The Southwest Virginia Sun- Smyth County

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Smyth County March/April 2024

Teaching teachers Grow Your Own program launched

Volume 1, No. 2

Hamm tapped as fire chief

High school students in the Southwest Region of Virginia will now have the opportunity to start hands-on learning from high school to community college to a higher ed degree attainment at Emory & Henry College for a fraction of the cost to become a

The Town of Marion, in partnership with Smyth County, announced that the top two candidates in a nationwide search had been selected to head up Marion Fire/EMS. Former Marion Volunteer Fire Department Chief and current Marion Police Department Lt.

See TEACHING, Page 3

See HAMM, Page 3

PAGE 2

March/April 2024

Birding Celebration set for Hungry Mother Registration is open for Hungry Mother State Park’s inaugural Life’s Extras Birding Celebration, a festival to honor the life of longtime volunteer and Virginia Master Naturalist Randy Smith.

Smith, who always looked for “life’s extras,” passed away after a brief illness in January 2023. He loved spending time in nature and was an active birder.

He maintained a list of bird species he had seen over his lifetime and took great joy in leading bird walks and owl prowls at Hungry Mother.

The park will honor his memory May 3-5 with a birding festival featuring 15 different birding activities, from bird hikes and owl

paddles to a live raptor show and programs on bird rehabilitation.

Speakers include birding experts, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, Virginia Master Naturalists and more.

Admission to the festival is $25 for a three-day pass, which includes all festival events, a commemorative patch and a three-

day parking pass for Hungry Mother State Park, or $15 for a single-day ticket on Saturday or Sunday, which includes the programs on the day of your choice; parking and a commemorative patch are not included.

Registration for Life’s Extras Birding Celebration closes on April 26. All proceeds from

Fatal fall kills 84-year-old

On Saturday Feb. 24, the Smyth County 911 Center received a call just after 5 p.m., of a person falling off a cliff.

The incident occurred at the cliff just past Horseshoe Bend Road on Highway 107.

Shortly after receiving the call both law enforcement and rescue units arrived to find an elderly man lying on the ground beside a chain-

Wytheville Community College offers programs for high-demand, critical jobs in healthcare.

link fence on the shoulder of the highway.

Upon investigation it was determined that George Robert Snedeker, 84, of 126 Riley Dr., Chilhowie, had died as a result of the fall. The incident remains under investigation, but currently appears to be a tragic accident, Sheriff B.C. "Chip" Shuler said.

Man, 35, charged in Marion Marion Police and Fire & EMS crews were dispacthed to a Main Street business on Saturday, March 2, on a report of a man jumping through a storefront window.

An off-duty officer reportedly observed Greg-

the festival will benefit the Friends of Hungry Mother State Park. To learn more or to register, click here (https:// www.dcr.virginia. gov/state-parks/ event?id=2024-01-2315-25-36-511057-c5s).

The park also offers overnight accommodations for festival goers, including cabins, a family lodge, yurts and camping. Early reservations are encouraged.

You can book your stay online at reservevaparks.com or by calling 1-800-933-PARK (7275).

ory Dalton Graham of marion leap through a plate-glass window at Hungry Grapplers on the corner of Commerce and Main streets at 10:26 a.m.

Officials say Graham, 35, fled the scene in a maroon pickup truck.

After a short pursuit and a scuffle with officers, Graham was arrested and treated for injuries received from the broken glass in the storefront. Afterward, he was taken to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail facility.

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PAGE 3

March/April 2024

Teaching: Grow Your Own program launched From Page 1

classroom teacher and stay in the region of their upbringing. The new “Grow Your Own” program is the first of its kind in Virginia with plans to roll out through Virginia and America, as a model to place more teachers in the classrooms.

The Virginia Department of Education announced and awarded its second round of Grow Your Own Grants totaling $1.52 million to 24 school divisions to assist in creating registered teacher apprenticeship programs to help recruit and train well-prepared future teachers within their communities. A focused approach to helping school divisions deal with teacher recruitment challenges, Grow Your Own programs help future teachers work towards their bachelor’s degrees and fulfill all licensure requirements, so that upon completion of the

program participants will be ready to accept a full-time teaching position in their communities.

"This is an amazing opportunity for Emory & Henry, our local community colleges and local school districts to partner and be a leader with the Virginia Department of Education,” said Dr. Sandy Frederick, Chair of Education Department at Emory & Henry. “Our college has always stood as the beacon of teacher education and

training in our region and we are thrilled to partner with the school districts in the region to see that more of their students find an affordable pathway to teach in the classroom and stay in the area.

We have a great team of school administrators in our region that work collaboratively, effectively and efficiently. We’re pleased to be the first amongst our peers to launch this initiative.”

Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)

announced and awarded its second round of Grow Your Own Grants at Saltville Elementary

School The VDOE has partnered with the National Center for Grow Your Own to become a national leader in helping develop effective registered apprenticeship programs to assist school divisions in recruiting teacher candidates from their local communities. Under this model, aspiring Virginia teacher candidates can include paraprofessionals and other staff already working in the schools, dual-enrolled graduating high school seniors, or career switchers with an

interest in classroom teaching. Twenty-eight Virginia school divisions have launched Grow Your Own registered teacher apprenticeship programs during the 2023-2024 school year.

School administrators and community partners participated in a discussion at the announcement of the Virginia Department of Education Grow Your Own Grants at Saltville Elementary School “Throughout our region we have tremen-

See TEACHING, Page 16

Biscuits & Gravy have been added to our daily breakfast menu.

Breakfast is served until 11 am.

Hamm: Fire-EMS From Page 1

Rusty Hamm has accepted the newly created position as full-time Chief of Marion Fire EMS. Hamm brings two decades of service to the community, including leadership and organizational skills acquired through the FBI Academy.

Rickard Keesling, a long- time member of Marion Volunteer Fire Department and cur-

rent part time chief has accepted the position as Deputy Chief, overseeing operations of the department, utilizing his skills, training and knowledge of fire ground and emergency operations.

“We are pleased that these two candidates emerged as our top candidates out of twenty-two that applied from across the US,” said Marion

Vice-Mayor Dr. James Gates. “This will help us as we continue to grow and serve Marion and the surrounding community to provide quality fire and emergency services well into the future, and we are proud to have Smyth County working handin-hand with us as we embark upon this new chapter of service.”

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Smyth, Wythe get Opioid Abatement funds Smyth and Wythe counties were among the localities getting a share of five grant awards from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority.

Officials said that the authority approved $536,076 in grants to five communities for opioid abatement and remediation efforts.

“These five grant awards are just the beginning of what the OAA will distribute by this summer,” said state Sen. Todd Pillion, Chair of the OAA Board of Directors. “We have been working closely with communities across the Commonwealth and assisting them in com-

pleting their applications in time for our April 1 application deadline.”

Wythe County was awarded $78,745 for a substance use prevention program for Wythe County Public Schools.

Smyth County was awarded $37,525 to expand its drug treatment court in the current fiscal year.

Drug treatment courts are run by judges based on criteria established and overseen by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Virginia’s drug treatment courts and alternative dockets have proven effective in reducing substance

use and recidivism among offenders, lowering drug-related court workloads, and improving accountability among offenders.

