Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

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Voice Release pg.13 Gene’s Notebook Thank You,Vinton Volume I • Issue 2 September 2, 2009 Town Manager Chris Lawrence pg.04

description

September 2 edition of the Vinton Voice, featuring the official ribbon cutting of the Voice.

Transcript of Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

Page 1: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE

ASK THE PHARMACIST pg.14• TERRIER TALK pg.09 •BOOTIE’S PLACE pg.02

Voice Releasepg.13

Gene’s Notebook

SeptemberSports Schedules

SeptemberSports Schedules

September

SPECIAL CENTER PULLOUT

ASK THE PHARMACIST pg.14• TERRIER TALK pg.09 •BOOTIE’S PLACE pg.02

Thank You,Vinton

Volume I • Issue 2September 2, 2009

Town Manager Chris Lawrencepg.04

SeptemberSports Schedules

SeptemberSports Schedules

September

SPECIAL CENTER PULLOUT

SeptemberSports Schedules

SeptemberSports Schedules

September

SPECIAL CENTER PULLOUT

SeptemberSports Schedules

SeptemberSports Schedules

September

SPECIAL CENTER PULLOUT

SeptemberSports Schedules

SeptemberSports Schedules

September

SPECIAL CENTER PULLOUT

Page 2: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

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116 S.Poplar St. - Suite 1Vinton, VA 24179

540.904.5836 - Office540.904.5838 - Fax

Copyright @ 2009,All rights reserved by The Vinton Voice

email: [email protected]://vintonvoice.com

vintonvoice.blogspot.comFor advertising rates and information,

please call 540-904-5836

Chris Manning Publisher [email protected] Vance Editor-in-Chief [email protected] Manning Circulation Director [email protected]

EDITORIAL

COLUMNISTS

CONTRIBUTORS

Bootie Bell Chewning General Info [email protected] Russell Financial [email protected] E. Delauder-Brooks Pharmacy [email protected]

Gene Marrano Senior Contributor [email protected] Manning Special Contributor [email protected] Wensley Contributor [email protected] Monroe Contributor [email protected] Adams Contributor [email protected] Pedigo Dillon Contributor [email protected] Brooks Cover Photo Contributor Barry Brooks Photography

Bootie Bell [email protected]

Thanks to all for all the great compliments on last week’s paper. Keep telling your friends!It’s been a great summer for Carol (Mraz) and Gerald Simmons traveling to see her nephew

Jason Mraz in concerts. On July 25, they along with her brother Tom Mraz (Jason’s Dad) and Dianne (Stepmom,) Sharon Kirby (her Sister) attended the fi rst concert of the new Gratitude Cafe Tour in Columbia Maryland. He introduced his two favorite aunts from the stage. Of course they had backstage passes and dined with the band. According to Jason’s agent there were 11,000 people at that show. July 29th, they were Joined by Dal, Heather, Grayson, Katie, & Emily, Tom & Sharon. By this time Sharon had found out she had cancer. Jason dedicated a song to her at this concert in Cary N.C.. Again backstage and

tour bus VIP’S. Aug 4th- Visited with Lisa, Billy & Matt Whitfi eld in Natick, Mass. They all (plus Billy’s girlfriend Kayla) drove to Boston to the Bank of America Pavilion for Jason’s concert. This was the 3rd in 3 weeks. Carol said she thought about getting a T shirt saying “Favorite Aunt

Tour 2009”, but let Sharon have the honor since she is battling cancer. This time they didn’t have as much time with him due to his having to be in New York for other commitments & the TODAY SHOW.I saw the show and he was great. Who is Jason Mraz???? Well Jason’s “I’m Yours “ is the longest running song on Billboard’s Top 100” ever, and at 71 weeks it broke LeAnn Rhimes record of 69 weeks “How do I Live.” I would say he is a REALLY BIG STAR and is still going.

•See ‘BOOTIE’ - Page 15

• Dal Simmons and Jason Mraz (top), Katie and Jason (bottom)

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Who cares about content?

Introducing Gene Marrano

inONEminuteMARRANO

gene

•Favorite Movie:Speilberg’s Close Encounters of the

Third Kind. I want there to be visitors from other worlds in the worst way.

•Favorite Book:I’m into biographies for the most part ... presidents, politics, some

sports books.

•What do you do in your spare time? Write for other publications, host-produce radio/TV programs, watch baseball (see above), go to movies, spend time with kids, jog, hike and eat way too much

•Your ”Soundtrack” song (that best describes you?): The Boys of Summer by Don Henley. Kind of wistful, looking back, nostalgic. That’s what happens when you start piling up the years ... and the regrets in some cases.

•How has your hometown made you who you are? As an ex-New Yorker who also lived in Colorado for eight years, residing in the Roanoke Valley has allowed me to be a better person (folks are nicer here, so you have to be too), try different career paths and to still enjoy the mountains I did out west. A better quality of life - and the opportunity to be involved with a place like Vinton!

If you simply read the above headline, you can probably paint yourself quite confused right now. ‘What does it mean?’ ‘Who wouldn’t care about their paper’s content as a reader, writer or editor?’

And the only important answer to any and all of these questions is “The Vinton Voice cares about content.” Yes, I will personally make sure every week that we are that ‘pretty face’ with unique graphics and an appearance that is unlike your run-of-the-mill news weekly; but we will never be without substance. The thing that allows community publications like the Voice to thrive is the ability to bring different news and stories in a different way. People won’t want to pick up the Voice and read the same story they can read online or elsewhere. Instead, you all want original and enjoyable to read content. Which is why the Vinton Voice will be your primary source of a real look at Vinton– you care about content and we care about content.

Throughout the last week– by word of mouth, on the news and in the debut issue of the Voice, Publisher Chris Manning has emphasized the community aspect of this publication. He has also accentuated our maybe-a-little cheesy slogan “OUR voice is YOUR voice.” But cheesy or not, is it true? Of course it is.

The fact is this: myself and all of those who contribute to the Vinton Voice could make this publication without your voice. It wouldn’t be as good, it wouldn’t be as interesting and it wouldn’t solve the problem that Chris and myself set out to solve: to give Vintonites back what they are looking for in a community publication. We have done it with little things, like a Recipe of the

Week, and with big things, like addressing William Byrd’s eye opening baseball co-coach hiring. These are just two examples of things we have heard that people want to know about, so we made a point to deliver on.

The only way that we can do that is by hearing your voice, your feedback in both positive and negative forms. A community newspaper should have no other agenda than so serve the needs of the community. And this is a community that craves and cares about content.

We also want to make the simplest things even easier on you. Featured in this issue is a pullout center section that on one side lists an exciting array of Recreation League soccer and football schedules, and on the reverse showcases a calendar of all William Byrd High School and Middle School athletic events for the month of September. Need to know when a game is? Have a free evening and want to quench your entertainment thirst with local sport? It is quick and easy to fi nd here.

It is with great hope that each of you will enjoy this issue as much as you did our debut. Likewise, I hope that you will enjoy each future issue more than the last as we continue to bring you the content you want, not just the hype that goes with it.

Dan VanceEditor-in-Chief

not just the hype that goes with it.

What attracted you to the Vinton Voice?The opportunity to cover the Viinton area again, and a chance to work

with friend and ex-colleague Chris Manning

You are probably one of, if not the most well known writer in town, do you ever say “where has all my time gone?”

Yes, I do all the time. I savor what downtime I have and for now like being in on what’s going on. I feel like in some ways its my way to give back to the community. And thank God for coffee by the way.

How does it feel to make, essentially, your “return to Vinton?”Where’s the parade and fanfare? (LOL). Really, this is Chris Manning’s

gig, but it does feel good to be able to talk to Vintonites again, from Town Council members to kids attending Byrd.

What are your expectations of the Voice?That ‘we” deliver local news, community happenings and human

interest stories not seen elsewhere, features that make readers want to come back again week after week. Hopefully some will describe to help support this enterprise - and patronize advertisers seen in the Voice weekly.

Here is your open forum to talk to nearly everyone in town, what do you have to say?

Vinton is a unique place with untapped potential, and two other communities also covered by the Voice - Bonsack and Mount Pleasant - can be considered in the same light. But it all starts with the people - send us story ideas - like something you would like to see for example in my weekly Notebook. As Chris likes to say, this is your paper!

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Gene [email protected]

Young Town Manager has been plenty busy in fi rst year

At the tender age of 33, Chris Lawrence already has almost a full year under his belt as Vinton Town Manager. The Virginia Tech graduate, hired away from Blacksburg (where he was a planner) has fi nally moved to Vinton as well, settling in with his family just down the road from the municipal building. “I really feel at home now,” says Lawrence, who had been commuting to Blacksburg for many years from a residence in Roanoke’s Raleigh Court neighborhood.

“I know a lot more now, but I’m not any smarter,” says Lawrence with a chuckle about his tenure to date. “The good thing is there are a lot of really smart people that work here.” There are 90 full time employees in Vinton and a fi ve-member Town Council, headed up by Mayor Brad Grose. A large enough staff to get things done notes Lawrence, “but small enough so that you now everybody on a fi rst name basis. I’m [not] up in some ivory tower.”

It took the Town of Vinton and Town Council about eight months to fi nd a replacement for Kevin Boggess, who moved across the valley to Salem to become the City Manager there. They must be doing something right: another

Vinton Town Manager alum – Clay Goodman – is now Roanoke County Administrator after being lured back to the area from the same position in Montgomery County. Goodman replaced the now-retired Elmer Hodge …who lives in a subdivision just outside Vinton.

“The sense of community here is unmatched,” says Lawrence, noting that many outside the town’s actual boundary will also call themselves Vintonites.

A budget crunch fueled by ongoing recession, discussions on merging the town’s 911 dispatch center with Roanoke County’s (that could happen in January and Town Council may vote on it next month) and continuing discussions on what to do downtown (fi lling storefronts, the right business mix, etc.) have been on Lawrence’s busy radar screen. The budget has been “by, far, hands down,” his biggest concern, and putting a fi rst budget together turned into a bigger deal than he thought it would be.

The one positive: Vinton town departments now run leaner, with employees thinking extra hard about how they might spend money. Lawrence says it leaves the local government in a better, more effi cient position, poised for when tax revenues do turn around.

The long-standing issue of raising water and sewer rates to the point where they allow for the Town’s system to fund its repairs has been the subject of many council work sessions. Lawrence

says another rate increase can be expected by the beginning of the year. Public Works director Mike Kennedy has been working diligently on that project since he came to the town several years ago.

Bookings at the renovated and expanded War Memorial have been strong on the weekends, especially for weddings and other receptions, but business meeting traffi c during the week could be stronger says Lawrence. Of course the slowing business climate has meant many fi rms have cut back on outside meetings. The Vinton War Memorial is hampered in some ways from attracting out of towners for meetings and conventions because there is no hotel nearby – anywhere in Vinton - as noted by Lawrence.

The town’s public pool, slated for closure, is still a topic of discussion and any furor over the closing of the oft-vandalized

skateboard facility at Gearhart Park last fall has subsided, without the town reassembling it anywhere else.

His youthful approach has meant more social networking, with the inevitable Facebook page that now connects to more than 600 members. There is a link on the town’s website at vintonva.gov for those that want to sign up.

Lawrence (an undergraduate and master’s in public administration from Virginia Tech) says he doesn’t fret much about his youth and didn’t feel he had to try extra hard to win over town employees much older then him in some cases, because his background in Blacksburg gave him a solid foundation. “I got my feet wet [there]. I’m just myself [in Vinton]. Hopefully in some cases it breathes a little fresh air in to things.” (more from Vinton Town Manager Chris Lawrence in a future notebook)

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RECIPE of the WEEKby Ashlee Manning

SUMMERLIMECHICKENBREASTS

Trim fat from chicken breasts and pound to flatten slightly. Combine next 6 ingredients. Pour over chicken and marinate

for 1 hour. Grill or broil chicken for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Serve with rice.

