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BY GLENN GANNAWAYNEWS EDITOR
Arthur, a reporter for a big-city scandalsheet called “The Tattletale,” has hisworld turned upside down by the knowingwomen of little Shadow Falls in the PatCook comedy “You Can’t Get There FromHere.”
The two-act play opens at AppalachiaCultural Arts Center at 3 p.m. Sunday,April 27, followed by a 6 p.m. show onSaturday, May 3, a 3 p.m. show onSunday, May 4, and a final performance at6 p.m. Saturday, May 10.
Arthur (Trey Stidham) finds himselfstranded in the little town of ShadowFalls, a town that could be the dictionaryillustration for the word “bucolic,” whenhe drives his car into a pothole whilesearching for reclusive writer Lillith
Mansfield. Arthur soon learns that thepothole is in fact a municipal set-up andthat he must pay a series of outrageousfines at the town offices — which justhappen to be housed at the Mavis GarnerBed and Breakfast and staffed by sistersLiz (Juanita Quillen and Myrtle (PamelaCounts).
Arthur begins to relax and get in therural swing of things after falling for thesisters’ niece, Ann (Sierra Bevins). ButArthur’s boss, Dolores Van Damm (JanetHampton) soon arrives on the scene andthreatens to upset everyone’s applecart,even gaining a supposed ally in localreporter Queenie (Susan Spruill).
Liz, Arthur and Ann put together a planto stymie Dolores’ National Inquirer-styleprying, only to have Myrtle, a formerShakespearean actor who pines to onceagain tread the boards, go completely overthe top in an effort to scare Dolores off,almost sinking the plan.
As director Gary Bush notes, most of
RodneyCrowell to
play atGathering.
On The Trail
B6
Thursday, April 24, 2014
VOLUME 124, NUMBER 17 20 PAGES USPS 4395401 $1.00 Big Stone Gap, Virginia
● OBITUARIES Page 4 ● OPINION Page 6 ● SPORTS Page B1 ● ON THE TRAIL Page B6 ● POST SCRIPTS Page B6 ● CLASSIFIEDS Page B10
Appy council approves trailhead redesignBY GLENN GANNAWAY
NEWS EDITOR
Appalachia Town Council lastThursday took a couple of more stepstoward realizing the Powell River Trail byendorsing a revised trailhead design andapproving funds for the design of rest-room facilities at the site.
Council was also informed that thetrail design plans were expected to be“100 percent complete” this week, asengineer Jeff Cochran said.
After reviewing outlines for two trail-head designs, council voted 5-0 for adesign that will include 12 parking spaces
and a little more open green space alongU.S. Business 23 and between the site andthe active railroad behind it.
Council also voted 5-0 to pay TheLane Group $21,000 for the design ofrestrooms at the trailhead and the structur-al evaluation of the old Bandag building,which council plans to reconfigure into apicnic shelter. However, part of the$21,000 cost should be offset by keepingthe concrete pad of the Bandag building,which the town originally envisionedremoving.
With work on the Powell River Trailawaiting the release of VirginiaDepartment of Transportation funds,
council also learned that there may beanother complication: Town ManagerFred Luntsford said VDOT may require anew property appraisal before releasingany money.
The trail property is owned by WiseCounty Industrial DevelopmentAuthority, which purchased it in 2009with the intent of deeding it over to thetown when VDOT funds become avail-able. About $900,000 in VDOT enhance-ment program money is available for thetrail. Luntsford told council VDOT mayrequire a new appraisal before releasingany money. He said the town has existingappraisals of the Bandag building and the
trail corridor, but both are dated.The IDA, which put up about $75,000
for the trail right of way and about$56,000 for the Bandag property, has indi-cated it would like to complete the trans-action with Appalachia and have itsmoney returned as soon as possible. “Ifwe don’t get all this done pretty soon,we’ll have to take all the IDA people onvacation,” quipped Councilman TeddieCollins Jr.
Still, Mayor Jay Swiney calledapproval of the trailhead redesign “one ofthe key components to getting it approved
Pitch in and pickup litter Saturday
BY GLENN GANNAWAYNEWS EDITOR
The Great American Cleanup is Saturday, and aftermissing last year’s event, Appalachia coordinator GaryDean is ready to lead the charge.
People who would like to participate in the Appalachiacleanup should go to the Skate Park near Payless MarketSaturday. The Big Stone Gap collection point will be atBullitt Park.
For many people, as Dean said, the cleanup provides anopportunity to do something for the community. “Theymay say, ‘I can’t do much for my community, but I canspend a couple of hours doing this,’” Dean said.
And, he added, everyone can resolve to “quit throwingmy coffee cup out the window.”
Community roadsides, continually plagued bymotorists who don’t think twice about littering, will be oneof the focal points for the cleanups, which will be held ineach Wise County town and the City of Norton Saturday.
The cleanups start Saturday morning and will run intoearly afternoon, and volunteers are encouraged to devoteas much time to the effort as they can.
“It’s the same modus operandi,” Dean said. “Theycome sign in. They don’t have to be there at 9 o’clock;they can come at noon. If they’ve got something to do, thecan come in at noon or early afternoon. They don’t evenhave to come and sign in if they don’t want to — they canpick up their neighborhood and set the orange bags besidethe road, and we’ll pick up the bags.”
“We’ll do as much as we can, or until our group wearsout,” Dean said. “Appalachia has hilly terrain to our fairtown. We usually have some folks who are a little long inthe tooth, like me, and we have to kinda stop halfway upthe hill to admire the scenery. That’s what we tell folkswe’re doing. We’ll still try to get folks out to the highestpoint and let them walk down.”
Anti-litter efforts make for more beautiful communi-ties. They might also contribute to the economy in the longrun: county Litter Prevention and Recycling Coordinatorhas pointed out effects littering has on tourism and jobcreation.
For more information, contact Dean at 276/565-2537.The Big Stone Gap coordinator is Glen Bishop at townhall; call Bishop at 276/523-0115, ext. 130.
The 2014 UVa-Wise Jazz Ensemble will perform at Monday’s David Tipton concert.
Comedy takes the stage at Cultural Arts Center
Ann (Sierra Bevins) tells her aunts, Liz (Juanita Quillen) and Myrtle (Pamela Counts),about the first visit to the town’s general store for big-city reporter Arthur (Trey Stidham),who has fallen for Ann — and his new overalls.Appalachia Cultural Arts Center will stagePat Cook’s ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ four times starting Sunday, April 27.
Tipton Memorial Concert features jazzJazz musicians will treat listen-
ers to an evening of red-hot andcool music Monday night in sup-port of a worthy cause.
The eighth annual David TiptonMemorial Scholarship FundConcert will be held at the GilliamArts Center at the University ofVirginia’s College at Wise at 7:30p.m. Monday, April 28. The con-cert will feature the UVa-Wise JazzEnsembler.
There is no admission charge,although voluntary donations tothe Tipton Scholarship Fund willbe accepted.
The concert and scholarship arenamed for the late David Tipton,who served as band director atPennington, Thomas Walker,Powell Valley and J.I. Burton highschools, taking many studentsunder his wing over a three-decadecareer. Before returning toSouthwest Virginia, Tipton was aU.S. Army band director.
The Jazz Ensemble includes 20musicians, most of whom are col-lege students. The balance of thegroup is college faculty members,one high school musician and twocommunity members, including
Big Stone Gap resident and retireddirector at Lenowisco Ron Flanary,who plays one of the trumpet parts.
“I had gone into musical retire-ment some 20 years ago,” saidFlanary, who was most active as amember of the Virginians in thelate ‘60s and early ‘70s. “I firstknew Donnie (director Dr. DonnieSorah) when he was in high school.He is a phenomenal trumpet playerand conductor.”
Flanary said Sorah had encour-aged him to get back into playing
See TRAILHEAD, Page A2
PHOTO BY DONNIE SORAH
See TIPTON, Page A2
See PLAY, Page A2
Page A2 Thursday, April 24, 2014 The Post Big Stone Gap, Virginia
First issue published Aug. 15, 1890.
Published each Thursday by AHP of Virgin-
ia, 215 Wood Ave., Big Stone Gap, VA
24219-0250. Periodicals postage paid at
Big Stone Gap, VA, under Publication No.
