Anne B. has asked, and we’re going to answer.
In an e-mail sent on Friday, the 6th District House of Delegates member wants to know what her constituents think about proposals to fix Virginia’s transportation “crisis” – whatever that might be.

A friend currently carries her arm in a sling after falling onto concrete while playing with her grandchild. She’s fortunate that her injuries weren’t more severe. A relative fell inside her home and was forced to lay there until her husband returned to lift her from the floor. Thankfully her injuries were confined to bruising and swelling with no broken bones.

I have never met Ohio science teacher John Freshwater. Yet, I have no doubt he wants to be like Jesus. In fact, he wants it so badly that he lost his job over it, and he should have.

A few years back, I was working on a piece about the Civil War in southwestern Virginia. Fortunately, I had access to one of the world’s premier authorities on Civil War history, Dr. James I. “Bud” Robertson of Virginia Tech. Not only is he a genuine authority on this subject, he is also an extremely nice guy and has been willing to talk with me on several occasions. This time in particular, I asked Dr. Robertson how the general public in our region viewed the war. I will never forget what Dr. Robertson said, “Yes, fellows from Southwest Virginia did not hesitate to volunteer. They felt like their home was being invaded by the Union Army. But they also thought of the situation as a rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight.” Meaning the rich folks might blast each other with rhetoric, but for the most part it was the poor man being blasted by Minnie balls and cannons.

Piney and She Who Must Be Obeyed were amused by the television advances, with all of the emphasis put on mechanics, and none on perfections in what one watched.
Piney was reminded of the first time he saw a television.

Dust off your walking shoes; it’s Relay time again.

It was a rare occasion when a customer left our family’s country store without my Dad saying “come on back.” Genuine hospitality and good service were two of the hallmarks that my parents insisted upon in our family’s business.

Many families are choosing to stay closer to home this vacation season. With gasoline costs rising, one-tank trips are becoming a more attractive alternative for summer travelers.
One way to enjoy the warm weather months is a bike ride along the Virginia Creeper Trail, a retired railway corridor of the Virginia-Carolina Railroad that stretches from Abingdon to the North Carolina state line near Whitetop.

There are many sites to enjoy along the Virginia Creeper Trail from Whitetop to Damascus.
Bikers can visit Green Cove Station, a restored 19th century railroad depot that currently serves as a U.S. Forest Service visitor center and trailhead for the Virginia Creeper Trail.
Creek Junction offers a good spot for fishing. Waterfalls are picturesque. 

As my eyes adjusted to the predawn light, my heart skipped a beat when I spied the trap. The steel door had slammed shut and a monstrous, hairy, white creature was cowering in the corner. I had done it. I had trapped the beast. From deep within me a primordial roar erupted. In a single moment I was transported back to my ancient roots when I was the prehistoric hunter and trapper. All of nature feared me.