4 boneless,skinless chicken breastsjuice of 3 limes

1 T parsley1/2 t freshly ground black pepper

1/3 C olive oil4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1/2 t salt

Submitted by Shelley Byrd of RoanokeSimple yet delicious appetizer!• 1 can croissant rolls• 1 8 oz block of any cheese (Havarti is my favorite!) Unroll croissant rolls. Lay out on baking sheet. Put block cheese in middle of uncooked croissant rolls. Wrap the croissant dough around the block of cheese to completely cover the cheese. Bake according to the directions on the croissant can.

Ifyouhavearecipeoratipyou’dliketoshare,[email protected]

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WILLIAM ARTHUR ST.CLAIR, 88, lifelong resident of Roanoke County, was called by his heavenly father on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at Berkshire after an extended illness.

He served in the Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1945 in the South Pacific Theatre, where he earned several medals, The American Victory Award and the World

War II Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. He retired in 1983 from Coca-Cola Bottling Company after 20 years of service. Prior to this, he worked in the machine room of Johnson-Carper Furniture Company.

Arthur was a lifelong member of VFW Post 484 and a member of Brookhill Baptist Church for over 60 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Susie W. St.Clair and also by a sister, Ruby St. Clair.

He is survived by a son, William R. (Ronnie) St.Clair and wife, Charlotte, of Bedford County; one granddaughter, Elizabeth (Beth) Vanover and husband, Kevin, of Concord, NC; one grandson, William C. (Bill) St.Clair and special friend, Heather Jacobson, of Roanoke; four great grandchildren, Hunter and Dustin Vanover and Isaac and Grace St.Clair; one sister, Laura Carter Bowles, Roanoke; one nephew, Russell L. Carter, Roanoke; and a very special friend, Ruby Brown, of Bedford County.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Brookhill Baptist Church Building Fund in remembrance of Arthur and Susie St.Clair, c/o Brookhill Baptist Church, 4725 Bandy Road, Roanoke, VA 24014.

Funeral services were conducted 2 p.m. Saturday, August 29, 2009 at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel with Dr. Gary Norris officiating. Burial followed in Barnhardt Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family received friends Friday, August 28, 2009 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel, 982-2221.

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Obituaries

MYRTLE MARIE LOONEY TOLLEY, 81, of Vinton, went to be with the Lord Sunday, August 30, 2009.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sandra; a son Paul; and her husband, Jimmy.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Connie Tolley, Roanoke; four daughters and sons-in-law, Bernice and Nelson Leftwich, Bedford, Pat and Jim Beeler, Roanoke, Bonnie and Don Smith, Vinton, and Tammy and William McPherson, Roanoke; a daughter-in-law, Pam Tolley, Roanoke; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one brother, Archie Looney, Roanoke; one brother-in-law and his wife, Charles and Edith Tolley, Roanoke; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved pet, Josie.

A funeral service will be conducted 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel with the Rev. Gary L. Butcher officiating. Burial will follow in Campbell Cemetery.The family received friends Tuesday, September 1, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel, 982-2221.

OPAL WOOD SNIDER, 89, of Roanoke went to be with the Lord Friday, August 28, 2009. Opal had been a resident at Richfield Retirement Center for nearly 5 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert G. Snider. She is survived by a brother-in-law, Bob Arthur, Roanoke; a niece, Cindy Minnick and husband Craig, Roanoke, and also, another niece and nephew. Graveside funeral services were be conducted 11 AM Tuesday, September 1, 2009 in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens with Pastor Allen Woodie officiating. The family received friends Monday, August 31, 2009 from 6 to 8 PM at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel (982-2221).

ELIZABTH LOUISE STEVENS BROWN, 87, of Vinton, Va., passed away on Monday August 24, 2009. She was born on December 2, 1921, to the Rev. Sam and Annie Stevens. She was a longtime member of the Vinton Church of the Brethren. She was preceded in death by her husband, George W. Brown, infant son, George Stevens Brown and sons-in-law, Wayne (Silo) Saunders and Donnie Hartsel. Surviving are a son, Gerald W. and Patty Brown, daughters JoAnn Hartsel, Jean and Bobby Morgan, Betty and Kenneth Bowles, and Bonnie and Milton Dowdy; grandchildren, Donna (Eric) Witt, Don (Jeanette) Hartsel, Craig (Robin) Hartsel, Allan (Sandy) Saunders, Eric (Jenny) Saunders, Dana (Rusty) Dishman, Teri Bowles, Todd (Casey) Bowles, Aaron (Faith) Dowdy, Chris (Emily) Dowdy, Katie Brown and Emily Brown; and 15 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers and sisters, Berkley Stevens, Duane Stevens, Kenny Stevens, Versal Stevens, Deedie Crawford, Hilda Bowyer and Carlie Woods; and a special friend, Emma Holdren. Special thanks to Good Samaritan Hospice. Flowers are appreciated or donations may be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 2408 Electric Rd, Roanoke, Va. 24018 or to the Alzheimer’s Association of Virginia, Blue Ridge Chapter. 2728 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, Va. 24015. The family received family and friends Thursday, August 27th at Lotz Funeral Home, Vinton Va. The Funeral was held at Lotz Vinton Chapel with the Rev. Chris Foster and the Rev. Paris Bain officiating. Burial followed in Stevens family cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at lotzfuneralhome.com.

SHIRLEY ANN PAGAN DOBSON, 72, of Athens, Tenn., and formerly of Franklin County, left the arms of this world right into the arms of Jesus, the one she has trusted as her Lord and Savior for many years on Friday, August 28, 2009. She was a daughter of the late James Greene Pagans and Nora Scott Pagans. She is survived by her husband, Troy Dobson; a daughter and a son-in-law, Rhonda Ann Reynolds and Gary Sanders, of Lenoir, N.C.; a son and daughter-in-law, Scott Lee and Toni Dobson, of Bradenton, Fla.; two grandsons, Troy and Trent Reynolds; four sisters, Helen Hannabass, of Vinton, Estelle Marshbanks, of Charlotte, N.C., Louise Hall, of Hardy and Betty Plyben, of Peachtree City, Ga. ; two brothers, Luther Pagans of Hardy and Nelson Pagans, of Vinton. Funeral services were conducted at 8 pm Tuesday, September 1, 2009, from the Lotz Vinton Chapel with the Rev J.J. Christman officiating. Committal service will be 10 am Wednesday at Oylers Chapel Cemetary. The family received friends at Lotz Funeral Home in Vinton prior to the service. The family suggest in lieu of flowers you may make donations to the charity of your choice. If you are unable to attend services or visitation you may make online condolences to lotzfuneralhome.com.

THOMAS EMANUEL SHORT, 94 of Bedford, passed away Friday, August 28, 2009. He was born April 10, 1915 to the late Emanuel Short and Nellie Shelton Short. He was a retired machinist from Roanoke Ice & Cold Storage after 56 years service. Thomas was predeceased by a stepson, Glenn Boothe, two brothers, Charlie Short and Henry Short, and two sisters, Mamie Payne and Stella Leffell. Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Vera Alls Short; a special stepson Mark Boothe; grandchildren, Christopher Poff, Robbie Poff and Glenn Ward; nephews, Phillip Leffell and wife, Alice, Donald Leffell and wife, Barbara and David Leffell and wife, Donna; and a very special friend, Roy Foutz. Graveside services were conducted Monday, August 31, 2009, from the Mountain View Cemetery with the Rev. Burrell Baker officiating. The family received friends Sunday, August 30 at the Lotz Vinton Chapel. The family would like to give special thanks to all staff at Bedford County Nursing Home for their love and care during his illness. Online condolences may be sent to lotzfuneralhome.com.

Book Club for AdultsVinton Book Club

Thursday (September 3), 2:30 pmWaiting by Ha Jin

Call for more information.

Teen Events Tween Scene

CD scrapbook craftThursday, September 17, 4:00 – 5:00 pm

Call for more information.

Teen Gaming @ Vinton Thursday, September 10, 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Call for more information.

Family EventMid-Week Movie Madness @ Vinton Wednesday, September 30, 4:00 pm

DVD movies shown on a large screen with surround sound system.

Monsters vs AliensMovies played on a large screen with

surround sound. Families Welcome! Free admission! Free freshly popped popcorn

too!!Call for more information.

Computer ClassesThe Library charges a non-refundable

registration fee of $10.00 per class.September 9

“Microsoft Word I”6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Call to register.

September 10 “Keyboard and Mouse”

9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Call to register.

September 16“Microsoft Word II”

6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Call to register.

September 17“Computer Basics”

9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Call to register.

Roanoke CountyPublic Library

September Events

VINTON LIBRARY800 E. Washington Ave.

540-857-5043

Want to advertise a yard sale? Car for Sale? Help wanted?

Help needed?

Utilize our Community “Voice Box,” our bulletin board for local individual

advertisements.For 20 dollars you’ll get enough

space to tell folks what you’re looking for (size of a business card.) Stop by the office to place your ad or

email to [email protected]

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Readers,follow uson FACEBOOKgo to facebook.com and search The Vinton Voice. Then follow along for breaking news and previews

Vinton native Abell has new bookPublished author, Kelly Abell is a native

of Vinton. She grew up here, attended Vinton Baptist Church and draws upon those experiences in her writing. She realized the achievement of her lifelong dream when she published her fi rst novel Sealed In Lies in May of 2009. Released by Hearts on Fire books, Sealed In Lies is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Her second book, Haunted Destiny, just released this month, is a chilling ghost story that will thrill adults and teens alike. Kelly started writing in William Byrd High School in Vinton, Virginia and was fi rst published in her school magazine called Sketches.

By day she is a Sales Consultant for a major insurance company and has a Master’s Degree in Adult Education. By night she is a writer of romantic suspense and paranormal novels. She now lives in Florida with her husband and two teenagers.“This has been a lifelong dream for me and I am thrilled to have my books out there being read by the public. It is so exciting when someone reads something you’ve written and it gives them joy.” It was not an easy road to travel though as Kelly suffered through many rejections along the way. Her advice for other authors is, “Remain true to your writing, be patient, and don’t stop submitting your work. Make sure it is as good as it possibly can be and then keep submitting. You never know when you will hit that agent or editor on the right day.”

Sealed In Lies is a thriller/romantic suspense full of sinister characters, a plot to assassinate the President-Elect of the United States, a SEAL team gone bad, and an “unlikely love between two people who fi nd themselves in very extraordinary circumstances.”

Haunted Destiny, released on August 3, is Abell’s most recent book. To learn more about Kelly Abell visit her website at www.kellyabellbooks.com. Her books are available for sale through many booksellers such as www.heartsonfi rebooks.com, www.amazon.com, www.fi ctionwise.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and www.coffeetimeromance.com.

Motorcycle Rally & Poker Run“Running with the Terriers”When:

Saturday, September 26, 20099:00 AM to 4:00 PM* Poker Run Registration begins at 9:

00 AM, last bike out by 11:00 AM.* Bike Show Registration 2:00 to 3:

00 PM* Classic Car Show Registration 11:00

AM to 12:00 Noon* All Prizes awarded at 4:00 PM

Where:William Byrd High SchoolWashington AvenueVinton, VA 24179

Donations:Poker Run: $15.00 per PersonBike Show: $5.00 per BikeClassic Car Show: $5.00 per Car

All proceeds from this event will benefi t the William Byrd High School Track & Field Program.

New War Memorial MonumentThe Vinton – Roanoke County Veterans

Monument honoring “those who serve and those who have served” is currently being built on the grounds of the Vinton War Memorial. The committee needs the public’s help to verify the names of Roanoke County and Vinton veterans who were killed in action during World War II and forward. The KIA veterans would have needed to be a Vinton or Roanoke County resident at the time of death. A special area within the monument will showcase the engraved names of those veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifi ce. Please contact Mary Beth Layman at (540)983-0613, [email protected] or Betty Kelly at (540)345-3342. For more information www.vrcveteransmonument.org

In BriefA Letter from Principal TurnerHi Chris,

I’ve completely read (and reread some parts) the fi rst issue of the Vinton Voice. FANTASTIC job my friend. You have assembled a great group of veteran writers and you are offering a unique and inspiring view of our community. Loved the baseball story too! The bat picture was cool. Thank you for including our school. It will be a great avenue for the community to remain involved with the greatest high school in southwest Virginia.