4395401, Nov. 1899, under the Act of
March 3, 1879.
Publisher — Jenay Tate
Executive Editor — Jenay Tate
Subscriptions: $35 per year inside Wise
County; $53 in market area with zip codes
with first three digits 242, 376 and 408,
excluding Wise County and city of Norton;
and $64 elsewhere.
POSTMASTER: Send address corrections
to The Post, P.O. Box 250, Big Stone
Gap, VA 24219-0250.
The Postto allow some of the funding to be released.”
The design approved by council provides for a smoothtransition through the site and has 12 parking spaces aswell as the additional green space. The design rejected bycouncil included a couple more parking spaces but lessgreen space. The approved design also has better handi-capped access; “that’s going to play a huge role” for visi-tors, Swiney said.
Approval of the trailhead design was also requiredbefore VDOT will approve the entrance off U.S. Business23.
Cochran told council that the mitigation design for theBee Rock Tunnel along the trail comes next.Environmental approval is also required, which he calleda “milestone” on the effort to transfer the property fromthe IDA to the town.
TrailheadFrom Page A1
shape and join the group. “It’s a longroad back to being able to play thetrumpet to an acceptable level, butthanks to the constant support fromDonnie and other friends — like fellowjazz ensemble trumpeter Jason Baileyand retiring J.I. Burton band directorBuddy Stewart, another ex-Virginianband member — I’ve continued toimprove.”
Flanary said the biggest thrill for himis to play alongside student musicianswho are learning the craft of instrumen-tal jazz. “There are some excellentmusicians in this group, and I’m hon-ored just to be there with them,” he said.
The heyday of the “big bands” wasin the mid ‘30s to late ‘40s, although
their popularity never went away. Theselections will be a mix of a few “stan-dards” from past years, plus some excit-ing new contemporary arrangements forjazz ensembles.
Flanary also mentioned a small“band within a band” combo wouldprobably do a couple of tunes in honorof Tipton, whose real musical passionwas Dixieland music.
“Dave is well remembered for form-ing the Jerome Street Ramblers, a groupthat included my father, the late JoeFlanary, on trombone,” Flanary said.“Clarinetist Jim Wardell and I thought itwould be cool to honor Dave and hisJerome Street colleagues in that man-ner.”
Another combo of student musicianswill also do a jazz instrumental piece.Flanary mentioned that improvisation isan important part of jazz, so expect tohear several solos by various bandmembers.
TiptonFrom Page A1
the characters are hiding something, and all the masks come offat the uproarious conclusion. “I would encourage all the atten-dees to pay close attention to the characters and the lines,because there’s clues within those lines that will help you under-stand more at the end what takes place,” Bush said.
People who attended the ACAC production of Cook’s“Death and Taxes” a couple of years ago will recognize the pro-lific playwright’s style of situation comedy: fast-paced with anever-ending supply of gags.
Playgoers will also enjoy the youthful energy and charmbrought to the production by Stidham, a sophomore at UnionHigh School, and Bevins, a Union junior.
“Trey is a fine young man and he’s a person of many talents,and as he matures in theater, I think you’ll see a lot more of Treyin the future in this area and wherever he goes,” Bush said.
Bevins is in her first play at ACAC. “I think she has tremen-dous talent available, and as she develops in forthcomign years,I think you’ll see more of Sierra,” Bush said. “She can pick upon thing rather well, I think, and she’s learning how to projecther voice, and I think overall people will be pleased with herperformance, as well as Trey’s.”
Having the two high school students take part in an ACACplay is a boon to the center, supplementing the older actors, whoBush laughingly called “old fogeys.”
“This is one of our goals, to draw in more of the youth in ourarea interested in doing theater and offer them a place they candevelop their talents,” Bush said. “We encourage the youngpeople to come and see this play. It’s catered not only to theolder people but also to the younger people, and we feel likethey will enjoy it immensely and they’ll see what the ACAC isdoing to bring more excitement to the ACAC and the surround-ing area.”
But don’t discount the old timers. “They like doing plays,being involved,” Bush said of the veterans. “I can see how muchthey relish being onstage. They love being there doing whatthey feel is right. They have a feel for the play, the charactersand how it’s put together. And the two young people look up tothat too.”
Admission to “You Can’t Get There From Here” is $10, $8for students and people over age 55. Children under age 12 areadmitted free. Call Bush at 276/565-1386 for more information.
PlayFrom Page A1
Small-town newspaper editor Queenie (Susan Spruill) asks Liz (Juanita Quillen)about the town’s new visitor, big-city scandal sheet reporter Arthur.
After driving through the town’s prize pothole, Arthur (Trey Stidham) findshimself ensnared by town bureaucracy, here represented by Myrtle (PamelaCounts).
Reluctant dance
partners Arthur
(Trey Stidham)
and Ann (Sierra
Bevins) find
themselves
falling in love.
Dolores (JanetHampton)shrugs off theattempt ofMyrtle (PamelaCounts) toscare her out oftown.
The 51st season of“The Trail of theLonesome Pine” outdoordrama will feature dualcasts.
Artistic Director MarkSalyer indicated his inter-est in double-casting mostparts to give more peoplea chance to participate inthe community event thatis a highlight of each BigStone Gap summer.
Barbara Polly, the out-door drama’s executiveproducer, says 2014 “willbe a new theater experi-ence again.”
“A double cast wouldgive cast members somefree weekends during thesummer that they haven’tbeen able to do before,”Polly said. “It also givesmore actors a chance toperform different roles.We may have a costumeproblem but hopefully thatcould be solved. Peoplemay also want to cometwice during the summerto see different actorsdoing different roles.”
“It’s wonderful to haveso many actors joining usthis season. For those inthe cast that are pure thes-pians, they will enjoy theexperience of doing tworoles in one season, whichis done often in repertorytheater,” Polly said.
This year’s show willalso feature more musicand more musicians, Pollysaid.
“Everyone in the areaneeds to come to see theTrail each year because itis a new show each seasonfor many different reasons— different director, dif-ferent actors, differentinterpretations,” Pollysaid.
Salyer currently plansfor one cast to performthrough July and the otherthrough the end of the sea-son in August.
Following is the cast asannounced by Salyer:
June Tolliver: MollySlemp and Julia Sturgill.
Jack Hale: StephenEvans and Joey Carico.
Devil Judd Tolliver:Jack McClanahan andDodie Daniels.
The Red Fox: GlennGannaway and Ben Mays.
Bad Rufe Tolliver: RoyMunsey and TBA.
Mammy Tolliver:Juanita Quillen and MaryLou Carter.
Bub Tolliver: DanielGoodman and BriannaMullins.
Young Dave: EvanO’Quinn and PeteSheldon.
Loretta Tolliver:Kennady Ray and TorieAdams.
Ole Dave Tollver:Larry Mullins and ClydeQuillen.
Aunt Tilly: DebbieGoodman and JuanitaQuillen.
Judge Sam Budd: JoeyO’Quinn; Rick Horne andcameos.
Ole Hon Beam: MaryLou Carter and Janet
Hampton.Uncle Billy Beam:
Clyde Quillen and GlennGannaway.
Ms. Anne Saunders:Torie Adams and KennadyRay.
School bully: JacobGoodman and TreyStidham.
Tattletale: BriannaMullins and GabbyBlanton.
Bully’s sibling: KaraBishop and Kaylin Falin.
Helen Hale: GailLuntsford and TabithaHibbitts.
Marie: Elaine Sheldon;Kim Mays and CamrynLowery.
Bob Berkley: AndyGilliam and Trey Stidham.
Tom Logan: NathanGardner and EvanO’Quinn.
Edwin Mockaby: Jacob
Wells and John Grieger.Ms. Crane: Olivia
Davis and CamrynLowery.
Court clerk: HowardDoyle.
Sadie Thompson: KimRay; Kim Mays andcameos.
Abigail: HaelenHoward and Kaylin Falin.
Woman in Black:Bobbi Potter.
Sheriff: Howard Doyle.Armore r /hangman:
Denny Potter.Neighbors/townspeo-
ple/Falins: KristenBlakley, Jessica Herron,Shelby Peace, HunterIsley.
S c h o o l c h i l d r e n :Abigail Joyner, JennaRiley, Isabella Herron.
