To the Editor:

The SMMS Booster Club would like to thank the following for their donations which were used as door prizes at our sports banquet: Duncan Lumber, Jerry’s Hardware, PJ’s Salon, Stanifer Drugs, Tracee’s Formals and Weddings, and Christy Cook. Thanks to all the parents and supporters for your help during the year. Congratulations to all our teams and coaches for a great year.

Sincerely,

SMMS Booster Club

Honor those who lost lives to terrorism

To the Editor:

As we journey on through our lives, let us never forget the magnificent people who lost their lives in a moment of terrorism, let us never forget the magnificent and brave soldiers who are in battle, let us never forget the wounded for the one’s who have lost their lives. We must endure and go forward. We can’t change the things that have happened, but maybe we can prevent such things from happening again by using every precaution possible.

In honor of these people who lost their lives on 911, let us never forget them, but remember the terrible circumstances they were caught in. Let us honor the brave soldiers who are in battle, and all who lost their lives fighting the entities that linger all throughout the world.

Let the terrorists beware, for these people will not be forgotten, nor will their acts of terrorism go un-avenged. We will fight against terrorism, we will take the path that leads us to do great things. We will live and believe in freedom, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Diana Sue Collins

Tazewell, Tenn.

Cell phone collection report

To the Editor:

On April 16th, pager one, the Claiborne Progress alerted Claiborne citizens to a program to collect unwanted cell phones and accessories. We explained that, as part of a national program, the Tri-County Vietnam Veterans Group (Bell, Claiborne and Lee counties), would trade every “junk” cell phone for a free, prepaid one hour calling card for any U.S. soldier, stationed overseas anywhere in the world, so he or she could call home. Like other counties, the Claiborne school district agreed, with the help of their students, to collect the phones. We also asked the help of the churches, businesses, public employees and all others. The idea was to give the “junk” phones to teachers or students. The Tri-county Vietnam Veterans Group members would then visit each school and pick up the phones and accessories.

In the April newspaper notice, I promised you of Claiborne County a final report on our achievement. Here it is:

Bell County - 397 phones, plus 236 cell phone accessories

Lee County - 40 phones, plus 19 accessories

Claiborne County Public Schools - 1 phone, plus 1 accessory

J. Frank White Academy (at LMU) - 8 phones, plus 13 accessories

We thank the students of J. Frank White Academy, along with Lee and overwhelmingly the citizens and students of Bell County. These people, one and all, recognize the tremendous work our soldiers do for each of us, everyday, too often under conditions that only combat troops can understand. And, for the one person who left us a phone at Cumberland Gap High School, God Bless you!

The national “Cell Phones for Soldiers” program can be reached at 1-800-426-1031.

For the Tri-County Vietnam Veterans Group,

Jim Finnegan

Veterans Project a success for students

To the Editor:

Mrs. Mayes 8th grade students at Powell Valley Elementary School recently took part in the Veterans Project. The students were asked to interview one veteran each, asking questions and talking about their life before, during, and after their time in the military. This project was something that was both fun and educational for the students to take part in. They now have a better understand of what these veterans experienced and who being in the military impacted their life. The 8th grade and Mrs. Mayes would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to all of the veterans, who were involved in this project. Thank you to all our veterans for your service and dedication to our country, you are greatly respected and very much appreciated. Orbin Fayte Amix, Jr., Dwayne Lee Ballew, david Baker, James Wayne Blair, Bill Ott Bolton, Charles Oscar Braden, Clyde K. Bryant, Danny Lee Catron, John Collins, Jr., Larry Chumley, Anthony Michael Hagon, Elmer Reed Harmon, Billy Ray Heck, Debra Jessie, William Donald Jessie, Estel Jones, Bob Johnson, Jerry Lambert, Carlos Long, Milton Long, Leslie Dan Manning, Benjamin Moyers, Ronnie L. Osborne, Vantoy Owens, Michael Jasper Paul, Ricky Poore, James Ray Robertson, Clyde Smith, Lynn Treece, Larry Sam Welch, James E. Wyrick, James Yoakum.