Dr. Richard A. TurnerPrincipal - William Byrd High School

Look who stopped by...

Photo by Chris Manning

Michael Altizer, Chairman of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, from the Vinton District, made a personal trip to the offi ce to pick up his copy of the debut issue of the Vinton Voice. Due to an overwhelming demand, you can fi nd a list of Voice distribution spots on page 18 of this issue. And remember that you too can stop by the Voice offi ce, at 116 S.Poplar Street, Suite 1, for your copy.

Thank you Vinton for your continued support in allowing us to share OUR

voice with you and you for sharing YOUR voice with us!Look for our next issue, all

overVinton

onSept. 9

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W.E. CUNDIFF ELEMENTARY

HERMAN L. HORN ELEMENTARY

Welcome Back William Byrd Middle School Faculty, Staff, and Students!

I hope everyone had a great summer of fun and relaxation. We were busy at WBMS this summer getting ready for the 2009-10 school year. WBMS hosted for the fi rst time, the Terrier Transition Program for rising sixth graders. We had 256 students on the fi rst day! The two-day program was a success, and the sixth graders proved that they were ready to begin middle school as they had a great fi rst week!

The seventh and eighth graders had a great fi rst week back to school as well. It was great to see familiar faces ready to take on new classes and activities. We wish everyone the best this year and look forward to reporting great things in the Byrd Call.

I would like to welcome the following to our Byrd family, including the RCCMS program. We are happy to have you here!Becky Rowe

RCCMS PrincipalLisa Caldwell

Intervention SpecialistKaren Coy

RCCMS English 7Kagan Crouch

RCCMS MathKaren Flanary

RCCMS ScienceNicholas Iademarco

RCCMS Social StudiesTracie Spradlin

RCCMS English 8Amber Shelor

Secretary

Amanda Dalton Secretary

Larry DrombettaInstructional Assistant

Carrie HeinemannRemediation Teacher

Patrick KnicelyEnglish

Erika GertsmyerMath

Adam HillHealth/PE

Aric PalazzolaTechnology Education

Photos by Submitted by Janet WomackTOP: Ms. Osborne, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Whitehead, and Mrs. Rosser are ready for student registration.

ABOVE: Ms. Madison VanDuyne, Miss Central Virginia, spoke to students at the closing session about her middle school experiences and the importance of respect.

We have plans and activities for high standards and student achievement this year. We appreciate the planning and instruction by our teachers, and we believe our students can achieve great things. As we begin this school year, please plan to support WBMS as we Choose Excellence!

From the Desk of:Principal Janet Womack

Students, parents, and staff members successfully completed the fi rst week of school. It is amazing how quickly everyone begins working and following the routines. The staff of WEC is thankful for our students and involved parents.

The PTA plays a large role in our school. The PTA Board has planned a number of events and they are asking for your support. Please help us with the following:

• The students are currently selling items for the “From Our House to Yours” catalog. See a WEC student to place your order. Order forms are due by September 9th. Items should be in the week of October 12th.

• Join the PTA for only $5.00• Do you have items you would like to donate to

our school yard sale? If so, items may be dropped off at the school gymnasium doors on September 8, 9, and 10th. Come shop the Yard Sale on September 12th from 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

• We need your BoxTops! Students are currently racing to see which team is more popular, VT or UVA. Send in your BoxTops and support your favorite team!

• The PTA is also selling ‘Kroger Cards’. This is a ‘no cost’ way of fi nancially supporting the school. If you are interested in purchasing a card please stop by the school and we will explain how the ‘Kroger Card’ works.

If you have questions please call or come by the school for a visit.

It’s time for another exciting year of learning at

Herman L. Horn Elementary where our “Students

Have Opportunities for Excellence and Success”. We are excited about a school wide reading incentive program we are implementing this year.

We encourage all of our students to “BEE a Reader”. We invite the community to support HL Horn at our upcoming family night sponsored by the PTA at the Vinton McDonalds on Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 4-7:00 pm. A proceed of the sales will benefi t our school. We look forward to working with our community for a successful year.

Susan Brown, PrincipalPeggy Stovall, Assistant Principal

Page 9: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE

The chalk was fl ying last week at William Byrd High School from the classroom boards on Monday to the football fi eld on Friday. Launched anew was the 180-day, 10-month experience that certainly will create hundreds of memories to last a lifetime. There were stories to tell.

Teachers got reacquainted with one another two weeks ago between attending meetings and preparing fresh lessons. The busier teachers got, the quieter the building got. Then last week that silence was broken by a thundering herd of students traveling the hallways in search of new classes and old friends. There were stories to tell.

Some of those stories were told on the newly polished fl oor where muddy smudges mongled with the occasional drag mark. The mud was from shoes that crossed the construction zones where bulldozers were reshaping the expanding campus. The drag marks on the otherwise polished fl oor were made by teachers’ furniture being relocated to make possible a specifi c area

of the school dedicated to freshmen classes to help them transition into high school from middle school..

The students were excited to be back in school as their eyes told their story and betrayed their subtle grumbles about longing for more summer vacation. Their eyes were bright, curious, aware and, by each day’s end, a little sleepy. They scanned their environment, checked out classroom walls, got a read on their teachers and considered the subjects discussed. There was a little fi dgeting in the chairs and the fl uttering of crisp new paper in newly opened notebooks.

Oh, there were stories to tell about the happenings during summer vacations, about who has what teacher in which subject and what friends are in which class. There were hugs in the hall and teachers found in different rooms with newly decorated bulletin boards.

Stories? Yes. Everywhere. Follow me on a fl ashback for a moment.

While attending Radford University I silently one day, debating between being a journalist, public relations professional or an English

teacher. That was … hhmmm 1989 or 1990. I narrowly decided to go for journalism, majoring in communications, opting for some life experience before maybe someday fi nding my way to a classroom. Little did I know that through numerous twists and turns, life would lead me through all of those careers in the exact order I considered them and land me here at WBHS.

Enough about me, though. I just tell you that because it’s the stories that matter.

There are generations of stories that span a proud Terrier tradition. I’d heard a few over the years even before I joined the staff here in 2004. Since then I have witnessed stories passing by, unread, untold and mostly unknown except to small groups of folks. There were lots of great things going on – teenagers and faculty expressing ideas about the world around them and participating in clubs, classes, teams and other school organizations. There were a lot of people in a lot of rooms doing a lot of things in a lot of different ways. I longed for a way to capture some of that and communicate it to the

Byrd journalism class taking a turn to exercise their Voice

Story by Chris SteuartEnglish & Journalism Teacher

•See ‘TERRIER’ - Page 19

Page 10: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE10

COACHING DIARY: PART IDavid Mitchell

I never played for William Byrd, but I have witnessed the enthusiasm displayed by the Vinton community. I have seen it in the players I have coached for the past three years. I am looking forward to caoching with Chris Carr. We have known each other for years, but have never coached together.

I value this opportunity to continue the strong tradition of Terrier Baseball. It will take a lot of work between the coaches and players and support from the parents and community. I feel we are off to a great start.

This is part two of Chris Manning’s interview with the new co-coaches of William Byrd Baseball. The talk started turning toward what are things that were needed off the fi eld.

Coach Mitchell: Some of these kids who have dropped out of the program, we sure could use them. I’m not really sure why they dropped out, you hear things, but I don’t really want to go in to that. We’ve got to quit losing kids in the program.

Chris: That’s not something that used to happen.

Coach Mitchell: No. if We’re going to be successful and get the program back to where it used to be, we’ve got to have people all the way through.

Coach Carr: We’ve got to bring pride back to the program. I told Coach Mitchell, when I was playing at Byrd, I loved nothing more than on a Friday or Saturday night, to head out to Valley View Mall, and put on my hat with the “B” and my jacket, just because I wanted to see the Northside kids and the Salem kids and

The kids need to know there is a measure of pride playing baseball at William Byrd“Terrier Field Tug-of-WarTerrier Field Tug-of-War

”Part IIthe Botetourt kids, that we had been beating

all year and just let them know “we’re better than you,” it was a pride thing. I’m not sure if our kids have that, I haven’t interacted with them enough yet. Putting that hat with a B on their head, should do it. I want to teach them to play baseball, but I want them to understand that playing baseball at William Byrd is not just an ordinary place, its different. The fact that you’re getting ready to write a baseball article in August, baseball doesn’t start until March, should let people know that this isn’t just an ordinary baseball team. The kids need ot know there is a measure of pride that goes into playing baseball at William Byrd.

Chris: The funny thing is, this isn’t even a sports story, its more of a story about a decision made at the high school.

Coach Carr: Right.

Chris: This is one of the hottest topics around town right now, and although I know it isn’t baseball season, I know if I don’t put something in here about this, then I will be letting the people down.

• During the course of this very different time for William Byrd Terrier

baseball, co-coaches David Mitchell and Chris Carr

will continue to take turns writing ‘Coaching Diary,’

keeping the interested citizens of Vinton informed on the inner-workings of this

new process.

From the Publisher: At this point, we went off the record about a few things and a few things were said that leads me personally to believe that these two have the best intentions of their players and the program at heart. Will this situation be successful? That’s yet to be determined.

• Chris Manning sits down with head Volleyball and Girls’ Tennis Coach Amanda Stump in our “Sports Spotlight.”

• Gene Marrano brings us Gene’s notebook and a story about Brennan Escobar.

• The Business Spotlight will shine on M&M Allstate Insurance agency and tell us the secret behind the success of Larry “Moe” Mattox and son Jeff.

• New edition of In All Directions

Spotlight.”

notebook and a story about Brennan Escobar.

shine on M&M Allstate Insurance agency and tell us the secret behind the success of Larry “Moe” Mattox and son Jeff.

NEXT WEEKIN THE

09/09/09

• As we gear closer to the October 10th Fall Festival, the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce will keep us up to date on the “Chamber Happenings.”

• The next installment of Student Speak and Terrier Talk will be completely and totally done by the students of William Byrd High and Mr. Chris Steuart’s journalism class!

• And you know something is always going on at “Bootie’s Place.”

• All this and much more!

Page 11: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE 11

Parkkway Christian Academy expands its campus, faculty, and programs, including a School of Fine Arts

The dust has settled off King Street in Roanoke as a multi-million dollar expansion of Parkway Christian Academy, the first affiliate school of RENEWANATION, was completed just in time for the new school year. “We are excited to be a partner with Parkway Christian Academy. We will continue to develop PCA and other Christian schools in the Roanoke Valley area to build the nation’s first tuition-free Christian school system.”, says David Blanton, Vice President of Development for RENEWANATION.

Parkway Christian Academy (PCA), founded in 2002, has expanded its campus with a 14,400 sq. ft. building for its upper school. PCA is doubling each grade level from K-7th grade for the 2009-2010 school year and is adding a host of enrichment classes to its offerings. Fifteen new educators have been hired for the new school year, including Dr. Paul Peak, who will develop Parkway Christian Academy’s School of Fine Arts.

Dr. Peak is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory of Music (BM), Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (MM), and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (DMA). “Quote from Dr. Peak”, says Peak. The School of Fine Arts will offer classes in instrumental music and voice. A school band and orchestra will be developed. Other disciplines of the fine arts are planned for the future.

PCA, who finished last year with 283 students, began the 2009-2010 year with 376. Future capital expansion plans for PCA include a new gymnasium and cafeteria. If you would like more information about Parkway Christian Academy, please visit www.parkwaychristianacademy.org and to learn more about RENEWANATION, visit www.renewanation.org.