Bub/Bibby: AndrewGoodman and KaraBishop.
Miss Anne/Lorettaunderstudy: CamrynLowery.
Aunt Tilly/MammyTolliver understudy:Olivia Davis.
Tom, Edward, YoungDave understudy: TreyStidham.
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Big Stone Gap, Virginia The Post Thursday, April 24, 2014 Page A3
VOTE!
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Outdoor drama will feature two casts
Appy Neighborhood Watch discussedBY GLENN GANNAWAY
NEWS EDITOR
The Wise County Sheriff’s Office isinterested in facilitating a NeighborhoodWatch program for Appalachia.
Chuck Stapleton, crime prevention andcourt security specialist for the sheriff’soffice, gave town council an overview ofthe Neighborhood Watch at lastThursday’s meeting.
The idea, Stapleton said, is for resi-dents to keep an eye out for each other.
Stapleton currently liaisons with fiveneighborhoods on behalf of the sheriff’sofffice. Citizens, he said, actually run theNeighborhood Watch program with theassistance of law enforcement.Neighborhood Watch is a national pro-gram approved by the National Sheriff’s
Association, he said.Neighbors organize a watch program
by getting together and determining howbig an area they want to include.Participants meet as often as they feel theneed to do so, Stapleton said, discussingissues such as scams, fraud, home securi-ty and neighborhood crime.
Stapleton said it typically takes from12 to 20 people to start a NeighborhoodWatch program.
“They are a good program,” he toldcouncil. “They are working. But the citi-zens have to get involved. It’s all run bythem; we just liaison with them to tellthem what’s going on on the lawenforcement side. They then become theeyes and ears of law enforcement; if theysuspect crime in the neighborhood, theyreport it.”
Town agrees to turn over old town hallBY GLENN GANNAWAY
NEWS EDITOR
After brief discussion, AppalachiaTown Council voted 5-0 to give the oldtown hall to the business owner who nowoccupies the building.
According to the lease between thetown and the business, the town wouldconsider turning over the property at nocost to Better Air owner Jamey Hatfieldafter two years if Hatfield remained inbusiness.
Council discussed deeding the proper-ty over to Hatfield at its March meetingfollowing a public hearing, but took no
action. At last Thursday’s April meeting,council agreed to “fulfill our obligation togive the property to Jamey Hatfield,” asMayor Jay Swiney said in making themotion.
Vice Mayor John Brooks hadexpressed concern that, if the businesswere to leave, the town would have anoth-er abandoned building. But, Swiney saidThursday, Hatfield’s business is “doingvery well; he has no plans of going any-where.”
“My only concern was having anotherrundown building,” Brooks said. “I don’thave a problem giving him the building. .. . We need the business in town, too.”
Mountain EmpireCommunity College isaccepting applications forthe 10th annual MountainMusic School.
The school will be heldfrom July 21-25.Mountain Music School isdedicated to the preserva-tion and continuation ofAppalachian music andculture. Students from age10 and up learn to play aninstrument of their choice,including beginning andadvanced options in “old-time” fiddle, claw-ham-mer banjo, autoharp, gui-tar, mandolin, dulcimer,shape note singing, anddog house bass.
In addition, a string-band class for intermedi-ate/advanced musicians isoffered for students whowant to expand their skillsin a group setting. A limit-ed number of instrumentsare available to loan dur-ing the week.
“We are excited to hostthe 10th annual MountainEmpire CommunityCollege Mountain MusicSchool and we look for-ward to a great week withstudents of all ages.Workshops, concerts, andmany other activities areplanned. We invite you tojoin us for a week orlearning and fun,” said
Sue Ella Boatright-Wells,MECC’s dean of work-force development.
Registration forMountain Music School is$150 for the week, whichincludes lunch each dayand a T-shirt. Classes areheld from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Scholarships are alsoavailable for students 18years and younger.
To register for the 10thannual Mountain MusicSchool or to apply for ascholarship please visitthe Mountain MusicSchool website atwww.moun ta inmus ic -school.org or call276/523-7489.
Mountain Music School taking applications
With a healthy, growing black bear population, bearsightings are becoming common throughout much ofVirginia. A highly adaptable and intelligent animal, bearscan live close to people. While local residents often do notknow bears are living close by, some bears may wander intoresidential areas due to the smell of food around homes. Themost common food attractants are birdfeeders, garbage, andpet food; however, outdoor grills, livestock food, compost,fruit trees, and beehives can also attract bears.
What should you do if you see a bear?Enjoy and keep a respectful distance, the Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries advises. In mostcases, the bear will move on quickly.
If a bear is up a tree on or near your property, give itspace, VDGIF says. Do not approach, and bring your petsinside to provide the bear a clear path to leave your proper-ty. What should you do if a bear is consuming bird seed,garbage, pet food, etc. on your property? The best way toencourage the bear not to return is to remove the foodsource.
The VDGIF also stresses:• Do not store household trash, or anything that smells
like food, in vehicles, on porches or decks.• Keep your full or empty trash containers secured in a
garage, shed or basement.• Take your garbage to the landfill frequently.• If you have a trash collection service, put your trash out
the morning of the pickup, not the night before.• Take down your birdfeeder for 3-4 weeks after the bear
visits.• Consider installing electric fencing, an inexpensive and
extremely efficient proven deterrent to bears, around dump-sters, gardens, beehives, or other potential food sources.
If addressed quickly, this situation can be resolved almostimmediately after you remove the food source. Sometimes,the bear may return searching for food, but after a few failedattempts to find it, will leave your property.
What should you do if you see a bear cub on your prop-erty? Until May, sows with cubs are typically in dens. Mostsmall bears people see in early spring are not actual “babybears” but yearlings (more than 12 months old). They do notneed their mothers to survive.
If a small yearling is on your property, the worst thingyou can do is feed it. Yearlings need to learn how to find nat-ural foods and not become food conditioned or habituated tohumans.
Once females leave their dens with 4- to 5-month-oldcubs, they will typically travel in close groups unless some-thing makes the female nervous. If you see a very small cub,do not try to remove it from the area or “save it.” When sens-ing danger, a female bear will typically send her cub or cubsup a tree and leave the area. In such cases, the female willalmost always return to gather up the cub or cubs when nopeople or pets are around.
Preventing problems with bears is a shared responsibilitybetween the citizens of Virginia and the Virginia Departmentof Game and Inland Fisheries. Always remember that a bearis a wild animal, and that it is detrimental to the bear, as wellas illegal in Virginia, to feed a bear under any circumstances.Feeding bears may cause them to lose their natural distrustof humans, creating situations where bears may becomehabituated and sometimes aggressive towards people. Thus,human and bear safety is the responsibility of all residents ofthe state.
You can help manage the Commonwealth’s black bearpopulation and Keep Bears Wild. Make sure your propertyis clear of attractants, communicate with your neighbors toresolve community bear concerns, and learn about bears,one of the most amazing, intelligent wildlife species inVirginia. If you visit outdoor recreation areas in bear coun-try, insist that the area supervisors manage their trash prop-erly. If you experience a bear problem after taking appropri-ate steps of prevention, please call the new Wildlife ConflictHelpline at 855/571-9003.
Living with Bears in Virginia,”” a video produced by theVirginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, is avail-able on the Department’s website and provides tips forpeacefully coexisting with bears. Visitwww.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/bear to view the video, printa brochure, read more about bears in Virginia, and viewother useful links to bear information.
Persons 60 years of ageand older can now applyfor the 2014 SeniorFarmers Market NutritionProgram, MountainEmpire Older Citizensannounced.
MEOC will soon begiven a limited number ofbooks of checks to distrib-ute to eligible residents ofWise County and NortonCity. Checks worth $40will be distributed on afirst come, first serve basisand can be used at areafarmers markets beginningJuly 1 through the close ofthe markets.
This program is
designed to improve nutri-tion of senior citizenswhile also helping localfarmers to sell their locallygrown fruits, vegetablesandfreshly cut herbs.Markets are located inNorton, Wise, Big StoneGap and Saint Paul.
MEOC wants to makesure that all wishing andeligible to participate havethe opportunity to do so.The application process,done by telephone or inperson at MEOC, takes nomore than 2 minutes tocomplete.
