Health Fair attended by hundreds of 5th graders Thu. at Gibson Field

‘We all know we have an epidemic with vaping and smoking’- Coach Ernie Mac Clawson

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Thursday morning into the early afternoon is when well more than 300 fifth graders spent time learning about living a healthy life from 11 vendors set up around the Jacksboro Middle School football field.

“The football field is where you want to be, but sometimes bad weather forces us into the gym. There’s lots of elbow room out here especially for our vendors and inflatables,” said Coach Ernie Mac Clawson. Coach Clawson is the Coordinated School Health Coordinator for Campbell County Schools.

“It’s good to see all these faces, all these fifth graders here today to be educated from all of our 11 vendors. The Boy Scouts is among our vendors,” said the coach.

“We all know we have an epidemic with vaping and smoking, and studies show the earlier ages of being educated on the effects of vaping and smoking will sink in on these kids,” said Clawson.

The coach explains that the early education, around age 10, will make a difference, and that that’s what they’re trying to do. Every vendor addressed the dangers of vaping and smoking in some way.

Clawson writes a couple of grants to cover the costs of the health fair, a total of $14,500. The grants pay food, transportation, overnight security due to the day-before set up.

“I’d like to thank JMS Principal Gretchen Thomas, Jamie Gillum and the School Nutrition Staff, Caden Poston and my 10 volunteers, seven Cougars and three Lady Cougars, our vendors, and our grant providers; La Follette Medical Foundation and CAJE.

The student breakdown:

59 La Follette

102 Jacksboro

70 Caryville

56 Valley View

32 Jellico-White Oak

29 Elk Valley-Wynn

The 11 vendors are comprised of T-N-T Produce, 7th Day Adventist Church-reversing diabetes, CHET, TN Strong Youth Groups, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Campbell Children’s Center, Campbell Litter Control, County Health Dept., Scouting America and Campbell United. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/19/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)