Grassy Fork School and Centerview School employees enjoyed a great celebration on Friday, Sept. 12. We were treated to a cookout at the Newport City Park in recognition of our scoring in the top ten percent in Tennessee on TCAP test scores for the 2007-2008 school year. We would like to thank our school director, Manney Moore and former school director, Larry Blazer, for giving us the opportunity to celebrate our success.

A delicious meal was prepared and served by Lick Creek Barbecue of Mohawk. The food was great. We were entertained by the popular Mountain Edge Bluegrass Band whose members are Carter Moore, Lemmie Workman, Andy Williams and our very own Grassy Fork teacher, Jamie Clark. They do such a good job. I especially enjoyed the quartet singing a cappella style. All full time employees from Grassy Fork and nearly all from Centerview and many of their family members attended. Each employee was presented with a replica of a bench style school desk like we used when I was in elementary school at Compton Memorial where the desk on the back of one bench makes the desk for the next students. Two students sat on the same bench and used the same desk. This has special meaning for me.

Board members for the two schools for last year, Richard Coggins and Jerry Ramsey, were given a plaque in recognition of their support. Likewise, the current director of schools, Manney Moore along with former director, Larry Blazer were given plaques for their help and support. Other Central Office personnel attending were Tiffany Dover, Kathy Holt and Wilbur West.

School board members attending were Richard Coggins, Rose Lovell, Pat Proffitt, Otha Rolen, Randy Shults, and Dr. Ken Johnson. It was great to see teachers who now work at Centerview but formerly taught at Grassy Fork like Tammy Shepard, and Kathy Holt. Belinda Holt did not get to attend. I was glad to see Kim Shults. She worked with me at Grassy Fork as a Special Education Teacher over fifteen years ago. I had not seen her in years. We appreciate our directors, and principals, Dr. Shannon Grooms and Pam Messer who worked so hard so that we could have this special evening.

Harold Woody returned home on Thursday night form the Cocke County Baptist Hospital. He had to be sent there late Tuesday evening with breathing problems. He still is a long ways from being well.

Chipper McGaha is in the same hospital this week. He is also having breathing troubles. We hope that they are both better soon.

There was a birthday celebration held on Sunday, September 14 at our barbecue-picnic area which we have officially named The Gathering Place- A place where warm memories are made with family and friends. We have erected a plaque which has this message on it. Some of the family said that's better than saying we had a cookout at the graveyard. The cookout was held to celebrate the birthdays of three family members who had their special day in this month-Caleb Green, Alene Green and Lilah Lunsford. Attending this happy event were Rodney, Lilah, Zack, and Lana Lunsford, Cosby; Betty,and Nikki Jones, Hartford; Stacey Baxter, Newport, Aurine and John Barnett; Ken and Dana Auble, Cosby; Johnny, Gayle, and Misty Green, Cosby; Wayne, Lori, Caleb, and Landon Green, Newport; Troy and JoAnn Wilburn; George and Alene Green; Chris, Becky, and Caitlin Arrington; and J.D. and myself. We had grilled chicken and pork chops and side dishes and desserts of all kinds My youngest brother, Johnny, did the grilling. He is well known for his grilled chicken with a secret ingredient.

Visiting the Ray and Aurine Barnett Family on Sunday were Ray's brother Ronnie Barnett and their childhood playmates-Donnie, Billy, and Tim Clevenger. With Donnie were his wife Lee Ester (who also happen to be a first cousin to our family) and their grandchildren-Rebecca and Kevin Clevenger. The guest brought plenty of food and cooked for the Barnett Family. Now that is friendship. They had fun reliving some of the escapades that they experienced together as young boys growing up. Michal Pullum also dropped by to visit in the afternoon.

David Green is doing well after having his heart surgery. He is still sore and weak but has not had complications. Family members visiting him recently were John and Aurine Green; Paralee Coggins, Bonnie Hall, Edith Hunt, and Julie Coggins.

Well, today, September 17, is the beginning of Constitution Week. This is the 220th anniversary of the signing of this great document. We should take time to appreciate our forefathers for having the wisdom and courage to create a document that is the foundation that our nations is built on and gives us the freedoms that we so many times take for granted.

October 9 is Community Day at our school. Each year we chose a theme for this day in which we invite people from the community to come in and share their knowledge and experience with our students. This year our theme is HOMECOMING 2008. We are inviting alumni and members of the community to come and do a presentation about their career choice and success with the students. We think this will help them to realize that students from our school go on to be productive citizens in their communities wherever they may live. These presentations can also help them when the time comes for them to make career choices.

This weekend is the DAR meeting at the Newport/Cocke County Community Center at 10:00.

Don't forget Del Rio Days is this weekend also.