Parkway Academy completes expansion

Page 12: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE12

Jon Weems was 24 years old when he broke his C6 vertebrae, and he will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. The accident happened in a backyard pool in Vinton in 1992. He and friends were diving through an inner tube into the water. Weems was so focused on not hitting his head on the bottom of the pool that he straightened his neck too much. He hit his forehead on the inner tube and his neck snapped back.

He spent six weeks at the University of Virginia medical center, followed by three months at Blue Ridge Rehabilitation Center, which is part of UVA. He came home for Christmas, and then went to Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center for another six months.

Weems originally planned to be a computer programmer. When he got out of rehabilitation, however, his plans changed. He needed to get out of the house. He called his Department of Rehabilitated Services counselor to see if there was somewhere he could volunteer to help people. The counselor recommended that he volunteer at Thompson’s Brain Injury, another brain injury center. It closed from a lack of funding. He then began volunteering at the Phoenix Star Clubhouse. He was hired there a month later, as a Program Assistant. Among other things, he helps make newsletters and brochures.

“[I do] anything I can do to be of help,” Weems said.

Weems has been playing

Weems raising awareness through musicStory byKristin Adams

music his whole life. He started on piano, after his older sister began taking lessons. At William Byrd Intermediate School, he played the trumpet. He eventually learned to play the baritone, guitar and bass guitar. He played the snare drum in marching band in high school. After graduation, he continued to play guitar and he eventually started recording.

Music is what got him through his ordeal in the hospital.

“I would lie in the hospital bed with these tunes going through my head,” Weems said.

So he decided to buy a keyboard with a sequencer.

“I started creating my own music,” Weems said.

He began performing at church, and he eventually created his own website, www.jonweems.com. Many people wanted him to make a CD of his music, but he resisted. He thought having the songs on his MP3 player was enough.

Then the Clubhouse began to face cutbacks.

“That was the one thing I could do to help out,” Weems said about making a CD.

The Phoenix Star Clubhouse on First Street in Roanoke is a brain injury resource and development center. It is a non-profit organization for people with brain injuries. Those people, who call themselves members, learn life skills at the Clubhouse. It is the only program of its kind in Southwest Virginia.

“That’s why we feel it’s so important for us to stay open,” Weems said.

There are 15 or 16 active members at this time, as well as five staff members.

Weems’ CD has raised

between $700 and $800. Much more is needed, however. For the Clubhouse to keep its doors open, they need approximately $100,000 for the time period of July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. They have planned an annual golf tournament and an annual silent auction, which they expect to bring in $60,000 per year for later years. They are also planning to obtain certification from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Services, which will allow them to bill the Department of Rehabilitative Services and Medicaid for their services. The help is only needed for the present year to keep them open.

The Clubhouse has additional fundraisers planned. They expect to raffle off a pony and have a wine and cheese tasting. They also plan to have a spaghetti dinner

Photo by Kristin AdamsJon Weems, who was confined to a wheel chair at age 24, recently made a CD to raise money and awareness.

on September 26 at Thrasher Memorial in Vinton. They have also raised almost $1,800 on Facebook, through causes.com/phoenixstarclubhouse. Private donations have been received, anywhere from $25 to $1,000.

“We’re hoping to find some really charitable people,” Weems said.

The Roanoke Times recently ran an article which said that the Phoenix Star Clubhouse had been given a grant from the state government months ago. This money is to be used to extend program services, but cannot be used for daily operations.

“That didn’t really make sense to us,” Weems said.

Weems’ CD, titled Believe, costs $12 and can be purchased on his website, www.jonweems.com.

International singing star and actress Rebecca Holden will be at Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church, in Vinton, Sunday September 13th, to sing in both services.

Ms. Holden is also noted as the star of Knight Rider, General Hospital and many appearances on top TV series.

She has a film coming out this year on the Biblical story of Ruth.

Ms. Holden will be the featured performer at

a concert that will be attended by office holders, candidates, veterans and the general public in a special September 11 event, at the American Legion Hall in Salem, Virginia, from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M..This is a fund raiser by donation for Military Families, though the concert itself is free.

For further information and details please contact Carol Webster (540) 309-960, email [email protected] or Dr. Fred Eichelman (540) 389-9400, email [email protected].

Rebecca Holden to perform at Thrasher Memorial on Sept. 13, in Salem on 11th

Page 13: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE

Peppers

Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #2 U16G NR Lasers

Saturday, September 26, 2009 10:00 am

Bogle Stadium at CSMS at U16G VAFC

Lady Devils

Team Schedule - U19B VN Fire

Thursday, September 03, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U19B GSA Cosmos

Tuesday, September 08, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 at U19B VN United

Thursday, September 10, 2009 8:15 pm

Rivers Edge Soccer #3 at U19B GSA Blast

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U19B VAFC Fury

Thursday, September 24, 2009 6:00 pm

Green Hill Soccer #1 at U19B Mason Cove

Team Schedule - U19B VN United

Thursday, September 03, 2009 7:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U19B VAFC Fury

Tuesday, September 08, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U19B VN Fire

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 8:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U19B GSA Cosmos

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 8:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U19B GSA Blast

Monday, September 28, 2009 6:00 pm

Green Hill Soccer #1 at U19B GL Vipers

• Thursday, September 03 - Craig

6:00 pm S2 U10G - Sky vs U10G - Violet Vipers

7:00 pm S2 U10G - MP Storm vs U10G - Blaze

• Thursday, September 03 - Goode #1

6:30 pm S1 U10B - Fire vs U10B - Galaxy

7:30 pm S2 U10G - Sunset vs U10G - Wild Things

• Thursday, September 03 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Crew vs U08 - Revolution

7:00 pm S3 U08 - Express vs U08 - Bumblebees

• Thursday, September 03 - Herman L Horn #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Fire vs U08 - Eagles

• Thurs., September 03 - Mt. Pleasant U8

6:00 pm S3 U08 - MP Sting vs U08 - MP Strikers

• Tuesday, September 08 - Craig

6:00 pm S1 U10B - Sharks vs U10B - Fire

• Tues., September 08 - Mt. Pleasant U10

6:30 pm S1 U10B - United vs U10B - MP Galaxy

• Thursday, September 10 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - United vs U08 - Wildfire

7:00 pm S3 U08 - Bumblebees vs U08 - Rapids

• Thurs., September 10 - Mt. Pleasant U8

6:00 pm S3 U08 - MP Strikers vs U08 - MP Scream Machines

• Saturday, September 12, 2009 Craig

9:30 am S2 U10G - Sky vs U10G - Wild Things

10:30 am S2 U10G - Blaze vs U10G - Sunset

11:30 am S2 U10G - Violet Vipers vs U10G - Spirit

• Saturday, September 12 - Goode #1

9:30 am S1 U10B - MP Galaxy vs U10B - Sharks

10:30 am S1 U10B - Fire vs U10B - Wild Tigers

11:30 am S1 U10B - United vs U10B - Galaxy

• Saturday, September 12 - Goode #2

9:00 am S3 U08 - Eagles vs U08 - Express

10:00 am S3 U08 - Revolution vs U08 - United

11:00 am S3 U08 - Starz vs U08 - Bumblebees

•Saturday, September 12 - Herman L Horn #2

9:00 am S3 U08 - Wildfire vs U08 - Hokies

• Monday, September 14 - Goode #1

7:00 pm S2 U10G - Wild Things vs U10G - MP Storm

• Monday, September 14 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Hokies vs U08 - Starz

• Tuesday, September 15 - Craig

6:00 pm S1 U10B - Wild Tigers vs U10B - Fire

• Tuesday, September 15 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Rapids vs U08 - Eagles

7:00 pm S3 U08 - MP Scream Machines vs U08 - Crew

• Thursday, September 17 - Goode #1

6:30 pm S1 U10B - Fire vs U10B - Sharks

7:30 pm S2 U10G - Blaze vs U10G - Violet Vipers

• Thursday, September 17 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Bumblebees vs U08 - Wildfire

7:00 pm S3 U08 - Eagles vs U08 - Starz

• Thursday, September 17 - Herman L Horn #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Fire vs U08 - Express

• Thursday, September 17 - Mt. Pleasant U10

7:00 pm S2 U10G - MP Storm vs U10G - Spirit

• Thursday, September 17 - Mt. Pleasant U8

7:00 pm S3 U08 - MP Sting vs U08 - Rapids

• Saturday, September 19 - Craig

9:30 am S2 U10G - Spirit vs U10G - Sunset

10:30 am S2 U10G - Violet Vipers vs U10G - Wild Things

• Saturday, September 19 - Goode #1

9:00 am S1 U10B - United vs U10B - Wild Tigers

10:00 am S1 U10B - Galaxy vs U10B - Sharks

• Saturday, September 19 - Goode #2

10:00 am S3 U08 - MP Strikers vs U08 - Crew

11:00 am S3 U08 - United vs U08 - MP Scream Machines

• Saturday, September 19 - Herman L Horn #1

9:00 am S3 U08 - Rapids vs U08 - Fire

• Saturday, September 19 - Mt. Pleasant U10

11:00 am S2 U10G - Sky vs U10G - MP Storm

• Saturday, September 19 - Mt. Pleasant U8

10:00 am S3 U08 - Starz vs U08 - MP Sting

• Monday, September 21 - Goode #1

6:30 pm S2 U10G - Sunset vs U10G - Violet Vipers

7:30 pm S1 U10B - Galaxy vs U10B - MP Galaxy

• Monday, September 21 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Express vs U08 - United

7:00 pm S3 U08 - MP Sting vs U08 - Bumblebees

• Tuesday, September 22 - Craig

6:30 pm S1 U10B - Wild Tigers vs U10B - United

• Tuesday, September 22 - Goode #1

7:30 pm S2 U10G - Blaze vs U10G - Sky

• Tuesday, September 22 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Hokies vs U08 - Revolution

7:00 pm S3 U08 - Crew vs U08 - United

• Tuesday, September 22 - Mt. Pleasant U8

6:30 pm S3 U08 - Express vs U08 - MP Strikers

• Thursday, September 24, 2009 Craig

6:00 pm S2 U10G - Spirit vs U10G - MP Storm

• Thursday, September 24 - Goode #1

6:30 pm S1 U10B - Galaxy vs U10B - Wild Tigers

7:30 pm S2 U10G - Violet Vipers vs U10G - Sunset

• Thursday, September 24 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Eagles vs U08 - Revolution

• Saturday, September 26 - Craig

9:30 am S1 U10B - United vs U10B - Fire

10:30 am S1 U10B - Sharks vs U10B - Galaxy

• Saturday, September 26 - Goode #1

10:30 am S2 U10G - Violet Vipers vs U10G - Sky

11:30 am S2 U10G - Wild Things vs U10G - Sunset

• Saturday, September 26 - Herman L Horn #1

10:00 am S3 U08 - Hokies vs U08 - Crew

• Saturday, September 26 - Herman L Horn #2

9:30 am S3 U08 - Starz vs U08 - Express

• Saturday, September 26 - Mt. Pleasant U10

10:30 am S1 U10B - MP Galaxy vs U10B - Wild Tigers

11:30 am S2 U10G - Blaze vs U10G - MP Storm

• Saturday, September 26 - Mt. Pleasant U8

10:00 am S3 U08 - Bumblebees vs U08 - MP Scream Machines

11:00 am S3 U08 - MP Strikers vs U08 - United

12:00 pm S3 U08 - MP Sting vs U08 - Wildfire

• Monday, September 28 - Goode #1

6:00 pm S2 U10G - Sunset vs U10G – Blaze

• Tuesday, September 29 - Craig

6:00 pm S1 U10B - MP Galaxy vs U10B - United

• Tuesday, September 29 - Goode #2

6:00 pm S3 U08 - Fire vs U08 - Starz

7:00 pm S3 U08 - Rapids vs U08 - MP Strikers

Team Schedule - INST VN Terriers

Saturday, September 12, 2009 3:30 pm

Vinyard Football INST. Bot. Warriors

Saturday, September 19, 2009 2:00 pm

Ben Franklin Middle Football at INST.