Each person enrolled inthis program will receive
one book of checks worth$40. Each eligible personwithin a household is eli-gible to receive one bookof checks. The checkbooks contain eight $5checks that seniors canspend like cash to pur-chase fresh fruits, vegeta-bles, and herbs from farm-ers who have been pre-approved by the VirginiaDepartment of Agricultureand Consumer Services.
To be eligible, onemust:
• be 60 years of age orolder,
• live in Wise Countyor the city of Norton, and
• have an income equalto or below 150 percent ofpoverty (for one individ-ual the income limit is$1,459 a month, for twoindividuals the incomelimit is $1,966 a month).
To apply by telephone,or to get more informa-tion, call MEOC at276/523-4202 or 1-800-252-6362. The applicationis simple and takes nomore than 2 minutes tocomplete.
Mountain EmpireOlder Citizens is an equalopportunity provider.
Page A4 Thursday, April 24, 2014 The Post Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Area Deaths
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JAMES M. GILLEYJames M. Gilley, son of the late I. Tilden Gilley and
Addie Gilley of Big Stone Gap, has passed away inLynchburg at the age of 103.
Jim was a 1927 graduate of Big Stone Gap HighSchool as well as a 1932 graduate of The College ofWilliam & Mary, Williamsburg.
He is survived by his son, James M. Gilley III of PalmBeach Gardens, Fla.; his daughter, Martha Da Gilley ofAsheville, N.C.; his grandson, James Madison Mangoldof Sacramento, Calif.; his niece, Ann Gilley Harris ofBristol; his nephew, John Gilley of Tucson, Ariz., andtheir families.
Mr. Gilley was born in Keokee and grew up in BigStone Gap.
He became both a certified public accountant and anattorney at law. He served in the U.S. Navy during WorldWar II in Oran, Algeria and retired as a captain from theU.S. Naval Reserves. He retired as vice president andgeneral manager from Burruss Land and Lumber Co. ofLynchburg.
His and his wife’s remains will rest at GlencoeCemetery in Big Stone Gap.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the GilleyFamily Scholarship Fund at Mountain EmpireCommunity College, 3441 Mountain Empire Road, BigStone Gap, Va. 24219.
Holding Funeral Home was in charge of local arrange-ments.
Ways to avoid attracting bears
Cantrell, Cantrell, Caruso honored Three well-known local women received the Wise
County/Norton Chamber of Commerce’s top annualawards for service.
Awards were presented Saturday night during thechamber’s 60th annual gala and silent auction, attendedby about 200 people at the Holiday Inn, Norton.
CITIZENNamed Outstanding Citizen of the Year was
Norton’s Barbara Caruso. The award has been present-ed annually since 1956.
Caruso and her husband J.T. have two sons, Anthonyand Mark, and one daughter, Mary, along with fivegranddaughters.
Caruso worked for Old Dominion Power Co. for 25years and has served on the Norton IndustrialDevelopment Authority for 10 years. She is a memberof the Social and Renovation Committee at St.Anthony’s Catholic Church and was a leader in thedesigning and effort to build Norton’s Veteran’sMemorial Park.
Caruso volunteered for many years with theVirginia-Kentucky District Fair and was one of twoorganizers of its Miss Lonesome Pine pageant. She alsohas been involved with the Miss Norton pageant.
Caruso has been part of the Norton Kiwanis Club formore than 20 years, including service on the Board ofDirectors and as president in 2013. She has been amember of the St. Mary’s Hospital/Mountain ViewRegional Medical Center Auxiliary for many years andhas served in many offices, but her passion is the giftshop. Caruso was recently named the VirginiaAssociation of Healthcare Auxiliaries and Volunteers’Southwest District Volunteer of the Year.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICEIn 1988, the chamber expanded the awards program
to include persons who have made outstanding contri-butions to the betterment of the county in their ownright and also for persons or groups who have portrayedexcellence in their vocation. This year’s award was pre-sented to Dr. Eleanor Sue Cantrell.
Cantrell, or Sue as she is called by her friends, is thedirector of the Lenowisco Health District.
Cantrell’s professional interests have focused onchronic disease prevention and treatment, access todental care, mental health/substance abuse issues andpublic health.
Cantrell’s dedication to improving local residents’
health has led her to dedicate many hours of personaltime to area projects. She was instrumental in providingthe first regional telemedicine clinics, and has workedon promotion of healthy eating and physical activity,partnering with schools to provide resources for educa-tion, equipment and training.
Cantrell has served as a primary medical contact andplanning team member for the annual Remote AreaMedical clinic; developed the original software for afree or reduced-cost prescription medication program;has advocated on health issues in Richmond; assisted increating a model plan for small community wastewaterdisposal; and written grants to enhance infrastructurethat provides free exercise options in communities.
Cantrell is a former dean of the Appalachian Collegeof Pharmacy, medical director of the HealthyAppalachia Institute, and involved with One Care ofSouthwest Virginia, Southwest Virginia HealthAuthority, Virginia Health Workforce DevelopmentAuthority, Mountain Empire Older Citizens andVirginia Medicaid Pharmacy & TherapeuticsCommittee. She is an elder at Gladeville PresbyterianChurch.
PRESIDENT’S AWARDIn 1996, the President’s Award was added to the
awards program, and is given solely at the discretion ofthe current chamber president. This year’s award wentto Carmen Cantrell, who lives in Norton with husbandByron and has two daughters, Lindsey and Caitlin.
Cantrell has been active in the Clinch Coalition as apast board member, which has involved trail work,organizing the yearly naturalist rally and advocating forthe High Knob area. She has been active in the NortonFriends & Farmers Market from the start and has beenthe market manager for several years. Last year themarket raised funds and received grant money thathelped bring more than 900 children to the market tolearn about homegrown food and better nutrition.
Cantrell has been involved in the planning of EarthDay for Norton, is a past executive director of theCharles Harris Library Gallery and served on the HighKnob tower committee.
She was a 2011 Roosevelt-Ashe SocietyConservation Awards finalist for outstanding volunteer.
Cantrell is also a past president of the Green ThumbGarden Club of Norton, serves on the Best FriendFestival committee and has painted several murals forNorton Christian Church.
Seniors can apply for market checks
Big Stone Gap, Virginia The Post Thursday, April 24, 2014 Page A5
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION
Williams Chapel AME ZionBig Stone Gap
APOSTOLIC
Apostolic-Jesus ChristBig Stone Gap
First Apostolic FaithAppalachia
Norton Apostolic PentecostalEast Park Ave (old Juste Music Building)Norton * 679-5373Pastor: Donnie CulbertsonSunday Services: 10:30am
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
New Hope Assembly of God1405 First Ave. E. * 523-3392Pastor Rick C. WhittenSun. School 9:30amSun. Worship 10:30am, 6:00pm
BAPTIST
Appalachia First BaptistAppalachia
First BaptistBig Stone Gap
Macedonia BaptistAppalachia
Oak Grove BaptistBig Stone Gap
Sovereign Grace Bible ChurchEast Stone Gap
BAPTIST - FREE WILL
Cedar Ridge Freewill BaptistBig Stone Gap
BAPTIST - INDEPENDENT
Charity BaptistWise * 328-8181Pastor: Larry OwensSunday School: 9:45amSunday Worship: 11:00am, 6:00pmWednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm
West End BaptistBig Stone Gap
BAPTIST - SOUTHERN
Artesian BaptistBig Stone Gap
East Stone Gap BaptistBig Stone Gap
First BaptistAppalachia
First BaptistBig Stone Gap
Nash's Chapel BaptistWise
CATHOLIC
Sacred Heart CatholicBig Stone Gap
CHRISTIAN
First Christian ChurchAppalachia
CHURCH OF GOD
Bethesda Church of GodBig Stone Gap
Heritage Church of GodBig Stone Gap
Keokee Church of GodKeokee
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsBig Stone Gap
EPISCOPAL
Christ EpiscopalBig Stone Gap
HOLINESS
Full Gospel Church of GodEast Stone Gap
The Holiness Church-God in JesusBig Stone Gap
LUTHERAN - ELCA
Christ Lutheran Church120 West Main Street,Wise * 328-1111Lay Pastor: Michael SamerdykeSunday School: 10 amSunday Worship: 11 am
METHODIST
Derby MethodistAppalachia
METHODIST - UNITED
Appalachia United MethodistAppalachia
East Stone Gap United MethodistEast Stone Gap * 523-3760Pastor: Ric WrightSunday School: 10:00amSunday Worship: 11:00am, 7:00pm
Trinity United MethodistBig Stone Gap
NON-DENOMINATIONAL
David's Tabernacle ChurchAppalachia
Esserville ChurchPastor Travis Sturgill * 679-5548Sun. School 10 amWorship/Kidz Zone/Comfort Zone 11amWed. Bible Study 7pmwww.esservillechurch.org
Haven of Praise MinistriesAppalachia
Spirit and Truth Worship CenterBig Stone Gap
The CaveNorton * 393-2967PASTOR: Jimmy MitchellSunday Service: 11 amTuesday Service: 7 pm
Thee ChurchAppalachia
OTHER
Cornerstone House of PrayerBig Stone Gap
Faith Hope UnitedBig Stone Gap
Faith Rock ChurchBig Stone Gap
PENTECOSTAL
Appalachia PentecostalAppalachia
Christian LifeBig Stone Gap
God's New Harvest PraiseBig Stone Gap
PRESBYTERIAN
Big Stone Gap PresbyterianBig Stone Gap
Norton Presbyterian Church Norton
Powell Valley PresbyterianBig Stone Gap
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
Powell Valley Seventh Day AdventistBig Stone Gap
Johnson HardwareSales & Repair Of Outdoor Equipment
2416 4th Ave. E • Big Stone Gap 276-523-2157
Convenient In Store Financing Lowest Price Guarantee
FURNITURE • MATTRESSES • OUTDOOR FURNITURE
Off Rt. 23 Bypass Next To K-Mart • 679-6779
FAMILY DRUG INC.“We’ve got your formula”Greg Large
Autumn WellsPHARMACISTS
Powell Valley Medical ComplexHighway # 1000, Big Stone Gap, Va.