Virginia expects to receive a total of approximately $1.1 billion from litigation against manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies that were alleged to have contributed to the opioid crisis. Payments from these settlements and bankruptcies began in 2022 and are expected to conclude by 2041.

The OAA was established by the General Assembly in 2021 to oversee the distribution of 55% of Virginia’s total

settlement funds. Of the remainder, 30% is distributed directly to cities and counties, and the remaining 15% to the commonwealth. The use of funds is restricted by court orders and state statute, with the restrictions requiring that funds be used for opioid abatement and remediation efforts.

In November 2023, the OAA received the prestigious “Award for Excellence in the Application of the Opioid Litigation Principles” from a coalition of national public health organizations led by the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School.

Marion Food City associate celebrated Each year, Food City recognizes outstanding volunteerism among their dedicated team of associates through the Claude P. Varney Volunteer Recognition Program.

“Food City is committed to the communities we serve.

Many of our associates volunteer their time and talents to assist charitable organizations throughout the region and we’re proud to recognize their efforts,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.

The program is named in memory of Food City’s beloved former president and board vice-chairman of 47 years, Claude P. Varney, who

was well-known for his tremendous compassion and humanitarian services. An independent panel of judges review associate nominations. The winners are selected based upon outstanding achievements in the areas of health, education, environment, cultural arts, recreational, heritage/history and public service. One winner is selected from each Food City store. Those winners then compete at the district level, where 13 overall district winners are selected.

Karen Umberger, a pharmacy clerk at the Marion Food City store since 2021, was nominated for District 2.

Umberger has been vol-

unteering with the American Red Cross for more than eight years, saying she signed up after seeing an ad for a volunteer drive meeting in the local newspaper.

Umberger is trained in CPR, First Aid and as a disaster team volunteer.

“I’m always on call,” she wrote.

Umberger and the other Red Cross volunteers render immediate assistance during disasters, bridging the gap until a case worker takes over.

As part of her continuous training with the Red Cross, Umberger is the shelter lead for this region, attending meetings and training.

When the Red Cross needs to open an emergency shelter, she must be on site. “It’s the most rewarding thing is to help others!” she said.

Saltville clinic expands urgent care hours Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems’ Saltville Community Health Center has expanded urgent care hours to better serve the patients of the community.

Urgent Care hours are only for established patients of Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems. Patients may walk-in, but calling ahead is encouraged to

ensure availability. These hours are not for prescription refills, follow-ups, annual check-ups, etc.

These hours are for acute sickness only.

Appointments are available Monday - Friday with both morning and afternoon slots open. For available appointments, call 276-496-4492.

PAGE 5

March/April 2024

Oak Point identified as in need of support

Marion’s Oak Point Elementary School was one of 247 schools in Virginia that have been federally identified as schools in need of support based on Virginia’s federal accountability system under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Two Bristol, Virginia, schools were also identified.

The increase in federally identified schools is driven by the Virginia Board of Education’s September 2022 adoption of requirements to close achievement gaps for Virginia’s most at-risk students, which reflects the Board’s commitment to higher expectations for schools across the Commonwealth.

“Today’s announcement reinforces what the State Board of Education told Virginians in 2022 – our children suffered significant learning loss that began before the pandemic, but was exacerbated from extended school closures, and masked by lowered expectations defined in Virginia’s federal accountability and state accreditation frameworks,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. “We have worked closely with school divisions to develop plans to reverse these trends, and today’s announcement shows the continued importance of the steps we have taken to help our students catch up and get ahead. We’re also focused on mak-

ing sure that all our parents, teachers and students can rise to the challenge of higher expectations, greater transparency, and more focused instruction. Our role is to is provide them the support to do so.”

Under the State Board’s more rigorous expectations now incorporated into Virginia’s federal accountability framework, 247 schools were identified as needing support and improvement. Conversely, Virginia’s state accreditation system reports 208 schools needing support. This confusing mismatch in federal and state criteria of school performance reinforces the importance of the State Board of Education’s work to ensure state accreditation ratings clearly and accurately communicate the perforance of every school.

Federal law requires Virginia to identify schools needing support and improvement in three categories using the state’s federal accountability system.

The Virginia Board of Education approves a Consolidated State Plan (“CSP”) defining how schools are identified under the federal accountability system Alongside the existing investment, focus and partnership of the VDOE with school divisions on their learning loss recovery efforts, divisions with federally identified schools will also receive additional support from the VDOE Office of School

Quality. Using a newly developed School Support Framework, the VDOE will assist and support divisions and schools in academics, staffing, professional learning, and school climate. The Office of School Quality will provide technical assistance to every division with schools identified as not meeting expectations so that they can conduct a needs assessment, select evidence-based interventions, and develop a support plan.

These supports are being made available to federally identified schools starting immediately and will be on-going as the VDOE, divisions, and schools work to make sure every student receives an exceptional education and meets the high expectations set for them.

In addition to the introduction of learning loss as a school performance criteria, this year’s federal identifications also reflect the Virginia Board of Education’s action to raise the performance targets in reading and mathematics to reflect increased academic expectations for all student groups. These n e w hi g he r pe rfo r mance expectations for all students continue increasing annually through 2027-2028 school year.

Last September, to combat learning loss, Youngkin and the General Assembly included $418 million in the state budget for school divisions to provide

high dosage academic tutoring, accelerate the preparations for improved instruction via the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA), and combat chronic absenteeism.

The $418 million provides flexible funding for school divisions to continue their learning loss recovery efforts for three years.

VDOE has partnered with school divisions to create "ALL In” implementation plans to ensure spending is best positioned to improve student achievement.

With every school division in the common-

wealth having created its ALL In plan, efforts to reverse pandemic learning loss are underway across Virginia.

The VDOE has also provided tutoring practice platforms to school divisions to help reinforce the in-person tutoring sessions taking place in school.

This year’s federal identifications also reflect the Virginia Board of Education’s decision to fully include chronic absenteeism measure of progress as an identification criterion for schools. Chronic absenteeism, measured

as students missing 18 or more days of school for any reason, increased to 17% of all students in 2022-2023 from a 9% pre-pandemic level in 2018-2019.

Chronic absenteeism has proven to have a significant impact on math and reading performance. Governor Youngkin has appointed a Chronic Absenteeism Task Force to assist school divisions in developing solutions to many of the on-going causes of chronic absenteeism.

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PAGE 6

March/April 2024

Lifestyles n Entertainment n Get Out and Go Friday, March 8

Buller is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter from St. James, Minnesota, who has traversed the globe performing bluegrass music to underwrite her insatiable songwriting habit. She tours extensively with the Becky Buller Band and has released three albums, one of which was a nominee for the 2021 IBMA Album Of The Year.

Equally passionate about bluegrass music education, Buller has 20 years experience teaching fiddle, singing, and songwriting at workshops and camps around the world.

Lincoln Theatre: The Lincoln will be getting underway at 7 p.m. on March 8 with a 7 p.m. performance from The Sea Chanters, the US Navy’s official chorus. Tickets are free. The ensemble performs a variety of music including traditional choral music, sea chanteys, patriotic fare, opera, Broadway, and contemporary music.

