The Southwest Virginia Sun- Wythe County

Wythe County

March/April 2024

On the mend

Nikolas Pakkidis recovering after cancer diagnosis

By Zach Cooley

Nikolas Pakkidis was a normal, active child in every way.

Then, he came down with COVID.

See MEND, Page 5

Volume

Fort grad named top officer

Salem’s 2023 Police Officer of the Year is a former state tournament wrestler who already has demonstrated in his young career that he will go to the mat to protect his family, his co-workers, and the community he represents.

“Growing up I learned that you take care of your family, and you always look out for

See TURPIN, Page 3

Pedestrian killed along Highway 11

A pedestrian pushing a shopping buggy along Lee Highway outside of Wytheville died after being struck by a truck Wednesday evening

Virginia State Police said the fatal crash occurred at 7:40 p.m. when a GMC truck pulling a box trailer wasn’t able to avoid striking the man pushing the buggy along a stretch of US Route 11 that has no shoulders or sidewalks.

Police said Worley

J. Stafford, 66, of Rural Retreat died at the

scene. The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.

Virginia State Police is stressing pedestrian safety, following an alarming uptick in pedestrian deaths on Virginia roads. Since Feb. 11, there have been 10 pedestrians killed across the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Highway Safety Office has multiple recommendations for pedestrians to increase their safety when walking

near traffic1: Be predictable, follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.

Plan a route with safe crossings

Avoid distractions, alcohol and drugs, and be alert.

Dress to be seen, but never assume drivers see you.

Wear reflective clothing and carry a blinking light or flashlight at night.

Walk on sidewalks facing traffic.

If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traf-

Wytheville man, 30, charged in Feb. 3 killing

A 30-year-old Wytheville man is dead following a Saturday morning shooting, and a 19-year-old is jailed, charged in the killing.

The Wytheville Police Department was called on Feb. 3 at 2:34 a.m. for a gunshot being fired. Officers arrived at 540 W. Spiller St. to find Chadrick Stephanos Fink’s body in the street with a gunshot wound to the head.

Witnesses gave information about the suspect and the vehicle he was driving. A short time later, the vehicle was located at 395 E. Jefferson St., according to the Wytheville Police Department.

Cameron Riley Kinder was taken into custody without incident, police said, adding that a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered.

Police established crime scenes at each location and search warrants were obtained.

Fink’s remains were taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke.

Kinder is being held without bond at New River Valley Regional Jail, facing a first-degree murder charge and a charge of use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Highway projects under construction

Three highway projects are under construction in Wythe County.

A $53.6 million contract was recently awarded to Branch Civil, Inc., Roanoke to construct the Progress

Park Connector between Nye Road and E. Lee Trinkle Road, improvements to the I-77 exit 41 (Peppers Ferry) exit and the addition of an auxiliary lane to connect the I-81 exit 73 off-ramp with the

fic and as far from traffic as possible.

Watch for cars backing up, especially in parking lots and driveways.

Cross at crosswalks or intersections –where drivers expect pedestrians. While crossing, look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right, and make eye contact with turning drivers before proceeding when possible.

Turning vehicles can be especially dangerous at intersections. If there is no crosswalk

or intersection, go to a well-lit area with the best view of traffic, wait until there is enough time to cross safely, and continue to watch for traffic while crossing.

Drivers have a role to play in pedestrian safety as well. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers should always look for pedestrians, and use extra caution in hard-to-see conditions. Drivers should also slow down and be prepared to stop when

exit 72 on-ramp, creating an additional lane .

The Progress Park Connector project is funded through VDOT’s SMART SCALE program.

entering a crosswalk. Drivers should also yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, and never pass stopped vehicles at a crosswalk. NHTSA also asks drivers to follow speed limits when people are around, and in school zones and neighborhoods. Drivers should also be extra cautious when backing up2.

Preliminary data show in 2023, 118 pedestrians died in crashes on Virginia

Turpin: Salem Police honors Fort grad

one another,” Jonah Turpin, Salem’s 2023 Officer of the Year said.