Mrs. Mayes’ 8th grade students,

Powell Valley Elementary

Project Graduation a success

To the Editor:

CHS Project Graduation 2008 was a great success, but it could not have been possible without the donations of money, prizes, and food from the following businesses, churches, individuals, and organizations: American Dreams Mortgage Services, Beeler Builders, Berkline, Blairs Creek Church, Bob’s Garage, Jim Bull, Bushline, Frances Cardwell, Ralph Carter, Cave Springs Church, Boyle Caylor, Cedar Grove Church, Century Tel, William and Lawanna Clendaniel, Dave Chesney, Citizens bank, Claiborne County Chamber of Commerce, Billy Ray Cheek, Claiborne County Hospital, Claiborne Funeral Home, Coffey Funeral Home, Commercial Bank, matt Compton, Cumberland Gap Provision Co., Cunningham Drugs, DTR, Dr. Melvin Donesky, Duncan Chapel Church, Joe Tyler Duncan, Duncan Lumber, Eagle Boat Docks, Emaline’s Home Medical Equipment, England, Inc., Enrichment Federal Credit Union, Estep & Estep Attorney’s, Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Services, First Century Bank, First State Financial, David and Denise Gibson, Goins Chapel Church, Greene Insurance Agency, Greer /Coffey Grave and Monument Service, HT Hackney, hair Etc., Halls Vision Clinic, Harold Daniels Construction, Dr. Abdul Hasem, Heartland Medical, Evelyn Hill, Hill Top Carwash, Home Federal Bank, Howerton Baptist Church, Hurst Contrsution, Jerry’s Hardware, Judy’s Flowers, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Laura Kitchen, Liberty Baptist Church, Lone Holly Missonary Baptist Church, Lone Mt. Boat Dock-Dale Yeary, Lookout Towers, MCM Baptist Church, Dr. Steve Malone, John and Leigh Anne McAfee, McDonald’s, Medical Center Pharmacy, Middlesboro ARH Hospital, Midway Baptist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, New Tazewell United Methodist Church, New Tazewell United Methodist Women, Old Town Pharmacy, Otto’s Body Shop, Dot Patterson, Pool Place, R.O. Giles Enterprises, Rantana And Owen Pongdee, Powell Valley Electric, Raja Stone, Mildred and John Ramsey, Realty Group of Tazewell, Cawood Reece, Kim Reece, Monument, Jimmy Seals Logging, Mike Sharp, Shenandoah Springs Development, Sodalitas Club, Southern Outdoors, Springdale Baptist church, Springdale Pic N Pay Food Mart, Stanifer and Stanifer Attorney’s , Stanifer Drugs, Lee Dan Stone III, Systems & Controls, Tazewell United Methodist Church and Members, Town of New Tazewell, Town of Tazewell, United Country Real Estate, WNTT, Woman of Woodlake, Advance Auto, Anita Ball, Before & After Hairstyles, Boot Barn, Bristol Motor Speedway, Brooks Memorial Church, C & C Office Supply and Radio Shack, Carson Newman College, Cellular Communications, CHS Junior Class, Claiborne Farmers’ Coop., Coca-Cola, Creative Reflections, Do Drop In, Doc’s Gym Fitness and Wellness, Dollywood, EG Distribution, ETSU, Earl’s Western Wear, El Mariachi, Fred and Tammy England, Enix Jewelry, Rick with Frito Lay, Gew Gorgeus, Harrogate Restaurant Group, Hunts, LMU, Movie I, Movie Time, Jamie Mundy, My Favorite Things, Nascar Speedway, Noah Real Estate, TJ Noah, Now It’s Personal, Pepsi, Pioneer, Auto-Parts, PURSE-N-ality’s, Salon TLC, Sonya Seal, The Shoppe, Singleton Cakes and Catering, Smokies Baseball, Taco Bell, Tazewell Express Lube, Total Image, Kim and Robin Trammell, United Grocery Outlet, Village Shop, WIVK, Wal-Mart, WSCC, Wonder Works, Catdaddy’s DJ’s Deli, Dominoes, Food City, Frostee Freeze, Ingles, New Tazewell Produce, Old Town Market, Pizza Inn, Sonic, Subway, O.T.’s Frame, Body Shop and Claiborne County Board of Education.

The parents of the graduating seniors thank you for supporting Project Graduation. Because of the support you hae given our children, we were able to provide them with a celebration of fun and safety on graduation night.

Parents of Grads