We provide information about current and past events in Southwest Virginia.
https://clinchvalleytimes.net/2024/08/08/pro-art-announces-48th-season/
Wise, VA – Tickets to the 48th Pro-Art season are on sale now! The nonprofit is thrilled to announce a season filled with theater, music, and arts experiences to stir the heart and embellish an eve…
Like many older Americans, I depend upon Social Security for part of my income. I'm sure many of our CVT readers do, too. Click this link to read more about the program's history.
August marks the program’s 89th anniversary EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an informative summary of the Social Security program upon which many of us (including me) rely. It was sent to the…
DISASTER SCAMS - - - AARP Virginia Fraud Alert 08-05-2024
In 2023, post-disaster fraud cost Americans over $9.3 billion, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). With hurricane and wildfire season in full swing, it’s important to remind ourselves that when the clouds roll out and the smoke clears, criminal scammers tend to move in.
Following extreme weather events, criminals impersonate government, utility, and insurance workers. They may show up at your door or call with promises of federal grants, priority repairs, or faster claim processing in exchange for a fee or up-front deposit.
While actual Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agents may visit your home to assist, they will never ask for payment and will carry a government-issued laminated photo badge. A FEMA shirt or jacket is NOT proof of identity.
Be cautious of door-to-door insurance and utility solicitations promising special or expedited assistance. Even if the offer appears genuine, ask for more information, and never give money on the spot. You should also contact your insurance or utility company through pre-established channels to confirm that an offer is legitimate.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
AARP Fraud Watch Network™ is a free resource for all. Learn how to proactively spot scams or get guidance if you’ve been targeted. Visit aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call our dedicated helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 877-908-3360.
It's Saturday, August 3rd 2024 and I'll be heading to the RR Museum shortly. I'll be hosting a history presentation today, the topic of which will be the town of Minneapolis, Virgina (now Castlewood) that never quite made it. It's an interesting story and if you'd like to hear about it, come by at 10:30 and find out more.
If you have never been to the RR Museum, it's located at the upper end of Russell Street beside the St. Paul Volunteer Fire Department.
An important message from The Heatlh Wagon...
A REMINDER FROM THE HEALTH WAGON… Wise, VA – As you prepare for the new school year, don’t forget one of the most important essentials: health coverage! The Health Wagon is here to help you n…
Here's a schedule of upcoming events at the J. Fred Matthews Memorial Library in St. Paul. In addition to the regular events listed here, the library also offers special programs throughout the year, so check (or follow) their page to make sure you don't miss out.
I am personally thankful for our wonderful library and its very helpful staff. It's an asset to our community, so make the most of it :-)
If we have any readers who attended the schools at Bull Hill, Virginia City, and the old school at Dwina (the one that preceded the building that still stands) I'd like to hear from you.
Coming up - from Pro-Art
Matilda the Musical, Jr. on Stage at J. W. Adams Combined Middle School at Pound, VA Pound, VA –This summer, Pro-Art welcomed students for a month-long residency at J.W. Adams—and now they’re ready…
HOMEBUYERS AND OWNERS BEWARE - - - Virginia AARP Fraud Alert July 22, 2024
With today’s tight real estate market there is often pressure to act quickly when you find that perfect place. Scammers know this and are waiting to pounce. Here are three things to be aware of when shopping for a home.
Wire fraud can happen when a criminal impersonates a real estate or title company and asks you to send the closing costs to them. Before wiring any funds contact your real estate company and confirm the account information, routing instructions and total amount needed.
Criminals are also in the market to take advantage of those at risk of foreclosure. Beware of anyone promising to make your mortgage payment issues go away -- especially if they ask for an upfront fee.
Lastly, if you are looking to rent a home, make sure and visit in person before paying a deposit. Rental scams happen often with criminals creating legitimate looking websites offering great deals on homes that aren’t really up for rent.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. Learn how to proactively spot scams or get guidance if you’ve been targeted. Visit aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call our dedicated helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.
IN OCTOBER OF 2014 the Castlewood High School Class of 1954 held a reunion at the Bonanza restaurant in Lebanon. The group photo you see here was sent to the Clinch Valley Times and published in December of 2014. I enjoyed seeing it again and I'm sure you will, too.
FRONT ROW, L to R: Irene Bradley Kaminski, Lora Jean Hall White, Peggy Burke Hicks, Helen Gonzalez Moretz, Jean Casteel Tarr, Frances "Bobbie" Cook Gullet
BACK ROW, L to R: Thelma Branson Couch, Joyce Dingus Wolfe, Mary Margaret Selfe Leonard Bailey, Edward Pitzer Harding, Patricia Dickenson Adams Gray, John A. Couch, Barbara Carico Quillen, Shelby Boris Hicks Snyder.
NOT PICTURED: Madalyn White McCarty.
TODAY'S 1973 CVT PHOTO features a once-familiar spot that has changed so much that it's virtually unrecognizable in 2024. However, we have at least ONE reader who will be able to identify it immediately because her family lived in that house. If you recognize the location, just type "YES" for now. I'll disclose the location later.