“When you are respectful to other people and treat them right, it lets them know what type of person you are.”

Turpin’s fellow officers had no trouble figuring out what he was made of right away, as they voted the rookie officer the department’s top cop for saving lives in Salem in a variety of ways during the past calendar year.

“It is gratifying to see a young man understand what service to others actually means,” said Salem Police Chief Mike Crawley. “In a society that has developed a ‘look at me’ mentality, Jonah is what I would call a throwback, an old soul who treats everyone with dignity and respect regardless of the circumstances.

I know his family and upbringing have played huge roles in the person he has become, and his future is incredibly bright.”

Turpin grew up in the small community of Piney in rural Wythe County. His grandfather was a police officer at Virginia Tech and his father is still working in law enforcement in Bland County. He learned a great deal from both men, but also from observing others.

“If you really wanted to, you could probably see everyone in the Fort Chiswell community in one day by just hanging out at the

Food Country grocery store,” he said jokingly.

Turpin’s high school graduating class consisted of just over 100 students, but they were still susceptible to the trappings of society in the rural community.

“We were basically a truck stop town, so, I saw a lot of drug activity growing up,” he said. “I knew a lot of people whose lives were influenced by drugs and overdoses, so I have seen that type of behavior adversely affect people I care about.”

Turpin quickly realized that he would have a hard time saving lives and helping others if he became a game warden as he had originally planned. So, after graduating from high school he enrolled at Wytheville Community College and earned his degree in police science with the help of his mentor Jim Harrington.

“I was in class studying at the same time the George Floyd incident and aftermath were happening,” he said. “It was incredibly important for me to live that in real time and have the opportunity to discuss it in class and evaluate the actions of law enforcement and the merits of reform.”

The Floyd situation only made Turpin want to be officer even more. He applied to work in Salem and was hired in May 2022.

“I wanted to get really good training and I knew Salem was the place for that,” he said.

“I still consider myself to be in the learning process, but you learn quickly working nightshift.”

Turpin was on West 4th Street running radar shortly after midnight on December 23, 2023, when a 911 call came in regarding a male suspect who was lying in the roadway.

“I was the first one on the scene and found the man lying on his back and he was barely conscious and hardly breathing,” Turpin said. “I rubbed his sternum hoping to rouse him, but nothing happened, and he wasn’t budging.”

Turpin tried to engage the man in conversation, but instead heard a groaning sound and quickly determined the individual did not have a pulse.

“I just relied on my training and started doing CPR,” he said.

“I got about two reps through and gave the man a couple of rescue breaths when I heard him come around and start breathing again. He regained his pulse,

twin brother, Jacob, is a member of Salem Fire and EMS team, but the two never discussed the event until his life saving efforts came up at a family gathering.

“My dad and my brother and my sister, who is a nurse, have seen it all, so they weren’t nearly as impressed as my mom,” he said. “She was ecstatic that I had just saved someone’s life and won this award.”

and the medics took over from there.”

Ironically, Turpin’s

While not as dramatic as a CPR resuscitation, Turpin lifesaving efforts to get DUI drivers off Salem’s roads

and out of our neighborhoods are even more impressive.

“Getting drunk drivers off the road is a passion of mine,” he said “There is nothing personal against the folks, but in Salem it is zero tolerance. I have actually had drunk drivers look at me after being arrested and thank me for pulling them over before they hurt themselves or others.”

Turpin was honored at the end of last year in Richmond when he received the Mothers

See TURPIN, Page 8

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Museums continue 20-year teaching tradition

By Zach Cooley

For more than 20 years, the Town of Wytheville Department of Museums education staff have been hard at work teaching children throughout the Wythe County Public School System and beyond about their heritage and history of the area. For the past nine years, their education department has been led by a familiar face to Wytheville elementary students for generations.

Senior educator Betty Billingsley brought a four-decade teaching career to the job including 29 years at Spiller Elementary School.

