Features

HILLSVILLE — Two sizable donations and the faith of Fuller Center for Housing members has built the foundation for the Carroll County’s organization’s second home project, says Oliver McBride.
A little more than a year after officials with the Fuller Center for Housing - Greater Carroll County Area turned over the keys for the first home to Krystal Rosier, the non-profit has a blueprint to find a second deserving family and raise a second house, McBride said last week.

It was a typical evening at her boyfriend Richard’s house when writing hobbyist and former Independence resident Melissa Caudill first got the idea for a short story.
“I was sitting there, and his cat got on my lap and was laying there in what looked like an uncomfortable position. [Richard] mentioned that the cat likes me, and I told him, ‘no, she’s just looking for a comfortable place.
“So he says, ‘That doesn’t look comfortable — that looks like love.’”

Elementary and middle school children meet up at the Galax Recreation Center’s fourth floor gymnasium after school for fun activities and homework help.

This year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in Galax was short but sweet, as guests who were filled with joy and hope shared inspirational stories of finding racial equality and defeating prejudice.
Several congregations have made a tradition of gathering at the Gospel Temple #2 church in the Oldtown community of West Galax, where they share stories of hope and strength with one another, and celebrate the holiday with songs and praise.

Twin County Regional Hospital recently welcomed the first baby of 2014.
Jaiden Ercely Sauceda, daughter of Jessica Shinault and Roger Sauceda of Galax, was the baby born closest to New Year’s Day, on Jan. 2 at 7:56 a.m. She weighed seven pounds, seven ounces and measured 20 inches long.  

Olen Quesenberry of Galax submitted this first-hand account of the last train to leave the city in 1985 before the rails were taken up, along with his photos of the trip.

Kathy Gruhn of Galax had the opportunity to meet and pitch a book to Oprah Winfrey this summer.
Gruhn wrote a child development program called “My Baby Compass,” which helps parents know if their child is on target for development, and shares methods on how to develop learning skills. The program is for children ages birth through seven years old.

Chief David C. Hankley of the Galax Volunteer Fire Department submitted this letter to The Gazette about the Community Christmas Food Fund, which the department took on as a project this year:

On behalf of the Galax Fire Department and Y’s Men Club, I want to thank our community for the great support that we received for the Community Christmas Food Fund.
On Dec. 19, we had over 200 people swarm the fire station to pack the food boxes. Because each of the 550 families will receive two boxes, there were actually 1,100 boxes to pack.

The City of Galax’s annual parade and community tree lighting ceremony kicks off the Christmas season on Friday, followed by three parades and other holiday events on Saturday in Hillsville, Independence and Fries.
The Galax Christmas Parade will be begin at Police Square on North Main Street in downtown Galax this Friday night. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with Christmas music, followed by the lighting of the tree at 6:30 p.m.
The parade, which travels south down Main Street, will follow at 7 p.m.

Hillsville