As ashamed as I am to admit this, I didn’t get to partake much in the Chautauqua Festival.nbsp; Having been a faithful patron of the Wytheville festival all of my life, I was actually in New York City for the bulk of the week during which Chautauqua was taking place.nbsp; While you’ll hear plenty about that later, what little time I actually got to spend at the festival this year was done so with the honor being a participant in the festivities.nbsp; Thanks to Mary Wright of the Wythe Arts Council, I was graciously invited to share my unpublished children’s stories with area children in a half-hour story-time session.nbsp; About 15 children and their parents showed up for my readings as well as a few of my special personal friends.

David Morehead came to the barn with murder in his heart and a sling shot in his hand. “I’m here to recruit a posse of gutsy people,” he said. “Our country is being overrun. They’ve already invaded our state.” “Are you talking about horse flies?” said Beck, my old Missouri mule. “I’m ready to help if you’re going after horse flies.”

The search for a permanent chief executive officer for Wythe County Community Hospital is narrowing, according to a hospital spokeswoman. One candidate was interviewed earlier this week, reported marketing director Vicky Hill, and another is scheduled for an interview next week. “We do feel like we’re closer in finalizing the search,” Hill stated.

Unusually challenging but extremely productive is how the supervisor of the Wythe County school health services program described last year. In a report Wednesday to the Wythe County School Board, Lee H. Johnson detailed services provided.

Chalmer L. Frye was re-elected chairman of the Wythe County School Board and William S. Kidd was re-elected vice chairman when the board re-organized Wednesday morning. Both were the only nominations for the positions. Sara Dickens was re-elected as clerk of the School Board. Kim Slusher and Superintendent Lee Brannon were re-elected as deputy clerks. State law requires school boards to re-organize each fiscal year.

Meg Turner was a pioneer of sorts for girls basketball in Southwest Virginia. In the modern era of the girls game, she was the area’s first true superstar and graduated with several state records to her credit. The numbers are impressive.

There was too much ado about nothing at the barn for the lowly hot dog had claimed center stage.nbsp; Some liked them hot and some liked them cold.nbsp; James Scott liked his dabbed in slaw and mustard.nbsp; Not so for Cowboy Jack Vipperman.nbsp; He ate them with ketchup to kill the onion flavor.nbsp; Everybody had an opinion except Beck, my ole Missouri mule.nbsp; She hates hot dogs more than the devil hates holy water.nbsp;

Montana Porter celebrated her 18th birthday in South Africa. She was treated to dinner at McDonald’s by friends on her mission trip. “I love McDonald’s,” the Fort Chiswell area resident remarked earlier this week. “One of our host families also took me to their house so I could call home.” Porter is the youngest person to participate in the SAFARI program – Semester Abroad For A Radical Impact – through the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. She completed four months of mission training in South Africa, England and Hungary.

A crackdown on speeders in residential areas of the town of Wytheville is under way. Increased police patrol with radar is being used to address the problem. In a report Monday evening to Wytheville Town Council, public works committee member Judson Lambert noted numerous complaints about speeding in residential areas. He said recent complaints came from residents of Atkins Mill Road, Mountain View Drive and Valley Street between Tazewell Street and Fisher Road. At council’s June 28 meeting, Andrea Wilson and Dora Grubb expressed concern about speeding on West Madison Street in the vicinity of 4 ½ Street. They related incidents of cars, trucks and motorcycles speeding along their streets.

One person airlifted to area hospital