Several events planned for weekend

June 02, 2021

BY MARY LOU BUSH

APPALACHIA NEWS • 565-1386

Kid’s Fishing Derby

The 2021 Kid’s Fishing Derby presented by the Town of Appalachia, Appalachia Parks and Recreation and the Appalachia Lions Club will be this Saturday, June 5 at 11 am till 1 pm at the Powell Riverside Park. Free fishing for kids with prizes every hour, biggest fish prize.

Cruisin’ Main Street

Cruisin’ Main Street, Appalachia, June 5th at 5 p.m. Classic cars, motorcycles, ATV, trucks, food trucks, cruisin’ and music!

Center Stage, Main Street

Center Stage, Main Street, Saturday, June 5, 5 p.m. till 7 p.m., Appalachia, VA. Black Diamond Dust Tour, Second Hand Smoke/ Special Guest, Shawn Stone.

East Stone Gap

School Reunion

The 96th East Stone Gap School Reunion will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021 at the Taylor-Lewis Center in East Stone Gap at 6 pm. Doors will open at 5 pm.

A catered meal will be provided by Union High School football parents! The menu consists of chicken tenders, hot dogs, baked beans, slaw, chips, drinks and hot fudge cake for dessert. Price for the meal is $20 per person. Any graduate, student and their spouse/friends of this school during it’s existence are invited to attend. You need to respond by June 8. The number attending must be confirmed with the caterer so they have enough time to prepare the food. Make checks payable to ESG School Reunion and mail to Judy Tate Riggs, P.O. Box 24, East Stone Gap, VA 24246.

Wedding Anniversary

June 7th Bob and Jenny Taylor of Appalachia will be celebrating 63 years of marital bliss. We wish this couple a happy anniversary.

Sympathy Extended

We were sorry to learn of the passing of our friend, Jane D. Stone. Jane had lived her entire life in Big Stone Gap until she retired from Wise County Court System. She moved to Indiana to be near her son, Tod and daughter-in-law and her granddaughter. We extend our sympathy to her family. Jane will be laid to rest beside her husband, Dickie Stone, in Glencoe Cemetery.

Memorial Day Picnic

We were so thankful to have our family with us for the Memorial Day picnic. Our brother, Danny Bush from Oak Ridge, TN visited us for several days. Our son, Shawn and his family from Wise and our niece Gloria and her son Seth Smith from Abingdon were also with us for a good day on Monday. We had a great picnic meal at home. The weather was nice and warm and we visited the graves of our departed family members. The cemeteries all looked very beautiful.

Mowing Donations Needed

Walking through Riverview Cemetery in East Stone Gap on Wednesday, May 26th, helping to place flags on many veterans graves who served this great nation, helping to preserve this freedom of ours, I saw many stones that are darkened by the aging process. My mind wondered, what if no one cared if the cemetery was mowed and weeded as regularly as the weather permitted, what would it look like? This is a resting place of the temple our loved ones had when alive. Aren’t the memories worth a donation to help preserve their final resting place?

I, for one, believe it is worth it. As I’ve gotten older it becomes more difficult for me to do it so I appreciate all of the ones serving on the cemetery committee and those who give their time to ask for a donation.

For Paul R. Hicks, who has served as treasurer for many years, worrying from time to time to see if enough money can be raised to continue to pay for the service provided. Some are under the assumption that there is someone at the cemetery all the time. There is not!

The donations are for mowing, weed eating and emptying the garbage cans (occasionally). Mowing can be interrupted because of inclement weather and can delay mowing for days or weeks at a time.

Mowing begins on or about April 15th and ends on or about October 15th. Any mowing prior or after these dates are the responsibilities of the families. Donations are needed throughout the year to help pay for this year and help plan for the upcoming year(s).

What can you do? Donate! Send your checks or monetary donations to: Paul R. Hicks, PO Box 162, East Stone Gap, VA 24246. Thanks to all who have donated thus far. Your help is truly appreciated.