Bicentennial committee members included, from left, Tim and Helen Marsh, Garland King, John I. Carney, Nadine Hopkins, Jenny Hunt, Linda Yockey, Marilyn Massengale, Dawn Holley, Johnny Reed, Karen Thrasher, Keith Cook, Ed Simpson, Dixie Parker, County Mayor Eugene Ray, Helen Garner and Geneva Smith. (Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge]

The committee met Tuesday at the Bell Buckle Café, to wrap up loose ends and celebrate the successful completion of a year's worth of events marking the county's 200th birthday. But Paul Hopkins, husband of committee member Nadine Hopkins, urged the committee to remain together and use the excess funds from this year's activities on some new activity in 2008 -- perhaps another "fair on the square" like the one held last May. County historians Tim and Helen Marsh said they would like to eventually see a monument of the county seal placed on the courthouse lawn.

So, the committee is planning to re-convene in March 2008, for the purpose of discussing what, if anything, to do next.

Committee members were a mutual admiration society on Tuesday.

"Without Nadine, I don't know where we'd have been," said County Mayor Eugene Ray. Nadine Hopkins, a co-owner of WLIJ-AM and WZNG-AM, was the original impetus behind formation of the committee and has worked diligently on various events and projects.

Ray praised activity committee co-chairs Dawn Holley and Johnny Reed for their work, as well as the Marshes and Garland King for writing the committee's official history book.

Dixie Parker, who chaired the Bicentennial Organizing Committee, said the history book will be "absolutely priceless for years to come." She praised Jenny Hunt for her work on the bicentennial brochures that were placed at interstate welcome centers and distributed in the Times-Gazette. She also praised Marilyn Massengale for the historical presentation and choral performance she organized during last week's Bicentennial closing ceremony.

"You did an awesome job," said Parker.

Parker also praised Ray for his leadership as the committee's organizer and co-chair.

"The leadership that you have brought to the table is priceless," said Parker.

Helen Garner, who served as treasurer for the committee, reported that there is about $6,400 left in the bank which could be used as seed money if the committee decides to organize some activity or program in 2008.

Geneva Smith has served as the committee's secretary.

King said he has placed copies of the various meeting minutes and documentation of the committee's activities in his museum on Sevier Street.