Fun in the Sun at Sugar Hollow

Penn Story, 5, flies his Storm Trooper Kit on top of the Dam at Sugar Hollow Park on Wednesday in the warm breezy weather.



Kannan Walden, 5, races down the grass hill at Sugar Hollow Park on Wednesday while racing Daniel Davis,6, on big wheels.  The two would race on the pavement and then the grass.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

Listening Tour continues on Hospital merger

Perry Stuckey, Eastman Chemical, Chairman Gary Mayes, Sullivan County Health Department and Dr. Teresa Kidd, Frontier Health,  and other members of the Certificate of Public Advantage committee held a listening session at Northeast State Community College on Tuesday to hear concerns from Wellmont and Mountain States medical groups employees.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/rural-health-diabetes-among-to...

Liz Peer, top left, talks to visitors to the special display, including Disney items, on the legacy of Ralph Peer using artifacts loaned by the Peer Family Archives.  Ralph Peer II, the current Chair and CEO of peermusic, spoke to those attending a reception at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.  The display will remain at the museum through the summer.



Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/bcmm-exhibit-opens-on-ralph-peer-talent-scout-behind-bristol/article_74ec0a3d-9ebf-5643-b5da-3b9d4de2ddd9.html

There is a new Dog in Town

The Bristol Tennessee Police Department has welcomed a new addition to the city's K9 unit and his name is Sonny.  Sonny is an 18-month-old yellow lab, and was acquired from Xtreme Concepts, Inc., a security solutions firm based in Birmingham, Alabama. Sonny will serve alongside his partner, Officer Chesney Griffin.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/k--sonny-joins-bristol-tennessee-police-department/article_1d1a5de4-4386-5884-82cc-118f076b05b1.html

Vietnam War Anniversary Ceremony at Mountain Home

Lt. General Frederick McCorkle salutes a wreath following the Mountain Home National Veteran's Day program to remember the 50th. Anniversary of the Vietnam War.





Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/vietnam-war-veterans-recognized-at-cemetery-s-th-anniversary-event/article_a2987bb6-dd03-5456-b1c1-09f99056f22c.html

Washington County Skill Center closing, Virginia Highlands picking up the classes.

Daniel Zagorski works on some Mig Welding at the Washington County Skills Center in Abingdon, Virginia.  The center is closing and Virginia Highlands Community College is taking over the programs.





Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/washington-county-skill-center-closing-vhcc-to-continue-programs/article_98d939bf-5a1d-5cd7-addd-b212f2d7d2f4.html

Shooting in Bristol, Virginia leaves one dead

Washington County Sheriff's Department talks to witnesses at an additional crime scene of a shooting on King Mill Pike and Crusenberry Road on Friday morning.



Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/person-dead-wounded-in-washing...

Virginia Highlands CC Active Shooters Drill

Members of the Abingdon Police Department and an observer run onto the campus of Virginia Highlands Community College during an Active Shooter Drill on Friday in Abingdon, Virginia.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/law-enforcement-agencies-perform-active-shooter-drill-at-vhcc/article_4693e51b-e9bf-513c-990c-51f3ea6b9dab.html

Abingdon downs Holston Softball

Abingdon #2 Katherine Toler slides into home plate safe to score against Holston #14 Mia Altizer on Tuesday.



Abingdon #6 Leanna Toler looks back at her team as she scores a run against Holston on Tuesday.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/abingdon-downs-holston/article_d9ede0ca-f0aa-11e5-91ca-cf83a2a46b90.html

Plein Air Painters at Steele Creek

Leslie Davis of Kingsport, Tennessee was painting in oils with other members of the Northeast Tennessee Plein Air Painters on Tuesday inside Steele Creek Park.  The group of 5 artists started around 10 am and painted until 1:30 in the afternoon.  Some painted in oils and some in watercolors.  Locations are picked by the group and they try to go out and paint 2-3 times a week all around the TriCities including Scott County, Gate City and even Natural Tunnel Park.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/gallery/plein-air-painters/collection_9abd0eb0-f070-11e5-a7e3-bbf1df88e6e3.html

