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** For any statement period that you do not meet the requirements stated above, ATM fees will not be refunded but you still earn a base annual per-centage yield of 0.10% APY* on your balance. Plus, you still get many other rewards including a free Generations Gold® membership.

Member FDIC* APY= Annual Percentage Yield as of 01/04/10. We use the daily balance method to calculate the interest on your account. APY may change at anytime after the account is opened. Minimum opening deposit of $100 for Checking and $1 for Savings. Available to personal accounts only.

We tookone of the bestchecking rates in the nationand addedone of the bestsavings rates.

Bootie Bell ChewningBOO_TEE@msn.com

Edna Dearing Anderson celebrated her 90th birthday Sunday at Thrasher Memorial Church with family _ Fred, Ann, grandchildren & great -grandchildren from Tennessee. Grandson Capt .Charles Anderson was unable to attend. He is serving his third deployment in Iraq. Karen & Dave & Claudine Hunt, Paul, Davis & Clara and friends. Friends included neighbors, Sunday School members, Eastern Star members, Vinton senior members & former work staff as well as Congressman & Mrs. Bob Goodlatte.

About 150 guests enjoyed light refreshments & of course birthday cake.A wonderful day for a great lady.

Willie Brown Celebrated her 90th birthday April 4th Her party was held at Vinton Baptist on Apr.3rd and Hazel Meador turned 93 April 5th.I want the recipe for these 3 ladies longevity. How wonderful.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Melanie Vest, Debbie Reynolds , Fred Anderson (son Of Edna) ,Chris Stull, Jim Sears, Jeff Howell (LA), Hope you all have or had a great day.

How does a 19 year old college student celebrate his birthday?Well, his mother and grandmother pull up outside Roanoke

College with a car full of pizzas, trays of wings and chicken tenders, cake and all the fixins’. Send him a text for him and his buddies to come outside and VIOLA’ the easiest birthday party ever!! Happy Birthday to Paul LaPradd, son of Melissa Hall and grandson of Betty & Garland Ballengee.

Get well wishes and prayers go out to Mary Clapsaddle , Edd Hepitstall (Springtree), Verlie Hall .

Thank You !!!! to Rud Peters Owner of The Landscape Store on Cloverdale Rd, for his generous offer to give $5 for each scoop of mulch sold Saturday to Vinton’s Relay for life in honor of Michele Yeatts. The Love for Michele was outpouring as the stream of trucks rolled in and Michele was there to greet them with a smile. Friend Melissa B. Hall brought her there in her bug with the top down . AH! Fresh air and it was beautiful, it’s the first time she had been out of the house since Feb. Michele & Rud thanks all that came by. If you need Mulch he may extend it thru this week. Call and see. Tell him Bootie sent you :)

So many wonderful fundrasier have been going on from Donut selling , Cancer Sucks T-shirts, Bracelets, Shirley Rice has made another Afghan to take donations on, Fire Dept Dinners $5 . Auction for dinner dates with well known celebrities., So many things happening. All of this will be list here in the Voice this week and next. It is next weekend Apr.16 & 17 th . There will be breakfast served Sat. morning and Entertainment to wake you up. If you have never been to a Relay for Life please do so this year. You won’t miss another one. This is an All night event. Walking all Night long because CANCER

NEVER SLEEPS!!!!PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE THIS

SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Two WBHS Reunions are being planned Class of

1990 ,20th For more info Check with Valerie Conner Moore at moore151@msn.com. They would love to get a count ASAP.

Class of 1980 30th- Sat Oct 29 Hotel Roanoke, http://twitdoc.com/c/ncms9k -invitation. Registar at http://twitdoc.com/c/nywp4c, www.CreativeReadInc. Or 703-966-6960

Catherine ‘Shorty” Sublett Read and committee would like to know ASAP . they may open t up to other classes and would like for the a Late Boomers to have first priority . don’t miss out on all the fun. Let Valerie and Shorty now something soon.

Hats Off To Burton Center for performing arts and their USO Show Last thurs. Another Smash Hit!!!!

Mark Calenders now for Up coming ANNIE GET YOUR GUN at WBHS . By the WBHS PLAYERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait to see it.

Edna Anderson and her three great-grandchildren - Paul Riley Anderson, Davis Powell Anderson & Clara Kay Hunt.

VOICE 03

ON THE COVER

Photo by Danny Cruff

116 S. Poplar Street - Suite 1Vinton, VA 24179

540-904-5836 - Office540-904-5838 - Fax

info@vintonvoice.comwww.vintonvoice.com

Dan Vance Editor-in-Chief dan@vintonvoice.comChris Manning Advertising Director chris@vintonvoice.comBrian Manning Circulation Director brian@vintonvoice.comJacob Clifton Delivery/General info@vintonvoice.comDanny Cruff Senior Contributor danny@vintonvoice.com

EDITORIAL

COLUMNISTSBootie Bell Chewning General Info BOO_TEE@msn.com

CONTRIBUTORSBarbara Dillon Contributor news@vintonvoice.comMelanie Meador Photography Intern melanie@vintonvoice.comHal Mabe Special Contributor news@vintonvoice.comDanae Wensley Contributor news@vintonvoice.com

The Vinton Voice accepts and encourages letters to the editor.

Letters must not exceed 400 words, must be signed and

accompany contact information of the writer for verification purposes. Send to editor@

vintonvoice.com with the subject line ‘Letter to the Editor.’

Copyright © 2010All rights reserved by Vinton Voice Newspapers

In BriefVinton Dogwood Festival Bike Rally

Wood’s Service Center and Motorcycles and More will be bringing the Bike Rally back to the Dogwood Festival this year. After a 3 year lay off of the Bike Rally it will return bigger and better. In addition to the BIKER BURNOUT CONTEST will be the all new LOUDEST PIPES CONTEST. DJ Kellin Williams from RSP Entertainment will start at 9 o clock Sat morning April 24th with the live band TOTAL PACKAGE starting at 10:30. There will be bike related vendors, give always, and a Raffle for two lucky people to win $250 worth of gas from Stop In Food Stores. Raffle tickets will be on sale at Woods Service Centers, Motor Cycles and More and other Vinton Businesses for $1. There will be no charge to get in to the Rally. If you have any question please contact Tommy Wood at twoodtow@aol.com or by cell at 540-580-4675.

Relay for Life dinners on sale from Roanoke Fire-EMSJoin us for Vinton’s Relay for Life 2010 on April 16-17, 2010 at William Byrd High School.The Roanoke Fire-EMS Family is taking orders for the following to be served at Vinton’s Relay for

Life. Dinners are $5.00, which includes choice of BBQ or Chicken with 2 sides and a canned drink. Hotdogs are $1.00, place your order now. Please contact Kim Barker or Angie Lewis to place your orders at kbarker@rcs.k12.va.us or alewis@rcs.k12.va.us.

GFWC Woman’s Club of Vinton Yard SaleThe GFWC Woman’s Club of Vinton Yard Sale will be held April 10, 2010 from 8 am to 12 pm at the

Charles Hill Senior Center building on the grounds of the Vinton War Memorial. The cost is $10 per space. There will be a limited number of inside the Center tables and outside spaces in the grassy area of the building are available. Outside spaces will need to provide their own tables. To pre-register for an inside table or outside space, call Sandy Hill at 540-977-3041.

Spirit Night for the Miss William Burd Scholarship PageantCome out for the second Chuck E Cheese Spirit Night on April 8 from 3-9pm benefiting the Miss William

Byrd High School Scholarship Pageant. Titleholders from around the area will be on hand at the Electric Road location including Miss Smith Mountain Lake Victoria Jordan, Miss Blue Ridge Sarah Lee Fitzpatrick and Miss William Byrd High School Jenna O’Leary.

Resident joins PR AgencyVinton Resident Karenna Glover has joined Access Advertising & Public Relations as Public Relations

Account Manager, responsible for developing and implementing public relations activities for several of the agency’s clients.

