Articles

Kendal at Lexington is the 2023 recipient of the Virginia LeadingAge Workplace Excellence Award. This award recognizes a community that demonstrates investment in its staff and the workplace environment for the delivery of quality care and services.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col Woody Sadler, past district governor of Rotary District 7570, served as the guest speaker at the Memorial Day Ceremony in Marion, N.C., sponsored by the Rotary Club of Marion, N.C. In his speech, Sadler talked about his experiences during the Vietnam War, including fighting during the Tet offensive and escorting 81 dead Marines via helicopter on the first leg of their final journey home. His full speech can be found on The News-Gazette’s website.

Brenan Schley, who graduated from Parry McCluer High School last month, recently signed his letter of intent to play Division III football for Ferrum College.

Eight members of the Rockbridge County High School Class of 2023 committed to compete at the collegiate level at the school’s Spring Signing Day on Wednesday, May 10.

Hay making equipment has been busy for some weeks due in part to a spate of dry weather favorable for drying newly mowed hay. Harvesting hay is a centuries-old rite of summer revolutionized by mechanization. Escalating costs of replacement equipment, parts, and fuel in recent years prompt me to return this topic.

Carrying on a tradition that started at the former Rockbridge Middle School, faculty and staff at Maury River Middle School used checkerboard racing flags to send their students off into the summer on the last day of school on May 25. At least one student paused to get his yearbook signed as he left. (Hope Huger photos)

Mike Strickler, board member of the Brownsburg Community Association, presents one of the association’s three $1,000 scholarships to Rockbridge County High School senior Sarah Allen. The two other scholarships went to Layne Campbell and Summer Wallace, both of whom graduated from Riverheads. The BCA was able to award three scholarships this year thanks in part to a significant donation from Bruce and Margaret Alexander. Allen, who was awarded a scholarship in honor of Chris and Julie Fox, plans to attend Mountain Gateway Community College for a year before transferring to a four-year school to become a nurse.

RCHS Graduate Applies Her Experience In Family Genealogy

Rockbridge Community Health Foundation along with Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital, announce the funding recipients for their 2023 grant cycle. A total of $540,015.73 will be awarded to 25 different organizations, including our local hospital.

Kindergarten, first and second grade students at Mountain View Elementary School perform their spring musical, “Bugz” last month. Dressed as various insects, students read dialogue and sang songs about the day in the life as a bug. (Hope Huger photos)

The Rockbridge Regional Tourism Board has awarded $15,000 to 13 local event planners in round five of their event sponsorship program. The events are being held between July and December 2023, and were chosen based on the strength of the application, the projected ability to attract out-of-town visitors, and how well the event aligns with tourism goals for the region.

Evelyn Ayres

Lexington native Hayes Larsen has been selected as the new Commanding Officer at Defense Service Office, West in San Diego, Calif. Starting on Aug. 3, Capt. Larsen will assume oversight of all defense counsel services for sailors on the west coast. His promotion to Captain in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps in May 2022 paved the way for this position. The promotion ceremony was held on the historic battleship USS Wisconsin, with Admiral Jonathan Stephens presiding over the event, surrounded by Larsen’s loved ones and colleagues.

Wednesday, June 14 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ‒ Rock-bridge Area Health Center’s mobile dental unit visit, old Goshen Public Library; to schedule an appointment, call (540) 464-8700, ext. 7195.

The local group Shester, Blake and Newhall perform on Boxerwood stage this past Friday as part of the nature center’s Music in the Garden summer concert series. The next concert will be June 23 with Bruce Allen and Jason Burke. (Claudia Schwab photo)

The transformation of a bank building into a Starbucks is nearing completion in the College Square Shopping, north of Lexington. The interior of the structure was gutted and a second floor removed, leaving the first floor with a cathedral ceiling. All of the electrical and plumbing work was redone, the roof was replaced and the outdoor parking lot was reconfigured and is being repaved. A retaining wall was installed on the outside edge of the parking lot’s west side. Construction work began last fall and is expected to be completed this summer. The bank building was constructed in the early 1990s. It was a Bank of Rockbridge branch originally and most recently was a branch for CornerStone Bank.

The 29th annual Maury River Fiddlers Convention will be held at Glen Maury Park in Buena Vista this Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17. The convention gets under way Friday at 6 p.m. and again on Saturday at 10 a.m.

The collegiate winners of the first Nathaniel G. Hughes Memorial Scholarship this spring were (from left) Kerry Blackburn, who attends James Madison University; Brooke Bolen, Liberty University; Alex Hinkle, Virginia Tech; and Grace Cauley, Radford University. The scholarship was set up by the family of Nathan Hughes of Lexington, who died last year at the age of 18, to support RCHS seniors and alumni who are pursuing a career related to special education services.

Virginia Military Institute welcomes Dr. Melissa S. Krawiec (née Williams) ’01, as the new Institute physician, 25 years after she signed the matriculation book Aug. 19, 1997, as a member of the first coeducational class. She continues the care formerly provided by Dr. David Copeland, who recently retired after treating the Corps of Cadets for 31 years.

Oxford Presbyterian Church last month awarded the Reeves-Whitehurst Scholarship to three graduating Rockbridge County High School seniors: Rachel, Paden and McKenzie Hines. Rachel will attend Liberty University to study criminology and forensic science and will also play lacrosse. Paden will attend the University of Northwestern Ohio to study automotive/ high performance technology. McKenzie will attend Radford University to study nursing and will also play lacrosse. Pictured are (from left) Carol Hines, their grandmother, McKenzie Hines, Paden Hines, their mother Kimberly Hines, Rachel Hines, and their father Johnathon Hines.

Buddy is a beautiful lab mix. He is approximately 2 years old and weighs 45 pounds. He is already neutered, vaccinated, de-wormed and heartworm tested negative and on prevention. He is a sweet boy in search of the perfect home. Could that be your home? Visit him at the Rockbridge SPCA.