523-1713
Drs. Botts & Botts Optometrists P.C. • Big Stone Gap, VA
Big Stone Gap608 Powell Ave.(276) 523-4414
Pennington Gap535 W. Morgan Ave.
(276) 546-2113
OptometristDr. Robert E. Botts
14 E. 27th St., N.
Big Stone Gap, VA
This directory is made possible by these businesses
who encourage all of us to attend worship services
East F i f th St reet • B ig Stone Gap
5 2 3 - 4 6 6 7
Visit the
Faith &
Worship
Directory
Online
www.coalfield.com
FREEDELIVERYCall for details • 565-3434205 Kilbourne Ave. | Next to Payless
cpCORNERSTONE
PHARMACY
Pharmacist Dwight Jessee, Pharm. D.
Drive-ThruInternet Refills
www.refillrx.com
Automatic Refills
Contact a Church Representative by phone at 800-293-4709 or email at [email protected] to update your church ad orobtain information about listing your church information on the “Faith & Worship Directory”
Acts 4:10-12
R.J. ROSEFIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, COEBURN
My father carefully studied theman sitting next to him with vaguerecognition. Surely he’d seen himbefore. Reaching far back into hismemory he suddenly recalled thelast time they had met about sixtyyears prior.
The man had yet to speak so Dadbroke the ice, “Do you rememberthe last time we saw each other?”
“Yes, I do,” the man repliedcoolly.
Turning his head and lookingdad square in the eye he challenged“Do you wanna fight?”
Dad bristled, “No, do you?”“Nope,” the man then cracked a
smile, “I think I’m getting too oldfor that.”
“Me too,” dad replied as the bothlaughed.
They spent time fondly reminisc-ing about the fight they had imme-diately following their service inWorld War II.
“It was a good fight,” the manremarked, as they rememberedwrestling in the muddy street, “Butit ruined my brand new suit ofclothes.” They laughed again.
Now, sixty years later, in theireighties, they could remember thefight but couldn’t remember thereason for it. After all these yearswhat seemed important enough tobeat each other to a pulp when theywere in the twenties was absolutelymeaningless in their eighties. Had itbeen significant they would haveremembered.
How many fights start oversomething that, given time,becomes insignificant? In amoment of passion the fate of theworld seems to hang in the balanceand we must win the fight at allcosts. But in the aftermath the vic-tory is often hollow. The damageinflicted in the battle is rarely worththe spoils of war. The insignificantissue destroyed a relationship,broke a marriage, or betrayed atrust. With remorse we realize toolate that the issue wasn’t worthfighting for.
Proverbs 15:18 states “A wrath-ful man stirreth up strife: but hethat is slow to anger appeasethstrife.” Would you be characterizedas wrathful or slow to anger? Beingslow to anger will save you frommany regrets over the damage donein conflict over the trivial mattersthat once seemed significant. If youhave trouble with anger, then Iencourage you to slow down, taketen, and think before speaking.Holding your tongue may save arelationship.
What about when you’re the oneunder attack? Once again it’s easyto quickly fight back with anger,but Proverbs 15:1 states “A softanswer turneth away wrath: butgrievous words stir up anger.”What’s more important? Winningthe fight or saving the relationship?You can fight back with sharpwords and win the battle, or youcan save the relationship with theright words. Later you may be gladthat you chose the relationship overthe victory.
Is it worth the fight?
523-1141
PostThe
Local nativemurdered inVirginia Beach
A man who grew up in WiseCounty and attended localschools was killed Monday,April 14 while working at theVirginia Beach pharmacy heowned.
Pharmacist David Kilgore,46, was allegedly shot andkilled by a man who demandeddrugs from him, according toreports published in theVirginian-Pilot newspaper ofNorfolk.
Kilgore graduated fromCoeburn High School in 1985and attended what was thenClinch Valley College, accord-ing to his obituary. He complet-ed his pharmacy training at theMedical College of Virginia in1990, and worked at Rite AidPharmacy in St. Paul for sever-
al years.Kilgore and his wife Lynne,
also a local native and a phar-macist, moved to VirginiaBeach in 2001, the Pilot report-ed. In 2010, he opened David’sBeach Pharmacy, where hegained a reputation for a friend-ly manner and personal serviceto his pharmacy customers,according to the newspaper.
Along with his wife, Kilgoreis survived by a daughter,Ashley, and son Andrew; par-ents David and Idamae Kilgore;sister Roni Kilgore and her hus-band Tony Carty; grandfatherBennett Kilgore; siblings-in-law Dora Long, Michael Longand Kevin and Lori Lambert;and several nieces andnephews.
Student detained for alleged threatBY KATIE DUNN
STAFF WRITER
A Central High School stu-dent was detained Tuesday,April 15 by school officialsafter allegedly making a threatagainst the school onFacebook.
Sgt. Duane Phillips withthe Wise County Sheriff’sOffice Criminal InvestigationsDivision said in an interviewlast Thursday that a parent sawthe Facebook post and notifiedthe school. The school’sresource officer viewed thepost, identified the student andtook the individual into cus-tody.
Since the student is aminor, Phillips said the indi-vidual’s name, age, genderand grade level are not beingreleased at this time.
Superintendent Jeff Perrysaid Thursday the postinvolved threatening com-
ments toward the school andindividuals within the school.“That student has been disci-plined by the school and thereis also going to likely be con-sequences by the law enforce-ment agency because of thekind of threatening com-ments.”
He noted that school offi-cials do not believe there is“any immediate or even long-term threat” to Central stu-dents since the situation wasswiftly handled. He added thatthe school was not placed onlockdown following the inci-dent since the student hadalready been identified anddetained.
“There are going to bemajor consequences, and thisextends well beyond theschool, for people posting(this type) information onsocial media,” he said.“Everyone needs to beextremely careful not to let a
moment of frustration or angerallow you to place somethingon a public page because thatinformation, once it’sreleased, is no longer privatethoughts, but can then actuallybe considered crimes againstthe community.”
He also said when schoolofficials become aware ofthese scenarios, they takethem seriously. “We attemptto evaluate the immediateand long-term effects andsafety impacts to our kidsand then we take the neces-sary steps,” he said. “I thinkoften we probably respond tosome marginal issues but wedo that to make sure thatwe’ve got the students’ safe-ty in mind.”