Glover brings more than 10 years of PR and marketing experience to her new position. Prior to joining Access, she managed marketing campaigns and media relations for The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com. She has also held communications positions in the New Orleans-based offices of two of the nation’s largest non-profit healthcare organizations, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.

Glover graduated with a Journalism and English degree from Indiana University and began her career as a reporter for The Watertown Daily Times in upstate New York. A mother of two young daughters, Glover also serves on the boards of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and Roanoke County PTA.

The time is nearing. It’s your senior year and you are about to embark on the journey in which some people call, the rest of your life! Many of you soon to be graduates, have chosen the educational path to continue on making your dreams a close reality. However, many of you are still undecided on where to exactly set yourself. I hope that the words I give to you will help you make the right choice for the first step into your future.

Radford. What is it that comes to your mind when you hear that word? Education, media studies, nursing, a home away from home, where I want to go to college? The love that I have for this college is not what goes on outside the perimeter of the grounds, it’s not the extra circular activities that so many seem to think go on here on a daily basis, it’s the learning experience that has drawn me so closely to this school. Every class that I attend teaches me something, not only in the profession that I seek, but in the life’s lessons that you are supposed to learn while finding yourself.

Radford, for many of you, is only a short one hour ride down Interstate 81. For that reason, the campus is close enough for you to come home if you so choose, but it’s far enough away for you to gain the independence that many of you seek. Here, at this school, you learn how become yourself while studying, meeting new life-long friends, and meeting the high expectations of your professors.

I hope that when the decision making time has come, you don’t keep Radford University out of your mind. I hope that it is a school that you can see yourself at, growing into the person that you are supposed to be while learning the education you will need for your future. Radford is my school, make it yours.

-Sarah Belcher

Letter to the Editor

Attending Radford

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Reserve Your Spot Today– it’s easy!Reach the Vinton Voice by phone at 540.904.5836 By fax at 540.904.5838Or via e-mail at info@vintonvoice.com

Vinton, Bonsack, Mt.Pleasant

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Obituaries

Looking for an Internship

for college credit?The Voice is currently looking

for interns for this summerMust have computer,

communication, social media and research skills

and/or knowledgeContact Editor-in-Chief Dan Vance atdan@vintonvoice.com for more info

STEVEN DALE FLOWERS was born on August 5, 1956 to Alvin and Betty Flowers. He departed this life on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at age 53. He was predeceased by his parents and sisters, Mary Darlene Allen and Cathy Marie Snead.

He is survived by daughters, Cynthia Stevens and Amanda Flowers; son, Steven Flowers, Jr.; stepson, Michael Barker; sister, Patricia Jean Stevens; brother, Alvin Leonard Flowers; grandchildren, Hannah Evans and Adam Evans; numerous nieces and nephews; and special niece, Stacey Stevens whom he lived with once he became disabled.

He worked for Asplundh Tree Experts for several years prior to becoming ill in 2006. He was an avid sports fan, although baseball was his favorite.

Funeral services will be conducted 10 a.m. Thursday, April 1, 2010 at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel with the Rev. Art Good officiating.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, March 31, 2010 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel and Crematory, 982-2221. e He

EDITH “BOB” MAXEY, 87, of Roanoke, passed away Friday, April 2, 2010. She was preceded in death by her husband, James W. “J.W.” Maxey, by a daughter, Janet Barton and a brother, George E. Divers, Jr. Mrs. Maxey I survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Pam Maxey, Virginia Beach; daughter, Betty M. Woolwine, Roanoke; grandchildren, Pamela Bryant and husband, Russell, Roanoke; Thomas S. Maxey, New Orleans; Jill A. Powell, Chapel Hill, NC; great grandchildren, Colston Bryant, Sara Bryant, T. J. Maxey, and Tyler Maxey; and a sister and brother-in-law, Bernice and Lewis Holland, Roanoke. The family would like to give a special acknowledgement to employees of The Court @ Roanoke and Snyder Nursing Home. A service will be held at 10 am Monday, April 5, 2010 at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel with Dr. Ken Scoggins officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 pm Sunday, April 4, 2010 at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel, 982-2221.

JAMES T. “BUDDY” “PEEPAW” CRAIG, 82, of Vinton passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2010 with

his wife by his side.He was a longtime member of Hollins Road Church of the Brethren and retired from Norfolk and Western

with 43 years service as a Hostler.He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Odie Craig; and sister, Marlene Sarver and husband,

Paul.Survivors are his wife of 57 years, Roberta S. “Bert” Craig; son, James Burt Craig and fiancé, Sharon I. Gills;

daughter, Jamie Craig Lamb; grandsons, Brian Neil Craig and wife, Nicole, Gerald L. “Tripp” Lamb III, and Jesse Lamb; great grandchildren, Kaydence and Kaleb Craig; brother, Ralph W. Craig and wife, Eva; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday, April 2, 2010 at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel with Pastor Horace P. Light officiating. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 3-6 p.m., Thursday, April 1, 2010 at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel, 982-2221. ILENE HALL MAXEY, 92, of Vinton passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2010.She was an instructor at the American Beauty School and also was employed by Roanoke Mills. She was a

member of the Vinton congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses since 1940.She was preceded in death by husband, Sidney W. Maxey, Sr.; sons, Sidney W. Maxey, Jr. and Tommy Maxey;

granddaughter, Christina Rose Stevens; son-in-law, Paul G. St.Clair; and daughter-in-law, Patricia Woods Maxey.Survivors are son, Larry D. Maxey; daughters, Bonnie M. St.Clair and Becky Carsons, and husband, Chuck; 12

grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and daughters-in-law, Ruth H. Maxey and Trina Maxey. Graveside services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Friday, April 2, 2010 at Mountain View Cemetery with Brother Ben Henderson officiating.

The family will receive friends from 2-9 p.m., Thursday, April 1, 2010 at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel, 982-2221.

LARRY EDWARD GOAD, 52, of Roanoke, transferred to the Church Triumphant on Good Friday, April 2, 2010. He was born on January 4, 1958, a son of William E. and Joyce Arthur Goad. He is survived by his parents; his beloved wife of 17 years, Betty Hite Goad; his daughters, Cara and Alissa, and his grandson, Breone Easterling. He is also survived by his devoted siblings, Sandra Sowards (Tony) and Greg Goad (Patty). Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Larry was a carpenter and for 15 years was employed by Roanoke City. His co-workers have honored him with timeless care in his courageous battle with cancer. He was a member of Brookhill Baptist Church and his family appreciate their many acts of caring. His family also wishes to thank his City School Board co-workers and hospice caregivers: Donna Spence, Julie Bauman, Myrna Lumsden and Amanda Cartwright. Larry had a meek, sweet soul and was a caring, thoughtful person. He enjoyed sports; especially, playing softball. The service to celebrate his life will be Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 12 noon at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel with Pastor Gary Norris officiating. Burial will follow at Old Dominion Memorial Gardens. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm on Monday, April 5, 2010, at Oakey’s Vinton Chapel, 982-2221.

THOMAS GENE ROBERTS, born March 1 1936 of Roanoke Va. Went home to be with our Heavenly Father on March 29, 2010. Tommy grew up in Kingsport and graduated from Sullivan High School. He was preceded by his father Clyde Roberts of Kingsport a retiree of the Tennessee Eastman Company and his mother Ruby Roberts of Kingsport. He is survived by his son Gary Roberts of Jonesborough, Tennessee, his brothers Norman Roberts of Spokane WA. Douglas Roberts and his wife Patricia of Excelsior Springs MO. Dallas robets and his wife Dana of Weber City VA. Nieces Carmen Jones of Kearney MO. Bridget Miller of Weber City VA. In addition, Kathy Skjold of Spokane WA. Nephews are David Roberts of Weber City VA, and Douglas Robert’s 11 of Kearney MO. And many great nieces and nephews. A private graveside service is planned. The family would like to thank all the nurses and Hospice Care of Roanoke VA. In addition, his friend John Eaken for many hours of taking care of Tommy. God bless all of you. Arrangements by Oakey’s Vinton Chapel (982-2221).

