It’s the edge of sundown at Virginia City. 

Sarah Beamer has long been helping American colleges manage their dollars and cents.
This year, she’s taken on a new challenge: pula and thebe – the currencies of Botswana.

Wythe County educators pleaded for more latitude last week regarding new graduation standards to be adopted for the 2009-10 school year, pending approval from the Virginia Board of Education.
The local school officials and other Southwest Virginia residents gathered in the auditorium of George Wythe High School on Thursday night for a public hearing on proposed changes to the state’s Standards of Accreditation.

Two dogs died and a firefighter had to be taken to the emergency room on Sunday in a residential blaze on Kimberlin Road in the Rural Retreat area.
According to Rural Retreat Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dave Evans, firefighters went to the Snavely residence at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday in a response to call about smoke coming from the eaves.

Stealing is generally a risky business, but the last half of 2008 has been an especially bad time to be a burglar.
Several groups accused of being involved in a burglary rings have been locked up over the past few months. Most recently, three suspected of being engaged in a ring that started in Washington County were arrested.
According to a Washington County Sheriff’s Office press release, three people were arrested in connection to 28 burglaries spanning several counties in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
“As the investigation unfolded, numerous burglaries were cleared in Bristol, Tenn., Russell County, Smyth County, Scott County and Sullivan County, Tenn.,” said Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman.
The accused, Jeffery Lynn Rutherford, 27, and Anthony Scott Jenkins, 28, of Abingdon and Crystal Ann Owens, 21, of Bluff City, Tenn., have all been charged with breaking and entering, grand larceny and conspiracy.

Long running festivals tend to lose crowds since there’s never anything new going on. Not so with the Mistletoe Market. Now in its 10th year, the William King Regional Arts Center event has plenty new.
Director of Development Emily Woolwine said nearly half of the merchants coming to the three-day event this year are fresh faces. Woolwine said that out of the 58 merchants on the list, 28 have never been to the Mistletoe Market. Arts center Director Betsy White said the new merchants should attract some attention.
“That’s what people always want to hear about,” she said

Southbound Appalachian Trail hiker Emerson Sykes, trail name Chevrolegs, happened to be in the Damascus Library last Saturday, when he was randomly chosen to pick from a bowl of raffle ticket stubs. “Herb Debusk,” he announced, won a $2,000 gas card.

There were no Election Day losers Tuesday in Bland County. Democrats, Republicans and independents all agreed the winner was the annual ham and turkey dinner from the Women’s Ministry of Bastian Union Church.

A double-decker, upside-down school bus with a garden on top rolled into Meadowview Town Square at dark. It was getting cold. The bus, because of a break down outside Knoxville, Tenn., was more than an hour behind schedule.
Casey Gustowarow, 27, rolled out a ladder and climbed to the roof.

Lori Price
Harvest Tunes: Mule Train played for a packed house last week at Harvest Table Restaurant in Meadowview. The music was part of Harvest Table’s fall music events broadcast live on WEHC 90.7 FM. Ryan Ward is scheduled to play on Thursday Nov. 6 from 8-9:30 p.m. For more information visit http://www.meadowviewfarmersguild.com or call (276) 944-5140.