Tennessee High over John Battle Baseball Monday

Tennessee High #18 Gavin Cross slides into home safe as Battle #18 gets the throw late.  Tennessee High scored 9 runs in the first inning.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/vikings-trounce-trojans/article_136ec628-efd6-11e5-bd0e-972f3315bc2e.html

American Girl Doll Tea Party at Bristol Public Library

Sarah Page, left, 8, holds her doll Cara and watches as Jenna Ball, 9, braids the hair of her American Girl doll Saige at the Bristol Public Library on Monday.  The library held a Tea Party for the girls in the Children's Section.



Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

Bristol Tennessee Science Fair

First Place Chemistry/Honors Chemistry winners Tennessee High School Maddie Jackson, Harley Bickham, Rebecca Moore and (Gracesin Osborne)not pictured, won for their Science Project on How Sweet It Is.  The trio started celebrate and dance after they met with family after the awards program at Viking Hall.



Third grade student at Holston View Elementary School MacKenzie Addison talks about her project she entered with Lydia Teri and Averie Stalnaker in the Science Fair on How Fast Paint Dries.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/local-event-showcases-students-curiosity-and-celebrates-learning/article_aacaf3cb-6e17-571a-9059-c34765138270.html

Easter Egg hunts and activities 1 week early

Kale Keim, 11 months old, was checking out the Easter Bunny on Saturday, March 19, 2016 during the YWCA Eggstravaganza in Bristol, Tennessee.  Breakfast was provided to approx. 200 people who also took part in facepainting, cake walk, t-shirt painting and many more games.





Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/local-children-celebrate-easter-at-events-around-the-twin-city/article_239a8d9f-f296-5043-b755-514a026184cf.html

Clear Creek Golf Club looking to increase finances

Golfers continue their game on a sunny cool Friday afternoon at Clear Creek Golf Club in Bristol, Virginia.  The City owned golf course is trying to come up with programs and other ideas to increase the monies at the Club.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/clear-creek-golf-club-making-c...

Log Truck spills on Interstate 81 North at Bristol

Logs are scattered along I81 North on Thursday after a log truck lost its load.  The interstate was closed for some time as the logs were moved off the road and the truck was righted and moved.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/driver-ok-after-i--log-truck-c...

Abingdon Students grow veggies with ASD

Michelle Logan Vestal, Abingdon High School, cuts lettuce from the greenhouse that the students and Appalachian Sustainable Develpment have been working for 3 years.  The program called Grow Your Own helps the community set up and maintain gardens.  The students have been growing lettuce, peppers, spinach, garlic, tomatoes, kale and aspargus from seed to the garden.  Picked produce has been shared with Faith in Action of Abingdon and the students also cook for the class at the High School.

Photo Earl Neikirk/ Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

Harvard Ultimate Frisbee comes to Sullins Academy

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Eliza Chang, Sullins Academy class of 2008, member of the Harvard Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team, Quasars, throws to her team during an Ultimate Frisbee match at Sullins Academy.





Eliza Chang, Sullins Academy class of 2008, member of the Harvard Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team, Quasars, talks to the students on Tuesday prior to an Ultimate Frisbee match at Sullins Academy.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/sullins-alumna-leads-harvard-ultimate-team-exhibition/article_c72a5622-9784-5c7b-bf6c-e1a97ca00438.html

Twin City Drive In getting ready for Spring

Danny Warden spent the warm sunny day on Tuesday to reattach the speakers to the parking poles inside the Twin City Drive In.  Warden started attaching the 416 speakers that were checked out and parts replaced duirng the down winter months.  Even though the Drive In has FM signal several customers talk about the old time sound from the speakers.  With the installation of the digital projector in 2014 the sound is now higher quality too.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

Avoca Volunteer Fire Department Asst. Chief Morrell passes.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/avoca-community-mourns-lost-assistant-fire-chief/article_f22b93ec-29b0-58d2-a784-d5183af9444e.html