RACHEL EVELYN GILES FORTE, age 99, of Blue Ridge passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2010. She was born August 5, 1910 the daughter of the late Walter Giles and Mary Brown Giles. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roswell Fore; seven brothers, Nelson, Otis, Henry, Grover, Russell, Irvin, Claude; sister Merlin Martin. Surviving are Nealie Wooldridge and her husband, Elmer of Blue Ridge; three grandchildren, Tammie Vaughn and husband, Frederick, Julie Buckingham and husband, Christopher, Alan Wooldridge and wife, Jamie; eight great grandchildren; one great great grandson; four sisters, Lena Webber of Blue Ridge, Nannie Robbins and husband Bobby of Martinsville, Vivian Walker and husband, Roy of Blue Ridge, Nolie Markham and husband, Bill of Bedford County. Funeral services were conducted 11 AM Monday, April 5 at Lotz Vinton Chapel with Dr. Robert Moore officiating. Interment followed in Jeters Chapel Cemetery. The family received friends Sunday from 2 to 4 and from 6 to 8 PM at the funeral home. Arrangements by Lotz Funeral Home, Vinton Chapel. Online condolences at www.lotzfuneralhome.com.

FURNITURE

Sofa, recliner combo, $350. 540-589-3936

WANTEDVinton Chamber of

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and is looking for the following things:

Desk, Desk chair, Desk accessories, Desk

lamps or pole lamp, 3 chair mats without cleats, Table or stand for printer, Coat tree,

Umbrella stand, phone, Visual Aids: Screen, Laptop; Speaker’s

Stand, Kitchen supplies (such as pitchers,

platters,etc for serving)Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce NEW

location: 116 S.Poplar St., Suite 1A – Vinton,

VA 24179Call: 540-343-1364

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VOICE 05

Everybody Reads the VoiceAfter last Wednesday’s thrilling 9-8 win over Salem, senior catcher Tanner Trivellin and team manager Evan Owens take time to look at the March 31 issue featuring their Byrd Baseball brothers on the cover, showing that even when you should be doing...well, whatever the Vinton Mafia may do....Everybody Reads the Voice.

Photo by Melanie Meador

VOICE

For the past year, the Town of Vinton has been working on a plan to revitalize our downtown. Now we are asking for your input.

On April 14 and 15 we will be hosting two public open house design workshops, where we will work together with the community on the details of the downtown revitalization project. Vinton residents, businesses, and property owners are encouraged to attend and provide suggestions.

The downtown revitalization project has been made possible by a planning grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development. With the help of Hill Studio, a Roanoke-based architectural design firm, the Town of Vinton is using the planning grant to conduct surveys and gather physical and economic data about our Town. We are asking ourselves many questions, like which locales our visitors

are coming from and what they are attracted to, what type of businesses our community needs and what it can support, and whether there are safety concerns in our downtown.

After all the data has been collected, Hill Studio and TOV Planning and Zoning will construct a downtown revitalization plan. The Town will then apply for a Community Development Block Grant, which will be used to implement the plan.

Hill Studio recently completed similar projects in Haysi and Pocahontas, Virginia. Hill employee Patrick Hughes said these projects went extremely well, with both cities applying for the Community Development Block Grant.

“The Block Grant is not hard to get, as long as you have a well-thought out plan that answers all the questions. That’s what we’re doing now,” Hughes said.

And so, we are asking you, our citizens, to help us answer any questions, resolve any problems or concerns and tell us how to make our downtown

thrive for years to come. We want to know how you feel about our downtown and what you would like to see in the future. Bring us your ideas and recommendations.

A drop-in design workshop open house will be held on Wednesday, April 14 from 4 p.m. – 5:30 pm. and a presentation of community analysis and revitalization strategies will be held on Thursday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m. Both events will be held at the Vinton War Memorial and are open to the public. Please join us in improving downtown Vinton for today and tomorrow.

If you have any questions regarding the downtown revitalization plan or the open houses, please contact TOV Planning and Zoning Director Anita McMillan at 540-983-0601 or amcmillan@vintonva.gov.

06

Danae WensleyTown of Vinton

Onzlee WareMember, House of Delegates

Eleventh District325 N. Jefferson Street

Telephone: 540-344-7410Part of Roanoke City and Town of VintonCommittees: Appropriations, Counties,

Cities and Towns, and EducationPaid for and Authorized by Delegate Onzlee Ware

Dogwood Festival HighlightsHave you ever wanted to be a balloon handler for one on those larger than life balloons like in the Macy’s Parade? The Dogwood Committee needs about 30

volunteers 16 yrs and older to help with balloons, celebrity heads, and the parade line-up. The committee is still accepting parade entries through April 12. You can obtain a participant application and complete festival details on www.vintondogwoodfestival.org or calll 983-0614. Please contact Mary Beth Layman at 983-0613 or e-mail mblayman@vintonva.gov if your can volunteer.

Vintage Market at the Vinton Farmer’s Market this Saturday and Bedding Plants AvailableThe first event of the Vinton Farmers’ Market season begins this Saturday, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. This is a great place to buy or sell nice quality antiques and

collectibles. The spaces are only $5.00. The Vintage Market will be held monthly. We also welcome Curtis Wood back to the market this Saturday. He will selling local bedding plants. The Vinton Farmers’ Market is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Call Mary Beth Layman at 983-0613 or e-mail mblayman@vintonva.gov to reserve a space or to obtain vendor information about selling produce, plants, baked goods and crafts.

From Around Town In Brief

VOICE

There was once a student who had the bright idea of jabbing a paper clip into an electrical socket during his fourth grade elementary class. So, young Kevin Tuck decided that if a paper clip was fun then a house key would be even better. That was just one of sparkling ideas that came out of that class.

The kid with the key – that was the same Kevin Tuck who now teaches at William Byrd High School.

Things haven’t changed much. Just last year a student in Tuck’s class leaned back and accidentally crashed into the wall of his classroom trailer

Through these experiences and others, Tuck has developed an interesting philosophy on teaching.

“My ultimate goal would be to have a classroom that is enjoyable enough that students don’t even realize they are learning,” Tuck said.

Tuck’s favorite classes to teach are sociology and current affairs.

“Sociology gives kids the chance to discuss things that they don’t normally get to discuss in school,” Tuck said. “Current Affairs exposes kids to politics and other things going on around them and gives them a chance to form their own opinions on the world.”

Tuck did not always envision himself as a teacher.

“I couldn’t see myself sitting behind a desk all day and I wanted a job that I could be able to interact with people,”

Tuck said. “Teaching isn’t something that me or anyone else would have seen coming when I was in high school, but I’m glad that it worked out.”

Tuck enjoys his job for the simple things.

“The best thing about teaching is getting to interact with hundreds of awesome young people on a daily basis. William Byrd is fortunate to have a great group of students, faculty, and a community that loves to support its school.”

Students have a very positive response to Tuck’s teaching style.

“Hands down, he is my favorite teacher. He actually takes time to listen, and is the easiest teacher to talk to,” said 2009 graduate Mary Childers. “His sense of humor makes learning exciting, and you’re never bored, that’s for sure.”

Tuck spends his time “hanging out with the family and my wife,” he said “I teach a 2nd grade Sunday school class at Bonsack Baptist Church. I also always like playing golf and watching sports.”

Tuck has two children, both girls.

“Reagan is 6 years old and named after the greatest president ever,” he said. “While Emily is 4 years old and enjoys doing whatever it takes to make other people laugh.”

Tuck, who is 32 years old, is a true Vintonite. He was born and raised in Vinton. He attended elementary school in what is now W.E. Cundiff and high school at WBHS.

He then went on to attend Radford University after graduating from WBHS in 1995. He earned a double major in history and social science with

a minor in criminal justice at Radford.