Millwald Theatre: Cinema classics continue at the Millwald with “Little Women.” The March sisters live and grow in post-Civil War America.

Sunday, April 14

Saturday, March 9

Millwald Theatre: Cinema classics continue at the Millwald with “The Departed.” An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.

Saturday, March 16

Lincoln Theatre: Carson Peters and Iron Mountain has quickly become one of the most energetic bluegrass bands in the business, making numerous trips to the Grand Ole Opry and multiple international appearances. Their traditional bluegrass style is a refreshing reminder that the music of old is alive and well. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students.

Friday, March 22

Millwald Theatre: Cinema classics continue at the Millwald with “9 to 5.” Three female employees of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot find a way to turn the tables on him.

March 22 to May 5

Wohlfahrt Haus: The Gospel show that started it all makes a comeback for the first time

Laughter at the Lincoln Comedians Ed Bassmaster and DaneTheGreatt will be performing at The Lincoln Theatre on Friday, March 15, at 7 p.m.

Bassmaster will share the stage with fellow internet personality DaneTheGreatt. Fans initially met Ed Bassmaster on YouTube, where he posted his first video in 2006. Since then, his popular characters and their eccentric pranks have become iconic to his more than 2.7 million subscribers and beyond.

In 2016, he even took to the big screen, starring in the CMT reality TV prank series, The Ed Bassmaster Show, where he delivers gut-busting performances as his notorious characters who prank unknowing strangers, following his YouTube tradition. His inventory of characters who each feature their own unique quirks are responsible for the type of laugh-out-loud experience that everyone can enjoy. Notable personas like Skippy, Mumbles, Chip Diamond, Emilio, Always Teste and Ronnie will make their appearance on The Lincoln Theatre’s historic stage.

Fellow YouTuber DaneTheGreatt will open the show with his comical portrayals of familiar Southern characters, including his most popular role, Southern Dad. DaneTheGreatt has amassed nearly 3 million TikTok followers, all of whom stay amused by his witty depictions of hilariously relatable and lovable figures.

For more information about The Lincoln Theatre and event tickets, visit www. thelincoln.org or call (276)783-6092

since its premiere. Join in praise through song and revelation as the Wohlfahrt Haus presents moving and timeless music of the Christian faith paired with Bible verses and moving stories. “then Sings My Soul” gospel revue is certain to lift you up and imbue you with the spirit.

Saturday, March 30 Millwald Theatre: Attention all Swifties: DJ Swiftie is hosting the ultimate Tay Tay Dance Party featuring two hours of non-stop Taylor music with a

national touring light show.

Immerse yourself in a night of movement, singing, and sharing this memorable experience with your Taylor-loving best friends!

Friday, April 12 Millwald Theatre: Becky

Emory & Henry: The Emory & Henry College choirs will perform at 3 p.m. at the McGlothlin Center for the Arts. The choirs will showcase different expressions of joy from composers down through the centuries and from around the world. The concert will feature Vivaldi's Gloria and other pieces that will be performed during the 2024 choir tour to New Orleans.

Saturday, April 20 Lincoln Theatre: With a wide smile and engaging Southern drawl, Aaron Tippin claims to the be the luckiest hillbilly that’s ever lived. He’s been struck by lightning twice, piloted planes with engine failure and survived more than three decades in the music business. Along the way he’s earned six gold albums and one platinum. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. VIP tickets with a private meet-and-greet and refreshments are $120. Premium tickets are $58, orchestra seats are $47 and balcony is $42.

Saturday, April 27 Millwald Theatre: Although born in South Carolina, singer/ songwriter Dave Barnes spent most of his childhood in Mississippi, where he formed an early attachment to hip-hop but

See GO,Page 12

PAGE 7

March/April 2024

Marion gets funds for Main Street

Marion and Pulaski were two of three localities to receive a share of $1.5 million in funding for Mixed Use on Main Street from Virginia.

In Marion, the money announced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, will be used to renovate the Gospel Armory and Past Time Antique building into 12 apartments and two retail spaces for the town.

In Pulaski, funds will add eight market-rate apartments.

“Downtowns serve as the heartbeat of count-

less communities in the Commonwealth, and this investment initiative seeks to breathe new life into neglected structures by cultivating dynamic businesses and new housing prospects,” said Youngkin. “A resilient infrastructure is fundamental to a prosperous economic approach, and this program will propel economic growth and nurture community pride in these communities.”

MUMS is a pilot program created as a joint effort with the In-

dustrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) and Virginia Main Street (VMS) programs, both administered through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to support the revitalization of vacant or underutilized downtown spaces to create opportunities for commercial development and housing units in communities that are active participants in VMS. Awards are available up to $500,000 for the rehabilitation of mixed-use buildings

that must include the creation or preservation of housing units and can be provided as either grants or loans.

“We are honored Governor Youngkin and his administration have recognized these important projects in these historic downtowns, and especially proud to have Marion included in this exciting opportunity,” said Marion’s Director of Community and Economic Development. “We have worked with Virginia Main Street and VA

DHCD to creatively address blight throughout our town from our innovative Project BAUD to our sharing “Pop Up Marion” that the Commonwealth now uses statewide for their Community Business Launch program. This grant is the culmination of months of work, beginning with an initial grant to study the feasibility of restoring the Past Time Antique building after their devastating fire. That initial grant, coordinated with David Hill

of Hill Associates, provided the structural and financial options of restoring that building. We used that to include the adjacent Gospel Armory building, which was also damaged during the fire. Both vacant buildings were a huge blight for downtown, and this new grant is allowing the Marion EDA to continue to renovate these eyesores so that an eventual developer can complete the project. The end goal is a

See MAIN, Page 16

WCC showcases Medical Lab program As the demand for skilled healthcare professionals continues to rise, Wytheville Community College (WCC) is proud to highlight the successes of its Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program. Providing comprehensive training and education, the MLT program at WCC offers students a pathway to rewarding careers in the healthcare industry.

“WCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology program is perfect for students who want a hands-on career in healthcare but may not necessarily want to be a nurse or want to have a lot of patient contact. The lab is the perfect place for them,” said Dawn Warren, WCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology Program Head. “One of the main things that a physician uses to diagnose a patient is a lab test. That’s what we do. We provide those results,” Warren said.

“Aside from hospital labs,

students have more opportunities than I think they are aware of. There are research labs, pharmaceutical company labs, veterinary labs, and reference labs.”

Laura Midkiff Meredith graduated from the MLT program at WCC in 2022.

After completing the program, Laura received an offer to work in a local hospital. She said, “My favor-

ite department in the lab is hematology. I love making blood smears and looking at the cells. What I really love is that each night, I see something new that always keeps me learning. The WCC MLT program has given me the strengths I need to help me succeed in this career as a laboratory technician. I was taught how to effectively and successfully carry through

with patient care and given the core knowledge to be successful as a laboratory assistant.”

According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians was $57,380.00 in May 2022, and employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations” “We are very fortunate to have a fully accredited Medical Laboratory Technology program at Wytheville Community College,” said Betty Elmore, marketing specialist with LifePoint Health.

