Features

Hillsville’s Grover King VFW Post #1115 honored local service men and women on 9/11 at the Veteran’s Memorial.

In attendance were members of Carroll County Fire and Rescue, Hillsville Volunteer Fire Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and Hillsville Police Department. “We cannot thank you enough; be heartfelt enough,” stated Don Dobbins, past post commander, current member of the VFW and coordinator/speaker for this event.

WOODLAWN — JoyFest, taking place Sept. 12, is the annual “friend raiser” at Joy Ranch, an open house celebration when the Christian home for children in Woodlawn welcomes the public to its 62-acre campus on 813 Joy Ranch Road.

Founded in 1961 by Richard and Mary McHenry, the faith-based, non-sectarian, donor-supported ministry has been home to more than 5,000 children in crisis situations.

CANA – The Carroll County Historical Society and Levering Orchard are joining forces to host a benefit event over the Labor Day weekend for restoration of the J. Sidna Allen House.

The benefit will take place over three nights — Sept. 4, 5 and 6 — at the Cherry Orchard Theater on the grounds of Levering Orchard. The event will feature old-time and bluegrass bands and music themed around the 1912 Courthouse Tragedy.

HILLSVILLE – Girls of all ages strutted their stuff in ruffles and rhinestones at the Miss Carroll County Fair pageant last Thursday night.

The pageant, open to girls from birth to 19 years of age and residents of Carroll and adjoining counties, had more than 60 participants. The girls were divided into nine age groups and were eligible to enter an optional photogenic contest for each group.

Derrick Davis hosted this year’s pageant, with assistance from his son, Coleman.

Winners included:

INDEPENDENCE — The Grayson Wine and Brew Festival, scheduled for Aug. 29 at the Historic 1908 Courthouse in Independence, will feature a lineup of local wines and craft beer this year.

The festival begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, on the lawn of the Historic 1908 Courthouse, rain or shine. Admission is $15 per person and the price includes an etched wine glass.

HILLSVILLE — The Carroll County Agricultural Fair is Aug. 26-30 this year, and there are plenty of events scheduled to keep the entire community busy.

This year, the fair committee has set a daily, one-price gate entrance fee that includes all of the scheduled events. Guests ages 13 and up will pay $5, tickets for children ages 6-12 are $3 and children 5 and under are admitted free.

Gate admission will cover all fair-sponsored events, including unlimited carnival rides.

SOMOTILLO, Nicaragua — A local ministry recently made a trip to lend assistance to and spread messages of love and hope to families in Nicaragua.

Since 2007, Cornerstone Community Church in Galax has partnered with Because We Care Ministries, and has made 13 trips to the remote northern part of Nicaragua, with more than 100 volunteer missionaries from the Twin Counties.

HILLSVILLE — On Saturday, The Hillsville VFW will play host to the first-ever Khan-Con: a day-long convention featuring sci-fi, comics, games, fantasy, zombies, superheroes and FX makeup.

Khan-Con is brought to the area by several local artists, writers, vendors and others with an appreciation of the realms of fiction and fun.

“My feeling is, if we have the talent, we should offer them a place to showcase their work and get them some more recognition,” said co-organizer David Guynn.

Mandy Archer and Grace Kirk are upstairs at Chestnut Creek School of the Arts, merrily sorting through a scrap box, trying to place out squares, strips and odd-shaped pieces of cloth left over from previous projects for further use.

“It’s my first night!” says Archer, picking through a handful of cloth. “I’m following Ms. Grace here, she’s my teacher.”

Kirk explains, holding up an irregular but good-sized scrap, “The little bitty ones are trash, but [Penney Klaproth] told us not to throw the other ones away.”