North Botetourt

Monday, September 21, 2009 6:00 pm

Bogle Stadium at CSMS at INST HV Titans

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:00 pm

Central Academy Football at INST. Bot.

Warriors

Team Schedule - JR VN Hurricanes

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 7:30 pm

Vinyard Football JR NR Seahawks

Saturday, September 19, 2009 3:00 pm

Bogle Stadium at CSMS at JR CS Saints

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 6:00 pm

Lord Botetourt High Football at JR Bot.

Bulldogs

Saturday, September 26, 2009 12:00 pm

Vinyard Football JR FC Yellow Jackets

Team Schedule - LL VN Seminoles

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 7:30 pm

Ben Franklin Middle Football at LL FC

Yellow Jackets

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Football LL CS Raiders

Saturday, September 19, 2009 12:00 pm

Vinyard Football LL N. Bot. Knights

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 7:30 pm

Vinyard Football LL NR Eagles

Saturday, September 26, 2009 10:30 am

Clowers Field at Darrell Shell at LL CS Red

Brigade

Team Schedule - LL VN Terriers

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:00 pm

Vinyard Football LL Bot. Gators

Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 pm

Central Academy Football at LL N. Bot.

Knights

Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:30 am

Vinyard Football LL CS Red Brigade

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 7:30 pm

Vinyard Football LL Bot. Cavaliers

Saturday, September 26, 2009 10:30 am

Vinyard Football LL NR Mountaineers

Team Schedule - PW VN Big Orange

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:00 pm

Clowers Field at Darrell Shell at PW CS

Knights

Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 pm

Vinyard Football PW Bot. Bulldogs

Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00 am

Walrond Football at PW NR Chargers

Monday, September 21, 2009 6:00 pm

Vinyard Football PW FC Yellow Jackets

Saturday, September 26, 2009 12:00 pm

Central Academy Football at PW Bot

Wasps

Team Schedule - PW VN Raiders

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 6:00 pm

Walrond Football at PW NR Eagles

Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:30 am

Walrond Football at PW NR Chargers S

aturday, September 19, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Football PW Bot Wasps

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 6:00 pm

Vinyard Football PW Bot. Bengals

Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 am

Ben Franklin Middle Football at PW FC

Yellow Jackets

Team Schedule - PW VN Terriers

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:15 pm

Central Academy Football at PW N.Bot.

Knights

Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:30 am

Vinyard Football PW Bot. Bengals

Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00 am

Bogle Stadium at CSMS at PW HV Titans

Tuesday, September 22, 2009 6:00 pm

Vinyard Football PW CS Knights

Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Football PW CS Falcons

Rec. League Football September Schedules

Photo by Ann Russell

Page 14: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE������������������������������������������

Who says the Roanoke Valley isn’t a hotbed for sports?We talk your language. Every fourth Monday. Available at Kroger, Food Lion, and 150 other outlets.

P.O. Box 3285, Roanoke, VA 24015 • (540) 761-6751 • E-mail: [email protected] • On the Web: www.playbyplayonline.net

1 2

28 29 3021 22 2314 15 167 8 9

Cross CountryNorthside/Fleming/PH

@PH 5:00 pm

WBHS VolleyballVarsity vs. Salem- Home @ 6:00 pm

WBMS VolleyballStaunton River - Away @4:45

WBMS FootballCave Spring Away @4:45

WBHS GolfCave Spring - Hunting Hills @3:30

Cross CountryGlenvar/LB/HV

Greenfi elds @ 5:00pm

WBHS GolfBlacksburg - Blue Hills @ 3:30 pm

WBHS GolfGlenvar - Blue Hills @4:00 pm

WBMS VolleyballRead Mtn. - Home @ 4:45pm

WBMS FootballGlenvar - Away @ 4:45pm

WBHS VolleyballCave Spring - Home @ 6:00 pm

WBHS GolfBlue Ridge District

Botetourt CC @ TBA

WBMS VolleyballHidden Valley - Away @ 4:45pm

WBMS FootballBen Franklin - Away @4:45pm

JV FootballGlenvar - Home @ 6:00pm

WBHS VolleyballCraig County - Home @ 6:00 pm

Cross CountryMetro Green - Hill Park @ 4:30 pm

WBHS VolleyballNorthside - Home @ 6:00pm

WBMS VolleyballStaunton River - Home @ 4:45pm

WBMS FootballRead Mtn. - Home @ 4:45pm

William Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesSEPTEMBER 2009SEPTEMBER 2009

*All WBHS Volleyball matches are Varsity and JV unless otherwise noted

Advancement for WB Golf would see them play next Oct. 5Rare weekday without a Byrd

event. Why not check out some Rec. League football or soccer?

See Reverse Side

Tonight will be a crucial

start to BRD play with

the fi rst of 8 straight

district contests.

No High School games, take the time to check out the future Terriers.

Tuesday Wednesday

Monday

77

William Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesSEPTEMBER 2009

Monday

7

William Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic Schedules

MondayMonday

Page 15: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

������������������������������������������

Who says the Roanoke Valley isn’t a hotbed for sports?We talk your language. Every fourth Monday. Available at Kroger, Food Lion, and 150 other outlets.

P.O. Box 3285, Roanoke, VA 24015 • (540) 761-6751 • E-mail: [email protected] • On the Web: www.playbyplayonline.net

2 3 4 5

3023 24 2516 17 18 199 10 11 12

Cross CountryNorthside/Fleming/PH

@PH 5:00 pm

WBHS VolleyballVarsity vs. Salem- Home @ 6:00 pm

JV FootballHidden Valley @ home 6:30

WBHS Golf BRD MiniAshley Plantation @ 2:30

WBMS VolleyballCentral Academy @ home 4:45 pm

WBMS FootballHidden Valley @ home 4:45 pm

WBHS FootballHidden Valley - Away @ 7:30 pm

JV Volleyball TourneyHome vs. TBA

WBMS VolleyballStaunton River - Away @4:45

WBMS VolleyballCave Spring - Away @4:45pm

WBMS FootballCave Spring - Home @ 4:45pm

JV FootballBrookville - Away @ 6:00 pm

WBHS GolfHidden Valley - Blue Hills 3:30 pm

WBHS VolleyballGlenvar - Home @ 6:00

WBHS FootballBrookville - Home @ 7:30 pm

WBHS Cross CountryKnights Crossing - Green Hill

@ 9:00 am

Cross CountryGlenvar/LB/HV

Greenfi elds @ 5:00pm

WBHS GolfBlacksburg - Blue Hills @ 3:30 pm

WBMS VolleyballNorthside - Home @ 4:45 pm

WBMS FootballCentral Academy - Away @ 4:45 pm

JV FootballSalem - Home @ 6:00 pm

WBHS Golf Salem - Roanoke CC @ 3:30 pm

WBHS VolleyballHidden Valley - Home @ 6:00 pm

WBHS FootballSalem - Away @ 7:30 pm

Cross CountryHilltopper Invitational

Lynchburg Pres Home @ TBA

WBHS Volleyball (Varsity Only) Spotswood Classic @TBA

WBHS GolfBlue Ridge District

Botetourt CC @ TBA

WBHS VolleyballHidden Valley - Away @ 6:00 pm

WBMS VolleyballBen Franklin - Home @ 4:45pm

WBMS FootballBen Franklin - Home @ 4:45pm

JV FootballDan River - Home @ 6:40 pm

WBHS FootballDan River - Away 7:30 pm

Cross CountryMetro Green - Hill Park @ 4:30 pm

William Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesSEPTEMBER 2009

JV Volleyball Tourney

William Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic Schedules

Coach Highfi ll has career

win 150 out of the way.

Will he start the next

150 tonight?

Visting the Salem Football

Stadium. Make sure you lose

the cleats and prepare for the

turf which was added in 2007.

Advancement for WB Golf would see them play next Oct. 5

Is Derrick Palmer still on pace to topple his 2008 rushing mark after a

300 yard opening week?

Dan River opened the 2009 season with a 35-21win. Back Ezander

Shelton ran for 152 yards.

Nice early morning test for Byrd boys and their BRD big three.No High School games, take the time to check out the future Terriers.

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

William Byrd Athletic SchedulesWilliam Byrd Athletic Schedules

Page 16: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE

Team Schedule - U12B MP Galaxy

Tuesday, September 01, 2009 6:45 pm

Walrond Soccer #2 at U12B NR Vikings

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:15 pm

Hollins Park #1 at U12B NR Strikers

Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 at U12B VN Burn

Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:00 am

Walrond Soccer #2 at U12B NR Cosmos

Saturday, September 26, 2009 12:00 pm

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U12B VAFC Force

Team Schedule - U12B VN Burn

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B VAFC Dynamo

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 7:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B VAFC Storm

Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B MP Galaxy

Saturday, September 19, 2009 12:00 pm

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B VAFC United

Saturday, September 26, 2009 11:00 am

Walrond Soccer #2 at U12B NR Cosmos

Team Schedule - U12B VN Renegades

Thursday, September 03, 2009 5:45 pm

Green Hill Soccer #1 at U12B GL Crush

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #3 at U12B VN Starz

Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 pm

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B NR Vikings

Saturday, September 26, 2009 1:00 pm

Bogle Stadium at CSMS at U12B VAFC

United

Team Schedule - U12B VN Starz

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B VN Renegades

Saturday, September 12, 2009 11:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B NR Strikers

Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B VAFC Dynamo

Saturday, September 26, 2009 11:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12B NR Vikings

Team Schedule - U12G MP Raptors

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 6:15 pm

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U12G NR Blast

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 7:15 pm

Clearbrook Soccer at U12G VAFC

Mavericks

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U12G VAFC

Strikers

Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:00 am

Green Hill Soccer #1 at U12G GL Lions

Saturday, September 26, 2009 11:00 am

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U12G VN Strikers

Team Schedule - U12G VN Blast

Thursday, September 03, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U12G VAFC Crush

Thursday, September 10, 2009 6:45 pm

Walrond Soccer #2 at U12G NR Lightning

Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:00 am

Clearbrook Soccer at U12G VAFC Rapids

Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:00 am

Merriman Soccer #2 at U12G VAFC

Mavericks

Saturday, September 26, 2009 10:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12G NR Blast

Team Schedule - U12G VN Lady Bugs

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12G GL Lions

Thursday, September 10, 2009 5:45 pm

Walrond Soccer #2 at U12G NR Lasers

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am

Clearbrook Soccer at U12G VAFC Heat

Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00 am

Merriman Soccer #2 at U12G VAFC Crush

Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12G VN Starz

Team Schedule - U12G VN Starz

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:15 pm

Clearbrook Soccer at U12G VAFC Heat

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:15 pm

Clearbrook Soccer at U12G VAFC Strikers

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am

Walrond Soccer #2 at U12G NR Lasers

Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12G VAFC Rapids

Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 at U12G VN Lady Bugs

Team Schedule - U12G VN Strikers

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 6:15 pm

Clearbrook Soccer at U12G VAFC Rapids

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:15 pm

Walrond Soccer #2 at U12G NR Blast

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12G NR Lightning

Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #3 U12G VAFC Strikers

Saturday, September 26, 2009 11:00 am

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 at U12G MP

Raptors

Team Schedule - U14B VN Celtics

Thursday, September 03, 2009 7:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14B VAFC Fire

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 7:15 pm

Rivers Edge Soccer #3 at U14B GSA

Meteorites

Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14B NR Phoenix

Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14B NR Strikers

Saturday, September 26, 2009 10:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14B VAFC Arsenal

Team Schedule - U14B VN Vipers

Thursday, September 03, 2009 6:15 pm

Hollins Park #1 at U14B NR Strikers

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14B VAFC Arsenal

Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 pm

Green Hill Soccer #1 at U14B GL Arsenal

Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:00 am

Rivers Edge Soccer #3 at U14B GSA

Bulldogs

Saturday, September 26, 2009 11:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14B VAFC Fire

Team Schedule - U14G MP Eagles

Thursday, September 03, 2009 7:15 pm

Hollins Park #1 at U14G NR Lightning

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 7:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 at U14G VN Mustangs

Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:00 am

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U14G VAFC Flames

Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:00 am

Hollins Park #2 at U14G NR Meteors

Saturday, September 26, 2009 1:00 pm

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U14G VN Chaos

Team Schedule - U14G VN Chaos

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14G GL Thunder

Thursday, September 10, 2009 6:15 pm

Merriman Soccer #2 at U14G VAFC

Hurricanes

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14G GSA Titans

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U14G VAFC Flames

Saturday, September 26, 2009 1:00 pm

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 at U14G MP Eagles

Team Schedule - U14G VN Mustangs

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 6:15 pm

Rivers Edge Soccer #3 at U14G GSA Titans

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 7:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14G MP Eagles

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am

Rivers Edge Soccer #3 at U14G GSA Sting

Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:00 am

Green Hill Soccer #1 at U14G GL Ninja

Monsters

Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14G NR Lightning

Team Schedule - U14G VN Strikers

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 6:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U14G VAFC Blast

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:00 am

Hollins Park #2 at U14G NR Meteors

Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00 am

Rivers Edge Soccer #3 at U14G GSA Sting

Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 am

Green Hill Soccer #1 at U14G GL Thunder

Team Schedule - U16B MP Blazers

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 7:15 pm

Merriman Soccer #3 at U16B VAFC Cobras

Thursday, September 10, 2009 6:15 pm

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U16B Bot.