The programs offered by the museum education department focus on the history of Wythe County in the 18 th , 19 th and early 20 th centuries. Education staff take the programs into local elementary schools, focusing on pre-kindergarten through 5 th grade.

Billingsley noted that just being in a prekindergarten through fifth-grade classroom does not automatically qualify you for museum education. Teachers must register their classes with the specific programming they choose. Four different programs are offered from both the ArtiFact and Heritage education curriculum. These programs, which lasted from September to December 2023, served over three thousand

students throughout Wythe, Bland and Smyth counties.

“That includes students who come to the museum for field trips,” Billingsley added. “Most of those are out of the county, but we do some field trips with Wythe County school students as well.”

The programs will continue through Spring 2024. The ArtiFact program focuses on the crafts and trades of early settlers such as millinery (hatmaking) or cartography (map-making), while the Heritage program focuses on activities such as butter-making and dyeing eggs with natural dyes.

While the education staff has been reduced since the pandemic, Billingsley, along with Jacob Morehead, Belinda Stroupe and Amanda Dunford, work diligently to get programs into the schools. Last month, the limited staff brought programs to over a thousand students.

Billingsley added that volunteers are always welcome and needed for such things as craftmaking. Currently, she and her staff are making powder horns, used for map-making as a part of the cartography program. Each one of the estimated seven hundred powder horns required takes several days to complete.

Every May, all second graders in Wythe County spend two

days at the Willowbrook Jackson-Umberger Homestead site for hands-on activities including gunsmithing, blacksmithing, cooking, woodworking, crafts, a petting zoo, and old-fashioned games.

On June 10-14, second through fifth graders are invited to participate in an annual summer day History camp, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, which is currently in the planning stages for this year. The camp, funded by

the Wythe County Historical Society, is limited to 30 participants and reservations are required.

“We all try to make that a fun event for the kids to experience things they would not ordinarily have an opportunity to enjoy,” added Town of Wytheville Department of Museums Director Grant Gerlich. Gerlich as well as the rest of the museum department staff, participate in the annual May Day and history camp. Staff may be instructing stu-

dents in topics such as gardening, farming, papermaking, candlemaking, and even a Revolutionary War Day! Although the Department of Museums receives funding from the Wythe County Board of Supervisors, the Town of Wytheville, and generous community donors, Gerlich says that public donations are welcome and always needed. Throughout the year, the museum department holds free events for the public to encourage donations and support.

Mend: Third-grader battles cancer

From Page 1

Doctors suspected that the disease progressed into long COVID, but Nikolas never got better. He felt nauseous constantly and stopped being the vital kid everyone knew.

“He couldn’t play or ride his bike and eventually stopped eating,” said his dad, James Pakkidis, who owns and operates the Wytheville KOA Campground. “The turning point came when he just laid in the floor and wouldn’t get up.”

An emergency room visit revealed an astronomical white blood cell count, and Nikolas was immediately sent to the pediatric intensive care unit of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he would remain for the next week. From there, they would be in and out of the hospital for the next five months.

After receiving a September 2022 diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a rare, but very treatable variant of cancer, Nikolas was placed on a two-year treatment program. He’s scheduled to complete the program on Oct. 4 of this year.

“Nikolas’s cancer is most commonly seen in teenagers,” James explained. “Less than 5 percent of cases have this type of cancer and never in children his age.”

Nikolas has responded extremely well to treatment and is now receiving maintenance therapy.

Once treatment is

over, Nikolas and his family are planning a trip to Disney World, furnished by the Make-

munity can do to help Nikolas is to give blood and platelets.

“You would not believe the amount of blood and platelets Nikolas has been given throughout the course of his treatment,” he noted. “I try to give ev-

ery three months because, without it, they can’t treat him.” He also encouraged people to donate to any and all childhood cancer charities like ASK (Assistance, Support, Kindness) Childhood Cancer Foundation. Based out of Richmond, ASK helps childhood cancer victims statewide. For their annual 5K, to which supporters can contribute donations online, Nikolas has founded the premier team in Southwest Virginia, which he named the Wytheville Watermelons. His team

garnered the most donations of any team statewide last year and is currently second in the running this year, having exceeded their thousand-dollar goal, raising more than $1,500.