“Graduates who obtain this degree have an opportunity to work in the healthcare field right here in the communities where they live.

Having this degree equips graduates for employment

in medical labs in the hospital setting and as farreaching as the pharmaceutical industry and other agencies that require a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT). The demand for MLTs and their services helps fill a shortage that we are seeing in the healthcare industry.”

WCC has several healthcare programs in addition to Medical Laboratory Technology including Dental Hygiene, Nursing (RN), Nursing Advanced Placement (LPNRN Bridge), Physical Therapy Assistant, and Practical Nursing. The deadline to apply to these programs is March 15. Financial aid and scholarships are available for qualified students.

For more information about the Medical Laboratory Technology program or other WCC healthcare programs, please visit https:// www.wcc.vccs.edu/healthprofessions, or contact Hunter Jackson,

PAGE 8

March/April 2024

Chilhowie, Marion girls shine at tourney

By Jessica Hoerter

Lynchburg, Va. - The Class 1/2 Indoor Track State Championships, held on Feb. 28 and 29 at Liberty University's Indoor Track Complex, featured high school teams that had successfully qualified to compete for both team and individual state titles.

Among the participants were standout athletes from Chilhowie and Marion Senior High schools, all eager to demonstrate their abilities on the track.

Chilhowie’s girls indoor track team delivered an outstanding performance at the state championships, with senior Tess Somervell leading the charge.

Somervell showcased her athletic prowess with a notable sec-

ond-place finish in the 500-meter run, clocking an impressive time of 1:19.67.

In addition to her individual success, Somervell, alongside teammates Kayman Atwell, Audrey Gilley, and Bella Payan, played pivotal roles in the team's commendable fifth-place finishes in both the 4x200 meter (1:52) and 4x400 meter (4:27.38) relays.

Somervell also demonstrated her versatility by placing seventh in the pole vault, clearing a height of 7’6”.

Chilhowie’s Maggie Montgomery also competed for the Warriors in the high jump (NH).

The cohesive efforts of the entire Chilhowie girls team contributed significantly to their 12th-place finish overall.

See TOURNEY, Page 9

PAGE 9

March/April 2024

Tourney: Chilhowie, Marion runners From Page 8

For the Chilhowie boys indoor team, senior Mason Lee, along with teammates Jake Russell, JT Moore, and Lucas Hubble, represented the Warriors track team in the 4x800 meter relay, finishing 13th with a time

of 9:19.87.

Chilhowie’s head coach, Daniel Womack, had this to say about his team’s performance, “I’m extremely proud of how my team performed at state this year. We ran our best times of the season across the board.

Coaching athletes that are this driven and passionate about getting better everyday is every coach’s dream. I’m very excited to get this outdoor season started with this group.”

Marion girls and boys indoor teams had a handful of competing athletes and one

athlete who medaled for the Hurricanes.

Marion’s Raegan Cox, a standout jumper, secured fifth place in the high jump with a height of 4'10" and placed 17th in the triple jump with a leap of 31'03.50. Cox was joined by two juniors Brooke Langston and

Ruby Hoerter, competing at the state championships.

Langston showed her versatility by competing in the high jump (NH) and long jump with a jump of 15’09” and placing 14th.

Hoerter was the lone runner for the Marion girls team and com-

peted in the 3200-meter run with a time of 13:25.65 and a 17thplace finish.

The Marion Scarlet Hurricane boys team had only one competitor: sprinter Brody Whitt (6.93), who participated in the 55-meter dash preliminaries.

Cressell coaching success at ACA

By Zach Cooley Charlie Cressel has coached basketball and has been the athletic director for Appalachian Christian Academy in Rural Retreat for the past decade.

“We’ve been blessed to have a good boys’ team every year,” he stated. “There is now a girls’ team, which was not established when I first came.”

Until last year, Cressel volunteered his coaching abilities while maintaining a manufacturing career that totaled three decades.

While ACA brought him his first experience coaching varsity sports, he previously coached his daughter’s AAU basketball team and his son’s basketball and football teams via the Rural Retreat Youth League.

“We coach sports, but we want our boys and girls to graduate with a better understanding of what life has to show them,” Cressel said of his purpose at ACA. “We teach them life lessons. Sports teaches

public-school team unsuccessfully is eligible

to play with ACA. The school operates

on a policy of leaving

See ACA,Page 10

BUILDING

relationships one structure at a time!

Jesse Corvin celebrates his 1,000th point. them structure and how to work well with people.”

He notes that he has been fortunate to work with special, engaged children at Appalachian Christian Academy, which is an exception to typical kids of today, who often possess a lack of interest in academic and athletic success.

“That has hurt a lot of programs,” he stated. “I’ve been very fortunate to work with some really great kids in the last ten years.”

Homeschooled players from Wythe, Smyth, Pulaski and Washington counties have been the backbone of the teams as well as its vitality. Additionally, a teen who tries out for a

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PAGE 10

March/April 2024

Those Amazing Mets (and Athletics)

By Chad Osborne

As spring training heats up for major league teams in Florida and Arizona, let’s take a quick dive into how the Marion Mets trained and prepared for their inaugural season in 1965.

“We’re going to have a good summer,” Hank Kelly said as he walked around the ballpark, inspecting the diamond before stepping inside the clubhouse to examine the dressing area.

The facilities impressed the New York Mets employee. His new residence for the next

four months impressed him more. “People are most friendly and helpful,” said the young, bespectacled St. John’s University graduate, who had recently arrived in Marion with his wife and 16-month-old daughter.

Kelly began working three years earlier, 1962, with the Mets during the team’s inaugural major league season. Now, in the spring of ‘65, New York’s National League club had sent him to Southwest Virginia to manage the business affairs – keep the books, manager season ticket sales and so

forth – of another startup team, the Marion Mets, the newest entry into the Class D Appalachian League.

Walking with Kelly was Pete Pavlick, a 39-year-old ex-ballplayer who days earlier was hired from father’s and brother’s construction company to skipper the Marion squad. Pavlick, a former minor leaguer who began his pro playing career in nearby Bristol, Virginia, made it clear to the newspaper reporter walking alongside him what his role was with the team.

Read the rest for free at Substack by scanning

one of the QR Codes to the right.

In addition to the Mets, I’ve been looking into Marion’s first minor league team, the Athletics.

In 1955, the Appalachian League’s Welch Miners were operating with a huge amount of debt and generating little interest at the ballpark. No one in the small West Virginia coal town, it seemed, wanted to spend a few hours and their hard-earndollars on watching bad baseball. By mid-July, Welch team officials had seen enough… and spent enough. After a

long post-game meeting that ended around 2 in the morning, the team’s board decided to call it quits. An endeavoring group of people in Marion jumped in and brought the Miners to Marion for the remainder of the season, changing the club’s name to the Athletics, reflecting the affiliation with the major league’s Kansas City Athletics.

As I was researching the Athletics story, I tried tracking down some of the players who made the transition from Welch to Marion. Read more for free at Substack.

Cressell: Coaching Eagles to success From Page 9

no child without an opportunity to play a sport if desired.

“Not every child who plays basketball is destined to be a basketball player,” Cressel explains. “We don’t want to turn any kid away who wants to play.”