Predators #2 (Walrond) Saturday,

September 12, 2009 11:00 am

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U16B Salem

Saturday, September 26, 2009 2:00 pm

Mt. Pleasant Soccer #1 U16B Bot.

Predators #1(Wilkerson)

Team Schedule - U16B VN United

Thursday, September 03, 2009 8:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U16B GL Bandits

Thursday, September 10, 2009 8:15 pm

Hollins Park #1 at U16B NR Vikings

Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U16B VAFC Cobras

Saturday, September 19, 2009 1:00 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U16B GSA Rapids

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 6:00 pm

Andrew Lewis Middle Soccer at U16B

Salem

Saturday, September 26, 2009 12:00 pm

Vinyard Soccer #1 U16B GSA Aces

Team Schedule - U16G VN

Hurricanes

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 8:15 pm

Rivers Edge Soccer #3 at U16G GSA

Cheetah Peppers Wednesday, September

09, 2009 8:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U16G NR Lasers

Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:00 am

Merriman Soccer #2 at U16G VAFC Lady

Devils

Saturday, September 19, 2009 12:00 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U16G VAFC Storm

Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:00 am

Green Field Soccer #1 at U16G Bot. Angels

Team Schedule - U16G VN Venom

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 8:15 pm

Vinyard Soccer #2 U16G VAFC Storm

Saturday, September 12, 2009 11:00 am

Vinyard Soccer #2 U16G GSA Cheetah

Rec. League SoccerSeptember Schedules

Photo of Jacob Clifton by Angela Clifton

Page 17: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE 13

OFFICIAL RELEASEPhotos from the August 24 Ribbon Cutting

by Scott Brooks of Barry Brooks Photography

ABOVE: Vinton Mayor Brad Grose kicks off the festivities.

LEFT: The ribbon is cut, marking the offi cial release of the Vinton Voice. Along the ribbon are Bootie Bell Chewning, Judy Cunningham, Hal Mabe, Brad Grose, Parker Manning, Chris Manning, Piper Manning, Ashlee Manning, Payden Manning, Patrick Patterson and Larry “Moe” Mattox.

BELOW: Chris Manning and Brad Grose unveil the cover of the debut issue to the crowd in attendance.

RIGHT: First issue contributors who were in attendance for the ribbon cutting (from left to right): Chris Monroe, Bootie Bell Chewning, Dale Russell, Chris Manning, Ashlee Manning, John Montgomery, Judy

Cunningham, Hal Mabe and Dr. Richard Turner.

BELOW: Vinton Voice columnist Bootie Bell Chewning poses with the cover of the debut issue. Her new column “Bootie’s Place” debuted in the issue on it’s easy to fi nd page two home.

Page 18: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE14

Greetings Vinton!!My name is Erin and I’ll be here with you every week answering your questions about health

and medicine. Here in my fi rst column I wanted to take the time to introduce myself and let you know a little about my background.

I graduated from Shenandoah University with a doctorate in pharmacy and a masters in business administration. After graduation, I completed a one year post-doctoral pharmacy practice residency at the Salem VA Medical Center. I am currently the Pharmacy Manager at the brand new Walgreens on the corner of Franklin Road and Wonju Street. If you haven’t been by to see us yet, I encourage you to drop by and introduce yourself. We’re very proud of our new store!

What I want to do in this column is answer YOUR questions!! If you have any general questions about medication or any pharmacy-related issues, send me an email. I’ll pick one question every week to answer.

If you have a detailed or personal question or if I don’t answer your question, feel free to stop by the store or give us a call at 985-6491 and a pharmacist will be glad to help you out.

Have a question? Email Erin at [email protected]

Erin E. DeLauder-Brooks, Pharm.D., [email protected]

A Plus Auto Sales...Alarm Detection Services Anytime Fitness Bonsack

Barry Brooks Photography Bass Transmissions

The Berkshire Best Little Hairhouse in Vinton

Bill’s Auto SalesBob’s Restaurant

Bojangles Bonsack Elementary School Country Crossing Foodette

Cundiff‘s Drug Store Curves for Women

Dogwood Restaurant Dooley’s Garage

East End Baptist Church EZN

Famous Anthony’s restaurant Frank’s Pizza

Grand Rental StationGregg Lee Insurance

Greenway and Associates Herman L Horn

IGAJerry’s Family Restaurant Kinsey Crane and Sign Co

Lancerlot M and M Insurance McDonald’s Vinton

Mt. Pleasant Elementary New York Life Insurance Anthony Conner

New York Pizza Northwest Hardware Parkway Physicians

Parts UnlimitedPerma Clean

Power Line Rent Equipment R & R Automotive

Rancho Viejo Mexican Restaurant Reed’s Automotive

Scott’s Cars Shear Acts Hair Salon

Steve’s Automotive Teaberry’s Restaurant

The Barber Shop Village Family Restaurant

Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce Vinton Car Connection

Vinton Chiropractic Clinic Vinton Library

W E Cundiff Elementary School W E Cundiff Realty

William Byrd High School William Byrd Middle School

Wooding’s Auto Body Wood’s Auto Parts Wood’s Auto Edge

Wood’s Service CenterAs well as Every Kroger and Food

Lion in the Vinton Area PLUS MORE!

Where can you get YOUR Vinton Voice?

The Voice’s newest column....

Ask the Pharmacist

Page 19: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE 15

To fi nd out more Checkout www.Billboard.com/news/black-eyed-peas-jason-mraz-steak-to-hot-1004004352.story.lion, or his website JasonMraz.com. I would say this is something to be proud of. Jason “ROCKS” congrats!!

A surprise 40th Birthday day party was given for Shannon Dillard. Husband Bobby, aka “Tap Daddy,” planned the event along with daughter Abbey. Shannon was so surprised when they came home from the movies and her house was full of friends and family. Those there were Carolyn Rock, Sharon Painter, Brad Russell, Kevin and Jamie West, Jordan West, Danue and Michael John Imondo, Lisa and Emily Williams, Jerry and Garret Ayers, Robert, Chris and Morgan Ayers, Chastity Dull, Chris and Susan Overstreet, Kyle Overstreet, Samantha Fralin, Angie Chewning Lewis, Greg Boitnott, David And Kay Hepinstall, Emerson Payne, Michelle Boblett and Sanford, Geneva Boblett, George Waldrop, Debbie Akers, Dan Webb, and Mike and Lyndsey Hall.

Bobby also surprised Shannon with and new wedding ring set he gave to her in the “Over the Hill” cake. She blew out the candle and did not even see it until she looked again.

It was a great time!!!! Happy Birthday Shannon!!! Congratulations to Ellen Poff & Rick Drewery who

were married July 14th. She is the daughter of Wilson & Audrey Poff and he is the son of Wilma and the late John Drewery. A celebration party was held at Blue 5. Some of the fi nest from Vinton were there,David & Linda Lambert, Tina Chewning, Cat(Meador)&Kenny Ferrell, Angie Chewning Lewis, Greg Boitnoitt, Sharon (Drewery) & Leroy Huffman, Kim & Shannon Stroop. A large time was had by all. May you two have a wonderful life together.

Hats Off!! To Studio Roanoke and its production of “Shades of

the Trees”, written by Kenley Smith & directed by Pat Whilhelms, produced by Tod Ristau. The whole cast turned in an Outstanding performances Dorian Dozier (WBHS Grad), Heidi Klockenbrink, Martha Boswell, Chris Brumback, Barry Bedwell, Mary Best Bova, & Brian O’Sullivan And the Jimmy Ray Ward set was terrifi c. All I can say superb show. If you missed it I’m sorry. Next Show will be “Elvis Blossom” Sept 22-27. Put it on your to do list.Get well wishes and prayers go out to Cammye Obenchain (surgery last week,) Garrett Hudgins (stay off the golf course,) Jim Jones (hip replacement,) now at Brandon Oaks Rehab. Daughter Denise Jones Hall was in for the event from Atlanta GA. and to help out mommy Betty. Robin and Steve Claris are on the mends. Steve going for Physical Therapy and Robin gets her Boot off soon. Jim Rice, Karen Miller, Bill Hufon, Jim Body. Keep all of these in your prayers.

Happy Birthday to MacKenzie Brewer, Toby St. Clair, Courtney Hollins, Carlton Mabe/Hope you all had or have a great day. Also, Happy Birthday to Danny Kelly on Aug. 25 and Pete Kelly Sept. 5.

We are looking for all the students away at college or in service. Deb is trying to make a list with addresses and email to let them know what’s happening at Thrasher. To make sure everyone gets on the list call or send Mary Darnell at the church offi ce. Thanks.

Checkout info on-Running with the Terriers Motorcycle Rally & Poker Run - WANTED ALL BIKERS-Presented by WBHS track Booster club, Fun, Food & Prizes Sept 26 -9 am-4 pm at WBHS more info go to terriers.Koolhost.com. Help out the Booster club!!

This past weekend I attended a retreat with a group of Baptist ministers from across the state of Virginia. One of the presenters asked each of us to think about our earliest memories of church. We were asked to list fi ve persons, places, and events that fondly stood out in our minds. The next phase of the exercise was to advance our thinking to our adolescence and do the same. I have to admit, I felt a rush of nostalgia as I refl ected back on the little white clapboard church I attended as a child in rural east Tennessee. My earliest memory was that of a Sunday school teacher from the pre-school department. Her name was Mary Perry. The rhyming name alone was enough to bring a chuckle in our household. I was always greeted at the door with a hug from Mary. If I were ill or had to miss her class, she would phone our home the following week and talk with my mom about the situation. However, it never failed that she asked to speak to me before ending her call. Mary made me feel special, safe, and loved. To the mind of this preschooler, it spoke volumes to me that church was a place that I could go to give and receive love.

A second memory was Sunday night services at my church. Sunday evenings were more laid back and the youth and children were often asked to take on special roles. Handing out bulletins, ringing the church bell, taking the offering, fi lling in on musical instruments and singing solos were a few of the jobs the young people were encouraged to undertake. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my church was teaching me how to exercise its traditions before I had come to understand the bigger concepts of salvation and reconciliation. Those acts of “doing church” as a young person allowed me to use my gifts. That congregation founded within me a love for God’s people and Christ’s church that I carry with me today.

In 1 Samuel chapter seven, the Lord did a mighty act to save his people.

