Filmmaker Larry Cappetto teamed up with a network of independent funeral homes several years ago, thinking it might help him find the stories he wanted to tell.
A story about his series of films featuring veterans telling their own stories in their own words was included in the May-June edition of The Bulletin, a trade magazine for members of Selected Independent Funeral Homes. 

Aug. 27, 2008

As a child in Bland County more than 60 years ago, Geraldine Lambert Coffman learned how to preserve food for the long winter months. Today, she is carefully storing her memories of that bygone era on the pages of a book for all time.

While the oft-discussed consolidation of Bland County’s two high schools continues to be a project for the future, the Rockets and the Eagles may be joining together much sooner for the most famous high school ritual of them all.

The new school year will be much brighter for 49 children in Bland and Wythe counties. Thanks to GIV employees and their parent company, each child received new clothes, athletic shoes and a Jansport bookbag filled with school supplies.

If age begets wisdom, Bland County rapidly is becoming a very profound place.
Unfortunately, though, sageness isn’t usually the thing that brings a stampede of new businesses hurrying to a community.

Rural Retreat is known as the home of the famous Dr Pepper soft drink, but a new business in town is trying to carve out its own niche with a healthier form of liquid refreshment.
Boyer Milk Co. opened its doors at 439 Gienow Road behind Rural Retreat’s Food Country USA in early July.
The family-run business is owned by matriarch Debra Boyer who has been operating a dairy farm in Crockett for 40 years.
All of the milk sold at the store is farm fresh – locally produced and packaged on the same day.

Aug. 20, 2008

Call it community policing.
It was Monday morning and an ATV was missing from a yard along Wolf Creek Road in Rocky Gap. Word about the theft spread among locals, and a woman parked across from Woody’s convenience store noticed a man speeding by on a Suzuki four-wheeler.

The Bland County Historical Society wants to acquaint the community and adjoining areas with the heritage of local houses and other buildings. To do this, the society is hosting a tour of a historical home on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. as a fundraiser.