by RODERICK MULLINS

CLINTWOOD, Va. – Now at the midpoint of the season, the Food Truck Rodeo has become a popular weekly tradition, bringing residents and visitors together each Monday evening. The event will continue through June 29 at Ralph Cummins Park from 5 to 9 p.m.

The weekly event features a variety of food vendors and provides an opportunity for the community to gather, support local & regional businesses, and enjoy a fun evening in Clintwood.

Everyone is invited to join the fun and enjoy the remaining weeks of the season.

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by RODERICK MULLINS

CLINTWOOD, Va. — Job seekers, students, and individuals interested in career training and community resources are invited to attend the Dickenson County Job Fair on Thursday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Dickenson Center for Education & Research (DCER), located at 818 Happy Valley Drive in Clintwood.

The event is sponsored by Southwest Virginia Works and the Dickenson County Department of Economic Development and is designed to connect residents with employment opportunities, career training, and valuable community resources.

Participating employers currently include Wildwood Recovery Center, Red Onion State Prison, Dickenson County Public Schools, Dickenson County Behavioral Health Services, Pizza Plus, Haysi Regional Jail, In Home Care, and Heritage Hall.

In addition to employers, attendees will have access to resource organizations including Dickenson County Behavioral Health Prevention Services, Dickenson County Department of Social Services, Mountain Empire Community College Workforce Solutions, Mountain Empire Community College Academics, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and The Health Wagon.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet directly with employers, learn about available positions, explore education and workforce training opportunities, and connect with organizations that provide services and support throughout the region.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resume and be prepared to speak with potential employers, as some organizations may conduct on-site interviews.

For additional information, contact Stephanie Edwards at 276-880-5611 or s.edwards@swvaworks.com.

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by RODERICK MULLINS

ABINGDON, Va. — Former Dickenson County Public Schools teacher and Ervinton High School head football coach Curt Newsome has died at the age of 67.

A graduate of Phoebus High School, Va., Newsome went on to play collegiately at Emory and Henry College. Upon graduation, his first coaching job would take him to Dickenson County to head up a struggling Ervinton Rebels football program.

The Rebel players bought into his coaching plan and went 7-3 in his first season as the skipper of Rebels. He would later be named Lonesome Pine District Coach of the Year for his efforts. 

Newsome later left Ervinton and coached at stops at Kecoughtan High School and other state schools, amassing a 105-45 record in 16 seasons as a high school head coach in Virginia. Newsome earned five district coach of the year honors including one with the Lonesome Pine District and one with the Peninsula District in the Virginia High School League, three regional coach of the year awards and received Virginia State Coach of the Year recognition in 1998.

Newsome made the jump the next year to collegiate football in 1999 at James Madison University, where he helped the Dukes win the 2004 NCAA Division I FCS national championship. From there, he spent seven seasons as offensive line coach at Virginia Tech from 2006-12. During his tenure, the Hokies won three Atlantic Coast Conference championships and appeared in a bowl game each season.

He would later leave Virginia Tech and eventually take over the head football coaching position at his alma mater, Emory and Henry University in 2014.

While as the head football coach of the Wasps from 2014-23, he would compile a 53-42 record with six winning seasons. He was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 after leading the Wasps to an 8-2 record, guide the program to the ODAC championship game during the spring 2021 season and the university’s entrance into the NCAA Division II ranks and the South Atlantic Conference.

Newsome would step down from the head football coaching job in 2024 citing health reasons. He would be inducted into the Emory and Henry Sports Hall of Fame.

His coaching career spanned 42 years at both the high school and collegiate levels. In a statement, Virginia Tech remembered him as a respected leader and mentor whose impact on student-athletes will be felt for generations.

James Madison University later released a statement saying that the university was “saddened to learn of the passing of Coach Curt Newsome, who devoted his life to the game of football while helping lead us to our first national championship.”

The JMU release added that Newsome “was one of the most respected coaches in our state between his time at JMU, Virginia Tech and Emory & Henry. Our thoughts are with Coach Newsome’s family during this difficult time.”

The funeral service for Coach Curt Newsome will be at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon. Visitation will follow the service. He will be interred in Hampton, Virginia. A celebration of life will be held in Hampton at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kirk Nairn Memorial Scholarship at P.O. Box 1242, Abingdon, VA 24211, or online at 4knscholarship.com, or to Highlands Fellowship Food Pantry, 22417 Watauga Rd., Abingdon, VA 24211.

