Award Winning Photography 2016

1st. Place Midwest Region – July 2016 – Feature/Single National Press Photographers Association

Eugene Williams was the winner of the watermelon eating contest during the Celebrate Bristol Fouth of July celebration on Monday.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

Last bubbles of Summer before School

Lexi Brown, 5, from Chilhowie, Virginia watches bubbles as she was playing at Sugar Hollow Park on Thursday.  School starts for her on August 10 and this was the last time for her to get out and play.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

Bristol Shooting Spree Scott in Court

Bristol Shooting Spree suspect, Lakeem Keon Scott, 37,  raises his hand when question by Judge James Goodwin in Sullivan County Criminial Court on Friday.  Scott pleaded not guilty to all charges in Sullivan County Criminal Court.  Scott faces 15 charges including first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and employing a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/townnews/criminal_law/scott-pleads-not-guilty-in-july-volunteer-parkway-shooting-spree/article_e7cdd489-c93c-57dd-8da8-1db4b599dfd8.html

Steele Creek Splash Pad still under construction

Water sprays from a flower in the new splash pad at Steele Creek Park.  The water area is still under construction but will soon open after the landscaping is completed along with some of the buildings.



Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/work-on-splash-pad-won-t-be-complete-before-school/article_d4053594-3078-58d1-b0bb-2ab67432e353.html

Bristol Virginia School Board looking to fill Superintendent

The public was invited to comment to the Bristol Virginia School Board about the qualities in a new Superintendent they would like during a called meeting on Monday.  A survey taken was also discussed and the results were shared with the group.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/superior-qualifications-public-voices-what-qualities-they-d-like-to/article_50c8fe0e-73da-56f5-9c1b-0f673fce6a9e.html

9th. Annual Tractor Show in Abingdon, VA.

Jim Huff drove from Tazewell, Virginia to see the Tractor Show.  Collectors and owners of Antique Tractors gathered on Saturday at the 9th. Annual Summer Show for the Old Glade Antique Tractor Association at Fairview in Abingdon, Virginia.  Gas, Diesel and LP Gas powered tractors were on display along with antique truck and emergency equipment.  Threshing, Bailing and Hay pressing were also demonstrated in addition to the recently restored sawmill.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/gallery/th-annual-tractor-show/coll...

Award Winning Photography 2016

2nd. Place News Photos - Tennessee Press Assoc. 2016

Boy Scout Troop 15, Bristol, Tennessee, spent Saturday afternoon disposing of wore, tattered and faded American Flags in the correct manner.  The flags were presented, saluted and then burned on the continous campfire.  Saturday marked the beginning of Scout Week with the conclusion next week at the Klondike Derby.  Over 800 flags were collected for the ceremony.



2nd. Place News Photos - Tennessee Press Assoc. 2016

Carey Couron, left, Ethan Francis and Garrett Humphrey, members of Scout Troop 15, Bristol, Tennessee, salute the retired American Flags during the Disposal of Unserviceable Flags Ceremony.  The flags were burned on the continous campfire as part of 105th. year of Scouting in America.  The campfire is in its 40th. year.



2nd. Place News Photos - Tennessee Press Assoc. 2016

Boy Scout Troop 15, Bristol, Tennessee, spent Saturday afternoon disposing of wore, tattered and faded American Flags in the correct manner.  The flags were presented, saluted and then burned on the continous campfire.  Saturday marked the beginning of Scout Week with the conclusion next week at the Klondike Derby.  Over 800 flags were collected for the ceremony.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/bristol-herald-courier-earns-honors-at-tennessee-press-association-awards/article_ad7ab1bc-323b-51ea-8f07-29abed82067a.html

Va. Lt. Gov. talks Technology in Abingdon

Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, right, talks to a group gathered in Abingdon, Virginia to discuss Technology in the region.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/virginia-leaders-discuss-technology-at-roundtable/article_9f6487ee-e9e5-551a-b0b1-4981feb5191e.html

Outside fun in the Sun

Zander Leonard, 3, works on his skateboarding skills as his sister, Trinity Roberts, 4, waits her turn on a hot Thursday, July 21, 2016 in Bristol, Virginia.

Remote Area Medical comes to Wise Fairgrounds

Jerry Hughes from Coeburn, Virginia gets digital xrays taken of his mouth by VCU Dental student Ashley Conners during the Remote Area Medical clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds in Wise, Virginia.  Missions of Mercy organizes the Dental area with Virginia Dental Association.



Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, left, Stan Brock, Remote Area Medical, listens to Teresa Gardner, Executive Director Health Wagon, talk about the current RAM Clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds on Friday, July 22, 2016.



