Dear Fairmont Resident, Business Operator, Valued Friend & Associate,
What starts with a J ends with a Y and has a BIG LOUD NOISE in it? JULY was a great guess but we’ll have to wait till then for the big noise cause it’s January and we’re trying to get started so we can celebrate in JULY. I do have some news for you but it’s not going to be real loud. Let’s take a look at our past and upcoming week.
WEEK OF 1/19-1/24
1. The Town offices were closed on Monday 19th in honor of Dr. Martin Luther Kings birthday but we’ll be back behind the camera on Monday 25th with another interesting show.
2. Speaking of Dr. Kings birthday we had a sensational program honoring him in the Heritage Center of Monday 19th from 12:00-2:00. STOP THE VIOLENCE GROUP was in charge of the event as they have been since 2022 and Town Commissioner/Mayor Pro Temp Heather Seibles did a great job as emcee. We had Dr. Johnnie Smith as speaker, 3 students who were selected by their local schools were presented with certificates from me as Martin Luther King Student Unity winners, all three in town schools had student participants, lunch was served, and Mountaire Farms donated chickens for a give away. It was, like the past 4, a very fitting and memorable program to honor Dr. King.
2026 MARTIN LUTHER KING STUDENT UNITY WINNERS
L-R: XAVIER MCNEILL (FHS), CASYN SUMMERFORD (FMS), RY’ANA MCRAE (ROSENWALD)
3. The Fairmont Town Board met on Tuesday 20th at 6:00 in the Heritage Center with our 2 new board members in attendance. I read a Proclamation recognizing Fairmont’s official creation date of FEBRUARY 7, 1907 and urging all schools, organizations, businesses, and citizens to find ways to honor our town on 119 years of existence as FAIRMONT. I will be offering a special presentation in this regard in the coming days. I also presented certificates of Recognition to 3 local students, Ry’Ana McRae Rosenwald, Casyn Summerford FMS, and Xavier McNeill FHS for being named Martin Luther King Student Unity awards winners. They mark the 37th, 38th, and 39th local students who have been named for this honor since I originated it in my first year as Mayor in 2006. This is my 13th year for these presentations which coincide with Dr. Kings ceremony. My final presentation was to introduce 5 local residents which I have appointed for various community improvement committees. They are: Downtown Business Recruitment-Matt Moore-owner of Wynd Down Event Center. Mr. Moore will join previously appointed Angie Lovin on this task. Clean Sweep Team- Elaine Nance, Winona Gause, and Toni Grimsley. They will identify and report appearance improvement recommendation monthly to the town board, town manager, and myself. Industrial and Commercial Recruitment- Jimmy Haselden. Fairmont is very fortunate to contain citizens like these who are willing to work toward improving our community. In matters to come before the board the following were handled sewer/water matters, a speed bump request, waster water regionalization update, and other updates from town manager Chestnut.
4. Our 1st job fair of the year was held on Wednesday 21st from 10:00-2:00 in the Heritage Center. Our J.O.B.S. Team decided to change of job fairs from every other month to quarterly. Our remaining 3 such events will be in April, July, and October. Blood Connections mobile van is usually present but they were previously booked. The Hunt Family food van was present to offer tasty meals to the public. A number of local and regional employers were present to discuss job opportunities with those who attended the event. Due to less than hoped for attendance by job providers and seekers in recent job fairs our focus will now turn toward both “singleton” (one provider), and staffing agency organizations to offer jobs PLUS we will begin using various other JOB SEEKER NOTIFICATIONS for these events. We care about jobs in FAIRMONT and want to see our citizens get them. When the job hiring trend reverses itself we will respond accordingly.
5. The RCCCC food van originally scheduled to come to town on the 15th was rescheduled to come on the 22nd. They gave out 100 food boxes starting at 9:30 on Morro Street. We are grateful to RCCCC and Exec. Dir. Brianna Goodwin for this service.
WEEK OF 1/26-1/31
1. On Monday 26th Mr. Chestnut and I will be discussing the vital need for citizens to attend the quarterly citizen forum called TOWN TALK on Tuesday 27th at 6:00 in the Heritage Center and also efforts by the Fairmont Planning Board in their work.
2. Our years 1st citizen forum “TOWN TALK” will be held on Tuesday 27th at 6:00 in the Heritage Center. Mr. Chestnut, board members, and myself will be present to welcome and discuss any town matters with citizens present. This time honored forum format offers citizens the opportunity to engage with town officials in direct conversation. PLEASE ATTEND THIS VITAL OPPORTUNITY.
3. My February radio tapings will be Wed. 28th with shows as follows: Feb. 7th- In honor of Fairmont’s 119th birthday on Feb. 7, 1907 I’ll hit the high spots of our towns history, Feb 14th- A review of some of my radio show guests on my 20th year anniversary on the air, Feb. 21st- Town Manager Chestnuts monthly slot on a topic of his choice, and Feb. 28th- FHS baseball coach Kelly Chavis on the upcoming season. All shows are on each Saturday at 7:45 a.m. on radio station WFMO 860 am or on the Town of Fairmont’s Face Book page.
4. Due to several things I’ll be emailing on or near Feb. 1st my February town newsletter will come out on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st. It will have a lot of great material in it-some Fairmont history, profiles of local African Americans for Black History month, and a few Valentine items. I hope you enjoy it.
5. On February 1st, to focus on Black History Month, I’ll be profiling local black citizens whose previous contribution have been important in our town’s past. My February 1st weekly newsletter will have an attached copy of these profiles.
That’s all the news I have for you today. I sincerely hope this winter storm and its accompanying conditions are not/have not affected/ing you, your family, or friends in an adverse way. STAY SAFE PLEASE. If all else fails look out your window and imagine a beautiful sandy beach, swaying palm trees, and a balmy breeze. This is the best I can do for you. February is nearby with lots more great news to come. I
Sincerely,
Charles Kemp
Mayor
THE BEST OF US LIES WITHIN ALL OF US