Brian Patton

Chad Dotson and Joey Carrico

Brian March 16th, 2007

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the swearing-in ceremony for both Chad Dotson and Joey Carrico. This was the first Investiture that I had ever attended.

Former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, Senator William Wampler, and several other local elected officials were in attendance.

Judge Henry Vanover from Dickenson County, most of the 30th Judicial Circuit’s bench, and a few other local Judges were there.

Wise County’s current Commonwealth’s Attorney, Ron Elkins, was the Master of Ceremonies. Roy Jessee introduced Chad and Jerry Kilgore introduced Judge Carrico.

Justice Cynthia D. Kinser administered the oath to both.

Several local attorneys were present.

It was a very emotional ceremony for the Judges and their families.

One of the best parts, I thought, was getting to hear all the great stories. Attorneys who have been practicing a while always have great stories.

Kenneth P. Asbury

Brian March 13th, 2007

The Bristol paper has this article, highlighting a few of the many accomplishments of Ken Asbury, who recently passed away.

The article quotes Joe Smiddy as saying: “He was Mr. Southwest Virginia if there was ever one.”

That is a powerful statement, especially coming from Mr. Smiddy.

I never got to know Mr. Asbury, but I do continue to benefit from the work he and others did for Southwest Virginia, and greatly appreciate it.

The beauty of orange and red

Brian September 27th, 2006

The Herald Courier had a very interesting article in today’s paper on the prospect of a colorful Autumn.

They report that “this year’s fall foliage season is expected to be one of the best in years, according to local forestry officials.” I hope the officials are correct, as Autumn is my favorite season because of the beautiful foliage.

Via the article, I see that folks can keep track of leaf color changes at this site. Be sure to check out Forester Tim’s report.

Return to Roots

Brian September 16th, 2006

Rex Bowman has a good article in today’s RTD on the new “Return to Roots” program which will be officially launched on Monday, by Governor Kaine at his Cabinet meeting in Wise.

The reason for the program:

Economic experts say the population drop in the coalfields represents a “brain drain,” as high school students who go on to college move away for good because there have been few high-paying, high-skill jobs in far Southwest Virginia to lure them back.

Not surprisingly, I agree with the experts. Before making the decision to move back home, to Clintwood, I was often tempted by other areas with their own exits off of I-81.

The good news is, though, that a lack of technology jobs is being addressed:

But officials said the mountainous region now has openings for software developers and engineers, technical supervisors, information-technology experts, lab technicians, project managers, electrical and industrial engineers, nurses, therapists, physicians and pharmacists.

“There are companies here that have openings all the time,” said committee member Susan Copeland, who runs an Abingdon marketing agency. “One of our goals is to educate the people right here in this region about that, to let them know that the area has really started to change.

The new problem is getting people to come back to the Coalfields (as well as the rest of Southwest Virginia) and/or stay. To that end, the “Return to Roots” program was born. The program is:

Leaders in far Appalachian Virginia are beckoning 15,000 high school graduates who have left the area for jobs elsewhere “to come on back.”

As part of an ambitious program dubbed Return to Roots, to be officially launched Monday by the governor, officials are seeking to persuade Southwest Virginia natives who moved out over the past two decades that the region is much better off economically than it was when they left. In short, the message is that jobs are here if you want them.

Kudos to Governor Kaine for recognizing a big problem affecting Southwest Virginia and taking steps to address it.

For me, the decision to come back to Clintwood was a little easier, since I knew I could always hang out a shingle. For folks with degrees and backgrounds in technology fields, their potential employment opportunities are much more limited.

I hope this program will be very successful and we can continue to utilize the technology infrastructure being built in the Coalfields to lure back and keep our young people.

50th Anniversary

Brian July 24th, 2006

If I had to make a list of places that one should visit while in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, Pal’s would certainly be on it. I doubt there is any fastfood place out there that can beat a Sauce Burger (with cheese), fries, and a big sweet tea.

Via the KTN, I see that the chain is now 50 years old. A full history of Pal’s can be found here.

Now I am starving for a Sauce Burger. Road trip?

$7.9 million to Buchanan

Brian July 13th, 2006

Life must certainly be good (or at least getting better) in Buchanan County these days.

From the BDT:

The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority has approved $7.9 million in grant and loan funding for the University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy, the Appalachian School of Law, and the Lover’s Gap Regional Industrial Park, Jonathan Belcher, acting executive director for VCEDA, said.

. . .

Belcher said the $7.9 million funding award was one of the largest grant and loan closings by the authority in a single day.

Lights out … for a local protest

Brian July 10th, 2006

Today, it seems members of Earth First gathered over at the AEP plant near Carbo in Russell County.

The AP reported:

More than 50 environmental activists blocked access to Appalachian Power Co.’s Clinch River plant for several hours Monday to protest its use of coal to generate electricity, state police said.

The demonstration began about 9 a.m. when members of Earth First! and Rising Tide North America used ropes, chains and a human chain across a bridge to keep traffic from entering the southwest Virginia plant site, state police Sgt. Michael Conroy said. One man attached to a rope that was stretched across the bridge dangled about 25 feet down, he said.

The demonstrators also let the air out of the tires on a parked coal truck and one locked himself to its axle.

I am surprised, after hearing they let the air out a trucker’s tires, gun shots were not fired. The trucker must have already met his haul quota for the day or something.

Letters to BHC’s Editors

Brian June 21st, 2006

Have you ever wanted to get a letter to the editor published in the Bristol Herald Courier?

Based on this post, I suspect that if you send a good one, it might just end up in the paper.

Ms. Hopkins, on the BHC blog, stated:

I offer some random musings on letters to the editor.

1) When we had limited space for letters, we received far more than we could print.

2) Now that we have made more space available, fewer folks are taking the time to write.

