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Features

  •
    Citizens unite to support police

    Between 75 and 100 people gathered in the Galax Police Department courtyard on Friday to honor the work of local police officers.

    Led by Travis Haynes of Galax, a firefighter with the Galax Fire Department, the brief, informal ceremony included a few words from Haynes, a prayer led by the Rev. Tom Whartenby and a laying of hands on the police station.

    Members of the fire department were also present and wearing their uniforms as a sign of respect.

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    Joy Ranch's annual '...

    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.

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    Firefighters provide backup for...

    “Fairytale romance” and “at no additional cost to taxpayers” are not phrases one expects to ever hear combined, but a Galax Wells Fargo employee recently found out they can go together beautifully.

    Holly Isaacs was working in her office at the Main Street branch on Aug. 19 when Galax Fire Department Capt. Mike Ayers came in, dressed in full firefighter gear.

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    3-day event will benefit Allen House

    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.

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    Sunday at the Fair

    HILLSVILLE — The final day of the Carroll County Fair featured wrestling, carnival rides, caramel corn, equestrian events and ice cream made on the spot with super-cooled nitrogen.

    Throughout the week, the fair at the Southwest Virginia Farmers’ Market held contests for everything from fruits and vegetables to photos and quilts, and the winners were on display for all to see.

    The market’s festivities aren’t over — in October, it will host the Carroll Pumpkin Festival, with more family fun and food.

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    Miss Carroll County Fair 2015

    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:

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    Ag Day at the Carroll Fair

    By SARA BLANKENSHIP, Staff

    Around 800 students from the Twin Counties participated in the Carroll County Agriculture Fair Ag Education Days Tuesday through Thursday.

    The students rotated between multiple stations learning about a range of topics at the Southwest Virginia Farmers’ Market. The various presenters gave engaging and fact-filled information to the students about recycling, beekeeping, soil and water conservation, lawnmower safety and cotton manufacturing.

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    Wine & Brew Festival set for...

    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.

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    Therapist's huggable dolls...

    Janet Tompkins, a local speech therapist and founder of SpeechPath Tools — an organization for developments in senior-to-caregiver communication — has recently introduced a new product line with a personality all its own.

    “My Comfort Companions,” a series of personalized dolls (and a stuffed beagle for the male geriatric population), are now available for patients and caregivers who are in search of the perfect gift for loved ones suffering from the devastating effects of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease.

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    10th annual Carroll fair begins Aug...

    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.

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    Comic-con a super success

    Saturday was the first-ever Khan-Con, held at the Hillsville VFW Post 1115.

    The comic book and pop culture convention was complete with card and roleplaying games, comic artists, a costume contest and vendors selling everything from masks to comic books to jewelry to Christmas ornaments.

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    Church group goes on mission of...

    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.

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    Galax skating rink still rolling...

    Kids cruise past on skates, some rented from Galax Rollerland and some brought from home with touches like violet lights or flashy laces.

    Some are on their own; some are very young and skate while holding a parent’s hand. Overhead, the sound system blasts Elvis singing “Put Your Hand In the Hand.”

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    Conventional Wisdom: Comic-Con 101

    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.

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    Chaplains comfort victims, first...

    When tragedy strikes a community, it leaves a mark that can’t be seen.

    The pictures of tragedy are all unique, but whether the scene is a house fire, an interstate crash, a community ravaged by a flood or tornado or a search for a missing child, numerous lives are exposed to emotional, spiritual and even physical stress as a result. Not only are victims impacted by the devastation, but also the community around them, and even first responders feel the ache of tragedy long after the fires are put out, the accidents are cleared, and the storms pass.

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    Stuffed with love: sewing group...

    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.”

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    Festival toasts area's best...

    Staff Reports

    The third annual Galax Rhythm, Brews & Vine Festival will be held on W. Grayson Street in downtown Galax on Saturday from 2-8 p.m.

    The festival will feature two bands, two vineyards and 18 breweries, and is sponsored by

    Blue Ridge Tire & Automotive, Creek Bottom Brewing, Galax Downtown Association, Macado’s and Chances Creek RV Center.

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    Chili 'shootout' aims to...

    HILLSVILLE — If meat-based cooking competitions and beer gardens make your mind immediately go to Galax’s barbecue contest, the Friends of Hillsville (FoH) might soon change your mind.

    They’re planning the very first Historic Hillsville’s Chili Shootout, a cookoff sanctioned by the International Chili Society (ICS).

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    State park celebrates golden...

    On July 11, Grayson Highlands celebrated the 50th anniversary of being open to the public since its establishment in 1965.

    There were more than 1,300 visitors in attendance, many of whom were locals, but some came from as far away as Germany, according to a Virginia State Parks news release.

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    Grayson Relay for Life raises $19,...

    FRIES — Although this year’s headcount for the Grayson County Relay for Life was small, the participants’ efforts were reflected in both their attitudes and the impressive amount of donations that were raised (almost $19,000) for the continuing fight against cancer.

    According to Dreama Underwood, the event chair for the relay, four teams raised a total of $18,893.76, as of last Friday. Money was still coming in this week.