The family of Curt Newsome is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210; 276-623-2700.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources invites residents and visitors of all ages to take advantage of Kentucky’s “Free Fishing Weekend,” June 6 and 7.

This annual event allows everyone to enjoy fishing in waters across the commonwealth without purchasing a fishing license or permit. All other regulations, including size limits and the number of fish an individual is permitted to keep, still apply. Permission is always needed if fishing in private waters.

Communities all across Kentucky participate by offering fun special events for anglers, especially for youth. Check local listings or click on the Free Fishing Weekend webpage on the department’s website (fw.ky.gov) to find many known events.

For those new to fishing, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife provides plenty of resources to get started on a lifetime of fishing enjoyment:

• Get the basics: The Learn to Fish webpage provides basic information on gear, where to go fishing, suggested lures and tackle, catching and cleaning a fish and a number of instructional videos from knot tying to filleting fish. For those with more experience, visit the department’s main Fishing landing page for links to all fishing topics.
• Get equipped: Fishing poles can be purchased inexpensively at sporting goods and box stores, second-hand stores and yard sales. Fishing poles can also be borrowed for free at a number of locations across the state. Search for nearby locations on the Loaner Fishing Pole Locations map on the department’s website.
• Learn the rules: See the annual Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide, also in a Spanish language version, for a complete summary of all fishing regulations.
• Where to go: Visit the Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) webpage for lists of easily accessible, specially stocked lakes. For a comprehensive list of fishing and boating access sites across Kentucky, check out the Waterbodies Search webpage.
• Get inside information: Peruse the annual fishing forecast and tips webpage for insider information on fish around the state.
• Find fish: Search the Lakes with Fish Attractors webpage for habitat maps at various lakes and download GPX files from there.
• Continue learning: Kentucky Fish and Wildlife hosts Hook and Cook classes in a number of communities throughout the year. Look for one- and two-day classes to improve or learn new skills.

For anglers on the go, download and use Kentucky’s Fish Boat KY app. The app helps users to find directions to local lakes, read fishing reports, learn about regulations, find stocking schedules, locate the nearest boat ramp and more. The app is available in the iTunes and Google Play app stores.

The water is calling. Pack up the family on the first weekend of June and enjoy fishing in Kentucky – for free.

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PRESS RELEASE: MARSHALL ATHLETICS

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Swim and Dive Head Coach Ian Walsh has resigned his position as leader of the Herd, Marshall Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison announced on Sunday.

“On behalf of Marshall University and Herd Athletics, I want to sincerely thank Coach Ian Walsh for his leadership, dedication, and the many contributions he has made to our Swimming and Diving program,” Harrison said. “Ian has helped elevate this program both in and out of the pool, and he leaves it in a stronger position than when he arrived. His commitment to the development of our student-athletes, their academic success, and the culture of the program has had a lasting impact on Marshall University. We are grateful not only to Ian, but to the entire Walsh family for embracing our community and running with The Herd.”

Walsh spent eight seasons as head coach at Marshall, leading the program to academic and athletic success during his tenure.

“What an honor and privilege it has been to lead this program and be part of this amazing community,” Walsh said. “Our family has created so many wonderful memories we will carry for the rest of our lives. I am grateful for Marshall’s administration taking the chance on a young assistant coach nine years ago. What a journey it has been! I have appreciated all the support from the Marshall leadership over the years.”

Harrison said a national search will begin immediately to find Walsh’s replacement as the leader of the Marshall Swim & Dive program.

“As we look to the future, we have already begun a national search for the next leader of Marshall Swimming and Diving,” Harrison said. “While we have established an aggressive timeline to identify our next head coach, we will not compromise on finding the right fit for our student-athletes and our university. The next leader of this program must fully embrace the tenets of the Herd Mentality, understand that the student-athlete experience is our highest priority, and possess the vision and determination necessary to compete for championships. Marshall Swimming and Diving has a bright future, and we are committed to identifying a coach who will build upon the strong foundation that has been established and continue moving this program forward.”

Over the last eight seasons, Walsh’s teams broke 21 school records and crowned 17 swimmers as individual conference champions.

In the 2025-26 season, Marshall competed as a member of the American Conference for the first time with swimmer Lauren McNamara becoming the program’s first-ever American Conference Individual Champion in the 200 Butterfly while establishing the program record in the category.

McNamara was later selected to represent Team USA at the 2026 FISU America Games, becoming the first Marshall swimmer or diver to represent the program internationally.

Academically, the program received CSCAA Scholar All-American status in each semester since Walsh’s arrival as head coach in 2018.

