News

This past Saturday morning, I had breakfast at First Baptist Church, Kingsport. The occasion was the kickoff for the third Acts of Love ministry our church does throughout the city. Some 350 people were involved in a number of ministries to share the love of Christ. Those included among others a host of projects which included volunteer work at the […]

To help address an ongoing shortage of veterinarians who work with farm animals, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has nominated five shortage areas where veterinarians can apply for financial assistance. Based on these nominations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture administers a loan repayment program and a grant program to help mitigate veterinary service shortage areas. The Veterinary […]

In 2023, volunteers donated 218,147 hours of service to Virginia State Parks and this is a 9 percent increase from 2022. “We love that people were able to attend more park programs to better connect with nature, park staff and our volunteers,” said Virginia State Park Director Dr. Melissa Baker. “We are very fortunate to have such a great group […]

The 2024 Gathering in the Gap Music Festival announces Annual Songwriting Contest. As part of the annual event and always a crowd favorite, the songwriting contest showcases outstanding, but under-recognized performing songwriters who represent the spirit and traditions of Appalachian culture. Both traditional and newer styles of songs are encouraged, and song topics may fall into one or more of […]

Food City announces that the grocery retailer was recently Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. The prestigious award is based entirely on their associate’s feedback about their workplace experience. “Food City is excited to be Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. Our associates are our most valuable asset, and we strive to provide a workplace environment that enables them to […]

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is asking for drivers to help keep pedestrians safe on the roadways. Preliminary numbers show that so far this year there have been 453 crashes involving pedestrians in Virginia. Of those crashes, 442 pedestrians were injured and 35 were tragically killed. Slow Down: Speed plays a major factor in a pedestrian’s chances of […]

Have people evolved much? We humans possess remarkable powers. We can walk, run, swim, and even fly (if we hold a boarding pass). Other creatures aren’t so adaptable. Fish can swim but walk poorly. Birds can fly but often misjudge altitude and end up as hood ornaments. Some snakes can squeeze you to death… but who wants an affectionate reptile? […]

Maple Tree Book Shop + Coffee House along with more than 900 bookstores in the United States will participate in the 11th Anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day. Independent Bookstore Day (Indie Bookstore Day) was established in 2013 to promote, celebrate and highlight the value of the Independent bookstore community. They have planned a week of family-friendly activities and sales leading […]