Asked whether theFacebook post was madewhile the student was onschool grounds, Perry andPhillips said they did notknow.
To the Editor:My name is Matthew McCarty. I teach
Dual Enrollment Western Civilization andother history courses at Union HighSchool in Big Stone Gap. I am writing toencourage everyone who lives in the town ofAppalachia to vote for Mr. Chase Christian for Appalachia town council.
Chase is an exceptional young person who has devoted his life to making Appalachiathe community it can be. He has focused his efforts on improving tourism opportunitieswithin Appalachia, he has worked with town business owners to improve opportunitiesfor business growth and employment, and he has engaged the town in continuingRailroad Days, which exhibits the proud history of Appalachia.
I would encourage you to vote for Chase and to remember that our young people will,if given the tools, take Wise County into a very positive and exciting future.
Matthew W. McCartyWise
Hughes thanks CD supporters
To the Editor:I am writing to personally thank all the residents of the region who recently donated
to the Empty Bottle String Band’s Kickstarter Campaign to produce our new album,“Travelin’ Man.” I am happy to report that we met and exceeded our fundraising goal andwe’re working around the clock to finish up the album’s production.
We have tentatively set the release date for early June and plan on having a big bashhere in town to celebrate (keep your eyes peeled for more information). Until then, wehope to see y’all at Gathering in the Gap on May 17!
As always I appreciate the tremendous amount of support from Big Stone for ourmusic. On behalf of the band, thank you to the many, many donors from Big Stone Gapand the surrounding area!
Tyler HughesJohnson City, Tenn.
OpinionThe Post
Thursday,April 24, 2014 A6
Walkathonan exercisefor the soul
BY GLENN GANNAWAYNEWS EDITOR
We’re all glad that the cold weather is behind us.Time, the great healer, takes away the sting of thosenasty days.
But with the Mountain Empire Older CitizensWalkathon approaching, we shouldn’t forget the hard-ships that an unusually rough winter brought on ourmost vulnerable citizens.
The 38th annual Walkathon is scheduled for Sunday,May 4 at Union High School. Participants will againtake on a 10K stroll, and they’ll all have smiles on theirfaces, because they’ll be stretching those legs and exer-cising those lungs in an extremely good cause.
The walk is a physical exercise. But it’s also a spiri-tual one, stretching our capacity to act selflessly onbehalf of the older generation, many of whom quietlyendure hardships that are ramped up substantially in thewinter.
MEOC’s Emergency Fuel Fund got a good workoutover the winter, responding to more than 1,600 emer-gency situations and spending more than $258,000 — arecord — to help the elderly.
As MEOC puts it in a letter to Walkathon partici-pants, “This winter has undoubtedly been one of theharshest winters that our region has experienced in avery long time, and MEOC has assisted many peoplewho have never before needed our assistance.”
Anyone who has spent any time in the counties ofLee, Scott and Wise doesn’t need an introduction to theWalkathon. Last year, about 275 people convened at theold Union High School: individuals and groups, allwith one goal. “This truly is a community event, andour community members and businesses continue tostep up each year to assist their older friends and neigh-bors,” MEOC Executive Director Michael Wamplersaid following the 37th renewal of the event.
With the 38th Walkathon right in front of us, manypeople are out collecting pledges, giving their time andenergy for the great good. Despite difficult economictimes, people throughout the region are gladly digginga little more deeply to help ensure the security of olderfolks who’ve already given a lifetime of commitment.
The Emergency Fuel Fund assists people age 60 andolder who face emergency home-heating situations dur-ing the winter months. The EFF is funded solely bydonations.
While I’m no longer a participant, I’ve been aroundlong enough to remember when the Walkathon washeld (as I recall) in the Hurricane section of Wise. Iremember the year we walked up a stretch of U.S. 23before the four-lane road was completed throughPowell Valley.
I also remember the first Sunday in May when afreak snowstorm hit, leaving me looking out the win-dows in wonder as about a foot of snow quickly piledup in the yard. The Walkathon, of course, was post-poned, as it is occasionally because of more typicalrainy weather.
That’s right, children: a snow storm in May. Thatwould have been in the late 1980s, when I was living inWise. Who knows? Maybe it was a reminder of therough months that make the Walkathon so important.
Emergency Fuel Fund donations, of course, aregladly accepted year round. They can be sent to MEOC,Attn: Emergency Fuel Fund, P.O. Box 888, Big StoneGap, Va. 24219.
We all should give what we can to one of the great-est community efforts in our region. The Walkathonbrings out the best in us, and the best of us: people wholove and respect our older generation.
BY H. MORGAN GRIFFITHNINTH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
Regularly in the news the last sev-eral months has been Russia, a nationwhich many Americans view asunfriendly or even an enemy of theUnited States.
Gabriela Baczynska wrote lastmonth for Reuters, “with theRussian Orthodox Church counting165 million people in its flock, itmay be (Russian PresidentVladimir) Putin’s best tool to pursuehis dream of reintegrating at leastpart of the former Soviet Union, thecollapse of which he once called‘the greatest geopolitical catastro-phe of the 20th century.’”
Baczynska reported that theRussian Foreign Ministry and thehead of the Russian Orthodox Churchin Moscow (Kirill, the “Patriarch ofMoscow and All Russia) “issued twinstatements on what they said wereattacks on revered historic monaster-ies in Kiev and Pochayiv, westernUkraine, warning of the risk that areligious conflict could ensue.”
She wrote, “Russia has used the
alleged threat to the worshippers ofthe Moscow-backed church in arguingit had the right to send in troops toUkraine to protect its nationals andRussian speakers.”
Of course, there are some from theChurch who criticize it and Russia’sgovernment. As written by NadieszdaKizenko in a September 2013 piece inthe Foreign Affairs publication,“devout Orthodox Christian journal-ists, academics, and political scientists— as well as free-thinking priests —are becoming increasingly assertive asalternative spokespeople for theirfaith. This burgeoning Orthodox intel-ligentsia is already posing a challengeto the conservative church hierarchyand, by extension, to Vladimir Putin’sregime.”
I can’t help but recall the story of ajourney reportedly taken by a RussianCommunist leader, Nikolai Bukharin,who had taken part in the Bolshevik
Revolution. As the story goes,Bukharin traveled from Moscow toKiev in order to address a large crowdof Communists on the subject of athe-ism. Following his remarks againstfaith, Bukharin looked at the audienceand asked if there were any questions.A man then approached, and hemounted the platform. Looking out atthe crowd assembled before him —despite Bukharin’s anti-faith remarksthat had preceded him — this secondman is said to have shouted, “Christ isrisen!” Those before him stood andshouted back, “He is risen indeed!”
This story involving NikolaiBukharin is told often. We have notfound a primary source historical ref-erence to it. However, I cannot imag-ine that this is a story that theCommunists would have ensured wasofficially recorded. But what a power-ful story it is! “He is risen indeed!”
As always, if you have concerns orcomments or wish to inquire aboutlegislative issues, feel free to contactmy Abingdon office at 276/525-1405.To reach my office via email, pleasevisit my website at www.morgangrif-fith.house.gov.
Russia uses church as a tool
WHAT’S NEW
P.O. Box 250, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219Telephone (276) 523-1141 Fax (276) 523-1175
EXECUTIVE EDITOR& PUBLISHER
Jenay [email protected]
NEWS EDITORGlenn Gannaway
OFFICE MANAGERMarilyn Young
CIRCULATIONBecky McElroy
COMMERCIAL PRINTINGBill Endean
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BY TINA DUPUYGUEST COMMENTATOR
Have you heard we livein an oligarchy? Perhapsyou’ve been told Americais a plutocracy? Is thatbecause of widespreaddemagogy?
Circumlocution: a bigword meaning usingunnecessarily lofty wordsto express an idea.
Welcome to the bafflingworld of liberal-speak.
Oligarchy, plutocracyand demagogy: The holytrinity of sesquipedalianpolysyllable liberal loqua-ciousness.
The language liberals,in particular, have chosento talk about elitism is,well, really snooty. Whenwe talk about a tiny frac-tion of people havingundue influence on ourpolitics — we use wordsbarely anyone under-stands.
