Wlaf1450LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Kenny Baird prayed, “Bless these families, the city and its leaders. We thank them for their efforts and time to better our community.” Late Thursday afternoon, more than 50 people (TOP PHOTO) gathered in the shade under trees beside the La Follette Library to dedicate six recently planted Dogwood Trees to the memory of all those who worked for and served the city and utility.
La Follette Mayor Mike Stanfield (let) and La Follette Utilities Board General Manager Kenny Baird (right).
Baird, the general manager of La Follette Utility Board, called trying to put together a list for the 80-yea-r old utility and the more than 100-year- old city a futile effort. “Help us remember all these individuals who served the city, the county and the region,” said Baird.
Baird (above) called the dedication a “really good thing” saying it was all Stanfield’s (below) idea
La Follette Mayor Mike Stanfield opened the ceremony sharing details of his battle with cancer. Stanfield told the crowd that decades ago, he was given a lot of prayer cloths, and a few years back, he was down to one. He said he gave that last one to Ronald McGhee to give to his grandson, Conner Lane, who was battling cancer.
This tree was dedicated to the memory of teenager Conner Lane who passed away last year after a battle with cancer
The six trees, planted a couple of weeks ago, serve as a lasting way of memorializing all the loved ones, the former employees and leaders. The trees sit on the corner of South 9th Street and West Beech Street. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/02/2019-6AM)