He is now a world history part II, world geography, current affairs, and sociology teacher - as well as a golf and basketball coach at WBHS.

“I really can’t see myself doing anything else,” said Tuck, who plans to teach until his retirement.

07

Tuck makes class Entertaining

Ashley HuffmanTerrier Times Staff

Photo by Kate McGuire

VOICE

A teacher who is striving to create interesting and new ways for students to learn

in high school is something most students appreciate and remember. Mr. Rusty Galbreath is one of those teachers at William Byrd High School.

“He’s an amazing teacher that’s easy to talk to and appreciates the opinions of others,” said WBHS senior, Tayler Burley. “He’s definitely

my favorite teacher,”Galbreath teaches Physics and Ecology

classes at William Byrd High School. Galbreath graduated from a school in Ridgeway, Virginia in 1985. He continued with his education at Virginia Tech.

“When I was younger, I thought I was going to be either an astronaut or an engineer, especially after getting into Virginia Tech,” Galbreath said.

However, once he got into college, plans changed.

“After I got involved with Boy Scouts in college, I discovered I really liked working with kids.”

After graduating, he taught at Glenvar High School for about eight years, but has felt very welcomed by WBHS the past three years.

“He makes class really fun and breaks down the curriculum so it’s easier to understand,” said senior, Leslie McMillan.

Within the school, Galbreath is an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) sponsor at WBHS. He was the FCA director at Glenvar for 8 or 9 years.

“It was important for me because God used me to help students, “ he said.

At FCA, they get to incorporate music and “God gets to introduce himself in different ways,” Galbreath said.

The FCA meets every Thursday 7:30 a.m.“I look forward to FCA every Thursday

morning. It’s a great time of fellowship with other Christian students at our school,” said junior, Logan Naff.

Galbreath’s outside school activities include being involved with his church and spending time with his kids. Galbreath has four children, ages 12, 10, 9, and 6.

“Recently we’ve gone sledding, but we also like to go to Thunder Valley and sometimes camping,” he said.

08

Pictures from every issue of the Vinton Voice...ever! Now Online!

Derrick Palmer...Chris Lawrence...Brad Grose... Firehouse S8 ‘N Play...Kacy Edsall...Mike Altizer...

Fall Festival...Jake Mankin...Barry Brooks Photography...Betty Divers...Holly Farris...many more!

Galbreath discovers classroom is his Universe

Katie McGuireTerrier Times Staff

Photo by Katie McGuire

Juniors Aaron Hagerman and Logan Naff enjoy fellowship with Mr. Galbreath at FCA Valleywide, a once a month event downtown at First Baptist Church.

VOICE

Barbara DillonContributor

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A History of Vinton, Virginia, 1-of-5

No history of Vinton would be possible without a mention of Roanoke.It’s hard to visualize that shortly after the settlement of Jamestown,

colonists learned from Indians that several days journey to the west, by a chain of mountains, beyond which lurked unknown terrors, was a beautiful river valley almost surrounded by mountains.

Near present Petersburg, at Fort Henry, was an Indian Village and due to an interest in fur trading, had become a trading center.

Trails branched out from here toward the West.In September of 1671 Thomas Batts, Thomas Wood and Robert Fulliam,

accompanied by an Appomattox Indian Chief, Perecute, set forth to find the ebbing flow of waters on the other side of the mountains.

In four days they reached the town of Sapony Indians and were welcomed. They hired a Sapony guide to show them the short cuts. Seven Appomattox Indians joined them. After a few days they sighted the mountains.

On September 9, after reaching the Sapony River where it was narrow, crossing a second mountain by a course to the southwest, they arrived at the Tetera town, which was located in a very rich swamp and the main body of the Roanoke River, circled about with mountains. Historians agree this site was the Roanoke Valley.

It was very possible other white men had been there earlier and probably found a rich source for furs.

Over the centuries herds of buffalo, elk and deer had trodden the marshy bottom.

The many springs and branched had a saline content and when creeks were running full or flooding the Tinker Creek was hazardous and the surrounding land would become impregnated with salt mud. When dried out, wild animals would come for miles about. So the name “the Great Lick” or “the Big Lick”.

The Carolina Trail came up and met the Great Road which came down through the valley from Philadelphia and met in Roanoke, and there was then a direct route north, south east and west. The Indians followed these trails.

During the Revolutionary War (October 13, 1756) it is reported that George Washington came by the way of Adney Gap and stayed at the house of Roda Evans, near the mill, at which today Crystal Springs, near Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was looking for a place to build a fort, but no record was ever found that they built one.

By 1838, Big Lick had grown quite a bit with all sorts of businesses, churches, hotels and mills and even a railroad.

Much of the area near the Roanoke River became known for its hemp, wheat and tobacco. In 1854 Roanoke County showed records of 950 slaves over age 16, 2, 105 horses, sheep, and cattle, 21 carryalls, 11 gigs, 26 pleasure carriages, 9 piano fortes, 87 clocks, 113 silver watches, and 30 gold watches personal property was increasing.

The railroad was completed to Roanoke on November 1, 1852, but occasioned little comment. The road came from Lynchburg to Big Lick to Salem. This railroad followed the easiest terrain to follow in the fastest and easiest route possible.

VOICE14

McCarty aims for accessibility and comfort at Grand Rental

Grand RentalStorage

Dan VanceEditor-in-Chief

In 1989, Chris McCarty and his father started a place in Vinton known as Grand Rental Storage as kind of an addition for their already existing McCarty’s Hardware. Three years later, they sold that store and the younger McCarty has been on the move since.

In 1998, McCarty saw the construction of the business’ current home at 1000 Vinyard Road, just behind McDonald’s. In addition to the Grand Rental business that he had come to

master, McCarty added on the storage aspect of the business with four storage areas on the land behind the main building. Over the past twelve years, he has expanded that area twice.

“We looked into the availability of the land and the location. A lot of people tell us that one of the reasons they went with us is because it’s so convenient,” McCarty said, while noting he has seen many more storage places popping up over the years since. “In Vinton, a lot of people that rent are just across the street or just down the road a bit.”

And while expansion of the storage aspect is in McCarty’s long-term plans, he aims today to make the experience positive and the are

accessible for those who store their property with his company. While many other facilities that serve the same purpose put up big fences and locked gates, McCarty wants his renters to have access 24 hours a day, while he does note that he encourages them to visit between 6 am and 10 pm.

In 2008 however, McCarty sold the Grand Rental Station aspect to a larger company that also has businesses in Salem, Blacksburg and Lynchburg.”

I still enjoy doing the Rental part of it, it just takes a little of the stress off because like everything else, there is not a whole lot of anything that is really thriving right now,” he noted.

A benefit of the sale and expansion of locations according to McCarty is the availability of different products and options to the customers. He says that with the system installed last year that allows them to look up what the other locations have that can still be rented in Vinton, there are almost unlimited resources for his customers.

“A lot of times if we don’t have it at this store, we can get it at one of the other stores. We pull from there so that kind of makes it nice,” he said.

From costumes, props and everything you need to throw that next big party, to bobcats and mini-excavators, Grand Rental has something for most occasions.

They also offer tools for construction big and small, electronic equipment, banquet needs, plumbing equipment, painting equipment, moving supplies and everything in between.

Chris McCarty has been working for 21 years to serve the Vinton area with pretty much whatever they may want and Grand Rental has helped him accomplish that task.

So what does Grand Rental Storage have to offer you, the common consumer of Vinton?

Well McCarty can sum it up pretty easily for you:

“We have a pretty good selection of everything really.”

VOICE

On April 16-17, the town of Vinton will rally together for an event known as the Relay for Life. For the uninitiated, it is an event that happens nationwide on scales both big and small to spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, remember those who lost their lives to cancer and unite a community in the fight against cancer.

Zak Obenchain knows the ailment and the fight all too well.

