Editor’s note: This is the second of two installments detailing the author’s recent excursion into the prickly pretty Pacific Northwest.

Sept. 6, 2008

An apparent joyride through several corn fields and a pumpkin patch has resulted in two felony charges against a 17-year-old male student at Rural Retreat High School. Petitions for felony destruction of property against the suspect are being sought by the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office.

It’s hard not to have a grin on your face after you spend a few minutes with Karen Semones.

Paul Wirt isn’t the type of person to let a little thing like a mangled appendage slow him down.

Everyone in the region from school children to radio listeners, newspaper readers and television viewers started getting the message last week that no matter where they live, study work and play, their activities, for good or ill, affect a river.

A part of Old Testament history is on display at the Rural Retreat Fairgrounds. The full-scale life-size model of the tabernacle or Moses’ Tent Sanctuary is open to the public through Sunday, Sept. 14, at no charge.

Erik Lutjen may be a rookie teacher, but he already knows just what to do to get middle-schoolers to pay attention.
Bring up guts.
“Ewww, my intestines are moving when I breathe,” Lutjen said to a chorus of giggles as he demonstrated proper breathing techniques to his seventh-grade band students. “When we’re breathing we have to make sure we’re breathing with our stomach, not our chest.”
While Lutjen’s title is simply band director of Rural Retreat’s middle and high schools, it was apparent during his second day of teaching Thursday that the position requires much more than just musical acumen.

Following a successful two-day event this past Sunday and Monday, the organizers of Josiah’s GrahamfestUSA are already looking toward next year. They may add a third day of festivities.
“You measure success with a lot of different yardsticks,” remarked Mary Lin Brewer, director of the Labor Day weekend event on the grounds of the historic Major Graham Mansion in eastern Wythe County. “We’re so pleased with the festival on lots of different levels but we’re still learning what works and what doesn’t.”
What worked for the estimated daily crowd of 4,000, Brewer said, was the pre-Civil War property complete with “haunted” mansion. Ghost walk tours and general interest in the site were immensely popular, according to her.

This summer, the Rev. Mary Briggs has devoted work time to Facebook, the online social network site.