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Local author and educator Cynthia Atkins will be teaching a creative writing workshop, “Tell Your Story/Find Your Voice,” in six sessions beginning Tuesday, March 14, through Tuesday, April 18, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College.

A Virginia Military Institute graduate whose latest novel is partially set at his alma mater will be visiting Lexington tomorrow to sign copies of his book.

Lt. Col. Mary “Polly” Stewart Atwell, associate professor in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies at Virginia Military Institute, received a highly comp etitive, fully funded 10-day residency fellowship at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) in Amherst where she recently devoted time working on her second and third novels.

Activity Center Features TVs, Billiards, Food

The Lexington Woman’s Club has announced the winners of its annual writing contest held for area students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

There were lots of well-trained dogs displaying their various skills when the Star City Canine Agility Trials returned to the Virginia Horse Center over the weekend. The event is sponsored by the Star City Canine Training Club of Roanoke. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) joins fire departments throughout the commonwealth to raise awareness about fire safety this spring. Due to weather conditions, available “fuel,” and increased recreational activity, the possibility of wildfires surges this time of year. Earlier this month, several wildfires were contained in western regions of the state.

Mary Monroe of Lexington earned dean’s list honors during the fall 2022 semester at Hollins University. - Sasha Hickman of Buena Vista was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Bluefield University. - Macey Riley of Bustleburg made the fall dean’s list at Radford University.

Organizational Meeting March 4

Five students from Enderly Heights Elementary School and five students from Parry McCluer Middle School went headto- head in a division-wide spelling bee competition on Feb. 1. The spelling bee champion was PMMS seventh-grader Sebastian George (left), and Ivy Talley (right), a sixth-grader, was runner-up. “There were no material prizes, but excitement and pride were exhibited by all participants,” said PMMS Principal Debbie Gilbert about the event, which was live-streamed so that fellow students and relatives could watch from home. Sebastian will move on to compete in the regional spelling bee being held in Roanoke in the spring.

Pop Goes The World

50 Years Ago

When former President Jimmy Carter visited Virginia Military Institute in 2001 to accept the inaugural Jonathan Myrick Daniels Humanitarian Award, he described Daniels, who gave his life in 1965 for the cause of Civil Rights four years after graduating from VMI, as “a true hero … He led an exemplary life. He’s been an inspiration to many people.”

Multiple Tasks Planned Over Next 15 Years

At the “Bond of Family” history program in Glasgow Saturday, Glasgow Mayor Paul Williams presents a bouquet of roses and a plaque to Roberta Thompson Lyle, the oldest living descendant of Garland Thompson Sr., who was enslaved on the Buffalo Forge industrial work farm before and during the Civil War. The program, sponsored by the Rockbridge Regional Library in conjunction with the Rockbridge Historical Society, featured comments by descendants of Thompson, as well as by a descendant of one of the families that owned the Buffalo Forge complex. There were also displays and music from the audience and members of local church choirs. (Carolyn Bradley photo)

Collaborative Effort Supports Assault Victims

The Lexington branch of the Rockbridge Regional Library reopened on Friday, Feb. 17, for the first time since a burst pipe on Dec. 25 resulted in damage to portions of the library’s floors, particularly in the children’s section and the Piovano meeting room. Both of those sections remain closed to the public for the time being. Library Director Julie Goyette said that they hope to be able to reopen the meeting room for small groups and some activities in the coming weeks, and, while part of the floor in the children’s section has been replaced, the library is waiting for new shelves for that section of the library before replacing the rest of the floor. The collection of books in that section of the library is still available, but access to the shelves is limited to staff only for the time being. (Joseph Haney photo)

By Carolyn Bradley After two years of serving as Glasgow’s town manager, George Hayfield is heading just a little south to become the town manager of Buchanan.

Company Officials To Attend Next Council Meeting

Carolyn Bradley, 540-258-2720 A large crowd was on hand for the “Bond of Family” event held at the James Thompson Sr. Community Center on Saturday afternoon. There were lots of displays, and stories told by descendants of Garland Thompson, who was enslaved at the Buffalo Forge industrial farm owned by William Weaver and D.C.E. Brady.