As 2009 came to a close, Zak lost his father, former Vinton Councilman Billy Obenchain to a more rare form of the disease known as Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

“I guess it never really hit me until after he passed...I’ve wanted to get involved for so long, wanted to do something. But he had gotten so sick at times, then turned right around and got better that I think this last time that we were still kind of thinking he was going to get better,” Zak says. “So I never really thought to do much to get involved until after everything happened and I felt like it was time to start doing something to make a difference.”

Zak and other Roanoke City Fire and EMS crew members will help towards making that difference at Vinton’s Relay for Life event.

They were sparked by how hard the disease has hit their department over the past year. In October, Captain Chris Brown of Station 1 in Roanoke City passed away suddenly from brain cancer. According to Obenchain. After

a couple of weeks of bad headaches, but off as just migraines, Brown took a trip to the emergency room where they discovered a fast growing and aggressive tumor on the front of his brain. Within 30 hours of the discovery of the tumor, Brown passed away.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t know anything, nobody knew anything was really wrong. That hit really hard, even though he wasn’t my captain,” says Obenchain, who works at Station 2. “The guys at my station and Station 1, they work really close together.”

The sudden loss of Captain Brown, his father’s passing and two more cancer stories in the department– Deputy Chief Billy Altman and Paramedic/Firefighter Dave Palmer, have inspired the department to push forward with their involvement.

Altman underwent treatments to shrink a tumor on his kidney and recently underwent surgery where it is believed the tumor was fully removed. Palmer was diagnosed with colon cancer and is recovering at home with new treatments, according to Obenchain.

With a group of seven-to-eight currently, the two stations will combine again for Relay. During the event, Station 1 will be selling boxed dinners for $5.00, which includes choice of BBQ or Chicken with two sides and a canned drink. Hotdogs are $1.00, and orders can be placed now.

Obenchain himself will head up selling t-shirts, with all proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society for Relay for Life. The shirt will display images of the ribbons for both brain cancer and lymphoma with the initials for Brown and Zak’s father Billy. The shirts cost $15 and $17 for XXL and can be purchased through Zak at zobenchain@cox.net.

The event will take place of a ‘C-Shift’ day, which was the shift that both Brown and Billy Obenchain

worked on. The younger Obenchain also currently works on that shift and noted that other members of the department have generously donated their time to cover the shift for those who want to take part in the

Relay.Growing up next to Cancer

survivors Don and Carolyn Williams, who are heading up Vinton’s Relay event, Zak has found an appreciation for participating in events to raise awareness and participate in the fight against a disease that has affected so

many.“It seems like nowdays, Cancer

is like a common cold– everyday you hear somebody...Sally down the street has it or s0-and-so has it,” he says. “And someday, hopefully it will be able to be treated like a common cold and it won’t be such a bad thing. But for anyone who wants to get involved, find a way – pick a route and go for it.”

Zak’s fighting spirit is one that many people can attribute to his father and the hours that they were able to spend working together over the years.

After always keeping in the back of his mind the thought of becoming a firefighter and following in his fathers footsteps, Zak finally did so three years ago and found himself working on the same shift his father did for 15 years. Six months after getting out of rookie school, he moved to Station

2– a place that Billy called home for nearly 20.

“He had a heart of gold, he loved this town. He couldn’t hardly ever say no. If somebody needed help doing something, or if anybody needed anything, if he caught wind of it, then he was right there,” Zak said of his father. “A lot of the guys that I work with now have said that he meant a lot to a lot of people, more than I know or than my family knows and he’s done a lot for a whole lot of people.”

Zak also made note of his father’s fighting spirit, something that can also be seen in the the young Obenchain.

“If I can make even just a small difference for the next person’s family member who gets diagnosed, at least it’s something,” Zak utters. “We can’t save the world all at once or on our own, but the more people that step up and do something, the easier it will be.”

‘Pick a route and go for it...’Relay for Life

Roanoke City Fireman Zak Obenchain, son of late Vinton leader Billy, urges residents of town to get involved in fight

Photo of Billy and Zak Obenchain submitted by Zak Obenchain

11

Dan VanceEditor-in-Chief

“We can’t save the world all at once or on our own, but the more people step up and do

something, the easier it will be.”

VOICE12

Vinton’s Patrick Mabe will be a busy man this summer while many fellow college students will be hanging out by the pool.

For the past month or so, Mabe has made the trip back home from JMU every weekend and spring break to drum up painting business for this summer. His focus is going door to door, with the help of a few friends, to offer free estimates for painting or staining houses, decks and fences.

How did Mabe get focused on painting? That actually happened at college.

College Works Painting of Irvine, California works through colleges all over the country to help college kids run their own business. Students learn to develop, implement and illustrate a strong work ethic while honing communication, organizational, management and sales skills.

Mabe went through several interviews and competed against hundreds of students to get chosen for this internship.

College Works Painting has the business structure, takes care of all the legal aspects of a business, buys the insurance and provides the trainers (previous successful interns) and guides interns on what it takes to have a successful business.

Mabe won’t actually be doing much of the painting himself, but will serve as the manager, doing the walk-through, preparing estimates, purchasing paint and supplies and hiring painters.

Sounds like you have the easy job Patrick...“Yeah, that sounds like the easy part but I can already see

what stress business people go through when having to worry about all the details and I will have to paint if my crew isn’t on schedule,” Mabe said.

What does it take to be successful?“Well, getting used to people saying no and sometimes

slamming the door in your face or even hiding behind drapes hoping you will just go away,” he added.

“I didn’t realize how hard this would be and it’s very frustrating walking all over the Valley in twenty five degree weather trying to find houses that need painting or staining and then finding someone willing to let you give a free estimate.”

Patrick said it’s not getting any easier going door to door but the warmer weather is helping people’s mood and he is just staying focused on his goal of painting 35 houses this summer.

“Yeah, once you realize that people don’t mean things personally and it’s up to me to show them that I’m offering a great service and price, they usually warm up to getting a free estimate. I’ve started booking jobs during my spring break and really want to work hard and set records with this business.”

Do you just paint houses?“Heck no,” he says.“Staining decks and fences seems to be a big market

because so many people have siding now and just about everyone has a deck”.

So if you or someone you know needs their house, deck or fence painted or stained this summer, now is the time to help a very determined college student reach his goal and learn a whole lot of life and business lessons in the process.

Patrick Mabe can be reached at 540-580-5454.

Former WBHS Student is making Brush

Strokes Around Town

VOICE 13

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VOICE14

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According to William Byrd boys tennis coach Jason Perdue, his team created an opportunity on Wednesday night: the opportunity to beat Salem. However as the Terriers opened that door for themselves, the Spartans promptly slammed it shut for the 6-3 win.

After dropping the first two singles matches, Byrd’s Jim Fisher and Trevor Perdue took their matches to tie breakers while teammates Bryce Martin and Will Trent were successful in winning at numbers five and six singles. But Salem took two of three doubles matches to claim the win.

Salem had jumped out to their early lead with Patrick O’Keefe taking number-one singles off Brennan Escobar 6-1, -60 and Will Drougas topping Joseph Davis 6-0, 6-0.

Fisher, playing his best tennis of the season according to Coach Perdue, and Trevor Perdue, riding a recent hot streak, took the first sets in number-three and number-four singles.

“For that moment, the door was open, and the Terriers were pushing through,” the elder Perdue said.

As good teams often do, however, the Spartans

rallied and won hard fought victories over Fisher and Perdue. Fisher fell to Evan Bond 4-6, 6-4, 10-4 while Perdue was on the losing end of a 3-6, 6-1, 10-8 score to Maxwell Cillignon.

Martin held strong for a 6-2, 6-4 win at number-five singles and Trent rallied, after losing 6-2 in the second frame, to take a 10-8 tiebreaker. Trent had taken the first set 6-2 himself.

Up 4-2, Salem won at number-one and number-two doubles to clinch the victory. The Escobar/Perdue pairing was topped 8-0 in the top spot, while Davis and Fisher fell 8-3. Martin and Blaine Mills won number-three doubles 8-5 to put Salem’s final margin at 6-3.