THE WISE COUNTY, VA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING will be held Saturday, August 3 at 10:30 AM in Saint Paul, Virginia at the Railroad Museum. The meeting is open to the public.
Mr. Jerry Couch, editor of the “Clinch Valley Times,” will be the guest speaker. His topic that morning will be “The History of Saint Paul-Minneapolis, Virginia - the town that never quite made it.” We will also be touring the railroad museum.
The railroad museum in Saint Paul is located on Russell Street near the Saint Paul Fire Station. Parking is limited so carpooling is suggested if planning on attending
CONSUMER FRAUD FIGHT GOES TO THE WHITE HOUSE - - - AARP Virginia Fraud Alert July 15, 2024
Last year the Federal Trade Commission recorded $10 Billion in reported fraud from U.S. consumers. Because fraud is underreported, we know that actual losses are much higher.
While education empowers older Americans to protect themselves, more is needed to eliminate this large-scale problem. That’s why AARP advocates for bipartisan laws and regulations to strengthen consumer protections against scams on everything from illegal robocalls, to gift card regulations, to cryptocurrency scams and more. This work is done in state legislatures across the country, in Congress and even at the White House.
Earlier this year AARP joined White House officials and industry leaders in a meeting aimed at helping the federal government fight back against the use of artificial intelligence–enabled voice cloning to commit fraud. A virtual White House conference followed in June, with AARP again at the table. With fraud already at an epidemic level, the addition of AI powered scams is alarming, which is why AARP is focused on advocating for a strong legislative response to this threat.
Already this year the Federal Communications Commission has moved to make it illegal to use AI voice cloning in robocalls targeting consumers. As a result, a scammer who cloned President Biden’s voice to deceive voters in New Hampshire was recently fined $6 million.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. Learn how to proactively spot scams or get guidance if you’ve been targeted. Visit aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call our dedicated helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.
For those of you who may wish to attend...
REMEMBER THE GOOD OLD DAYS - - - Today's Clinch Valley Times photo dates from September of 1998. It was taken at Kids-R-Us in Castlewood, located in what is now Larry Johnson's State Farm Insurance Agency.
Kids-R-Us was operated by Katie Jessee Harding, who told us the little boy pictured at left is Drew Justice. Katie has many happy memories of the days when she worked with those "citizens of tomorrow."
Throughout her years as an educator, Katie was an "Opener of Doors," helping young people develop their skills as well as their sense of self-worth. We are glad she is enjoying her retirement.
An upcoming event sponsored by Pro-Art :-)
Wise, VA – Pro-Art’s 48th season kicks off with the 12th annual Symphony by the Lake in partnership with The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Symphony of the Mountains, under the direction…
THIS ANNOUNCMENT has special meaning to me. In 1973, I began my engineering career at S & S Corporation, which was the industrial forebearer of Simmons Equipment Company. During the 1970's, S & S became a leader in the underground mining equipment industry and eventually became part of worldwide Ingersoll-Rand.
I'm sure our readers will join with me in congratulating Matt Simmons and the other employees of Simmons Equipment Company on their latest corporate milestone :-) Click the link below to learn more:
Simmons Equipment Company to invest $8.5 million to expand operations into Russell County, creating 75 new jobs JULY 8, 2024 RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that Simmons Equi…
THE LATEST IN AMAZON IMPOSTOR SCAMS - - - AARP Virginia Fraud Alert 07-08-2024
Criminals love to impersonate big businesses and the bigger the better. One of the largest targets of impostor scams last year was Amazon. According to the Federal Trade Commission, 44,000 reports about scammers using Amazon's name were filed last year, with $19 million reported lost. Here are two of the latest versions of an Amazon impostor scam to be on the lookout for.
Complex scams that involve an Amazon impostor, a bank impostor and someone pretending to be a law enforcement investigator are trending. These scams have a heightened sense of legitimacy because the victim believes they are speaking to different independent entities who are all confirming the same threat. In reality they are talking to multiple criminals who are all part of the same scheme.
False membership renewal messages are another trending form of Amazon impostor scams. Because many customers aren’t aware of when their membership expires these messages can seem legitimate. The criminals also create real looking websites where you can share your payment information.
Whenever doing business, renewing a membership or dealing with a suspicious charge with any retailer, it is safest to do so at their official website or through their official customer service lines. Do not rely on links or phone numbers emailed or texted to you. These run a higher risk that you’ll be connected directly to a crook.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. Learn how to proactively spot scams or get guidance if you’ve been targeted. Visit aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call our dedicated helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.
SUMMERTIME DOOR-TO-DOOR SCAMS - - - AARP Virginia Fraud Alert
Summer is officially here, which means door-to-door sales crews are too. But buyer beware because what they’re selling isn’t always legit.
These scams can show up in a variety of forms. Sometimes it’s solar panels for your home at a can’t-be-beaten price or it’s a student selling magazine subscriptions to help fund their school program. Other times it’s a construction worker who say they stopped by because they just happened to be working in the neighborhood. One thing they all have in common is pressure to sign up or pay upfront.