Perhaps, we are not controversial enough? Is the news of late rather humdrum? Or is everyone on vacation?

I think I will start reading the BHC a little closer and find a good reason to send one.

It seems I either love or hate the BHC. Sometimes they get it correct, but sometimes I think they get it wrong. See the trend there?

Blogging Conference

Brian June 18th, 2006

As you may have guessed from the lack of updates here, I have “stepped away from the blog.”

I spent Friday and Saturday in Charlottesville for the Sorensen Institute’s Blogging Summit. It was a great conference. As always, the best part was putting blog names with faces. I met a lot of great new bloggers and enjoyed talking to those that I met last year.

Since I am still on the road (took a detour through Harrisonburg) and heading home today, you will have to wait on my hard-hitting, in-depth analysis of the conference. Actually, this is probably about it, unless something hits me on the five hour drive home.

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Kyle Busch: Guilty

Brian May 23rd, 2006

Nascar driver Kyle Busch appeared in the Henrico County General District Court today and was found guilty of improper driving and fined $150.00. The RTD story is here.

I kept waiting for Busch to call and ask me to take his case, but I guess he settled for someone else.

VCEDA to loan/grant $6.3 million

Brian May 22nd, 2006

VCEDA announced today grants and loans for area projects totaling $6.3 million.

The receiving counties are Buchanan, Tazewell, Wise, and Scott/Lee. Nothing in this round of funding for Dickenson or Russell.

Meth Lab Waste

Brian May 21st, 2006

Mike Still has this interesting article on the waste generated by “Meth” production. The waste (like the non-waste) is very hazardous.

Some of the harmful effects are:

The chemicals used to make meth are toxic. The fumes from meth waste can cause itching and burn the eyes, throat, and lungs if inhaled. Physical contact with the chemicals or piles of waste can burn the skin and cause very severe respiratory damage.

State Police Special Agent Chuck Parsons told Still that “[f]or every pound of meth produced there’s about 6 to 10 pounds of waste.”

This UC newsletter states “Meth lab trash might emit strong chemical odors. It may smell like cat urine, ether, ammonia, nail polish remover (acetone), or similar chemicals.”

More help for Ian Herbst

Brian May 21st, 2006

Andrew Kantor, from the Roanoke Times, has this article on Southwest Virginia bloggers trying to help Ian Herbst, the sick child mentioned here, raise money to cover his medical expenses.

Too close to home

Brian May 20th, 2006

Another mine explosion.

From the AP:

An explosion in an eastern Kentucky coal mine killed five miners while one other miner was able to get out alive, Gov. Ernie Fletcher said Saturday.

The blast at the Darby Mine No. 1 in Harlan County occurred between midnight and 1 a.m. EDT while a maintenance shift was on duty, said Amy Louviere, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.

“We don’t know the details of the cause,” Fletcher told The Associated Press.

Virginia’s American Idol

Brian May 17th, 2006

The AP/WDBJ has this:

“American Idol” finalist Elliott Yamin’s return to his hometown of Richmond today included a meeting with Governor Tim Kaine at the executive mansion. Kaine clapped and grinned as Yamin hopped out of his stretch limo through the window and greeted the governor’s staff. Yamin hugged Kaine and said, “I feel like the luckiest person alive.”

Inside the mansion, Kaine presented Yamin with a T-shirt that read, “Virginia is for Elliott Lovers.” He also gave him one to help butter up the show’s most cantankerous judge. It read: “Virginia is for Simon Lovers.”

The video here also has shows Yamin meeting with former Governor Doug Wilder.

So the lesson here is one has to be a good singer to hang out with people like Kaine and Wilder. Although Jayne, an avid “Idol” watcher, just told me that Yamin was voted off the show tonight.

New Website

Brian May 16th, 2006

Three local newspapers - The Coalfield Progress, The Dickenson Star, and The Post - now have a new and improved website.

Check out the new www.coalfield.com.

I must say, I like the lighter background if nothing else.

Congrats to the Roanoke Times

Brian May 15th, 2006

The Roanoke Times reports here that it “ranks first in the country in terms of percentage of total adults reading a newspaper on weekdays, according to Scarborough’s “Ranker Report,” produced every six months.”

2nd Blogging Summit

Brian May 6th, 2006

Waldo has “leaked” that on June 16, 2006, the Sorensen Institute will once again host a Blogging Summit in Charlottesville. And the Summit now has its own website.

Last year’s event was very informative, but most of all, it was great to finally put faces with names.

Waldo has this photo up, which includes the Southwest Virginia blogging crew (Chad, Steve, and me) in the background.

The downside of this year’s event is that they are stretching it to be a two-day event, including a Friday. If they were going to put it on a weekday, the least they could have done is offer CLE credit.

The upside is that they are starting it late enough (3:30 PM) on Friday that us folks from down this way will not have to drive up the night before.

Judge Chafin at Emory & Henry

Brian May 5th, 2006

The 2006 Emory and Henry College commencement will be Saturday, May 13, 2006, at 10:00 AM. This press release says that Judge Teresa Chafin will be this year’s commencement speaker. The press release also has this short bio of Judge Chafin.

Teresa M. Chafin, a 1978 E&H graduate, was named circuit court judge for Tazewell County in March 2005. Prior to that appointment, she served as chief judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for Russell and Tazewell counties.

. . .

Chafin holds a J.D. degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. She was a practicing attorney with the law firm Chafin and Chafin in Lebanon, Va., before being appointed to her judgeships.

In 2001, the year I graduated, Congressman Rick Boucher was our commencement speaker. In 2002, I think Senator John Warner was the speaker. Last year, Michael Austin, a professional opera singer and member of the Stuttgart Opera Company, delivered the commencement address.

Fundraising for Sick Child