Of course, too much money could never be raised for a cause as crucial as this. All donations go directly to ASK.

People can do the 5K at their own pace or go to Salem in May to complete the race in person. Due to a leg

See MEND, Page 16

A-Wish Foundation. James Pakkidis says one of the most important things the com -

Feb. 23 to

March 17

Wohlfahrt Haus: Back at the Wohlfahrt Haus after two successful limited engagements in 2021, “Steel Magnolias” tells the story of female friendship in the deep South. Through laughter and tears, the play follows the happenings of six women’s lives over three years through beauty shop talk and gossip. Made into the famous movie starring Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, and Sally Fields (among others), Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” is a beloved, generational classic.

Friday, March 8

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.

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 appear-

ances. 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 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 host-

Understanding your colonoscopy Health Focus

By Gastroenterologist

Dr. William Hood W ythe C ounty C ommunity h ospital

Have you had your colonoscopy? If you’re 45 or older, you’ve probably heard this question from someone you know – a doctor, a family member, or a health-conscious friend. More than 50,000 people die from colon cancer each year in the United States, and the disease may not have early symptoms. That’s why most people should talk with their provider about a colonoscopy once they reach the age of 45.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Even if your first colonoscopy is decades away, it’s important to know what to expect from this potentially lifesaving screening. Here’s what you need to know about your colonoscopy:

What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a cancer screening in which your doctor uses a flexible scope to examine the inside of your colon and rectum for cancer. While other colorectal screenings might look for evidence of cancer in your blood or stool, a colonoscopy allows your provider to physically see inside your large intestine, noticing abnormalities that might otherwise be invisible. During a colonoscopy, your provider can remove any

precancerous tissue they find.

Why is a colonoscopy important?

About 1 in 23 men and 1 in 26 women will develop colorectal cancer at some point in their life. Your odds may vary based on your other risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol use, diet, level of physical activity, and family history of cancer. Because the cancer is relatively common, and because it can be deadly if not detected early, screening for colorectal cancer is an important part of managing your health. A colonoscopy is the most reliable form of colorectal cancer screening and prevention, which is why it is so highly recommended. Once you have your colonoscopy, you may not need one for another ten years, follow up depends on what is found and your genetic risk.

What should you expect from your colonoscopy?

Many patients worry that preparing for a colonoscopy will be difficult or uncomfortable, but recent advances in medication have made the process much more palatable. Prior to your colonoscopy, your doctor will put you on a special diet for roughly 24 hours and give you a laxative medicine to drink. This helps clean out your bowels, so that your doctor’s view won’t be obstructed.

Before the procedure,

you will be given a sedative to help you relax and to prevent any discomfort. Your doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope into your rectum, and will use it to look for small growths called polyps. Polyps are not cancer, but if left untreated they may develop into cancer. Your doctor will remove any polyps, and may also take samples of any abnormal tissue for later testing.

After your colonoscopy, you will still feel groggy from your medication. Arrange for a friend or family member to pick you up from the hospital, as you won’t be able to drive.

You may feel anxious about scheduling your colonoscopy, but the procedure can help you stay healthy and give you greater peace of mind. If you are 45 or older and have not yet had your colonoscopy, now is the time to talk to your primary care provider about your risk for colon cancer and ask if a colonoscopy is right for you. Remember, cutting out polyps during colonoscopy will prevent colon cancer later in life.

If you would like to speak to a provider about scheduling a colonoscopy, Wythe County Community Hospital can help. Call 800.424.DOCS or visit the “Find a Doctor/ Provider” tab at WCCH. org to schedule an appointment today.

Socks in the Frying Pan to play

Irish trio, Socks in the Frying Pan, will perform at The Milwald in Wytheville on Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $24.28$38.84 (including fees). For more information call 276-284-2958 or visit themillwald.org.