Story byChris Monroe

•‘BOOTIE’continued from page 02

Samuel set up an Ebenezer stone at the place so that when people passed it in the future they would stop, read and remember that God was faithful in the past and able to command the future. I believe the mind helps us erect personal “Ebenezer’s” or “markers” called memories. It is our charge to future generations to share these memories so when others read or hear them they may know that there were points in our journey that helped us form and sustain our personal faith. Some of these markers may not be all about love and joy. Some may be fi lled with sorrow or tragedy.

Over the next few weeks I would like to ask you, the readers of this article, to participate in our own Vinton version of this exercise. Think of those fi ve persons, places, events and any thing that stands out in your mind that made your church a special place to you from ages 5 to 12 years old. Then repeat the exercise thinking of ages 12-20. Consider the small things that your church did that had a huge impact on you; those things that you carry within you today as a “marker.” Take a day or two and sift through them. Finally, write your answers down. Then share them with me. Baptist, Methodist, Wesleyan, Catholic, Pentecostal, whatever your denominational affi liation, I want you to take this opportunity to pass on the highlights of what brought joy to your church experience as a young person. I would like to compare and contrast your submissions in hope of fi nding some common threads. In “The Younger Evangelicals: Facing the Challenges of The New World,” the author, Robert Webber wrote: “the road to the future leads through the past.” Just maybe we can glean something from sharing our stories that will help the future of faith in our community.

Send your submissions to the Vinton Voice 116 S. Poplar St. Suite 1, Vinton, VA 24179. Attention: Focus on Faith. You may email them to [email protected] with “Focus On Faith” in the subject line. Please include your name, address, and phone number. I look forward to hearing from you and what we might learn from each other.

Page 20: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE16

Dale Russell, [email protected]

HOPE is a four letter word....

Financial independence is20% book knowledge and 80% behavior...

Hey, there you are…I have been waiting for you. Glad you made it back, I’ve got some really good things to share with you this week.

Still got that pen and paper? Grab some coffee, sit down and let’s chat for a bit.

Financial independence is 20% book knowledge and 80% behavior which means money is ALL mental. It’s all about attitude.

That brings us to the four letter word of the day… HOPE. Merriam-Webster defi nes the word HOPE as the “expectation of attainment”. Now, let that really sink into the deepest part of your mind and ponder it for a minute. Write it down on your pad… HOPE is the expectation of attainment.

I have another twist on the word HOPE and it’s an acrostic, so I “hope” you will forgive me.

H-Have faith that YOU CAN make the changes necessary to improve your fi nancial situation;

O-Observe what others are doing that are getting the results you want then do what they do;

P-Persevere and have patience. You will get bumps and bruises along the way, but keep going;

E-Expect nothing less than the best from yourself

But HOPE is nothing without a plan and everything worth having has a price. So, here’s your assignment for the week; nothing too diffi cult and there won’t be a test. Again, we

will keep it between us.Armed with your newfound HOPE, it’s

time to use your imagination for just a bit. Open your mind and ask yourself…”what would Financial Comfort look like for me?” For some, it would be as simple as being able to pay their bills on time, for others it might be to eliminate their credit card debt. There is no wrong answer here, but you have to start somewhere. And I can guarantee you without a roadmap, you will never get anywhere. Start right now by writing down, in as much detail as humanly possible, what fi nancial comfort would look like, smell like, taste like, and feel like for you and your family. Don’t shortcut this and don’t miss one tiny detail…make it as real as you can. That is the key to becoming more emotionally connected to it and that’s when HOPE kicks in. It’s all about attitude.

Ok, now for a mailbag question...“How can I get the money back I lost

on my 401(k)?”-Wendy, Roanoke.

Excellent question, and unfortunately there is not one clear cut answer. Folks took major losses in their retirement funds over the last few years and it has really hurt. But now is the time to get some fi nancial literacy and start [if you haven’t already] to think this thing through.

Step one…Stay invested. DO NOT cash out your 401(k) just because you have sustained loss in value. Cashing out, which is different than rolling out, will cause potential tax bills and early withdrawal penalties. In fact, you should consider increasing your contribution if it’s pretax because it will benefi t you in two specifi c ways.

One, it will lower your taxable income because all of the 401(k) contributions are PRE-TAX. Two, you will fi nd some really great values out there and when things do go back up, and they will, you will own more and potentially

gain more.Step two…Know what you are invested in

and in what percentages. Do you have the right mix of aggressive, neutral and conservative funds? Do you know what your risk tolerance is? Do you know what risk tolerance is? Simply put, it’s the point where an investment makes you feel uncomfortable. By the way, you know

those little books they sent you when you were eligible to enroll, called prospectus…did you read them? You should…it’s your money. No one should be more interested in your money than you…

Step Three…DO NOT, I repeat…DO NOT take out a loan against your 401(k). “Well, I’m just borrowing from myself and paying myself the interest”, you might say. That’s true. But here’s the reality. When you borrow against your 401(k), you reduce the amount that’s in play thereby reducing the amount available for appreciated value and compounded interest. But here’s the really important reason not to…How safe do you believe your job is? If you lose your job, your loan comes due immediately or it will be considered an early withdrawal and subject to income taxes and early withdrawal penalties. Unemployment is not a great time to take on a tax bill like this.

Always remember retirement savings and investing is a long-term commitment, so do not be disturbed by the short term bumps. Yes, you will have to increase your fi nancial literacy and you will make some mistakes but never, ever lose your HOPE and never give up.

Thanks again and keep the questions coming. E-mail them to wheresmymoney@ vintonvoice.com.

Learn more about Dale Russell in next week’s third installment of Voices of the Voice.

Page 21: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE 17

Neighbors put their spin on BBQ

Photos by Chris Manning

Directly from a quote from their website where they try to answer “What style barbecue is it ?” You see that Dave McCoy and Jason Yates, owners of The Barbeque Grill in Vinton, don’t always do things the most common of ways. Their answer is “We’d like to say VA style, but that doesn’t really answer the question as VA isn’t known for a particular style.” Their style, their service and their recipe for success is clearly their own as these two friends and neighbors from Roanoke County have taken the Vinton area by storm with their unique food and extras that sometimes get missed.

Jason and Dave were responsible for legendary Memorial Day and 4th of July parties where they would take their own original recipes and share them with upwards of a hundred people. Every time this happened these people lucky enough to be a part of this would leave swearing this was the “best barbeque they ever had.” After hearing this enough times, they decided to fi nd

Story byChris Manning

out what others would think and The Barbeque Grill was opened in Vinton in January 2007.

In their nearly three years they’ve proven time and time again that they want to make their customers happy and keep them coming back. Need to grab a quick lunch, but can’t leave your computer? Bring your laptop with you and enjoy their free WIFI. Looking for something to do on Saturday night, every second Saturday of the month, they bring live Bluegrass into the restaurant, with no cover charge, for your listening enjoyment. A fan of the tractor Pullers Association? Check out their sponsored tractor.

I know what you’re thinking, sometimes you just don’t want Barbeque, you’re in the mood for something else, right? Jason and Dave’s menu has anything from Grilled Chicken and Chicken salad to Hot Dogs and Grilled Cheese, meaning there is always an option for everyone. Barbeque however, is their specialty and something they take pride in. The sauce you will be served in the restaurant is their own house sauce, made by them. There are seven different original

sauces to choose from, including Carolina Heat, Carolina Fire and good old fashioned Original Rib Sauce (we can’t reveal anything, but there are marketing plans currently in the works surrounding the sauce.)

We’re talking more than sandwiches, they smoke whole chickens and full racks of ribs (wet or dry) on their top of the line Southern Pride Smoker, and they

have a system set in place for their ribs (coated with our own dry rub made at the restaurant, then slow smoked for a number of hours at a certain temperature, (proprietary) using only hickory wood) that let’s you know they mean business.

They aren’t just for dine in or take out either, Jason and Dave will meet nearly any demands of any size for Catering and Bulk orders and are one of the few restaurants in town open on Sundays. Stop on by the Barbeque Grill, on 126 E. Lee St., in the Bush Building, ask for Dave or Jason, they promise you won’t be disappointed.

Page 22: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE18

The Town of Vinton is excited to host its third Art Market of the season on September 12 at the Vinton Farmers’ Market.

During the past year, the Town of Vinton Special Programs Department has been developing more of a community market, featuring a wide variety of events and vendors. Past events have included Craft Shows, Salsa Saturday, Song and Salad, and Retro and Vintage Markets.

The inspiration for the Art Market came as a result of conversations between Special Programs Director Mary Beth Layman and several local artists.

“In the Fall of 2008, I became aware that many of the opportunities for buying and selling art were being reduced or closed. That’s when my wheels started turning,” she said. “And with the economic challenges, close proximity to an event is always a plus,” she added.

Additionally, the Town of Vinton has developed a relationship with the League of Roanoke Artists and the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. In conjunction with the 125th Anniversary

Story byDanae Wensley

Photos by Danae WensleyImages displayed at the VinEvent Gallery. The next Art Market is September 12.

of the Town of Vinton, the League opened the fi rst “VinEvent Gallery” art show at the Vinton Municipal Building on March 17.

Mary Ann Meador has been the driving force behind the VinEvent Gallery, which rotates a variety of artists and styles every two months.

“The galleries give opportunities for artists to display and sell their work, while also allowing businesses to learn who some of the local artists are and decorate their space. It’s really a win-win situation,” Meador said.

The gallery is currently featuring the work of Bonnie Mason, Dotti Stone, Patricia Herron and Anne Clark. All the work is for sale and may be purchased by contacting the individual artists.

Meador also said the galleries are wonderful learning and sharing experiences for new artists. She said the League members come from all different backgrounds and experience levels.

“We have some who are just beginning painters and others who are professionals,” she said.

The League of Roanoke Artists has sponsored similar galleries at other

municipalities and businesses throughout the Roanoke Valley,

such as Lewis Gale Hospital, Brandon Oaks United

Methodist Home and many Drs. Offi ces. The League also sponsors “Meet the Artist” events for those whose work is in the gallery.

The VinEvent Gallery is located at the Vinton Municipal Building, 311 S. Pollard St. It is free of charge and open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The attractive exhibit area includes track lighting and hangers, benches, live plants, a brick fl oor and appropriate walls for displaying.

Meador said she fi rst became aware of the available gallery space while speaking with Layman at the Vinton Farmers’ Market Craft Show last September.

The fi rst two Art Markets were very successful. The July show had close to twenty vendors.

“We have found a wonderful niche market for art in the Vinton area and the interest just keeps growing,” Layman said. She said she hopes to make the Art Market, and other events like it, an annual occurrence.

The third and fi nal Art Market of the year will take place on September 12 from 10 a.m.

– 3 p.m. at the Vinton Farmers’ Market (behind the Vinton Post Offi ce). For

more information or to register to become a vendor, please contact the

Town of Vinton Special Programs Department at (540) 983-0613 or [email protected].

Page 23: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE 19

Can you remember when area farmers would bring eggs or milk or other things to your home and you didn’t need to go to a store to buy them?

Yes, I do. In the early 1930’s my family lived at 313 Cleveland Ave., right beside Roland E. Cook School, known then as Vinton Elementary School, and Louella T. Scott was the principal. There was a four-room white frame school out front. It had water buckets and double desks for two children with ink wells to hold the ink bottles.

Our house was a large two story white frame house with a front door (with two tall skinny doors) that would open up to a front porch which was all across the front. Our kitchen was fully equipped with a sink, a free standing kitchen cabinet with a fl our bin, and a large wood stove that was for cooking and heating.

We had a telephone with a live operator to connect us with other phones. No such thing as dial phones or cell phones existed. Our number was 22J.

Outside, on the lot where now stand the new habitat house, was our garden which ran from the street to the alley. Everyone had a garden. A large one. Behind our house we had a big barn with a gate beside it to go across the alley to walk to school. Between our house and the barn was a large chicken house with a large chicken

It’s a whole new world

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Story by Barbara Pedigo DillonVinton Historical Society Member

lot. Beside the back kitchen door, on the wed side of the walk, was a spring house and in the front yard near the end of the front porch was a cistern to catch and store rain water. Did you know that there is still a spring house located in that block?