Dr. Graham Gardner, Orthodontist, left, listens as his daughter, Ava, talks about her first experience at the Remote Area Medical Clinic on Friday in Wise, Virginia.  Dr. Gardner has been working the clinic for over 10 years and brought his daughter to see first hand what the Missions of Mercy does and how there is a dental need right here in Virginia.



Dr. Elizabeth Reynolds, DDS., Richmond, Virginia, looks into the mouth of 21 year old Miriam-Brooke Upchurch from Big Stone Gap, Virginia.  Upchurch was getting teeth pulled at the Missions of Mercy Dental area of the Remote Area Medical at the Wise Fairground in Wise, Virginia.  Dr. Reynolds brought her daughter Anne Randall Berkeyheiser, center, to the clinic to help out this weekend.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/volunteers-to-help-thousands-receive-free-care-at-th-ram/article_2f5ebdda-e019-5b20-ba4a-85bb280aa2a5.html

Gov. talks about Cyber Security Jobs in Virginia

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, left, speaks during a Cybersecurity Roundtable at the Univerisity of Virginia at Wise campus as Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Marcia Gilliam, UVa-Wise Board Chair, look on.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/mcauliffe-leads-discussion-on-cyber-security-in-sw-va/article_f32ce84d-082c-5a86-8947-9909ffa08711.html

Bristol Tennessee Schools issue Laptops

Emily Vain, 11, logs onto her issued computer under the supervision of Beth Link during Laptop Distribution Day at Tennessee High School.  Vain will be in the 6th. grade at Anderson Elementary School.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/bristol-tenn-schools-begin-lap...

Baby, it's HOT out there!!

Virginia High Band Director Gary Skeen warms up his players during the beginning of Wednesday, July 20, 2016 band camp.





Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local-band-football-teams-looking-to-stay-cool-during-heat/article_f08fdaa9-6188-5224-a902-f73ed31debc9.html

New BVU Board meets for second time and gets to work

Meeting Chairman Saul Hernandez, left, and Tim Lowe explain some of the details involved in the Sunset Digital contract with BVU and the purchase of the OptiNet group to Kevin Mumpower, center, during meeting on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.

Photo Earl Neikirk/ Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

Shooting in Bristol

Josh Devine with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, left, looks on as Bristol Tennessee Chief of Police Blaine Wade gives an update of the officer involved in an early Thursday morning shooting along the Volunteer Parkway.





Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/shooting-rampage-in-bristol-tenn-leaves-person-dead-injured/article_9b580505-24b6-5b15-ac68-ded9c97d72bf.html

Messy First Thursday in Abingdon

Raven Davis gets a face full of soap and coloring sliding down the waterslide during the Big Messy First Thursday at the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, Virginia.  Over 100 children and adults came to slide on a slip and Slide and play in the foam pit on Thursday.



Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/community/william-king-museum-of-art-makes-a-mess-of-its/article_866b0a65-f39f-53d0-85d9-b8089d143b36.html

Collection of items for West Virginia Flood Victims

Bristol Virginia Fire Department Chief Mike Armstrong looks over the clothing and cleaning items that have been donated for the flood victims of West Virginia.



Aaron Rollins, general manager Midway Furniture, his warehouse served as a gathering point for bedding and other furniture that is being loaded into trucks that will be driven on Thursday to West Virginia to be handed out to flood victims.The Bristol Virginia Fire Department is also collecting clothing and cleaning products for the same cause.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local-civic-business-leaders-step-up-to-gather-aid-for/article_c21e6762-ee70-5ae1-8431-632f6f5edf0d.html

Finally some rain in the region.

This ant was walking around on this flower during the morning rain on Tuesday in Bristol, Virginia as the rain drops were clinging to the pedals.  Several days of hot humid dry days made the moisture today helpful in many ways to the crops, grass and the ant..

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/your-weather-report-showers-and-thunderstorms-chances-increase/article_82720a0e-436d-11e6-8f63-2b81f91fec92.html?_dc=115937441121.78683

Celebrate Bristol 4th. of July

The American Flag is reflected in the Stars and Stripes sunglasses during the Celebrate Bristol Fouth of July celebration on Monday.







Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/hundreds-turn-out-as-bristol-marks-independence-day/article_1ca31424-c2d1-5acf-adc6-9c319f86c893.html

Wine now sold in Tennessee Grocery Stores

Tennessee Representative Jon Lundberg, left, was the first person to buy wine at 8 am. on Friday, July 1, 2016 in the Food City in Kingsport, Tennessee.  July 1 is the first day for Tennessee grocery stores to sell wine after voted on by the citizens in 2014.  Food City president and CEO Steve Smith in shown on right.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/food-city-celebrates-uncorking-of-wine-sales-in-grocery-stores/article_95e5cc6c-2c2d-564e-9235-b09478a64a81.html