Socks in the Frying Pan, a multi-awardwinning band from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland—the mecca of Irish traditional music—was formed in 2014. Forged together by a fire of pure joy and passion for their art, the band com -

prises Aodan Coyne on guitar and lead vocals, Shane Hayes on accordion, and younger brother Fiachra Hayes on fiddle.

Their 'Socks Sound' combines virtuosic musicianship with a burning passion for the music and tradition, pitch-perfect harmonies, and a big splash of quick wit and banter. Their electrifying performances and on-stage charm have established them as the kingpins on the Irish Traditional Music scene today.

They have toured

extensively, capturing hearts in 46 US states, dozens of countries, and every continent, showcasing at renowned festivals.

Socks in the Frying Pan have released three studio albums, each adding to their list of accolades including 'Best New Band', 'Best Live Band', 'Album of the Year', and 'Best Live Performance of the Year'. Their latest release, Raw & Ríl, recorded live at Glór Theatre, was immediately awarded 'Best Live Album'.

Turpin: Salem Police honors

From Page 3

Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) award for the most DUI arrests in the department for 2023.

“While still in the beginning stages of his career, Officer Turpin comes to

work eager to learn and serve the community,” said Salem Police Deputy Chief, Derek Weeks. “We are very proud of Officer Turpin and his dedication to service.”

Turpin and his wife, who

is also his high school sweetheart, live in Roanoke County. As Officer of the Year, he will be formally honored by the SalemRoanoke County Chamber of Commerce on March 15.

“My platoon mates and

my supervisors have really shaped me, and they deserve as much credit as I do for this honor,” Turpin said. “We trust each other and at the end of the day we know we are going to do the right thing.”

Artisan business training slate 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 four-month period throughout communities in Southwest Virginia.

The sessions will be available both in person and virtually.

"Our 'Round the Mountain ar -

tisans 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 Commission for the Arts, and Virginia Humanities.

All four workshops cost $40 for member and $100 for non-members.

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

Town seeking mowing bids

The Town of Wytheville is seeking sealed bids from qualified firms who can provide supplemental mowing services as on-call contracts.

The Town will select up to five contractors to assist with mowing and trimming for properties in town.Selected firms will assist the Town with mowing properties in violation of the Town Code and other mowing services as identified or needed. Sealed bids will be received at the Assistant Town Manager’s Office located at the Town of Wytheville Municipal Building, 150 East Monroe Street, Wytheville, VA 24382, until 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.

The Invitation to Bid and related documentation is available on the Town of Wytheville’s website https:// www.wytheville.org/rfp.

An optional pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 4, at 2 p.m., for any individuals who require additional information prior to submitting a bid proposal

Interested firms may contact the Assistant Town Manager at 276-2233352 to request information regarding this procurement.

coaches hold court

Cressel helps create ACA success

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 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 of-

See CRESSEL,Page 10

Dunford born dribbling ball

By Zach Cooley

Tony Dunford seems to have been born dribbling a basketball.

As a freshman at Pulaski County High School, he was a member of the first ninth-grade district tournament championship team and was voted “Most Valuable Player” in the tournament. As a sophomore, he maintained a 14-6 record under junior varsity head coach Mark Hanks. By his junior year, the tides turned a bit.

“For the first time in my career, I wasn't good enough to start or play,” Dunford recalled. “So, I learned a lot about what it meant to be a truly good teammate.” By his senior year, he was back on top, being voted his team’s “Defensive Player of the Year.” “We were a middle of the pack team in a loaded Roanoke Valley District,” Dunford remembered.

“There were four seniors on that team including myself.” Under the leadership of future Bluefield College all-star forward Mark Mills,

Jesse Corvin celebrates his 1,000th point.

Cyrus Stevens Agent

Cressel:

From Page 9

ten 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 publicschool team unsuccessfully is eligible to play with ACA.

The school operates on a policy of leaving 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 scholar-

Boyd

The man who helped orchestrate Rural Retreat’s rise as a wrestling powerhouse in the region is getting just recognition.