All funding is via personal fundraising, which includes drink donations from Gatorade and Green for Life, which has donated uniforms for teams. Local sponsors have also provided $500 scholarships to every senior basketballer who has played on the ACA team for three or more consecutive years. Public donations, through a free-throw or donatea-day fundraiser, fund the sports equipment.

If a child has no money during an away game, monies acquired from fundraisers will make sure everyone is fed.

More than being competent athletes, Cressel says the ACA faculty and staff, none of whom are paid for their work, are more interested in mentoring their students toward being solid human beings.

“We want the best for our kids and we push them to be the best,” he said. “Our current starting lineup are all over six feet tall and our team is 24-1.”

Senior Jesse Corvin has recently celebrated his 1,000th point, just as his older brother Lucas did four years ago. He has the potential of breaking the school record of 1,237

set by Walker Boyer in 2022. Corvin saw that record-setting moment and has set a goal of being ACA’s newest record holder.

“If I score 17 points a game for the rest of the season, I can break the record,” he said hopefully. “It was pretty special to hit 1,000 points. I didn’t think I would ever hit it.”

Corvin and his teammates are all close friends and have played together for years. The ACA teams went 4-2 against public school teams, which exhibited ACA players’ college potential.

“That showed that our team could be excellent college material,” the 6-foot, 3-inch’ senior noted. “I would love to have the opportunity to play college

basketball.”

Through it all, Corvin is grateful for the familial atmosphere of his ACA classmates.

"I’ve seen the little ones grow up and watched the older ones graduate,” he proudly recalled. “I’ve been there for it all.”

His teammate Isaac Cowan, a 6-foot, 8-inch’ senior from Rural Retreat, is well on his way to a 1,000-point record as well, which will mark the first time in the history of Appalachian Christian Academy in which two players from the same team scored in excess of 1,000 points.

It was Corvin who introduced Cowan to the ACA basketball program. Cowan started playing basketball in the fourth grade and

joined ACA three years later.

It’s been an amazing experience,” Cowan said. “We have great chemistry and Charlie Cressel is the greatest coach I’ve ever had.”

He adds that his height is an undeniable advantage to the team, which promoted him from point guard to center within two years, during which time most of his height was acquired.

Cowan adds that he would love to have an opportunity to play for a college.

“A lot of people would underestimate our team because we are a small organization,” Cowan added. “This is the best team ACA has ever had and I believe we can beat any team we are put up against.”

Continue Reading Scan the QR Codes below with your smartphone camera.

The ACA basketball team travels as far as Pipestem, West Virginia, Kingsport, Tennessee, and Smith Mountain Lake to compete again other homeschool or Christianbased academies.

"I would love to see these kids scouted by college coaches,” Cressel noted. “Many of these kids could play at a college level."

He commended the parents for getting the kids to practice as well as his fellow coaches, Heather Hoback, Rusty Crigger and Chuck Corvin for their dedication to the program.

“It’s really the parents that make it all possible,” he particularly noted. “They’re the ones driving up to 40 minutes to get them to practice.”

PAGE 11

March/April 2024

Puzzle Place Crossword

by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2024 by The Puzzle Syndicate

WCC concert scheduled Wytheville Community College is sponsoring its free monthly Bluegrass and OldTime Jamboree featuring Whitetop Mountain Band and Cabin Creek Bluegrass Band on Saturday, March 16, at 7 p.m.

Hailing from Smyth County, Virginia, the award-winning Cabin Creek Bluegrass Band features Garnet Lester, guitar; Carter Lester, banjo; N.R. Tay-

lor, dobro; Will Eller, bass; and Jack Wells on the mandolin.

The Whitetop Mountain Band is a family-based, old-time band from the highest mountains of Virginia. The band includes Emily Spencer on banjo and vocals; Martha Spencer on guitar, fiddle, banjo, and vocals; Kilby Spencer on fiddle; Ersel Fletcher on guitar and vocals; and Debbie Bramer on bass.

Ladies First

Not too long ago, the BirthThe song Ritchie plays is Listen place of Country Music Mu“Jubilee.” seum in Bristol, Tennessee, The world lost our third Online held a retrospective of the pick last month. Banjo great, Scan the QR women who helped shape TV star and bluegrass legCode below with country music. end Roni Stoneman was the your smartphone Well, we’re going to do youngest member of one of camera. the same. The trouble with the founding families of counhighlighting the women who try music. She died Feb. 22 shaped the music of these at the age of 85. mountains isn’t finding the Born May 5, 1938, in Galax women, it’s narrowing it down to Ernest “Pop” Stoneman, to just 10. who was one of the first muSo don’t look at this playlsicians to make a living reist as the be all, end all, but cording mountain tunes. The rather a starting point in a Depression, though, sent him conversation. Send us an home and the family didn’t email (swvasun@gmail.com) come back to the forefront or reach out on Facebook if you think till the mid-1950s. By that time Roni we have missed someone and should was hammering on the banjo, performbe strapped to a post and beat with wet ing across the country, including at the guitar strings.

Grand Ole Opry, the White House and Following is our first Ladies First list. the Smithsonian. The Stonemans had First up is Molly O’Day and her abso- their own television show in the 1960s (until Pop’s death), and Roni became a lute gem “Living the Right Life Now.” O’Day (born Lois LaVerne William- well-known comedian for her turn on son) would have been coming up on her the monster hit “Hee Haw.” 101st birthday on July 9. She was born Here she and her sisters perform in eastern Kentucky to a coal mining “Shackles and Chains.” family and began playing the guitar as a From Galax, we head to Saltville for youngster with her brothers Cecil “Skee- a woefully forgotten balladeer, Texas ts” Williamson on the fiddle and Joe Gladden, here singing “Whole Heap of “Duke” Williamson on the banjo. Fame Little Horses.” came a-calling in 1939, when Skeets Born Texas Anna Smith (and sister headed over to West Virginia to play on to slightly more well-known banjo great the radio. At that time O’Day was play- Hobart Smith) in 1895, Gladden starting under the name Mountain Fern. By ed her recording career in the 1930s, 1940, she was performing as Dixie Lee around the time she and her husband, Williamson, fronting the Forty Niners. In Jim Gladden, moved to Salem. She was 1941 she married Forty Niners guitarist one of the performers at the famous Lynn Davis. By the early 50s, O’Day had Whitetop Festival that was attended by turned her back on secular music, be- the first lady. came an ordained minister preaching in Gladden died in 1966, living long the coal communities and making great enough to see folkies like Joan Baez gospel songs like this right here. pick up on her catalog and credit her Next up is another Kentucky-born ti- trailblazing. tan. Jean Ritchie came into a large and Slightly better known to music fans, musical family in 1922, that, according but still under appreciated, is North to some reports had committed north Carolina native Ola Belle Reed. of 300 traditional songs to memory.