“To all the athletes I had the great fortune to work with, you helped create a legacy and tradition here in Huntington,” Walsh said. “You taught me just as much, if not more, about this sport than I feel I imparted on you. The process of becoming has always been the reward, and I’m blessed to have been a part of your process. Our family is incredibly grateful for our time here, and Huntington will always have a special place in our hearts.”

For all the latest information about Marshall Athletics, follow @HerdZone on Twitter and Instagram.

To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.

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MARTIN, Ky. – Earendel Theatricals will hold its first Kentucky Emerging Playwrights Summer School, to take place July 28 to Aug. 2, at the Dwelling Place Monastery, in Martin.

The Summer School will match a small cohort of eight student and early-career playwrights with professional mentors to revise a full-length play for professional submission and develop a personalized strategic plan for each writer’s next career steps. Participants will also receive master classes on the craft and business of playwriting.

The 2026 Summer School faculty are two Kentucky playwrights:

Steve Moulds has been a Michener Center fellow, a Jerome Fellow, a National New Play Network Playwright in Residence, a Kentucky Arts Council Fellow, and a Writer in Residence at Vanderbilt University. Plays include The Body (Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis); Emergency Prom; the Humana Festival anthology Oh, Gastronomy!; and The Wedding Guest (Actors Theatre of Louisville). He has also written five plays with his spouse, Diana Grisanti, including the immersive productions Untimely Ripp’d and Enter Ghost for Kentucky Shakespeare, and frequently writes commissions for Creede Rep and other TYA programs. He has also written commissions for The Appalachian Center for the Arts’ Vitality Touring Theatre Company (Galaxy Girl) and Pikeville 200’s bicentennial production Spirits of Pikeville Past (The Joy of Flight about John Paul Riddle). newplayexchange.org/users/661/steve-moulds

Jayme Kilburn is a playwright, director, and Assistant Professor of Theatre at Union Commonwealth University in Kentucky. Her original full-length plays Ding! Or Bye Bye Dad and Garbage Kids premiered at Venus Theatre, and her writing often explores themes of care, confinement, and resilience. Jayme also facilitates playwriting workshops for incarcerated writers through Voices Inside at Northpoint Training Facility and is committed to expanding access to storytelling in rural and justice-impacted communities. She is the Founding Artistic Director of the Strand Theater Company in Baltimore, dedicated to producing works by women playwrights, and has directed over forty productions across the country. Jayme holds a Ph.D. in Theatre Arts from Cornell University and an M.A. in Humanities and Social Thought from NYU. www.jayme-kilburn.com

The Summer School will take place at the Dwelling Place Monastery, a mountaintop retreat center of the Mt. Tabor Benedictines located in Floyd County near Martin (mtabor.com). The program is an initiative of Earendel Theatricals, a Pikeville-based professional theatre company with a mission to tell stories of hope, with a special focus on new and innovative theatrical works bridging the urban-rural divide. www.earendelonstage.com

“This will be our third playwriting retreat at the Dwelling Place, after hosting Erik Ehn’s extraordinary Stillwright silent playwriting retreats in 2023 and 2024,” says Earendel’s president, Br. Christian Cole Matson. “We’ve found that the mountains of Eastern Kentucky help writers settle into a place of quiet. We hope the Summer School will allow each writer to emerge from this beautiful environment with a clear sense of direction and a solid piece of work that displays their gifts to the world. We want more playwrights to find their place in the professional theatre.”

Writers who have completed at least one draft of a full-length play are invited to apply by May 31. Writers do not need to be affiliated with Kentucky, and there is no application fee. The final cohort will be selected by June 15. For more information, including tuition costs, visit kysummerschool.eventbrite.com or contact Br. Christian Cole Matson at christian@earendelonstage.com.

Writers may apply via JotForm: https://www.jotform.com/form/260728438453160.

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PRESS RELEASE: MARSHALL ATHLETICS

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald J. Harrison announced on Thursday that Marshall Softball head coach Morgan Zerkle has agreed to a contract extension to remain as the leader of the Herd.

The contract extension runs through the 2030 season with provisions that could extend the deal for future seasons, as well.

“Morgan Zerkle represents everything we want Marshall Softball and Marshall Athletics to be,” Harrison said. “She is an elite coach, an incredible mentor for young women and a relentless competitor who has built a championship-caliber culture rooted in the Herd Mentality. Under her leadership, our softball program has achieved historic success while continuing to elevate the student-athlete experience in every way – academically, athletically, personally and within our community.”