On Saturday, April 20, Rick Boyd, the

ships to every senior basketballer who has played on the ACA team for three or more consecutive years. Public donations, through a freethrow or donate-aday 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

See CRESSEL,Page 14

Dunford: GW skipper

From Page 9

Dunford and his team were solid, despite an undesirable estimated season finish of 12-14.

“We defeated both E.C. Glass and Patrick Henry of Roanoke twice that year,” he pointed out. “That was a rare accomplishment.”

The team to beat, however, was William Fleming with its sophomore, Joe Fitzgerald, who was universally regarded as one of the most dominant players in Virginia basketball history.

A bright future was already being predict-

ed for Fitzgerald in the NBA. Another team to be feared was Cave Spring, led by junior guard Mike Fayed, who went on to a four-year starting career at Winthrop University.

“We finished above them in the league standings,” Dunford remembered. “So, competition was fierce.”

After Dunford expressed an interest in coaching, assistant basketball coach at Roanoke College, Paul Barnard, facilitated a meeting with head coach Page Moir. They developed an immediate

connection and Dunford was offered a volunteer assistant coach position. There, he would learn his greatest lessons about coaching and building relationships. He considers Moir and Barnard to be ideal mentors.

“I was a sponge,” Dunford recalled. “It was a very enjoyable experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

Despite other assistant coaching opportunities at Bridgewater, Lynchburg, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dunford remained loyal to his

former coach of the Indian wrestling team, will be one of seven inducted into the Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

mentor and stayed at Roanoke College until Moir retired in 2016. Immediately upon graduating from Pulaski County High School in 1990, he was offered a job as head coach of the freshmen team at his alma mater, turning down an opportunity to play at Bluefield College. He was only 18 years old.

“I had to grow up really fast,” Dunford said.

“I was expected to lead kids just a few years younger than me.”

Quickly climbing the ladder to junior varsity

See

Puzzle Place

Crossword by Margie E. Burke

Parks seek volunteers

Virginia State Parks is recruiting members for its 2024 Virginia Service and Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Interpretive Guide Program. VSCC AmeriCorps members will create and lead interpretive programs within the state park they are assigned, such as guided hikes and paddles, campfires and educational programs about the park’s history and wildlife.

Virginia State Parks Ameri-

Corp.

Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma, a US citizen and be able to serve 450 hours from May 3 to August 16.

This program has no upper age limit and is great for those wanting to learn more about environmental education, conservation and park operations. The application deadline is April 12.

Ladies First

Not too long ago, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Tennessee, held a retrospective of the women who helped shape country music.

Well, we’re going to do the same. The trouble with highlighting the women who shaped the music of these mountains isn’t finding the women, it’s narrowing it down to just 10.

Listen Online

Scan the QR Code below with your smartphone camera.

So don’t look at this playlist as the be all, end all, but rather a starting point in a conversation. Send us an email (swvasun@gmail.com) or reach out on Facebook if you think we have missed someone and should be strapped to a post and beat with wet guitar strings.

Following is our first Ladies First list.

First up is Molly O’Day and her absolute gem “Living the Right Life Now.”

O’Day (born Lois LaVerne Williamson) would have been coming up on her 101st birthday on July 9. She was born in eastern Kentucky to a coal mining family and began playing the guitar as a youngster with her brothers Cecil “Skeets” Williamson on the fiddle and Joe “Duke” Williamson on the banjo. Fame came a-calling in 1939, when Skeets headed over to West Virginia to play on the radio. At that time O’Day was playing under the name Mountain Fern. By 1940, she was performing as Dixie Lee Williamson, fronting the Forty Niners. In 1941 she married Forty Niners guitarist Lynn Davis. By the early 50s, O’Day had turned her back on secular music, became an ordained minister preaching in the coal communities and making great gospel songs like this right here.

Next up is another Kentucky-born titan. Jean Ritchie came into a large and musical family in 1922, that, according to some reports had committed north of 300 traditional songs to memory. Ritchie attended college at the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1946, and moving to New York City, working as a social worker in the Henry Street Settlement. By night, Ritchie haunted the coffeehouses, playing the dulcimer and sharing the sounds that would catch fire in the 1950s folk revival that birthed the likes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

The song Ritchie plays is “Jubilee.”

