Archive for November, 2009

VINTON – Years ago, Patterson began to come across non-profits doing great things for their communities, but were struggling to survive. Without trained staff or the money to hire a consultant, these organizations had no hope of improvement. Vinton resident Annette Patterson, herself an independent consultant, felt she had the means necessary to help these... »

CRAIG COUNTY – The Craig County Board of Supervisors has literally rescued Christmas tradition for the citizens of Craig County, and the Christmas Parade is on! The New Castle Christmas Parade will be Saturday, Dec. 5, starting at 2 p.m. at the Fairgrounds. Participants should be in place at 1 p.m., parade sponsors said. With less... »

BLACKSBURG – We apologize for an error in the report about Blacksburg Parade.  The correct date is Friday, December 4th. Schedule of holiday events from the Downtown Merchants of Blacksburg (www.downtownblacksburg.com) December 4th: 4:30- 8:00 pm Winter Lights Festival- Sounds of The Seasons Tuba Christmas is coming to Blacksburg to join in the ‘Sounds of the Season’... »

For more than 34 years, two sisters kept their promise to their mother that they would look after their disabled brother. And Sadie Hardy and Marie Smith did, right up until the time James “Brother” Garfield Parker Jr. died on Sept. 14. Brother, known to many as “Bubby,” was the longest-time resident of Richfield Retirement Community,... »

CHRISTIANSBURG – Montgomery County’s constitutional officers will not have to tailor their offices’ budgets around an anticipated $648,000 reduction in state funding thanks to the County Board of Supervisors vote to approve reimbursing the offices for the budget hits they will take from the Virginia Compensation Board next year. The County sheriff, commonwealth’s attorney, clerk... »

RADFORD – Dressed in their best business clothes, several Radford children recently got a lesson in the proper way to meet, greet, eat and more in a creative fundraiser for the Radford Heritage Foundation. Kathleen Harshberger, who runs the Kathleen Harvey Harshberger School of Protocol, recently led two sessions of her popular “Everyday Etiquette and... »

SALEM – On the day Roger Atkinson would have turned 21, his family buried him. The Salem soldier was killed in action in Vietnam after saving five other soldiers. He died Oct. 14, 1967, of shrapnel wounds received when an antitank shell hit the personnel carrier in which he was riding, the Army said. His family... »

If the Botetourt School Board approves the policy proposal, no part of any school facility will be named for a person. The board heard a report on the proposed policy at its November meeting last week and, as is the custom, agreed to vote on the proposal at its December meeting. While the proposed policy will... »

Rockla (Rockie) Thompson Surface of New Castle went to be with her Lord on Nov. 14, 2009 at the age of 70, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Ruth Thompson, and her husband Shelburne A. (Sonny) Surface. She is survived by her children Tommy Surface... »

CRAIG COUNTY – McCleary Elementary students got the chance to see and taste freshly grown local vegetables at school last week in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Agriculture Consumer Services Farm-to-School program. They got the scoop straight from the farmer’s mouth, when Sam Old and his wife, Donna, who own and operate Craig Creek... »