Yes, Vinton was almost like a farming community.

Mr. George Gearhart, whom we all called Captain George, lived down the Hardy Road a little ways and would bring buttermilk in buckets and pour it into buckets that we would put out on the proch steps with a dinner plate on top to keep it clean and mother would put small change on top to pay for it. One of his sons later became my uncle.

Sometimes he would have homemade butter shaped into one pound prints. Also eggs, vegetables and other things when available.

Yes, lots of Vinton homes had spring houses, horses, cows, goats, chickens, ducks turkeys, dogs and cats. Even an occasional pig or hog.

Most everyone had a garden sport and a fruit tree or two and some had strawberries or other berries. Folks canned and saved everything to eat during winter months when not available in their gardens. No such thing as freezers.

Today our young people can hardly imagine a home without air conditioning, TV, computers, automatic furnaces, cooking stoves and refrigerators.

Yes, many changes have been made.

WBHS community because there were stories that needed to be told.That is precisely what prompted me to urge the creation of

a journalism class at WBHS and eventually create the school newspaper Terrier Times. The class was available to students in the list of courses, but hadn’t been offered for a while. We tried to run it as a club, but interested students lacked the time outside of the school day to contribute the necessary work. That all changed beginning with the 2007-2008 school year when the fi rst journalism class was launched with the support of WBHS Principal Dr. Richard Turner and the administrative staff, English Department Chair Holly Wakeland, former English and Photojournalism (yearbook) teacher now turned computer guru Nancy Chewning, Guidance Department Coordinator Patrick Patterson, his guidance staff and still others.

Once the class was set, I felt a bit like the dog that chased cars all its life and fi nally caught one and asked “What do I do with it now?” But, I assured myself that there were stories to tell we just had to get busy telling them.

So we did and it has been, and still is, a work in progress. The truth is that journalism practiced well is a talent that takes years of education and more years of experience. Boiling that down to a 90-minute class two or three days a week is a challenge. Learning the essential elements of news ethics, writing, photography and layout is also a challenge for the students.

Also challenging is selling advertisements to fund the class and print the newspapers. Each year the students have responded, selling enough advertisements to make the newspaper possible. Moreover, the Roanoke and Vinton business community has responded as they do in so many ways. The newspapers that the students produce for the WBHS community are just one tangible piece of evidence of that.

But, the students have risen to the challenges and turned them into opportunities. Ultimately, I’ve had past students come back to report that they didn’t realize how much they learned in the journalism class until they got to college and realized they knew what the professors were talking about. One even reported that Terrier Times was better than his college newspaper.

Each year we publish at least four editions a year and distribute each one in the lunchroom because eating and talking is what all teens have in common. The students in the cafeteria get their copy, slide the last of their lunches aside and eagerly read. They read those stories - the ones that matter now and will matter years down the road when they come across an old copy stuffed in a yearbook. The WBHS staff reads the stories and learns a thing or two that they may not have ever known about students or fellow teachers. Then copies trickle out to parents and the community and the same process happens.

See it really is the stories that matter. Those stories that emanate from the WBHS community are what brings this particular ink to this page.

I heard rumors about the Vinton Voice from friends, fellow teachers and then learned more from Dr. Turner. That led to a meeting between Publisher and WBHS graduate Chris Manning and myself to talk about how we could make the students part of this publication as a part of their work in the journalism class.

Manning hid the feeling of the dog that fi nally caught the car really well, although I’m sure he was feeling that. What he did not hide was the fact that he was dedicated to the new publication’s mission of capturing the essence of the Town of Vinton and surrounding area.

He and I found common ground quickly - we both knew it is about the stories because the stories are ultimately about people and the people are what really matter.

So, in the weeks that come, you’ll see glimpses of life at WBHS through the lenses of students in the journalism class with an occasional visit from Dr. Turner and me.

Then you’ll see … it really is the stories that matter and there are plenty of stories to tell.

•‘TERRIER’continued from page 09

Page 24: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE20

The Lady Terrier Volleyball Team hit a two game skid, losing in 3 straight at Salem and then a tough one in 5 to Glenvar. The highlights for the Salem game were Sammi Webster with 2aces, 8 kills and 10 digs, Kalyn Molnar with 24 digs and 1 ace, Candace Brady with 14 digs and4 assists and Sierra Spain with 7 assists.

At Glenvar, the Lady Terriers won the fi rst game, then lost the next two, only to come back up and force a fi fth where they lost 15-13 in the fi nal game, ending the match. Byrd was led by Candace Brady with 12 digs and 12 assists and Kalyn Molnar had 23 digs. Sarah Vipperman had six kills and two aces and Samantha Webster led with 15 kills.

Coach Amanda Stump and her team will get a chance to avenge the loss to Salem tonight at 6pm at home.

The Lady Terrier Volleyball Team hit a two game skid, losing in 3 straight at Salem and then a tough one in 5 to Glenvar. The highlights for the Salem game were Sammi Webster with 2aces, 8 kills and 10 digs, Kalyn Molnar with 24 digs and 1 ace, Candace Brady with 14 digs and4 assists and Sierra Spain with

At Glenvar, the Lady Terriers won the fi rst game, then lost the next two, only to come back up and force a fi fth where they lost 15-13 in the fi nal game, ending the match. Byrd was led by Candace Brady with 12 digs and 12 assists and Kalyn Molnar had 23 digs. Sarah Vipperman had six kills and two aces and Samantha Webster led with 15 kills.

Coach Amanda Stump and her team will get a chance to avenge the loss to Salem tonight at 6pm at

Lady Terriers will hope to rebound from two-loss skid against Salem

Phot

os b

y C

hris

Man

ning

Page 25: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE 21

Whatever game plan that Rustburg had going into last Friday’s season football opener, it quickly got run over.

Terrier quarterback Derrick Palmer carried the ball 26 times for 300 yards and accounted for all but seven of his team’s points in last Friday’s 33-14 season opener against the visiting Red Devils. Palmer was untouchable most of the game, his biggest score coming on an 86-yard run. He also scored on a two-point conversion. The 5’9’’ senior averaged 11.5 yards per carry.

The Terriers started the night off strong, stepping up with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on runs from Palmer and David Jennings. Jennings’ score was from one-yard out while Palmer’s first score was from 15 yards out.

Rustburg got onto the scoreboard in the second quarter with a 51-yard run from Stacey Charlton, part of an 147 yard night for him. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, Byrd (more specifically Palmer) was on point across the ground. Palmer scored on runs of 22 and 86 yards in the quarter to take Rustburg out of the equation. Palmer scored again in the fourth quarter on a 13-yard run.

Jennings also ran the ball well, picking up 59 yards on eight carries and the only non-Palmer score for Byrd. The Palmer/Jennings combo was part of a 403 yard night on the ground that accounted for 32-of-33 points and also included 37 yards from Rashid Hill.

The Red Devils had a decent night on the ground, but fumbled the ball five times, losing it to Byrd on four of those occassions.

While officially the quarterback, Palmer was o-for-1 in the outing, throwing an interception.

The win sets Byrd up against Hidden Valley (1-0), who surprisingly steamrolled Henry 44-14 on Friday. The Titans cames into the season after losing their head coach and starting quarterback and running back after the 2008 season.

Statistics provided by Tom Frazier

•Showcase win sets up battle with Hidden Valley, 44-14 winners last Friday

Byrd brutalizes with run game

Story byDan Vance

Photos by Chris Manning

ABOVE: Byrd’s Dustin Woods (78) and David Jennings (42) team up to sack Rustburg quarterback Tyler Morris in the first half. Byrd led 14-0 after one quarter.

LEFT: Coach George talks to some of the Terrier players during a huddle in Friday’s home opener against Rustburg.

The Terrier boys cross country team finished fourth in the “Clash with the Titans” cross country meet this past Saturday. Kevin O’Connor led the Terrier boys with an 8th place finish. Christiansburg claimed the boys championship with 61 points. Cave Spring was second with 80 points, followed by Radford, and then the Terriers.

The Lady Terriers didn’t fare quite as well, finishing 10th in the competition.

The next Cross Country meet is today, in a quad meet against Northside, Patrick Henry and William Fleming at Patrick Henry, starting at 5pm.

O’Connor leads XC boys to 4th place

finish at ‘Clash’

Photo of Jason Palmer by Chris Manning

Page 26: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE22

Photos by Chris Manning

*Vinton Chaos Soccer photos by

Michele Gunter and Stephen Thomas

Page 27: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

VOICE 23

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expected of them, that when they do well that it often gets overlooked. Each year is a completely different team and what some don’t understand is that once you reach the top you have to work even harder to stay on top!

Chris: Could you give me some of your background?

Monica: I cheered varsity for 4 years ‘99 to ‘03. I was a junior and a Captain on the team when we won our first state title and another title followed as Captain my senior year. I was the 2009 Blue Ridge district coach of the year and 2009 Region III coach of the year. I’ve coached most of my athletes from the age of 9 at my family business Cheer Storm All-Stars. Now I’m head coach of the WBHS program, I travel all over Virginia during the summer, doing private cheer camps and choreography, and continue to raise future cheerleaders at Cheer Storm All-Stars.

Chris: What do you say to the people who say “Cheerleading isn’t a sport?” (Obviously not us, since this is going in “Sports Spotlight.”)

Monica: Touchy subject for most lovers of the SPORT of cheerleading, but this is what I usually say. A lot of people don’t understand

•‘WEST’continued from page 27

the danger in the sport. When a cheerleader is thrown 15 to 20 feet in the air, if she wasn’t caught it would equal up to her falling from a second story window. Also , aside from most sports they get a short 3 minutes to earn up to 300 points in 10 categories.

No timeouts, halftimes, or sub-ins. That’s pressure. It is also the ONLY sport that the entire team participates all at once. With cheer, everyone has to be the star athlete. We can’t decide to have these 3 jump, these 6 tumble, and these 5 stunt. They have to be equally strong at everything since each category is scored based on the overall execution of the team. If you looked at another team that might consider it a hobby or not take it seriously then you might have an argument, but when you see us perform and really look at what we do in such a short period of time there is no question that we are a sport.

It doesn’t take much convincing when you attend a competition or even a practice to see that Monica’s words ring true. These girls are athletes and as one of, if not the premier athletic program at William Byrd, these girls are a direct reflection of their coach, Monica West.

Page 28: Vinton Voice (Volume I, Issue 2)

Monica West:Blazing her own trail in the

‘family business’ of cheer

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Voice Publisher Chris Manning had the chance to sit down with William Byrd cheerleading coach, Monica West, the subject of this week’s Sports Spotlight. No matter what your defi nition of success, West’s fi ve state cheerleading championships, earned as both a cheerleader and a coach, is beyond impressive. Cheerleading runs in the family, literally. The West family business is the Cheer Storm All-Stars, where her parents, Lanny and Belinda are the owners, older sister Jessica West Sutphin is a coach and Monica herself is a coach and choreographer (Younger sister Danica is currently a JV cheerleader for William Byrd.) Monica is confi dent in her team and their abilities although she is playfully

known as the “Lord of the Rings” (she has 5 state championships rings, more than anyone else associated with the program, or in the state for that matter) she is looking for that sixth championship this year.

Chris: How long have you been the Cheerleading Coach?

Monica: I started in 2004 as head coach of the competition team. In 2005 I took over as choreographer and in 2008 I became head coach overseeing the whole program.

Chris: How does it feel to go into each year

with the expectation (whether yours, the team or the community) of winning state?

Monica: As far as my athletes I’ve always made sure that they want to win for themselves, and regardless of the outcome they represent the school with pride. If they are worried about expectations it’s at competitions when everyone stops what they are doing when we take the mat to watch our new routine. We are known for having very unique routines. I also feel that because it is

•See ‘WEST’ - Page 27

Photos by Chris Manning