Marinade in that irony.It’s like if we were broad-casting NASCAR only inLatin. Oligarchy? Thatsounds like a German cab-bage dish. Demagoguerysounds like a flourish insquare dancing. Plutocracysounds like we should justbe friends.
I write for a living andthese words make my eyesglaze over. And they’reused all time, often bywell-meaning liberal typesattempting to advocate forthe have-less in this nation.Case in point: PaulKrugman. His columns“Oligarchs and Money,”“Oligarchy, AmericanStyle” and “GraduatesVersus the Oligarchs” docover how economic poli-cies favor a fraction of 1percent of Americans, buthis go-to word is compre-hended by even fewer.
This week a Princetonstudy “Testing Theories ofAmerican Politics: Elites,Interest Groups, andAverage Citizens” wasreleased with stunningempirical data. It conclud-ed: “Multivariate analysisindicates that economicelites and organizedgroups representing busi-ness interests have sub-stantial independentimpacts on U.S. govern-ment policy, while averagecitizens and mass-basedinterest groups have littleor no independent influ-ence.” The left-wing of theinternet broke out in a rashof “Study: The U.S. is anOligarchy” headlines.
We’re not talking abouta credit card user agree-
MemoriesThe 1908 Stonega baseball team. Each coal camp had a baseball
team. First row from left are Ed Tate, Harold Ramsey, Ed Taylor andJoe Shuler; second row from left are Dell Sayers, Flan Gilley, WadeTate and Maddox; third row from left are Judge Gilley, unknown andRalph Taggart. Photo courtesy of Lonesome Pine School andHeritage Center. To share photos or information about this or previ-ous pictures, email News Editor Glenn Gannaway,[email protected], or send to The Post, P.O. Box 250, BigStone Gap, Va. 24219.
Christian ‘exceptional young person’
LETTERS
DUPUY
Say what youmean, liberals
BY WILL DURSTGUEST COMMENTATOR
You’d think Americanshave enough stuff to worryabout. Severe drought des-iccating a third of the coun-try. A political systemwhose major talent isdemonstrating stasis inaction. The rich using thepoor as fleshy paving stonesfor the road to mansions on
the hill. Ben Affleck asBatman.
But, guess what?Apparently we don’t haveenough stuff to worryabout, because now we’rerunning out of ways to killpeople. Legally, that is.
Accidentally and illegallywe’re doing just fine. Onemight even say it’s becomea robust and vigorous pur-suit.
I’m talking about carry-ing out the death penalty,although the word “penal-ty” always seems to crimi-nally understate the case.Over the years, civilizations
Kill the condemned creatively
DIRST
GRIFFITH
See DUPUY, Page A7See DURST, Page A7
have evolved in how to ridthemselves of their variousnefarious. They cycledthrough stoning, strangula-tion, beheading, death by1,000 cuts, hanging, firingsquad, guillotine, electricchair, before finally set-tling on poison, deemed themost humane. First the gaschamber and now, evenhumaner — lethal injec-tion. So humane, we swabthe injection point withalcohol, which is likerepainting the shuttersbefore burning down ahouse.
Problem is, the producerof the go-to lethal injectiondrug, Thiopental, stoppedmaking it. States haveturned to a different drugcalled Pentobarbital, butthe Danish manufacturerdidn’t enjoy being associ-ated with executions, andpulled the plug. Now, thestates’ Departments ofKilling People on Purposeare resorting to unreliableand possibly illegalsources, and refusing toreveal those methods;meaning for all we know,they could be shootinginmates up with Drano fla-vored Jell-O.
These punishments arebeing carried out on behalfof We the People: so Wethe People should have asay in the process. It’s the21st Century, for crum’ssake. Why not kill the con-
demned creatively? Film itfor pay-per-view. Strike adeal with Amazon Primeand make some coin on theback end. There’s tons ofways to end a miscreant’slife that would be a barrelof fun to watch and stillinsure justice gets done.
For instance, imaginethe merriment to be sharedif a convicted man wereforced to spend an entireevening in the company ofJoan Rivers. Death wouldnot only be instantaneous,it would be hilarious.
Or what if one of thesoon-to-be-deceased weredispatched to act as ChrisChristie’s pedicab driverwhen visiting AtlanticCity?
Perhaps a position couldbe arranged as VladimirPutin’s Ukrainian foodtaster.
Becoming BarackObama’s personal pollsterwould certainly drive anysane man mad.
Sentencing denizens ofdeath row to carry MichaelBloomberg’s ego might bean amusing spectacle. Orwould that be consideredcruel and unusual?
Assign one as solesalesmen at the only NewYork City based FootLocker to distribute thenext release of Air Jordanclassics.
Forced to endure anentire season on “DancingWith the Stars” as ChelseaHandler’s partner. Anexcruciating proposition.
Spend the Christmasseason in Times Square
dressed in the Disney char-acter costume of Iago from“Aladdin.”
I’ve got three words foryou, people: “CSI: Miami”binge-a-thon.
And finally, the statecould force the reprobate towear Google Glass intodive bars all over theMission District of SanFrancisco. And the beautyof it is: they function astheir own cameraman.
Will Durst is an award-winning, nationallyacclaimed political comic.
Big Stone Gap, Virginia The Post Thursday, April 24, 2014 Page A7
Spring Maintenance Tips For Your Home
GAP LUMBER1521 3rd Avenue, E., Big Stone Gap, VA
276-523-1080
Lumber • Paint • PlumbingElectrical • Building Materials
• Replace your furnace filter
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hoodand air filter
• Check your electrical system
• Always have a multi-purposefire extinguisher accessible.
• Make sure the light bulbs in allyour fixtures are the correctwattage
• Review your fire escape planwith your family
• Consider installing a lightningprotection system on your home
• Protect all your electricalappliances from power surgesand lightning
• Have a professional airconditioning contractor inspectand maintain your system asrecommended by themanufacturer
• Check for damage to your roof
• Run through a severe-weatherdrill with your family
• Repair all cracked, broken oruneven driveways and walks tohelp provide a level walkingsurface
• Protect your home from seweror drain back-up losses
• Check all the fascia and trim fordeterioration
• Check your water heater
• Check the shutoff valve at eachplumbing fixture to make surethey function
• Clean clothes dryer exhaustduct, damper, and space underthe dryer
• Replace all extension cords thathave become brittle, worn ordamaged
• Inspect and clean dust from thecovers of your smoke andcarbon monoxide alarms
Replace or Clean Your Furnace Filter
• It should be checked once a month and replaced or cleaned as needed.Some filters are reusable and are supposed to be taken out, washedwith a hose and re-inserted. A dirty filter can lower the efficiency ofthe heating/cooling system, increase heating costs and cause fires.
Clean The Kitchen Exhaust Hood and
Air Filter
• Keeping this clean of cooking grease will help keep a stovetop firefrom spreading.
Always Have a Multi-purpose Fire
Extinguisher Accessible
• Make sure it is Underwriters Laboratories (UL)listed or Factory Mutual (FM) approved.Check the gauges to make sure they arecharged and ready to use.
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ment; this is something the authors actually want peopleto understand. Then why are they using opaque language?It seems defeatist . . . even for liberals.
How about “Business Interests Trump AverageCitizens According to New Study” or “Ivy League SchoolStudy Concludes Wealthy Have Absolute Privilege.”
The words used to address populists concerns are inac-cessible because no one ever uses them in normal con-versation. Yes, policy-nerd-wonk-geeks, I said normalconversation. Like those you have with people workingfor a living who are affected by these circumstances.
If you put “plutocracy” into Google News searchyou’ll get a flood of liberal-leaning publications talkingabout the U.S. government. If no one can figure out whatwe’re saying, how can we expect to win the argument?Through demagogy? What does that even mean?!
In a LexisNexis search I find The New York Times hasused my liberal-speak holy trinity 842 times in the lasttwo years. The Washington Post: 581 times. In the lasttwo years this country’s major daily publications — TheNew York Times, Washington Post, AP, USA Today andWall Street Journal — have used the words oligarchy,plutocracy and demagogy nearly 2,000 times. Even if halfof those were talking about Russia and a quarter were justreferring to Paul Krugman columns, it’s still too much.
Liberals have a tendency to feel like since we have thefacts on our side we don’t have to explain ourselves. Nottrue. You can be correct and still not be understood.