“A year ago, we lost 9-0 to Salem. No opportunities. Tonight, we created an opportunity to win,” Coach Perdue said.

The team finished their out-of-district season 2-5, but Perdue believes their play improves with every match.

“We believe in ourselves, and our next opportunity comes April 13 at Northside in our Blue Ridge District opener,” he said.

Amanda Stump and the William Byrd girls tennis team traveled to Salem last Wednesday night to meet up with the Spartans, and just like their male schoolmates, fell 6-3.

“We had a good day at Salem and I was very pleased with the way the girls played as a whole,” said Coach Stump. “Our first meet up with them was 8-1 and to improve to 6-3 with a few matches that could have went our way is a big accomplishment.”

Renee Chaney and Tiffany Hodges bookended the singles matches with wins for the Terriers at the number-one and number-six spots.

Taylor Patterson played strong at number-two singles in a close, but long match. The fatigue of Patterson’s long singles match may have carried over into her doubles effort with Grace Anna Chaney. The pair rallied late, but still fell in that contest.

Byrd’s third point of the event and only doubles win came at the number-three spot. Brittany Lane and the recently returned Holly

Thomas took the win there. Thomas missed the beginning of the season with an injury but has recently returned to the lineup and will likely see her role increased as the season charges forward.

Renee Chaney and Alle Willard also played strong in doubles.

“Chaney and Willard had a down to the wire match that went into tie-breaker which is a tough way to end a long match.” Stump said. “One mistake here and there can make or break that final outcome, the two have been playing really well together at number-one doubles and it is great experience for Willard who has really pushed to bring her game up this season.”

The girls will return to their home court on April 13 against Northside in District pay. They then travel to Botetourt on Friday, April 16.

“I am really excited for districts this year for the girls, if we can play like we did vs. Salem through our district season I truly believe good things are coming our way,” Stump

said.April 28 is the new makeup

date for the girls to play Glenvar. The match will be the makeup from

March 26’s postponed meet and they will also finish the March 29 partial match that was unable to be finished due to weather.

Photo by Danny Cruff

Renee Chaney returns a shot in Wednesday’s match at Salem. At number-one singles, Chaney was one of two successful Byrd players on the individual side.

Chaney leads Terriers in 3-6 rematch loss

Singles wins by Martin, Trent open door vs. Salem

Photo of Trevor Perdue by Melanie Meador

VOICE 15

Byrd surge spoils Salem fun in eighth>Terriers rally in seventh, take non-district win in extra inning on Clifton walk off double; show letdown on following night in first battle with Franklin County

Dan VanceEditor-in-Chief

It’s the bottom of the seventh inning and the Terriers have two runners in scoring position with two outs, down 8-7 after a frantic three-run rally. Senior Jacob McMillan steps to the plate and lines the second Salem pitch straight up the middle.

Fellow senior Kevin Bowles almost trots home from third, jumping feet in the air, fists pumping in high excitement as he scores. Freshman Devin Cassity rounds third and heads home as the Byrd dugout erupts. The throw is made, and bang– he’s OUT.

To say the least, the word ‘drama’ would be used as an understatement.That was the case last Wednesday as Byrd used seventh inning heroics to tie

the game and back-to-back eighth inning doubles to knock off Salem, 9-8 and gain retribution from a one-run loss to the Spartans already this season.

“I waved him and it was a bang-bang play. The kid from Salem made a great throw, the catcher put the tag on and honestly the call could have gone either way,” said Byrd co-head coach Chris Carr. “It ended up not hurting us because I thought at that point, we had gained the momentum back and felt like even if we did go to extra innings, we were probably going to win it in extra innings anyway.”

The excitement of the seventh inning showdown at the plate was the evident, but not the pinnacle of the evening as the Terrier completed a rally of five unanswered runs, culminating in senior Jacob Clifton’s walk off double in the extra frame.

Clifton, who had struggled at the plate during the game– swinging on two first pitch offerings early, knocked the ball deep into right center for his fifth RBI of the year and clearly the most important to date.

“He’s worked really hard all offseason and put it as much, if not more, work than anybody else in the program and it’s good for him to experience a little bit of success. He’s the guy we’re counting on to drive in runs, to get big hits,” Carr noted.

TOP: Byrd players and coaches react as Devin Cassity is called out at home plate in the bottom of the seventh in a tie ballgame.

RIGHT: Jacob Clifton watches his ball sail toward the fence during his eighth inning walkoff double that gave Byrd a 9-8 vs. Salem.

Photos by Melanie Meador

•See ‘BYRD SURGE’ - page 15

VOICE16

Kelli Kitchens scored William Byrd’s lone goal on Thursday night as they traveled to, and fell on, the home field turf at Patrick Henry, 3-1.

After struggling in the first half with protecting the middle the of the field, Byrd found themselves in a 2-0 hole at the break. While Coach Russell Dishman was happy with how his team controlled the flanks, they were exploited in the middle of the field, unlike their previous game against Salem.

In the second half, the Terriers were able to move the ball around well and spread out on the field a little bit more to help control their possession. That spread allowed Kitchens to dribble to the goal line and knock in a shot that hit the side netting near the far post for Byrd’s only point.

“I think we just got outplayed in the first part of the game, but we were able to use the width and get out and play in the second half. We were able to play 30 good minutes at the end but the two nights back-to-back ended up kind of having an effect,” Dishman said.

The night before, the girls struggled after giving up an early first goal as they played host to Salem and never recovered. The Spartans took their second match off Byrd this season, by winning 3-0. Salem won a 5-1 game the first time around.

“We tried to continue to push to get the goal back and that’s what opened it up for another goal,” Dishman said. “Once again we were able to move through bodies, get some new stuff

and put some kids in new spots– it was a really productive day.”

Laura Buriak had two goals and an assist and Kim Elmore also scored for the Spartans, who improved to 6-0, but did give up seven shots on goal to the Terriers.

Possession wise, the match was much more even than the first meeting on Salem’s field, and while Salem did manage more shots on goal themselves, Dishman was happy with the performances of goaltenders Tiffany Viette and Hannah Henley, who tallied 14 and eight saves respectively.

“Both of them, with the saves they had, it was a big confidence boost for them. And for the defenders and midfield and the rest of the team, it was big for confidence because they see those saves that are really big confidence builders for them,” he noted.

With an 11 day break between games, Dishman will continue to focus on the positives.

“Hopefully with these days off, they can put it behind them, get way from it for a little while and then we come back middle of the week ready to work,” he said, while making mention how they have every right to show confidence moving forward.

“I don’t think we are going to see anyone better than Salem. So they fact that we were really able to keep it even, move it around and with out experiences with them in the past, this was kind of one where we could say ‘hey look, we can play with them.’”

Their return to action after spring break will be on April 12 in a triple header with the middle school and JV teams. The varsity will host Hidden Valley at 7:30 pm. After a second battle with Bassett on April 14, they will open

BRD play at Northside on April 20.“I think we’ve prepared well, there are still

a couple of things I want to try before we get into Districts. So hopefully these next couple of matches, we can kind of solidify that lineup,” Dishman said. “I think if we play with the confidence we have shown and we can put a whole 80 minutes together, we’re going to be a tough team in the District.”

Soccer drops two straight, will refocus during layoff

The senior third baseman was put in that situation after junior Ray Harron led off the eighth inning with a double of his own. It could be argued as surprising that Harron would even want to leave second base at that point, a place he had grown to know quite well in his five at-bats. Coming into the game hitting .333 but with no doubles, Harron found himself with four separate two-baggers on the night. The feat elevated him to break a school record of three doubles in a game, previously held by some legends of Terrier Field: Mark Sweeney (1985), Mark Hall (‘87), Shannon Gray (‘94), CD Polumbo (‘95), Neil Zimmerman (‘98), Nick Jones (2000) and Scott Wise (2000).