Zerkle’s new contract comes after a successful season for the Herd, which led to the team earning only the third NCAA Tournament berth in program history and the first since 2017 – when Zerkle was an All-American for the team.

“Marshall University continues to give me the opportunities of a lifetime, and I am thrilled to continue serving the community and people that I love so much,” Zerkle said. “I want to thank President Brad Smith and Athletic Director Gerald Harrison for their belief in me and support of an ambitious softball program that I hope to keep building for years to come. I also want to thank my student-athletes and their families for their trust, loyalty and love. I couldn’t do it without them. Go Herd!”

Marshall finished the 2026 season with a 38-19 record and competed in the Durham Regional of the NCAA Tournament after a year in which the team finished with an RPI of 28 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Sun Belt standings after going 17-7 in SBC play.

In the 2026 campaign, Marshall hit 95 home runs as a team, shattering the previous single-season record of 79 home runs set in 2019.

On Tuesday, Marshall sophomore Sydni Burko was named as a D1Softball.com Second Team All-American at third base after a season in which she was named as the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

Burko set Marshall’s all-time single-season marks with 24 home runs and 146 total bases while also leading the Sun Belt in slugging percentage (.854, 5^th in MU history).

Burko’s 24 home runs led a season in which Marshall had three players hit 15 home runs for the first time in program history. Joining Burko in that category were sophomore Ava Blake (18) and junior Bella Gerlach (15).

Of the 95 home runs hit in the 2026 season, 89 are slated to return to the Herd in 2027, along with 27 wins in the circle with pitchers Jules King and Maddie Veal, meaning that the future for Herd softball is bright – and now, solidified with Zerkle at the helm.

“President Smith and I are absolutely thrilled that Coach Zerkle will continue to lead our program into the future,” Harrison said. “We believe Marshall Softball is one of the premier mid-major programs in the country, and Morgan is one of the brightest rising stars in collegiate athletics. The passion, discipline, integrity and vision she brings to our university every single day make her incredibly special to Marshall. Today is a tremendous day for the future of Herd Softball, and we cannot wait to continue chasing championships together.”

In addition to Zerkle’s new deal, the agreement also increases allocations for assistant coaches and support staff for Zerkle to utilize in the future development of the program.

Zerkle has proven to be one of the nation’s top head coaching talents in her first-ever head coaching gig.

In three years leading the Herd, Zerkle has compiled a 94-70 record, which includes this year’s team, whose 38 wins tied for the fifth-most in a single season in Marshall history.

The head coaching success comes after Zerkle’s standout collegiate career with the Herd, which saw her earn All-American status, USA Collegiate Player of the Year Finalist honors and Conference USA Player of the Year honors in 2017 while leading Marshall to the NCAA Tournament.

She has since gone on to represent Team USA while also embarking on a successful professional career that has made her one of the AUSL’s most recognizable stars – all while representing Marshall.

The Milton native has not only been a leader in the clubhouse as a player, but also as the head coach and as an ambassador in the community, which Harrison said is paramount for ultimate success of the Herd Mentality.

“What makes this even more special is that Morgan is a West Virginian and truly a daughter of Marshall,” Harrison said. “She understands the pride, toughness and passion that comes with representing this university and this state. Our student-athletes see that authenticity every single day in the way she leads, serves and competes. There is something incredibly powerful about having someone who genuinely loves Marshall leading one of our flagship programs.” 

To donate to support the future of Marshall Softball, click HERE.

For all the latest information about Marshall Athletics, follow @HerdZone on Twitter and Instagram.

To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.

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CLINTWOOD, Va. — The Dickenson County Board of Supervisors took significant action during their meeting on Wednesday, officially establishing a new structure for the county’s Tourism Advisory Committee and approving a range of administrative appointments.

In a move aimed at streamlining tourism efforts, the board adopted new bylaws to reorganize the committee. The updated structure, designed to ensure broader representation, will now include members from the county’s three incorporated towns, Clinchco, Clintwood and Haysi; Breaks Interstate Park; local tourism attractions; and private-sector businesses, alongside at-large appointments.

Two board members were unable to physically be present at the meeting due to family members currently hospitalized. Kenady District Supervisor Shelbie Willis was able to attend remotely by phone after the board approved her attendance remotely.

During the session, the board also managed a high volume of committee appointments. Notably, the supervisors appointed representatives to the Industrial Development Authority, the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission, and the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority.