Born “high on a mountain” in Grassy Ritchie attended college at the Universi- Creek, right on the Grayson County, ty of Kentucky, graduating in 1946, and Virginia, line, Ola Belle was the fourth of moving to New York City, working as a 13 children. The whole family was musocial worker in the Henry Street Settle- sical, it seems, with her father playing ment. By night, Ritchie haunted the fiddle, banjo, guitar and organ. An uncle coffeehouses, playing the dulcimer and taught her to play while other uncles sharing the sounds that would catch taught her to sing. Her grandfather, fire in the 1950s folk revival that birthed Alexander Campbell, played the fiddle. the likes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

See MUSIC, Page 15

PAGE 12

March/April 2024

Go: Calendar of upcoming events

Friday, May 10

From Page 5

was also exposed to classic soul, blues, and R&B by his parents. He later enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University and began writing songs for other artists. Barnes also played solo shows on campus, and by the time he graduated with a degree in recording industry management, he’d decided to pursue his own music career. Barnes moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and gravitated toward the city’s acoustic folk scene, though, the desire to make more grooveoriented music convinced him to assemble a full band. Catch Barnes at 8 p.m. at the Millwald.

Friday, May 3 Millwald Theatre: Two of North Carolina’s veteran bluegrass musicians– Hank Smith on Banjo and Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw on fiddle– join forces with some of the most versatile musicians in the Carolinas to create modern, American, acoustic music featuring the full range of their talents as composers and arrangers. The band is on tour regionally and nationally in support of their new album, on Robust Records.

May 10 to June 2 Wohlfahrt Haus: A brand new celebration of the long lasting friendship of two of the best American singer/songwriters Carole King and James Taylor. Follow the highs and lows of their friendship and careers through their most popular songs in “Tapestry of Fire and Rain.”

Millwald Theatre: The Yacht Rock Schooner docks in Wytheville on May 10 for a show at the Millwald. The seven-man Schooner specializes in the smooth sounds of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

It’s a party that spans generations, and the band is composed of some of Atlanta’s top players with a dual keyboard setup, multiple ace vocalists and (of course) a sax man.

Saturday, May 11

Iron Mountain returns Carson Peters & Iron Mountain will be performing live at The Lincoln Theatre on March 16 at 7 p.m.

Carson Peters & Iron Mountain is swiftly gaining notoriety as one of the most electrifying bluegrass bands in the industry, showcasing their traditional style through impressive musicality and a capella arrangements. The band is made up of Carson and Jamie Peters, a father-son duo from Piney Flats, Tennessee, Ben and Eric Marshall, another father-son duo from Mount Airy, North Carolina, Austin Tate from Marion, and James McDowell from Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Together, they blend their talents, their heritage, and their faith to demonstrate that the tradition of bluegrass is alive and well. Carson Peters, 19, has already kicked off a sensational career featuring multiple

television and international appearances, including a guest appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, where he performed in front of Betty White. He has also been blessed to perform multiple times at The Grand Ole Opry, having been invited for his first appearance in 2014 to accompany the legendary Ricky Skaggs as a guest fiddler during the 52nd CMA Awards. His band, Iron Mountain, is made up of outstanding musicians who share his love for God and family. Peters is honored to preserve the legacy of bluegrass alongside some of his best friends. Carson Peters & Iron Mountain look forward to bringing their passion for bluegrass and bluegrass gospel to the Lincoln Theatre’s historic stage, where bluegrass legends and pioneers alike regularly share their craft in “Southwest Virginia’s Finest Showplace.”

Lincoln Theatre: The Kiwanis Club of Marion presents a 7 p.m. show with Presley Barker joined by special guests Jim Lloyd and Junior Appalachian Musicians. Tickets are $22 for adults, $17 for seniors and $17 for students.

Friday, May 17 Millwald Theatre: The “Meet Loaf” tribute show epitomizes the Meat Loaf experience in a look-a-like and sound-a-like event, that leaves audiences awestruck. A world-class show that delivers the powerful wide-ranging male and female operatic lead vocals, along with the epic theatrical elements that Meat Loaf fans have come to love, in an unforgettable evening of smash hits.

June 14-July 21 Wohlfahrt Haus: Grab your flux capacitor and join us as the 80’s are alive and well at the Wohlfahrt Haus. An original revue of the best songs and genres of the 1980’s

Saturday, June 15 Lincoln Theatre: Mark

Lowry & Friends bring their 2024 tour to the Lincoln at 7:30 p.m. Special guests include Endless Highway and The Sound.

VIP tickets are $100.

Premium seats are $55, orchestra seating is $47 and balcony is $37.

July 26 to Sept. 8 Wohlfahrt Haus: “The Motown Sound” revue is back to move and groove through the hits of Motown from Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Drifters, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, and more! Join us for a non-stop party with some of the best music ever produced.

Sept. 13 to Oct. 20 Wohlfahrt Haus: Can’t you just feel that wind sweeping down the plain? The groundbreaking musical “Oklahoma!” set the stage of all that followed! Set in Western Territory just after the turn of the 20th century, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s exuberant classic “Oklahoma!” is a lively, tuneful musical full of cowboys, farmers, romance, and fearless optimism. Featuring classic songs such as “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “I Cain’t Say No” and the title song “Oklahoma!”

Nov. 8 to Dec. 22 Wohlfahrt Haus: Celebrate the season through song and dance with “Christmas in the Park!”

Enjoy production numbers featuring everyone’s favorite mainstream holiday tunes. Wrap up the evening with the true reason for the season, a nativity.

PAGE 13

March/April 2024

Artisan, business training planned The 'Round the Mountain Artisan Network announces a series of capacity building trainings available to artisans and businesses throughout Southwest Virginia.

The series is intended to boost the creative economy by providing local artisans with entrepreneurial and marketing skills to allow for expansion and increased sales. The sessions cover business-related topics like pricing items, digital marketing, branding, wholesaling, strategic planning, and much more.

A total of five training sessions will be held over a fourmonth period throughout communities in Southwest Virginia.

The sessions will be available both in person and virtually.

"Our 'Round the Mountain artisans are extremely talented and carry on generations' worth of heritage craft making," 'Round the Mountain Executive Director Kim Davis said.

"Part of our goal in developing the creative economy is making sure there are resources in place to support artisans who want to become part-time or full-time entrepreneurs."

The capacity-building trainings are a part of a larger plan for the development of the heritage arts in Southwest Virginia.

It accompanies the Southwest Virginia Artisan Conference to be held April 25-27 in Abingdon and several strategic planning initiatives.

The trainings are funded through several grants provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Virginia Commis-

sion for the Arts, and Virginia Humanities.

All four workshops cost $40 for member and $100 for nonmembers.

The first training, set for 6 to 8 p.m. at Rural Retreat Train Depot on March 18, is titled Profit Is Not A Dirty Word.

Tiffany Coley will worth with artists on how to price work to make a profit.

Coley is a jeweler and silversmith with more than 15 years of teaching and sales experience in Durham, North Carolina.

On April 9, Jackie Sanders will lead a Digital Content Creation For Artists course from 6 to 8 p.m. at Big Stone Gap Visitor Center.

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sanders is an abstract artist who earned an MFA from Virginia Tech.

On April 25, a 1 to 5 p.m. course on From Craft Hobby to Business will be conducted by Cynthia Deis and Coley at Abingdon’s SWVA Cultural Center.