“All four of them were off the fence and a combined ten feet higher and he would have had four homeruns,” laughed Carr. “He’s getting to the point where he’s learning a little bit about pitch counts and sequencing and he’s hitting them. I look for him to have a big year, he’s starting to get locked in.”

It was all part of a strong night for Byrd at the plate, acquiring 12 hits, including two from Jo Stickney, Clifton and McMillan behind

Harron’s four.On the mound, Bowles struck out nine

batters in part of a 97-pitch game. His only real struggle came in the second, where he gave up four runs on as many hits. But Bowles (who tied the game in the seventh after reaching on a walk) and his teammates made sure that the big early inning for the Spartans didn’t really matter.

Clifton for the win on the mound after pitching in the seventh and eighth innings.

“It was important for us to prove that we can overcome obstacles. In years past, they’ve had good teams but here and there, they just couldn’t put it together like that,” Carr said.

The next night, the team traveled to Franklin County, where they struggled to string hits together and left 10 men on base (seven in scoring position) in a 5-3 loss to the Eagles.

“The loss to Franklin County is frustrating not because I think we didn’t play good, but because I thought we needed one hit at any key point in the game and we would have won the game,” Carr said, noting big chances in the second and fourth innings, ruined by a double play and back-to-back strikeouts respectively.

Frustration also may have found its way into the Terrier lineup in the bigger park, where a sixth inning Stickney double, followed by an

Aaron Stidham sacrifice fly, both could have traveled out of the park if it were any other place.

Stickney hit two-for-three in the loss, making up for a third of the Terriers’ hitting offense.

“Franklin County is the best team we’ve played so far, thats the best pitching we’ve faced so far and I feel like if we played the game in probably any other park, we win by six,” Carr said.

The co-coach also noted Britton Chocklette’s performance, where he hit the ball as hard as anyone all year, but struggled to his second straight 0-for-3 game.

McMillan was the picture of record in the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits and striking out five.

“That’s going to be the story for us is we need to get hits with guys on base to drive runners in. We’re not going to be able to wait for homeruns to tie games or win games, we’re going to have to string hits together,” Carr noted.

The team hosts Franklin County in a rematch Thursday at 7 pm following the JV game at Terrier Field. On Friday, the varsity team will travel to Cave Spring for a 3 and 5 JV/Varsity doubleheader.

Dan VanceEditor-in-Chief

Photo by Melanie Meador

Kelli Kitchens scored the lone Byrd goal last week on the turf at Patrick Henry.

•‘BYRD SURGE’continued from page 15

VOICE

Junior Jessica Mahoney pitched a no-hitter Tuesday, March 31st as the Terriers’ bats exploded for eight runs to beat the Salem Spartans for the second time this season, this time at Moyer Sports Complex in Salem. Mahoney started the game with twelve straight strikeouts. After a foul pop-out, seven more strikeouts would follow, giving Jessica nineteen for the game.

“She controlled the whole game,” Head Coach Greg Barton said of Mahoney’s performance, with pride in his eyes, “she stepped up to their big hitters. It was as good of a pitching performance as I’ve ever seen.”

Byrd’s bats came alive in the first inning with both Junior Lindsey Brown and Senior Brittany Mattox reaching on errors by Salem, who would commit three in the game.

Only Salem’s last batter of the game was able to even put the ball in play, but was thrown out at first to end the game. First baseman Jamie Green drove Lindsey in with a double to centerfield to open the scoring. The second inning brought a flurry of hits from William Byrd starting with a single by second baseman Rachel Ballard. Ballard, a Senior would score two batters later on a double by leftfielder Rachel Guilliams. Four straight singles by Brown, Mattox, Mahoney and Green followed by a double by catcher Danielle Powell would finish out the inning putting the Terriers on top by a score of 7-0.

“We had been putting the bat on the ball,” Coach Barton said after the game, “but we had been hitting it right to people. Tonight we found the gaps. This team is so fast and if we put the ball in the gap, we’re going to score a lot of runs.”

As Jessica Mahoney continued to rack up the strikeouts, the Terriers added two insurance runs, one each in the sixth and seventh innings on Jamie Green and Lindsay Brown’s second runs

of the game.“They stayed down on the ball

and drove line drives,” Barton added about Tuesday’s hitting, “It was great!”

Only the next-to-last batter of the game would trip up a chance at a perfect game for Mahoney (5 – 0). Mahoney’s only walk came in the bottom of the seventh with two outs on a 3-2 call that had even Salem’s fans shaking their heads in disbelief. Mahoney quickly dispatched of the last batter to end the game with a no-hitter and her fourth shutout of the season.

Only one day later Byrd would be back at home to take on the Franklin County Eagles on April Fools Day. The Terriers bats would pick up where they had left off the day before in the bottom of the first inning. Right fielder Lindsey Brown singled to start the William Byrd half of the inning and quickly stole second while Shortstop Brittany Mattox was at the plate. Mattox then drove Brown in on a double. Mattox stole a base of her own before being brought home before the end of the inning. Those two runs would prove to be enough as starting pitcher Jessica Mahoney struck out twelve on her way to a two-hitter, winning 2-0. The Eagles would put the ball in

play much more than the Spartans had the previous day, allowing the Terriers to show off their defense.

“We knew they were going to put the bat on the ball,” Barton said of the Eagles, “and we were hoping they would make some contact so that our defense could step up and our defense did. This will make us better.”

The Terriers got a well-deserved break after the game with Franklin County, returning to practice today prior to traveling to Rocky Mount to face the Eagles again Thursday night. Game time has been changed from 3:30 to 6:00 pm to allow for parents and fans to make it to the game.

17

No-hitter helps keep softball perfectDanny CruffSenior Contributor

Photos by Danny Cruff

TOP: Third baseman Jordan Meador makes a throw towards first in Thursday’s home game with Franklin County.

ABOVE: Sophomore Samantha White lays down a bunt during Wednesday’s shutout win while visiting the Salem Spartans.

“She stepped up to their big hitters. It was as good of a pitching performance

as I’ve ever seen.”

VOICE

The William Byrd Boys and Girls Track teams traveled to EC Glass in Lynchburg for the 38th annual Vince Bradford Relays.

While the Boys team finished thirteenth out of seventeen teams, there were plenty of highlights for the athletes. Kevin O’Conner, Jonathan Murphy, John Williams and Josh Williams came in a strong third in the 4 x 800 relay, finishing over eleven seconds ahead of fourth place host EC Glass. Murphy took the place of a sick Chris Boyd in the relay, running a strong leg. Dalton Royal would step in for Boyd in the 4 x 1600 joining Kevin O’Connor, John Williams and Josh Williams to race to a fourth place finish ahead of other area schools Staunton River, Franklin County and William Fleming.

Juniors Justin Smith and Eric Sloan tied for tenth in the men’s high jump. Other top ten finishers in the meet were the 4 x 200 relay team of Tucker Suttles, John Mooney, Will Hale and Slone finished seventh while the 4 x 100 team composed of Suttles, Derrick Palmer, Darryl Preston and Caleb Harris finished 8th.

The Junior Varsity Boys team (grades 8 and 9) shined in the meet, finishing fourth. “These guys show great promise in the future,” Head Coach Eric Royal said of the team after the meet. Leading the way was Freshman Josh Merril, who finished third in the 100 meter dash joined by the 4 x 4000 team of Jason Palmer, Timmy Bechikos, Jesse Brinkley and Josh Merril and the 4 x 800 team of Palmer, Buchikos, Brinkley and Hunter Sutiff. Both relay teams took fourth place with the 4 x 200 team taking fifth.

Sutiff also ran in the Open 1600 meters with a personal best time of 5:42.05.