Any “deal” that you have to sign up for right away or that you have to pay for in advance is likely no deal at all. Your best bet is to proactively seek out the services you need. And consider making a deal with yourself to never do a deal with someone before you’ve had time to do your research.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. Learn how to proactively spot scams or get guidance if you’ve been targeted. Visit aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call our dedicated helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.
If you have a handicapped parking placard, a farm use placard, operate an uninsured motor vehicle, or if you engage in the transport of manufactured homes, we suggest you READ THIS:
DMV Shares What You Need to Know RICHMOND – Laws passed by the Virginia General Assembly set into motion changes for DMV customers effective July 1, 2024. These chan…
HERE IT IS as promised (before I edit it 100 more times), the story of the final Temple Hill High School graduating class.
© Jerry F. Couch Today I have a special treat for you. Some of the material for this article was provided by a generous local “friend of history” to whom I say THANK YOU! First, some ba…
Some very nice folks from Portland, OR stopped by the CVT office today. They are descendants of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bob Cooper, residents of the South St. Paul neighborhood when I was a child. During their visit, we reminisced about "the good old days," and looked at old photos from the St. Paul Heritage Collection. A great way to spend an indoor afternoon when the outdoor temperature was 90 degrees (plus).
Our friends at Clinch Life Outfitters are offering a special deal on a special way to have fun on the Clinch River.
The Clinch Valley Times offers its congratulations to Jasmyne Tuner on the occasion of her recent graduation from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. The following announcement was sent to us by the college:
WILLIAMSBURG, VA (June 24, 2024) - Jasmyne Turner from Saint Paul, VA, recently graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Founded by royal charter in 1693, William & Mary is the second oldest educational institution in the nation. During the past 300 years, the college has educated three U.S. Presidents—Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler—numerous senators and members of congress and other national and international leaders. William & Mary is currently ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities and has been designated a "Public Ivy."
It's a community tradition, and one you don't want to miss!
LOST WALLET? WHAT'S NEXT - - - AARP Virginia Fraud Alert
We’ve all been there; you reach for your wallet and find nothing in your pocket or purse. The panic we feel in that moment is real because our wallet can be a treasure trove for criminals, who can go on to perpetrate credit card fraud or identity theft. Most times that feeling is short lived but sometimes that wallet really is gone. Here’s what to do if this happens to you.
First, cancel all debit or credit cards. By reporting them lost or stolen ASAP you may be able to avoid illegal charges. This is especially important for debit cards which are gateways to your bank account.
Next, file a fraud alert. With your driver’s license in hand, identity thieves can do a lot of damage. You can request that the credit bureaus — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax —place a fraud alert on your credit. (Contact one and the others will add the fraud alert, too.) A fraud alert notifies creditors, lenders or anyone viewing your credit report that someone may be trying to apply for credit in your name.
Lastly, if you think your wallet has been stolen, call your local precinct to get a police report on record. Even though the police may not be able to recover your missing wallet, it’s a crucial piece of documentation to have on hand.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
In 2015, I wrote an article about Temple Hill High School for the printed edition of the Clinch Valley Times. I am currently in the process of revising and expanding that article with lots more photos and documentation.
The first installment will be ready this week. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed researching it and writing it. And it doesn't rely on oral history, which is seldom worth the paper it ISN'T written on. This is due to the Clinch Valley Times editorial policy, to wit:
https://clinchvalleytimes.net/2024/06/20/a-symphonic-celebration-of-freedom-at-leeman-field/
Pennington Gap, VA – Symphony of the Mountains, under the masterful direction of Cornelia Laemmli Orth, is proud to present “A Celebration of Freedom” at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 30th at …
MOVING SCAMS - - - AARP Virginia Fraud Alert, June 17, 2024
Summer seems to be the season for moving. Whether you’re relocating for work, downsizing or sending a child off to college, who you hire to help with the move matters a lot. Cutting corners to save money on your move could lead you right to a criminal scammer.
Moving scams are committed by rogue operators that exist primarily online. They solicit business by offering lowball estimates, often without so much as laying an eye on what’s to be moved. They might demand a hefty deposit, or even full payment in advance.
With your deposit in hand, the “movers” might simply not show up at the appointed time and place. Or they’ll try to change the deal at the last minute by raising the price. Worst of all, some companies will pick up your belongings but then demand more money to deliver them.
To avoid these scams, make sure to get multiple quotes and check the references of any company you hire. While we are all looking to save money, when it comes to moving your personal goods safely and securely, cheaper isn’t always better.
Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
16541 RUSSELL Street
Saint Paul, VA
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Effective November 30, 2017, The Clinch Valley Times discontinued its printed paper format due to rising costs. In December of 2017, we launched a Facebook version of the CVT, then in 2018, we launched our CVT web page at clinchvalleytimes.net
Today, much our online content is derived from the CVT’s incredible archives, featuring thousands of original photographs. We believe you’ll like what you see.
Our office is located at 16541 Russell Street in St. Paul, Virginia beside the St. Paul Police Department and Town Hall. Because our office hours vary, please call ahead for an appointment.
David Gregory, Publisher
Jerry Couch, Editor
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 276-762-7671
MAILING ADDRESS: Clinch Valley Times, PO Box 817, St. Paul, VA 24283