On May 14, Deis and Coley will host a 6-8 p.m. session at Floyd Center for the Arts on Selling wholesale and bulk sales for artists.

Deis is an artist with experience in working with catalog and large retail customers.

The final course planned, on June 3 at Marion’s Wayne Henderson School of the Arts, from 6 to 8 p.m., will have Jennifer Reis talk about strategic planning for artists. Reis is an assistant professor of arts and entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Parks open season

Virginia State Parks reopened its campgrounds for the season on Monday, March 4. Campsites, which have been closed since Dec. 4, are now available for booking online through reservevaparks. com. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and may make reservations up to 11 months in advance to secure their desired camping dates and accommodations.

Managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia State Parks offers more than 1,800 campsites, with options ranging from primitive camping to RV sites with electric and water hookups.

Full-service campgrounds with bathhouses are open from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December, with the exception of Douthat, Hungry Mother, Pocahontas and Shenandoah River state parks, which have full-service campgrounds open year-round.

Campers who begin making reservations in March should be aware that the 4 PM Burning Law is in effect from Feb. 15 through April 30. This law bans open fires, including charcoal and wood fires, between midnight and 4 p.m. This restriction applies to all areas of a park, including picnic and cabin areas with grills or fire rings.

During the burn restriction period, gas grills and propane stoves are allowed;

however, some parks have personal grill restrictions, so visitors should contact the park before making plans to bring one.

An exception to the 4 PM Burning Law is campgrounds that have an onduty camp host. In those situations, signage will indicate that open fires are allowed before 4 p.m. if they are maintained within a designated campfire ring or circle. The fire must be under constant supervision until it is completely extinguished. All flammable material should be cleared from a 20-foot area around the fire, and campers must also have ready access to water, a rake and a shovel.

To check the camp host status, please contact the park directly. Primitive campgrounds do not have hosts. For more information about campgrounds and burning restrictions, please go to virginiastateparks.gov.

Visit the camping webpage for more details about reservations, cancellations and severe weather procedures.

If you are traveling with horses, visit the equestrian camping page for the policies dealing with horses while camping.

Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-800-933-PARK (7275) and choosing option 5. You can make lodging reservations up to 11 months in advance or for camping, up to 2 p.m. on the day of arrival.

PAGE 14

March/April 2024

Pets require a bit more care in the spring As the weather warms up and flowers start to bloom, it's important to remember that our pets need a little extra attention during the spring season. From shedding and allergies to parasites and poisonous plants, there are several potential hazards that can affect your furry friends this time of year. That's why we've put together some expert tips on how to keep your pets happy and healthy this spring.

Shedding: As temperatures rise, pets begin to

shed their thick winter coats in favor of lighter, cooler fur. While this is a natural process, it can lead to matting and tangling if not properly cared for. Regular brushing with a slicker brush or deshedding tool can help remove loose hair and prevent matting.

Allergies: Springtime pollen and dust can cause discomfort for pets just like they do humans. If your pet suffers from allergies, consider using an air purifier in your home and keeping windows closed when pollen counts are high.

You may also want to consult with your veterinarian about antihistamines or other allergy-relieving medications.

Parasites: Warm weather means more opportunities for ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes to feast on your pet's blood. Protect your furry friend by applying topical treatments such as Frontline or Advantix, and check regularly for ticks and fleas. Heartworm prevention medication should also be given monthly to protect against mosquito-

borne illnesses.

Poisonous Plants: Many common spring plants, including daffodils, azaleas, and lilies, can be harmful to pets if ingested. Keep an eye out for these plants in your yard and while walking your pet, and make sure to dispose of any clippings safely. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Exercise: With longer days and warmer weather, now is the perfect time to get your pet moving! In-

crease exercise levels gradually to avoid overexertion, and provide plenty of fresh water and shade breaks.

Consider enrolling your dog in obedience training or agility classes to keep them mentally stimulated and physically active.

Grooming: Spring is a great time to give your pet a thorough grooming session. Trim nails, clean ears, and brush teeth regularly to promote good hygiene and prevent health issues.

Veterinary Check-Ups: Schedule a wellness exam

with your veterinarian to ensure your pet is healthy and thriving. During this visit, discuss any concerns or changes in behavior you may have noticed since the last appointment.

By following these simple tips, you can help ensure your pet enjoys a safe and comfortable spring season.

Remember, always prioritize your pet's health and happiness – they'll thank you for it!

Wythe hospital launches new residency program Wythe County Community Hospital, a part of Lifepoint Health, announced the launch of a new nurse residency program. Based on an apprenticeship model, the evidence-based transition-to-practice program provides hands-on, structured support for nurses as they graduate nursing school and start their careers at Wythe County Community Hospital.

“We have talked to

students, schools and recruiters to understand what is most important to new nurses in choosing their first job, and three consistent themes emerge more than any others - a structured program to support their transition, a clear career pathway for advancement and growth, and regular engagement and feedback from their team, said Theresa Dix, chief nursing officer at Wythe County

Community Hospital.

“These three elements are foundational to our new program.”

All new graduate nurses joining WCCH are automatically enrolled in the program as nurse residents, and over the first twelve months of employment are guided through three structured phases – clinical competence, culture transition, and leadership development.

During each phase of

the residency, the resident is assigned an experienced nurse preceptor or mentor who has completed the program’s preceptorship training. The program culminates in the completion of a Capstone project, which ties together the resident’s first year of work, individually and with their team, and demonstrates the personal impact they have made in the workplace.

“Given the growing

Virginia State Parks hosting gift show The 22nd annual Virginia State Parks Gift Show is scheduled for March 12 and 13 at the Wytheville Meeting Center in Wytheville.

The event is free to attend for buyers from parks, museums, attractions, hospital gift shops, wineries and other retail shop managers looking for new sou-

venirs or gift ideas for their resale inventory.

There will be more than 50 booths representing different products lines, from apparel and souvenirs to custom products, plush, jewelry and more.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 12 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 13. Lunch

and snacks will be available for purchase. The event is being held in the main exhibit hall and meeting room 3 of the Wytheville Meeting Center near Wytheville Community College.

Buyers may pre-register by phone, email or online at dcr. virginia.gov/state-parks/other/ sp-buyer-registration.

national nursing shortage, it is critical that we identify new strategies to support and retain our new nurses. This program provides the right training and resources helping our new nurses devel-

op into confident, competent and resilient caregivers and thrive in their nursing careers,” said Dix. The program is a Registered Apprenticeship Program with the US Department of Labor.

Solution to Crossword:

PAGE 15

March/April 2024

E&H starts computer science major Current and future students coming to Emory & Henry College will soon have the opportunity to major in Computer Science, under the direction of Associate Professor Dr. Ed Carr.

Computer scientists in today’s industries are problem solvers who work to improve or adapt current technology to meet the needs of the future.

“This program dovetails nicely into our

current math and business curriculum as well as taking on a liberal arts approach to critical thinking and leadership skills,” said Carr. “Our project based focus in the program at E&H will prepare students for integrated opportunities as well as collaborative problem solving.”

Computer scientists are capable of bringing a wide variety of tools to the most challenging problems faced by

humanity in the 21st century. Emory & Henry faculty will actively be engaged in each students’ development by encouraging professional development through collaborative projects and individual accomplishments.