The world lost our third pick last month. Banjo great, TV star and bluegrass legend Roni Stoneman was the youngest member of one of the founding families of country music. She died Feb. 22 at the age of 85.

Born May 5, 1938, in Galax to Ernest “Pop” Stoneman, who was one of the first musicians to make a living recording mountain tunes. The Depression, though, sent him home and the family didn’t come back to the forefront till the mid-1950s. By that time Roni was hammering on the banjo, performing across the country, including at the Grand Ole Opry, the White House and the Smithsonian. The Stonemans had their own television show in the 1960s (until Pop’s death), and Roni became a well-known comedian for her turn on the monster hit “Hee Haw.”

Here she and her sisters perform “Shackles and Chains.”

From Galax, we head to Saltville for a woefully forgotten balladeer, Texas Gladden, here singing “Whole Heap of Little Horses.”

Born Texas Anna Smith (and sister to slightly more well-known banjo great Hobart Smith) in 1895, Gladden started her recording career in the 1930s, around the time she and her husband, Jim Gladden, moved to Salem. She was one of the performers at the famous Whitetop Festival that was attended by the first lady.

Gladden died in 1966, living long enough to see folkies like Joan Baez pick up on her catalog and credit her trailblazing.

Slightly better known to music fans, but still under appreciated, is North Carolina native Ola Belle Reed.

Born “high on a mountain” in Grassy Creek, right on the Grayson County, Virginia, line, Ola Belle was the fourth of 13 children. The whole family was musical, it seems, with her father playing fiddle, banjo, guitar and organ. An uncle taught her to play while other uncles taught her to sing. Her grandfather, Alexander Campbell, played the fiddle.

Go: Calendar of upcoming events

ing 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 Buller is a multiinstrumentalist, 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.

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.

Buller bound for stage

Becky Buller will be performing live with special guest The Mike Mitchell Band at The Millwald Theatre in Wytheville on April 12!

Give Her a Listen

Scan the QR Code below with your smartphone camera.

Becky Buller is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter from St. James, Minnesota, who has traversed the globe performing bluegrass music. Her compositions can be heard on records by Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, to name just

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 hiphop but was also exposed to classic soul, blues, and R&B by his parents. He

a few. Becky has written songs for Grammy award-winning albums: she co-wrote “Freedom,” the lead-off track of The Infamous Stringdusters 2018 Grammy-winning album Laws of Gravity as well as “The Shaker” on The Travelin’ McCourys self-titled release that brought home the 2019 Best Bluegrass Grammy.

Reserve your seat at https:// bit.ly/3RQzJ8w.

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, Ten-

an 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.”

Friday, May 10

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.

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 “If I Could Turn Back Time” is filled with high energy dancing and singing, you’ll be sure to jump out of your seat and joining in!

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.

nessee, 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 veter-

Saturday, May 11

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.

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.

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-

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 advance -

ment and growth, and regular engagement and feedback from their team, said Theresa Dix, chief nursing officer at Wythe Coun-

Solution

three

our new program.”

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! Increase 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!

Cressel: Eagles soaring on the court

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 pub-

lic 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.”

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.”

Hospital: Residency program launched

Theresa Dix, Chief Nursing Officer

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 resi-

dent 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 to-

gether 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 national nursing short-

age, 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 develop into confident, com-

petent and resilient caregivers and thrive in their nursing careers,” said Dix.

The program is a Registered Apprenticeship Program with the US Department of Labor.

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.

Dunford: Guiding GW players, students

From Page 10

head coach followed by head assistant coach, Dunford accepted a job as head coach in 1998 at Brookville High School in Lynchburg at the age of 26.

Having worked under Pat Burns, who moved to George Wythe as head coach, Dunford was offered a job as his assistant in 2016. He accepted, declining a position with Carroll County.