The Lady Terriers had a harder road in their portion of the Bradford Relays, finishing in a tie for fourteenth place out of seventeen schools participating. The Relay Teams were the most impressive from William Byrd with four of the

teams breaking the top-ten.The 4 x 800 meter relay team of Juniors

Kara Kingery, Emily Yeatts, Cyntie Stinnette and Sophomore Nicole Frey finished fourth overall, coming in more than fourty-five seconds before fifth-place Franklin County. Also taking fourth in their event was the 4 x 1600 meter relay team consisting of Kingery, Frey, Yeatts and Sophomore Morgan Davis, who also beat out the Eagles, but by a larger margin; over one minute.

Other top-ten finishers for the Byrd Girls team were the 4 x 200 meter relay team of Kimberly King, Kayla Mabe, Kayla Thomas and Stinnette who finished a strong eighth place and the 4 x 400 meter relay team took fifth, with familiar faces Thomas, Mabe and Stinnette along with Junior Bianca Gray.

As with the boys, the Junior Varsity Girls team shined brightly for the Terriers. The Ladies JV team (grades 8 and 9) completed the meet by claiming first place with 28 points. The Terriers outscored their closest competition, the Franklin County Eagles, by eight points.

Leading the way to the JV Terriers victory was the speed of Byrd’s relay teams, finishing in the either of the top two positions for all three relays. Finishing first in their races were the 4 x 200 meter and 4 x 400 meter teams, both composed of Freshmen Latishya Barnhill, Kayla Johnson, Caleisha Harris and Autumn Vinyard. Byrd took second place in the 4 x 800 meter relay with the help of three eigth-graders (Allison Smith, holly Morrison and Carly Jension) and led by freshman Devin Distefano.

Both the Boys and Girls Terriers Track teams are currently preparing for their next meet at Franklin County on Wednesday, April 21st.

18

Track & Field competes at Bradford Relays

Photo by Danny Cruff

Byrd senior Jordan Ronning takes a leap in the long jump during a home meet last Tuesday against Salem and Glenvar.

Danny CruffSenior Contributor

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VOICE 19

•‘MAHONEY’continued from page 20

Jessica Mahoney’s pitching career started at age six when she played for the Lady Yankees. The coach needed a pitcher on the young team and no one else wanted to pitch, so he went to Jessica. That coach was her father, Keith Mahoney. Jessica took on the challenge with encouragement from her father and league coordinator, Greg Barton.

“I tried it my first year and I loved it,” Mahoney said of that first year, laughing at the irony of her future high school coach helping launch her pitching career.

Keith continued to coach his daughter until it was time to move on to middle school, with Jessica pitching the whole way.

“It was great,” she said of playing for Coach Mahoney. “I really love my dad because he’s the main reason I’m good. He’s the reason I’m got to where I am.”

But, as all father’s come to understand, they have to let their athlete’s move on to be coached by someone else.

“He wanted me to experience me having someone else coaching me and have to fight for my position,” Mahoney said of the reasoning behind Keith letting her go.

With the spoils of being the ace pitcher for the Terriers comes hard decisions and hard work. Jessica has made a huge commitment to becoming a great pitcher.

“Nothing’s been handed to me. I’ve had to work hard for everything I’ve earned,” Mahoney stated.

That hard work shows on the field by the way she overpowers hitters with her variety of pitches. The William Byrd Terriers are 5-0 this season, all shutouts. Each game was pitched by Mahoney, who now is in seventh place all-time in Virginia in consecutive shutouts.

Mahoney also hones her skills as a pitcher by attending private pitching lessons with L.B. Bailey for more than five years and, more recently, with Charlie Daniels.

“He [Bailey] is a huge part of my success, and Charlie is amazing” she said heaping praise on her past and present pitching coaches.

She also spends at least one day a week pitching, year around, even when there isn’t softball to be played.

Those times are few and far between when you add in travel ball where Jessica pitches for the Virginia Legends. The Legends travel to places like South Dakota, Florida and Oklahoma City, where the team came in second in a tournament which boasts talent as good as any in the United States.

The hard decisions came when Mahoney found

it time to decide which sport she felt she wanted to focus on. She played soccer, basketball, volleyball, golf and, of course, softball. While it was tough to make the decision to focus on softball only, Jessica is very happy with her choice.

“I don’t regret it at all,” she says, with a wide smile.

Free time is also short for the junior.“Sometimes I want to go out with my friends

and I can’t because I’ll be going out of town or some other pitching-related thing,” the pitcher says about that shortage of free-time, adding, “I think it’ll be worth it in the end, and I enjoy it a lot, so I don’t mind giving up the time.”

Making the Varsity team as the only freshman on the team, Jessica found herself surrounded by older players.

“I definitely had to work my way up prove that I deserved the lead role,” Mahoney said of that first year on the Varsity team. Prove herself she did by earning a starting job, and now leading the Terriers with five shutouts in five games.

The young pitcher is already looking to the future by looking at different colleges.

“I definitely want to play D-1 somewhere,” Mahoney said about her future in softball. “I have to base where I go on what I want to study, because school is number one.”

With the creation of a new professional softball league, the chance of “going pro” is there, as well. “I would love to,” Jessica said with a sparkle in her eye, “but I don’t want to be unrealistic.”

The pitching phenom points to her coaches and the support she’s received as one of the main reasons behind her success. Not only have her father and Barton been with Mahoney from the beginning, Assistant Coach Mike Andrews has been with her throughout her high school career. All continue to play big parts in Jessica’s life and softball career. You can see the pride in Terriers Head Coach Barton’s eyes as he talks of the no-hitter.

“It was an amazing performance,” he said of the game, “She was dead on. What else can you say?”

The book on Mahoney’s near-Perfect Game

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VOICE

Jessica Mahoney:Moving through the record books while standing on the edge of perfection

•See ‘MAHONEY’ - page 19

Danny CruffSenior Contributor

Phot

o by

Dan

ny C

ruff

Last Tuesday’s (March 31, 2010) no-hitter was a culmination of years of hard work, dedication and confidence for William Byrd Terrier Jessica Mahoney, that was sure to make a lot of people proud who have been there from the beginning.

Jessica, a junior starting pitcher for the Terrier Softball team, took the mound at Moyer Sports Complex in Salem eager to have the ball for the game.

“I’ve always loved being in control of the game,” Jessica says of the enjoyment of being a pitcher.

Mahoney had already started the season strong, with a 3-0 record coming into Tuesday’s game, all shutouts. One of those shutouts came against the same Salem Spartan team she was set to face. The pitcher dominated Salem’s hitters from the start of the game, striking out the first twelve batters she faced.

Mahoney’s pitches, which include a screwball, curveball, dropball, riseball, fastball and change-up, some of which have just been added to the repertoire, were all hitting their mark with accuracy and showing amazing movement.

“I really like the new riseball that I’ve been working on,” Jessica said of her newest pitch. “It’s a really hard pitch to get and I’m finally getting on top of it.”

Mahoney’s teammates brought in seven runs in the first two innings of the game, which allowed her to concentrate on just throwing the softball.

“Usually when you play Salem its more of a one-one or one-nothing game and it’s definitely easier when you know you have runs,” Mahoney said. “It’s nice being ahead.”

No one mentioned the potential no-hitter to the pitcher as the game went on, but she was aware of how well the game was going.

“I was really aware of how strong I was and how Salem wasn’t doing as well as they usually are,” said Mahoney, “Then I realized with one batter left that this could be something special.”

After a pop foul which was caught for the first out of the fifth inning, Jessica would strike out another seven Spartans straight, before finishing the game when the only player from Salem to put the ball in play would get her bat on the ball only before being thrown out at first. With the no-hitter complete, Mahoney’s teammates would surround her, streaming from the bench and trotting in to congratulate her – the fans also rose to their feet, everyone there knowing how special this night was.

As special as the game was, it wasn’t Mahoney’s first no-hitter. She threw one two years ago against Route 24 rival Staunton River and added another only two games later against Blacksburg. Then, she was a part of two last season. The first came early in the season as the hurler recorded a perfect game against the Blacksburg Bruins. The second came almost a month later against the Red Devils of Rustburg where Jessica started and Rachel Ballard completed a no-hitter.