Through real world projects, the primary goal of the program is to produce computer science graduates who are both technically competent and sufficiently well grounded

in theory so that they can contribute to fundamental research in several areas in computer science. The Computer Science Bachelor of Science at Emory & Henry prepares students for the growing technology industry.

The curriculum includes 75 credit hours of computer science, math and core courses. Sample classes will include: Introduction

to Computing; Computer Programming I,II, Lab; Data Structures; Database Systems; Programming Languages; Analysis of Algorithms; Computer Organization; Theory of Computing; Professional Ethics in Computer Science; Software Engineering; Internet Systems; Operating Systems; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Concurrent and Parallel Programming; Net-

worked Computer Systems; Capstone Computer Science Project; Calculus I; Probability & Statistics; and Discrete Structures.

"Graduates are employed wherever there is a product or system that uses software that could be improved, or repurposed for other applications," said Carr. “Globally there are many industries that employ these professionals.”

Smyth gets new trooper assigned after graduation The 140th graduating class of the Virginia State Police Training Academy is sending several local troop-

ers out to serve in various spots of Virginia.Benjamin Lee Boyette of Galax will report to a Pulaski as part of

the 52 new troopers receiving a diploma on Feb. 23.

Bristol, Virginia, native Stephen Christopher Ward

will work in Smyth County.

The Virginia State Police said this was the first graduating class to consist

of both traditional trainees and members of the “Expedited Law Enforcement Certified Academy.”

Music: Ladies get the first word in sound

From Page 10

In the depths of the Depression, when Ola Belle was a teen, her family moved up to Pennsylvania, where she joined the North Carolina Ridge Runners and then formed The New River Boys and Girls with her brother Alex Campbell.

Ola Belle later opened New River Ranch, a music venue in Rising Sun, Maryland. The New River Boys and Girls were the house band at Sunset Park in West Grove, Pennsylvania, playing with bluegrass, old time and country greats.

Fun Fact: Local legend has it that John-

son City, Tennesseebased Bill and the Belles (which many of you might have seen at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol), is named after Ola Belle.

Here is perhaps Ola Belle’s greatest song, “I’ve Endured.”

Etta Baker was born in 1913, roughly halfway between Asheville, North Carolina, and Statesville, North Carolina, putting her in a perfect place to be influenced by both the songs of the mountains and the rhythms of the Piedmont. She began playing guitar at 3 years old, taught by her father, Boone Reid.

Baker cut her first re-

cording in 1956 after a fated visit to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, caught the attention of Paul Clayton, who shoed up at the Reid home to record five songs.

Here is Baker’s take on the classic “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad.” Two years after the Bristol Sessions changed the world, a lesser known Knoxville Sessions unfortunately became all but forgotten. But out of those 1929 recordings, we get snippets of street singer and evangelist Leola Manning.

Here is the Manningpenned “Satan is Busy in Knoxville.”

Another Kentucky girl comes in at No. 8 on our playlist.

Lily May Ledford, a banjo picker and fiddle player, rose to fame leading one of the first all-female string bands, Coon Creek Girls. The original band included Lily May on banjo and vocals, her sister Rosie on guitar, Evelyn Lange on bass and Esther Koehler on mandolin. Lily May’s sister Minnie eventually replaced Rosie. The band played at the White House in 1939, a show that saw the Kentucky girls making music for a president, a king and a queen.

Selected is the Coon Creek Girls recording

of “Poor Naomi Wise.”

Hazel Dickens was born in Mercer County, West Virginia, in 1925, and became wellknown not only for her songs of struggle but her time on the labor line, facing down guns and company thugs, advocating for coal miners and other working men and women.

In the 1950s, the family picked up and relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where she hooked up with Mike Seeger to start paving a path in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., bluegrass and folk scene. As a solo artist, Dickens’ music took a decidedly more political tone.

Here is a piece recorded with Alice Gerrard, “The One I Love Is Gone.”

You simply cannot talk about the first ladies of mountain music without including the woman that changed the world, not only with her singing but her scratching.

We won’t go into detail about Mother Maybelle Carter. Everyone knows who she is and what she and her family did for modern music. We’ll just sit back and let you enjoy this cut of “Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow,” the first song recorded in Bristol by the Carter Family.

PAGE 16

March/April 2024

Teaching: Grow Your Own program launched From Page 3

dous educators and support staff. Unfortunately, the cost of higher education has been a barrier for many of our paraprofessionals to complete their bachelor’s degree and obtain teacher licensure. The Grow Your Own grant award will remove the barrier of higher education costs for many paraprofessionals throughout our region. In partnership with Emory & Henry College, forty paraprofessionals from across Southwest Virginia will receive the final two years needed to obtain their bachelor's degree while continuing to work in our schools and completing coursework in the evenings,” said Smyth County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Dennis

Carter.

The grants follow on a previously awarded $1.78 million awarded in July 2023. A total of 165 teacher apprentices will be supported during the 2023-2024 school year. Grow Your Own apprenticeship programs can produce well prepared teachers without the financial barriers associated with traditional teacher preparation. As registered apprentices, participants in the program are paid during their preparation and have the advantage of using federal workforce funds to cover a portion of the program costs. Additionally, program participants also receive tuition discounts from the higher education educator preparation programs partnered with the

school districts’ Grow Your Own programs.

“I am proud to continue our commitment to helping school divisions find ways to put exceptional people from their own communities in their local classrooms,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons.

“Teacher recruitment is a major issue for school divisions, and we recognize that new approaches are needed

Main: Funding

Street program and opportunities, contact Ken Heath at kheath@marionva.org (276) 378-5026.

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• Cruises • Guided Tours • Honeymoons • Family Vacations

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dozen new apartments upstairs, three new commercial storefronts, and new living, dining, and shopping opportunities to our downtown and our community. To me, equally exciting is that this grant will eventually be converted into a low interest loan for the developer, and as it’s repaid, Marion will have a new loan pool to assist other property owners in restoring vacant upper stories and storefronts needing renovation - similar to our Marion Small Business Loan Pool. It’s a great day for Marion and for our Commonwealth as we continue moving forward and growing, putting blighted buildings back into use, adding new opportunities, and placing properties back on the tax rolls.”

For information on Marion’s Main

The National Center for Grow Your Own was recently co-chair of the coalition which authored the National Guideline Standards for K-12 Teacher Registered Apprenticeships approved by the US Department of Labor. It also manages the National Registered Apprenticeship in Teaching Network, a partnership of 35 states, to help build awareness, u n d e r s ta n d in g a n d capacity in developing registered apprenticeships in teaching to address educator shortages.

“Don’t Count The Days.

Make The Days Count.”

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to help build a strong talent pipeline for our schools. Working with the National Center for Grow Your Own, we are creating innovative ways to help in-

crease teacher supply and make becoming a classroom teacher more affordable for students and dedicated professionals who want to serve in our schools.”

By significantly reducing the financial barriers to becoming a well-prepared teacher, these programs increase opportunities for potential educators to follow a mentored pathway for completing both the coursework and the on-thejob training required to become fully licensed teachers.