NEWPORT-City Administrator Scott Collins provided Newport City Council with a proposal for consideration to allow the creation of a "Unity in the Community" committee.

      Collins provided a PowerPoint presentation for both council and the public to define exact what the committee's responsibilities and benefits to the community would entail. "One of the things that attracted folks to the Fall Festival was the activities available to the children," said Collins, who added, "What Unity in the Community is ultimately about is trying to get everyone involved in the downtown (area) and in the city of Newport."

      Unity in the Community proper is summarized as a "volunteer organization comprised of Newport citizens. The purpose of the committee is to work in conjunction with the Cocke County Partnership, the Downtown Newport Association and other government/civic organizations to host family oriented, fun-filled events for Newport. The goal is to assist with, or host a minimum of four City events per year. Examples include assisting with 'Christmas in the City' by creating a Santa's Land, assist the Tourism Department by hosting a Civil War reenactment, host an event such as Celebration of Freedom honoring our esteemed veterans and other similar events. Membership would be open to any citizen with an interest in promoting a positive image for Newport."

      Collins said the committee, if approved by council, could try to create a Pigeon River Riverfest, "a festival of the river." The city administrator used Chattanooga as an example of how such organizations/committees revitalize the community. Collins noted that just a couple of decades ago, Chattanooga was considered the most polluted city in the state. Collins said efforts made by various downtown revitalization groups and similar unity committees helped restore that city's stature both environmentally and industrially. "Volkswagen stated that was a catalyst in ultimately moving there," said Collins, who recalled a past article in the Knoxville News Sentinel about the German company's move to the area.

      "If approved, initially we do need to ask for some money ($800)," said Collins, who noted a similar committee in Oliver Springs, through work with the media and selling advertisements, raised enough money to pay for the local events. Collins said raising $60-75,000 from ads would not be an unsound figure. However, the city administrator said, "It doesn't happen overnight. There are start up costs."

      A Cocke County Sports Hall of Fame was one of several ideas Collins said such a group could create and implement.

      Vice-Mayor Freddie Gregg asked Collins, "Will you be in charge of this committee?" Mayor Connie Ball asked, "Will this committee select leaders of different capacities?" Collins introduced a group of women in City Hall who are currently representing a possible committee.

      Julie Cady, one of the women introduced, stood up and said, "There were six of us ladies who became involved with the Christmas decorations. I think it's a wonderful thing for our community. Even if you don't appropriate any funds for us, we will begin anyway. Some of the businesses said they will be willing to donate money."

      Gregg asked, "Have you already looked at the Christmas ornaments?" Cady replied, "We fixed 23 Christmas wreaths in two-and-a-half hours. They're fixable, but the more money we have, the more we can do."

      Alderman Dennis Thornton made the motion, "(That) we allow this committee to be formed, they can appropriate whom they wish (and) if they raise $1,000, we will match them." Alderman John Bugg seconded Thornton's motion, which was voted in approval of by council members.

      After the vote was cast, Kandee Veridal, Newport/Cocke County Chamber of Commerce Director of Operations, asked, "Does that mean the Chamber is not in charge of the Christmas lights?" Thornton replied, "I thought you all are done with that." Cady said, "I thought the Chamber was overwhelmed." Sherry Butler, Acting Director of the Cocke County Partnership/EDC, said, "I'm not saying we're opposed to it. We don't get donations to fix the lights, everything we get comes from the City of Newport."

      Later in the meeting, Veridal told Council and the Unity in the Community Committee, "We want to thank those ladies who stepped up with the Christmas lights."