September 27, 2023
Volume 3, Number 35
Rejected Cornerstone aims to help region A small, and new nonprofit from Fries has big dreams. Rejected Cornerstone Organization was formed in January by Abria Jones, after she had studied, dreamed and prayed to find a way to help children and families in crisis in this area. In January, when Jones asked on Facebook what her friends saw as
needs in the area, eventual Rejected Cornerstone co-founder Pam Johnson offered her perspective from a former teacher. Others joined the project and soon an all-volunteer board was formed. The name of the organization comes from passages in the biblical books of Psalms and Mark. Johnson said the name shows how Jesus Christ was
rejected and became the cornerstone of people’s lives. In Mark 12:10-11, the passage says, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” “We serve an often ‘rejected by their peers’ population of children and families,” she said. “We want these
children to have what they need to be clean and well clothed in school. This allowing them to focus more on their education and less on who is going to bully them because they are not clean.” Rejected Cornerstone works with local schools, individuals and families
See HELP, Page 3
Marion plans boot camp
Rock House restored
Built in 1823 to serve as a private home, the Rock House in downtown Wytheville has been restored, rejuvenated and breathed new life into. Bought by Dr. John Haller, the site in 1972 became the town of Wytheville’s first museum, known as the Haller-Gibboney Rock House Museum. Haller served as the town’s first physician. The house stayed in the Haller and Gibboney families for more than 140
years! In fact, the next owner, in 1967, was the town of Wytheville. Dr. Haller’s great-great-granddaughter, Kathleen Campbell sold the house to the town. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the same year it opened as the Haller-Gibboney Rock House Museum. Work to restore the Rock House comes as the structure celebrates its 200th anniversary. The muse-
um closed a bit more than a year ago with stabilization and restoration work getting going last October. Building & Design of Wytheville were contracted for the work, which, according to town officials, included strengthening and replacing the basement’s undersized and damaged structural and load-bearing supports as well strengthening and repairing the structure’s failing
See ROCK, Page 3
The Town of Marion will host the next round of its popular small business boot camp starting Thursday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. at The Henderson School. Pop Up Marion, the community’s fiveweek business development program, provides training for all levels of entrepreneurs, from those interested in exploring opportunities to seasoned business owners looking for a tune up. Funded by the Town of Marion, the program provides up to three grants of $5,000 to assist startup and expanding businesses in the town limits. Marion’s Director of Community and Economic Development Ken Heath enjoys the annual class to continue the legacy created with the program. “Pop Up Marion was the first in Virginia to put all the pieces together for entrepreneur training,” said Heath, “from teaching business basics to base grant funding for startup to mentorship, and we’re so proud our program has been adopted by The Commonwealth of Virginia as their model for Community Business Launch to put more Virginians to work and in control of their own future.”
See MARION, Page 3
WCC VP honored at anniversary gala
At Wytheville Community College’s recent 60th Anniversary Gala event, the WCC Educational Foundation
Board of Directors honored Dr. Rhonda Catron-Wood, Vice President of Academics Institutional Advancement.
Board President Cameron Wolfe announced the establishment of the “Dr. Rhonda Catron-Wood Fund for
Growth and Excellence” in recognition of her 33-year career at Wytheville Community College.
“Dr. Catron-Wood is one of the most dedicated people I know,” said Wolfe. “She See WCC, Page 3