The U.S. ranks below Nigeria in wealth distribution. In2011 the top 400 Americans “have more wealth than halfof all Americans combined.” Four hundred people ownhalf of everything there is to own. We’re not actually awealthy nation. We’re a nation with a high school gradu-ating class-size of wealthy people who own most every-thing.
And how can we talk about income inequality? Byoverusing 50-cent words? No. Stop the circumlocution.
Liberals, say what you mean.
Tina Dupuy is a nationally syndicated op-ed colum-nist, investigative journalist, award-winning writer,stand-up comic, on-air commentator and wedge issue fan.She can be reached at [email protected].
DupuyFrom Page A6
DurstFrom Page A6
PVNB announcesleadership change
L.C. (Sonny) Smith has resigned asCEO of Powell Valley National Bank,handing over the position to Leton L.Harding Jr.
Smith, who will remain president ofthe bank, has been with PVNB for 35years and served as CEO from 1991until April 1.
During his tenure the Bank hasgrown from $87 million in total assetsto over $245 million, expanded from 2offices to 5 full service locations andadded numerous new products andservices including most recentlymobile banking and investment servic-es.
The Board of Directors unanimouslyappointed Harding, currently the exec-utive vice president and chief opera-tions officer, to assume the position ofCEO. Harding has 37 total years ofbanking experience. He has been withPowell Valley National Bank sinceMarch 2012.
“I am deeply humbled and apprecia-tive of the faith placed in me by theboard and shareholders of PowellValley National Bank,” Harding said.“Sonny and I share the same beliefs,philosophies and commitments to ourcustomers and the communities weserve.”
Leton Harding Jr. Sonny Martin.
Wise Develop and itspartners will hostAerospace Days April 26-27 at Lonesome PineAirport.
The event begins at 10a.m. Saturday and is open tothe public of all ages.Official ceremonies beginat noon with VirginiaSecretary of TechnologyKaren Jackson and withactress Emerald Robinsonas master of ceremonies.Jackson will also launch thefirst rocket. Meterologistand WCYB-TV newsanchor Donnie Cox willprovide commentary.
Activities will resumeSunday at 10 a.m.
There will be rockets(large and small), remotecontrolled jets, helicoptersand octocopters in flight,day and night. Awards willbe presented to a team of
Wise County-Norton stu-dents and educators whorecently completed a sci-ence experiment flight tothe International SpaceStation launched fromWallops Island.
Virginia Tech andLiberty University willhave static displays atAerospace Days on April26.
The goal is to engage theyouth of Wise County, andthe coalfield region as awhole, in the idea that thereis a future in the region fordevelopment of remotecontrolled aircraft and theiruse.
The Sky-Tech RocketryTeam and a host of volun-teers are hosting radio con-trol (R/C) pilots at theLonesome Pine Airportfrom five states, Va. Tech,Liberty University, the
Mid-Atlantic AviationPartnership, and several pri-vate Unmanned AerialVehicle vendors, includingStone Blue Airlines to filma documentary of the event.
Hundreds of students,including Girl, Boy andCub Scouts from through-out the Appalachian
Mountains, are holdingworkshops this week tobuild their rockets to flyduring Aerospace Days.There will be low-poweryoung student launches andhigh-powered adult rocketlaunches. The FAA hasgranted clearance for rocketlaunches up to 1-mile alti-
tude. Wise Develop mentorJack Kennedy notes that theInternational Space Stationwill fly by Aerospace Dayson Friday at 8:41 p.m. forfour minutes coming fromthe northwest to southeast,and will appear again onSaturday at 9:28 p.m. forthree minutes from the west
to east. The Saturdayevening flyby will mark theAerospace Days fireworksdisplay.
Special guests includestate senators Bill Carricoand Phillip Puckett and Del.Terry Kilgore.
Admission to AerospaceDays is free.
Page A8 Thursday, April 24, 2014 The Post Big Stone Gap, Virginia
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Re-ElectNancy BaileyTown Council * Big Stone Gap
A V O T E F O R
E X P E R I E N C E
A N D
L E A D E R S H I P .
CONTINUING TO WORK HARD
FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
FOR BIG STONE GAP. Paid For By The Candidate
Ida Trigiani chosen for MECC hall of honorThe Mountain Empire Community
College Foundation will induct IdaBonicelli Trigiani into its hall of honorat the 2014 Spring Gala to be held oncampus at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10.
The 2014 gala theme is “Una BellaNotte,” the Italian phrase meaning “ABeautiful Night.” The evening willbegin with a reception in the SlempCommons of Phillips-Taylor Hall at 6p.m., followed by a buffet dinner in theGoodloe Center at 6:45 p.m.
Trigiani will be recognized for heryears of dedicated service on the MECCFoundation’s Gala Committee, as wellas her service to the community. Inrecognition of her work as a librarian atthe University of Notre Dame and hergreat love of books, proceeds from thegala will benefit the Ida BonicelliTrigiani Book Fund, a new endowedscholarship to assist students with thecost of purchasing books and othermaterials to support their classwork.
Trigiani has been an active memberof the cultural and business community
of Big Stone Gap for many years. Sheand her late husband Anthony wereamong the founders of the LonesomePine Community Concert Association,which brought world-class musical pro-gramming to the region for 25 years.
She is a member and past officer ofthe Dogwood Garden Club, achievingthe designation of master gardener. Shehas served as a flower show judge and asan officer in the Virginia Federation ofGarden Clubs.
She was also a member of the WiseCounty Clean Committee and ownedand operated two small businesses. Shehas served on numerous committees tobenefit the community. Fellow commit-tee members affirm she was a loyal anddedicated volunteer.
Trigiani is the daughter of Italianimmigrants, the mother of seven chil-dren, all of whom were educated in theWise County public schools, graduatingfrom Powell Valley High School. The
Trigiani family has long advocated afocus on education, particularly theopportunities offered by MECC andother colleges within the VirginiaCommunity College System. Trigiani’schildren noted that are pleased and hum-bled that the MECC Foundation haschosen to honor their mother in this way.
Gala tickets are $75 and may be pur-chased by calling Jeri Bledsoe at276/523-2400 ext. 287.
Donations to the Ida BonicelliTrigiani Book Fund may be mailed toMECC Foundation, 3441 MountainEmpire Road, Big Stone Gap, Va.24219.
Make checks payable to MECCFoundation and indicate in the memosection of the check Ida BonicelliTrigiani Book Fund.
For more information on the event,please visit the Mountain EmpireCommunity College Foundation websiteat www.meccfoundation.org.
The MECC Foundation willinduct Ida Trigiani into its hall ofhonor during the May 10 SpringGala.
Aerospace event begins Saturday
Mental healthdocumentary to be shown
Frontier Health is pre-senting “Hear Our Voices,”a documentary that showsthe struggles and achieve-ments of nine youth whohave a diagnosed mentalhealth disorder. The videodeveloped by TennesseeVoices for Children will beviewed from 7 to 9 p.m. onMay 1, 2014, at MountainEmpire CommunityCollege’s Goodloe Center.
The event is being heldby Frontier Health’sVirginia Child andAdolescent Services duringChildren’s Mental HealthWeek, May 4-10. Followingthe documentary, there willbe a discussion about thekey points in the stories,framed by some of thenation’s top mental healthcare experts who affirm thatchildren’s mental healthissues are real and treatable,occurring with muchgreater frequency than mostpeople imagine.
“Hear Our Voices”reveals the high cost societypays when young peoplewith mental health issues donot receive the help they
need. It discusses the chron-ic underfunding of the sys-tem and the resulting effectson children and their fami-lies. It touches on schooltragedies and their affect onschools.
But at its core, it is astory of the great resiliencyand resources young peopleshow when faced with sig-nificant challenges. Thedocumentary is motivatingand hopeful, much likeyoung people it highlights.The 91-minute documen-tary by David and PatriciaEarnhardt reveals that chil-dren need access to afford-able treatments and sup-ports to make a profounddifference in their lives.
Other events in thePlanning District One Childand Adolescent Servicesinclude a NationalFederation of Families forChildren’s Mental Healthposter contest for youngpeople called BuildingCircles of Wellness andawareness activities May 8at Frontier Health locationsin Lee, Wise and Scottcounties.