“George Wythe was

already good, led by Malik Johnson,” he recollected. “So, I knew it was an opportunity to be a part of something special.”

In his inaugural year with the Maroons, a team he had always wanted to coach, they suffered a 2A state championship loss to Radford, under the direction of Pat Burns.

“If we get a call on a goaltending at the end of the game,” he contended. “I think we win

that game.”

More important than being a good athlete, Dunford always encourages his players to be good human beings by searching for opportunities to help others. He says his ultimate goal is helping his players become mature, productive members of society.

“I have a great resource in coaching basketball that allows me to have substantial influence and I hope

I make a difference,” Dunford said. “I believe when you become a selfless player and work to become the ultimate teammate, it teaches life lessons.”

That being said, Dunford has nothing but praise for his group of young Wytheville men.

“These are simply a great bunch of kids who I wouldn’t trade for the world,” he noted. “We spend a lot of time together working over the spring, sum-

mer and fall and are a huge family.”

Dunford acknowledges the hard work he and his team have jointly invested, but notes it has been a labor of love.

“It’s been a great ride but we aren’t finished,” he stated. “I look forward to watching these players further develop and accomplish their goals.”

Whereas coaches are inclined to measure success by wins

and losses, Dunford defines his success via improvement, progress and growth as success. “I have great desire and passion to give kids opportunities to be successful and create lifelong memories,” he offered in closing. “I simply want to give back what the game has given me. It’s what I know best and I hope, through basketball and with God’s guidance, I can have a positive impact on kids’ lives.”

Virginia State Parks hosting gift show in Wytheville

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 souvenirs 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.

Training: Artisan

From Page 8

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.

Mend: Third-grader

From Page 5

surgery, Nikolas was wheelchair-bound for a couple of months and is still not able to walk as much as he would like, though his condition continues to improve.

His dad also credits Nikolas’ school with their support.

“When your world is turned upside down, the school is the last thing you think of,” James stated. “They have been fantastic in adhering to his needs and letting him return to school at his own pace.”

Although Nikolas lives in Wytheville, he attends third grade at Critzer Elementary School in Pulaski, where his mom is an instructional technology resource teacher.

ASK has provided Nikolas with an advocate, Amy Fender, who among many other aspects, has helped him maintain his schoolwork. Now, he is able to return to school any day he feels up to it for as long as he is able.

“Now, he’s getting back to being a normal 9-yearold kid,” reported his dad. “He’s wide open.”

Through the entire, unimaginably terrifying journey, James Pakkidis never fails to be amazed by the optimism and resilience exuded by his son.

“Nikolas has never once complained or faced any of this without a smile,” he stated. “He just does what he has to do.”

Likewise, Nikolas says he draws his own strength from his dad.

“He’s always been there when I needed him,” stated the 9-year-old.

“I made a promise to him at the very begin -

Wytheville received an $843,000 share of a $4.4 million USDA investment aimed at ensuring the continuity of critical services at six communities in the commonwealth.

A US Department of Agriculture Rural Development loan to the town will be used to buy a new sanitation vehicle, helping to reduce operating expenses. The funds will also be used for a replacement dehumidification unit to help regulate temperatures and air quality in the pool area, along with other areas, at the Wytheville Community Center.

“Investments in public safety and community facilities are vital to sustaining quality of life for rural Virginians,” Virginia State Director Perry Hickman said. “Our team obligated more than $30 million for these types of projects in 2023 and we are pleased to play a small part in making sure these small towns, fire departments and law enforcement organizations are equipped to provide the best services possible.”

Other places receiving funding include Halifax, Giles, Wise and Russell counties, St. Paul, Honaker and Norton.

ning of this journey that I would be there every step of the way,” James elaborated.

When asked how this community could further help support him through this difficult process, Nikolas offer a simple, heartfelt request with the utterance of a single word.

“Prayers,” he said.

To donate to Nikolas’s Wytheville Watermelons team, visit https:// secure.qgiv.com/ event/2024askwalk/ team/946230/.