Key actions and approvals:

• Tourism Advisory Committee: The board officially established new by-laws and appointed 12 members to the restructured committee to ensure balanced representation across the county’s tourism assets and businesses.
• Employee Bonuses: The board adopted an ordinance to authorize a one-time 2 percent bonus for all full-time county employees, including those on the electoral board, funded in part by state legislation.
• Polling Location: Supervisors moved to establish the Haysi Russell Fork Trail Center as the new polling location for the Sandlick precinct, noting that the venue offers improved accessibility compared to the previous site.
• Infrastructure Grants: The board designated the county administrator as the certifying officer for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project aimed at installing permanent generators for key infrastructure sites following the February 2025 flooding events.
• Insurance Renewal: The board approved the fiscal year 2027 Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) insurance proposal, which came in at $249,418 — a reduction of approximately $22,876 compared to the previous year.

The board also scheduled public hearings for June 23 regarding a proposed solid waste ordinance and fiscal year 2026 budget amendments.

The meeting included a closed session regarding personnel matters before concluding with supervisor comments, during which board members expressed their commitment to community growth and extended well-wishes to colleagues and their families facing personal health challenges.

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by RODERICK MULLINS

CLINTWOOD, Va. — The Dickenson County School Board convened for its monthly meeting on Wednesday, highlighting a year of significant student accomplishments, advancing new instructional initiatives, and managing routine operational business.

The board opened the session by celebrating several major extracurricular achievements, including the success of the inaugural “Pack Productions” media and journalism team at Ridgeview High School. Supt. Haydee Robinson recognized student Antionette White, who made history as the division’s first-ever state champion in the Virginia High School League creative writing competition.

Board members also praised the Ridgeview High School solar go-cart team, which competed in a statewide race held at Bristol Motor Speedway. While the team faced technical challenges that required extensive work, including a late-night part retrieval from Morristown, Tenn., by Principal Chris Owens, the board commended the students and faculty for their ingenuity and competitive spirit.

Additionally, the board recognized recent athletic successes in track and field and tennis.

During the business portion of the meeting, staff provided an update on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. While the Virginia General Assembly has not yet finalized its budget, officials noted that the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors has proposed an appropriation that includes the required local match plus $250,000 to assist with staff salary increases.

The board officially approved the division’s participation as a formal lead for a USDA Rural Utility Service Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant. The grant is expected to fund advanced instructional technology, including virtual reality systems for libraries and interactive video conferencing equipment, building on a successful $400,000 equipment acquisition from the previous school year.

In other actions, the board:

• Approved the sale of 15 surplus school buses.
• Reauthorized the division’s retirement incentive policy for employees.
• Reviewed enrollment and attendance data, noting that the district maintained a consistent enrollment total for the month.

Board members expressed their appreciation for a successful school year, with particular emphasis on the recent graduation ceremony. Members also thanked the departing student school board representative, Kendra Vitatoe, for her service and contributions throughout the year.

The meeting concluded with a closed session regarding employment recommendations and legal consultations before the board formally adjourned.

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MOUNT GAY, W.Va. — Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Manuel as the college’s new Interim President.

Elizabeth A. Manuel has dedicated her career to increasing access to education and advancing student success initiatives throughout West Virginia. Beginning with a focus on economic and workforce development in some of the state’s most rural communities, she has spent more than two decades leading efforts to make higher education accessible, particularly for first-generation and low-income students.

Throughout her more than 25 years of experience, much of Manuel’s work has involved fiscal oversight and management of state and federal grants supporting educational programs and student initiatives. Her expertise includes grassroots community collaboration, securing funding for impactful programs, and expanding educational opportunities for students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Most recently, Manuel served as a K–12 administrator overseeing student affairs, operational initiatives, and infrastructure development. Before that role, she spent more than 15 years with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, where she held numerous leadership positions.

During her tenure with the Commission, Manuel secured nearly $30 million in funding for student programs across the state, oversaw the system’s Division of Student Affairs, and served as a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet. Earlier in her career, she also held various leadership roles at Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College.

Manuel was named a Council Member for the West Virginia Council for Community & Technical College Education, serving on the coordinating body responsible for administering community and technical college education across the state. In addition, she has served on numerous boards and committees at both the state and national levels.

“Southern has a strong tradition of impacting lives through education,” said Manuel. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our dedicated faculty, staff, students, and community partners as we continue creating opportunities for the people and communities we serve.”

“Together we will continue building on the college’s mission of accessible, affordable, and high-quality education while ensuring our students remain at the center of everything we do,” she added.

She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marshall University and resides in Logan, West Virginia, where she remains active in her local community.

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