New tracks for the old section of Bristol

BHC 0426 BVRailroad work 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Norfolk and Southern railroad track that pass between the new School board offices and Bristol Virginia City Hall are being moved and reduced by one set. The project will make the road smoother in the area. All the intersections are also being replaced and repaved.

McDonnell hears about loss from Tornado survivor

BHC 0428 GladeSpringGov 10, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, right, listens to tornado survivor Debbie Blevins, left, talk about loosing her house, husband and suffering several broken bones during the tornadoes of 2011 in Glade Spring. She was found in a field by Emory and Henry College students of whom Jacob Reid, Brad Ellis and James McVey, center, were 3 of the 8 students who helped.

Students learn from Living History

BHC 0428 LivingHistory04, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Students learn to be soldiers from 14 yr. old Ben Pile, and what happens to a soldier found to be in the wrong as Watauga Elem Student Cody Atkins found out during the 20th annual Living History at Edmonson Hall in Meadowview, Va. on Friday. 300 elementary students learned about the civil war during the event. Washington County schools attended.

Church fire in Sullivan County

BHC 0427 ChurchFire 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Hickory Tree Vol. Fire Dept. Chief Kenny Offield takes a break to make calls during the steeple fires at River Bend Baptist Church on Thursday. Avoca, East and Hickory Tree fire depts responded to the fire.

5th. grade garden ready at WL Elem.

BHC 0427 WLGarden01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Washington Lee Elem student Amaya Lee spreads straw on the potato plots outside the school on Thursday. Students are growing vegetables and flowers outside the school

Weekend Water Fun

BHC 0423 WaterCar 02, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Michael Rosmann runs through puddles after the rains this weekend along the Volunteer Parkway on Saturday.

East over THS in Softball

BHC 0426 EastvsTHS 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

Sullivan East #2 Karisa White slides into second base safe as Tenn. High #24 Kaitlyn Bledsoe, and #27 Madison Mitchell both go for the ball.

Radioactive training for Fire Dept.

BHC 0425 FireTraining 02, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Members of the Bristol VA fire department were taking part in a Radioactive Training activity on Tuesday as the Fire Training facility in Bristol, VA. Several different training exercises were conducted including SWAT, Fire and Rescue and radioactive taskes. The class room training will take place later this week after the live action has finished.

Cold for the Dogs too.

BHC 0424 ColdWeather 02, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Dewayne Hall tries to keep warm his 4 Schnauzer puppies as they all go outside for some exercise and other activities. Needless to say the trip outside was quick with the 40+ degree weather on Monday. They were spotted on Fairmont Ave. in Bristol Va.

East falls to Unicoi in Baseball

BHC 0424 East Univoi 06, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

East pitcher #8 Aaron Boling throws to home.

Empowering Women Ruth King

BHC 04xx EmpowerKing 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

Ruth King owned Ruth King Antiques on State Street for over 20 yrs. She has always been involved in the community ever since she moved to the area.

Award Winning Photography 2012

1st. Place  Combination picture/story Virginia Press Association 2012 for coverage of the Buchanan County deputy shootings.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

Tammy Elswick, left, Cody Elswick, center, and Austin Elswick hold candles on Monday at a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Courthouse in Grundy, Va.  Tammy is a cousin to William Ezra Stiltner, photo she holds. and  they wanted to support the other fallen officer ( Cameraon Neil Justus) by having Austin hold his photo.

Ray Foster, Buchanan County Sheriff prays with Linda Stiltner, wife of fallen officer William Ezra Stiltner on Monday at a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Courthouse in Grundy, Va. 

Memorial for the fallen and recovering members of the Buchanan Sheriff Dept. on Monday at a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Courthouse in Grundy, Va. 

Candles are raised in memory of the fallen and recovering members of the Buchanan Sheriff Dept. on Monday at a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Courthouse in Grundy, Va. 

State Police are working the scene of a shooting outside Grundy Va. 

James Conley stands by the location where Randy Gilbert Newberry was shot after he shot several Buchanan County officers on Sunday near Grundy, VA.  Conley let Newberry use his cell phone as they stood next to his daughter car.  Officer shot when a handgun was seen and paint shows the outline of the final resting place.

Keep Bristol Beautiful collects trash and old TV's

BHC 0422 EwasteCleanup 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Andy O'Connor, left, gets some help from Steven Craddock with two large screen TV's Craddock brought to the Euclid Food City during the Ewaste disposal part of the Community Cleanup 2012 on Saturday.

ADRL Tour at Bristol Motor Speedway

BHC 0422 ADRL Races 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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PHOTO EARL NEIKIRK/BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

Local driver Brian Schrader smokes his tires while getting ready to run on Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway during the ADRL 2012 Tour.

BHC Girls basketball top players 2012

BHC 04XX BHCGirls 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

PH- Wilmoth, Central-Wyrick Eastside- Lawson, THS Mitchell, Gate City Gose

Wilmoth BHC Player of the Year

BHC 04XX Wilmoth 05, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Patrick Henry High School-- Cadence Wilmoth- BHC Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

Garden Faire in Abingdon this weekend

BHC 0421 GardenFaire 07, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

Valerie Walker, left, and Shirley Baumgardner look over the flowers and veggie plants at the Garden of Eat'n booth outside the Garden Faire in Abingdon, Va. Friday.

Cloud9 Opens

BHC 0420 Cloud9 Opens 01, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

Willis Michael Otey and Kenny Harris with Whicker Glass Co. install a new front door on Cloud 9 Emporium in Bristol. The shop is set to reopen as a discount tobacco store.

Boys basketball Coach of the Year

BHC 04XX VHS coach, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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2012 Boys Basketball of the year VHS boys coach ---Wayne Rasnake

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

Local women honored Thursday

BHC 0420 YWCA Women 1, a photo by Neikirk Image on Flickr.

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Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier

YWCA Tribute to Women 2012 Award Recipient Ruth Jerauld Hill Goodpasture smiles as she sits with supporters after accepting her award on Thursday. Her Husband Frank Goodpasture is to the right.