton Siler, and David Keith Cooper, three area men, subsequently paid the ultimate price in the Iraq War. (Photo included.)

Emergency Services Day:  Jellico hosted its annual Emergency Services Day on September 12^th.  Local Emergency assets were on display in downtown Veterans Park for all to see.  A good crowd was on hand to see all the equipment and watch the demonstrations of life-saving paraphernalia.  That’s all for now from the Gem City of the Mountains……………..