ETRLA Campbell County Visit 2017--How A Small County Can Work Together In A Big Way

THANK YOU CAMPBELL COUNTY!!!

I will apologize for the length of this post in advance but I really want to thank everyone who helped make the class of 2017 East Tennessee Regional Leadership tour of Campbell County such a wonderful experience.

We live in a county that is often represented in a negative way in the press with regard to substance abuse and other issues, but I want the world to know there is no finer place to live and when you need help, you will never find people more willing to help. Angie Poteet, Chandy JamesnChandy Hensley and I were tasked with setting up the tour and putting everything together and we received help from everyone we asked and are so thankful that we live in this county. Yes, we don't have all the big businesses or all the money, but we have the spirit, the heart and mostly we have the people. I just want to make it known how proud I am to live in and work in this county and now I want to thank those who helped and please let me know if I miss anyone. Please share this with those you know as I want to make sure everyone who stepped up to help us is recognized.

Our morning started at TCAT-Jacksboro where Debbie Petree was our host and we were provided breakfast from Vanessa and Classy Threads catering thanks to Debbie and TCAT. A fantastic way to start the day with presentations on the state of the state and our area with Senator Yager, Representative Dennis Powers, Mayor E.L. E.l. Morton and Deputy Mayor Andy Wallace. Many thanks to Senator Yager for coming up to speak before having to drive to Nashvillle as soon as he finished speaking.

We next proceeded to the courthouse where the class would be driven in ATV's up to Eagle Bluff and out to Matix and back after a tour of Matix. LaFollette City Administrator Jimmy Jeffries was instrumental in helping find enough vehicles and drivers and we also had help from Deputy Mayor Andy Wallace, Scot Fields from Deerfield Resort and McCloud Mountain, the Jacksboro Police Department and Danny Chapman, Campbell County Deputies and Aaron Evans, Sheila Westray and Ride Royal Blue, Vance Goad and Goad Motorsports and many other individuals. Jeri Starrett and Matix were happy to allow us to tour their growing facility in Caryville.

From there, we were off to lunch provided by Rickard Ridge thanks to Home Federal Bank. We were served in the Pavilion at Cove Lake thanks to Kim Moore and his team at Cove Lake State Park. Our speakers at lunch included our Chamber Director, Christie Elkins, Scott Fields from Deerfield Resort and McCloud Mountain and Jimmy Jeffries. Many thanks to all as we also spoke about the Louie Bluie Festival and the Big Creek ATV Festival which are both coming up soon.

Then we proceeded to Indian River Marina where everyone went out on Pontoon Boats compliments of Debbie Samples and the Indian River Marina. Phillip and Ashley assisted with the boats and we had Mayor E.L. Morton, Deputy Mayor Andy Wallace and county Tourism and Retirement Director Cindi Reynolds speak about Tourism and Norris Lake to groups on each boat. Thank you to the Marina and Ann Ayers for providing boats for the tour of the lake.

The next stop was Pyro Shows and Lansden Hill provided the guests with an NFL style entry to his office and then a fireworks show at departure with a presentation about Pyro Shows between the demonstrations. An amazing experience for the guests to our county and a big thank you to everyone at Pyro Shows.

Next stop was Freeman Park and a presentation from Allan Miller of Allan Miller's GhostWalk LaFollette and he regaled the audience with tales from the past of LaFollette. The group was treated with ice cream compliments of Cynthia Cynthia Nelson Russell and ORNL FCU during the short walking tour of part of downtown.

Finally we headed off to Telos Global and the group was lead through the plant by Axel Weiand as they witnessed the cutting edge technology being utilized. Big thanks to Rick Teague fro allowing us to visit as they were setting up for a conference involving participants from all over the world.

Big thanks to the Harbor Church for loaning us a bus and finding us a driver.

We really appreciate everyone assisting us all over the county. I know I will miss someone but I want to name others who helped and/or supplied prizes and gifts:

Rayma Daugherty and United Cumberland Bank., Missy Missy Greenwood Tackett, Tracy Davis, Tracy Tracy Adkins Powerss, TCAT-Jacksboro Metal and Welding instructors, Cash Express, First Franklin, Community Trust Bank, Lion's Club, Habitat or Humanity, Big Creek ATV Festival, Louie Bluie Festival, 1st Volunteer Bank, Edward Jones, Tennova, Hampton Inn, Ayers Auction and Realty, Jim Dossett, Hack Ayers, Y-12 FCU and I am sure there are others I have missed.

Finally, I just want to let everyone in our county know what a great county we live in. So many people helped out in so many ways to make sure everyone had an amazing time. As a non-profit organization, we couldn't have put together such an amazing event without everyone volunteering to help. I can't begin to thank everyone enough and really want to put one more big shout out to Jimmy Jeffries, Andy Wallace, Mayor E.L. Morton, Lansden Hill, Debbie Debbie Farmer Sampless, Debbie Petree, Scott Fields, Sheila Westray, Senator Yager, Representative Powers, Jerri Starrett and Axel Weiand for being so willing to help out in every way they could.