Let me tell you, last week I had the ability to truly traipse through Southwest Virginia and if you get the chance sometime soon, I fully suggest that you do so. 

I began my week in Radford, which is busy shaping up for fall.  Radford is a beautiful little town, home to Radford University.  If you make it to Radford any time of the year, make it this coming weekend.  October 3-4 is the Annual Highlander Festival– formally known as Homecoming Weekend and the Appalachian Events Committee’s 27th Annual Folk Arts Festival.  You can watch the Scottish games, get authentic scones and wear a kilt in public while petting a Highland Coo and seeing how far a man can sling a boulder.  What’s not to love?!  After you’re done being Scottish, you can swing over to the Appalachian Folk Arts Festival which is comprised of local artists who make and demonstrate their craft on site.  You can see everything from legendary pencil artist Willard Gayheart to Brad Smith’s carved Roosters andDanny Wingate’s leather working, all while listening to some of the best bluegrass and old time bands in the area.

After departing from Radford last week, I made a stop in Wytheville, which was charming as usual.  We  held a meeting at the Wytheville Community College.  They have an incredible facility there, not to mention they’re just down the road from Smokey’s BBQ.  I didn’t get to spend a whole lot of time in Wytheville, but it is one of my frequent stomping grounds.  I believe they’ve recently painted the hot air balloon shaped water tower, so there’s something to look for next time your east bound and down.

Thursday, I had the opportunity to be at Natural Tunnel State Park at the Cove Ridge Center in Scott County.  This place is GORGEOUS!  If you just go to look at the views off the deck of the Cove Ridge Center, it’s well worth the drive!  The weather was beautiful and Natural Tunnel State Park is by far one of the prettiest places on the face of the earth.

Keeping in mind that I was traipsing and not being able to hold still, our next stop was in Bristol on the VA/TN line.  I love Bristol and always have, but one thing keeps me coming back: Stateline Bar and Grill’s fried pickles.  ‘Nuff said.

After a restful night at the Exit 7 Holiday Inn, we got to go to Southwest Virginia Community College in Richlands.  I ahve always loved their King Center for the intricate brick carving in the foyer, but their new building is truly exquisite.  Animal carvings with a water feature down area river rock and views from the new library that would challenge the looks of Heaven.  I was certainly impressed and left breathless.

 Southwest Virginia is a great place to live and it’s trips like these that keep that a constant reminder in the back of my mind.  What’s your favorite Southwest Virginia spot?  Let me know and I’ll  be sure to check it out sometime.

 Shai Cullop

For all you travel lovers, there is a new way to get around the New River Valley and beyond: surfing. Now you may be wondering how that is possible in Southwest Virginia, but thanks to a nonprofit started in New Hampshire back in 1999, CouchSurfing.com allows members to “surf” virtually anywhere.

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“Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back,” states the motto for the American Cancer Society’s 25th annual Relay for Life fundraiser. As a region of the South Atlantic Division, Southwest Virginia has multiple teams you can join to participate in this year’s Relay for Life events.

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Students at the Pulaski Middle School have the opportunity to participate in an artificial society after school which includes “jobs, [paying] personal and business bills and [running] government meetings in the school-based microsociety.”  The society is “an after-school program aimed at teaching kids life lessons—work hard, pay taxes, respect each other and, when there’s a break, have fun.”

My first reaction after reading the article was jealousy that the kids had something cooler to do after school than I did.  I was intrigued by the creation of a fake society, and thought it would be neat to have a job and manage a business while I was in middle school.  Of course, my older, jaded mind instantly started to wonder how long it would take for crime and corruption to take hold in the small community.

My other reaction was one of disappointment.  I’ve always had this feeling that kids are being forced to grow up faster and faster as time goes by.  I miss the days back when kids were allowed to be kids.  I think I was finishing the eighth grade when I got my first job officiating recreational soccer games.

Everything seems better when I was younger, especially cartoons.  I can’t believe what kids have to watch for entertainment today.  I can remember when the Ninja Turtles were all about pizza and being rad, but nowadays it seems like all they want to do is fight.  And I can’t believe I can’t ever watch Looney Tunes on Cartoon Network.

Sure the program is only about an hour or so after school, but the message is pretty clear that it’s time for the kids to start being adults.  There is so much time left in their lives after graduation it seems ridiculous to start working and stressing over bills already.

–Jonathan VanDerveer

http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/3counties/wb/185475

While our economy is the primary concern for many people right now, it is easy to forget about the military conflicts occurring that need support as well.  The Army needs vehicles to move its troops around.  Tanks, helicopters, and hummers are the first vehicles that come to mind, but the Army also utilizes Mack trucks.  

Well right here in the New River Valley, down at the Dublin Volvo plant, spokesperson John Walsh hopes to receive an order for 152 Mack trucks from the Army.  The order has already been placed, but Volvo is still deciding which plant will process it. With $28.5 million and three years of work produced by the contract, this deal would provide a huge boost to a small town manufacturer. 

The Dublin plant has 1,400 employees, with 973 of them classified as permanently laid off. I believe this contract would help create more jobs at the plant and bring more attention to a local business.  

-Philip Bloxam 

http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/181271