Grundy, Virginia and Mountain Mission School

A portion of the graduating Seniors at Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia.  The school has approx. 250 students from k-12 grades.  Over the years they have had students from over 60 countries.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/grundy-va-s-mountain-mission-graduating-its-most-successful-class/article_51be7203-23f0-51a2-b8fa-75e5d5e8fdcd.html

Emory & Henry College wins awards for programs

John Heil, Manager Energy Program, left, recent graduate John England, and Jim Harrison, Director Emory & Henry Outdoor Program hold recently won awards.The college won an award as an Individual Conference Champion of the 2015-16 College & University Green Power Challenge for more green power than that of any other school in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The outdoor program was voted top Adventure Small School by Blue Ridge Outdoors.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/emory-henry-college-wins-award...

Duke University Medical School Doctor tours Wellmont

Dr. Raymond Barfield, pediatric oncologist, Duke University School of Medicine, left, listens to Nurse Practitioner Laura Hutchinson, Wellmont Hospice House and Roger Leonard, Wellmont Health System board chairman during a tour on Thursday.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/oncologist-faith-based-communi...

Southwest Virginia Health Authority

Melanie Jorgensen with Virginia Organizing speaks to the Southwest Virginia Health Authority during a public meeting on Wednesday in Abingdon, Virginia.  A large group was on hand to represent Lee County who has been without a local hospital.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/virginia-panel-has-questions-for-wellmont-msha-on-merger/article_569e78fa-e5d4-5c9f-84ba-69aec9656ef2.html

Tri Cities Regional Airport update

The newly remodeled walkway from the short and long term parking to the terminal at the Tri Cities Regional Airport is now landscaped.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/director-gives-report-on-airport-s-growth-and-place-in/article_0f72196d-6e59-598b-91eb-4e5594ea37ca.html

Virginia High off and running again for State Title

Virginia High #16 Dalton Jessee looks towards right field as he passes second base for a triple against Grundy on Monday.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/Herald Courier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/bearcats-open-sec-baseball-tourney-with-a-bang/article_524e74f6-214f-11e6-8217-5fec313d522b.html

Abingdon over Patrick County on Monday

Abingdon Pitcher #15 James Compton follows his pitch during game against Patrick County on Monday.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/compton-leads-abingdon-in-conference-baseball-blowout/article_9bed67a0-2160-11e6-99d8-579ce49ccf6f.html

Paddle the Day Away

Becky Delaney, front, moves out on Steele Creek Park Lake to meet her daughter, Abbey, who was paddling for the first time in her kayak that she received after graduating the 8th. grade and will be attending Sullivan East and making the Golf team.  The family is from Bluff City, Tennessee.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/gallery/mom-daughter-kayak-time-at-steele-creek/collection_5e2d9488-211c-11e6-961f-2b148a828a14.html

Service Dogs Do's and Don'ts

DeAnna Moore leaves the Burger Bar in Bristol, Virginia with her seeing eye dog "Kay".  Moore has partial sight in her left eye and the dog helps here come to downtown and be more mobile.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/community/service-dogs-aren-t-like-regular-pets-they-are-on/article_e7b237e2-1ecc-11e6-b80e-cb8d099fc9b5.html

Peyton Williams Northwood High School

Peyton Williams goes to Northwood High School in Saltville, VA. and was part of the State Winning Panthers in Basketball in 2016.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/thompson-award-finalist-peyton-williams-northwood/article_db1d00fe-1e3e-11e6-ad84-47958b7ed35a.html?_dc=425153743708.5062

Off the Grid Mountain Adventures

Second Zipline to the tower to rappel from at Off the Grid Mountain Adventures in Carter County, Tennessee.  The adventure starts with fast ride up the trail to 3000’ zip line through the woods to a view of Carter County several hundred feet in the air.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/community/off-the-grid-mountain-adventures/article_732278ee-1d30-11e6-9fae-3390afb5afd2.html

Fairmount Humpty Dumpty Egg Drop

Jason Olinger with Bristol Tennessee Essential Services drops a container with an egg inside surrounded by foam and carried by balloons during the Fairmount Humpty Dumpty Egg Drop on Tuesday.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/fairmount-students-take-part-in-egg-drop-challenge/article_0d60e197-7546-5e36-a6ad-c52c93227829.html

Tennessee High seniors go back to Elementary and Middle Schools

Brianna Brown sits down and talks to 7th. grade student at Vance Middle School during the 1st. Tennessee High School Seniors going home program.  The 2016 graduates started the morning out at their elementary schools and then came together at Vance to walk the halls one more time and talk to students about high school do's and don'ts.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/ths-seniors-revisit-middle-elementary-schools/article_b1eb06f4-2e7e-5c33-965f-5e5549763ff8.html

Train Days at Bristol Train Station

Kristen Dempsey and her son, Andyn, 3, take a selfie as a Norfolk Southern Train passes the Bristol Train Station on Saturday during the Train Day in Bristol.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/railroad-enthusiasts-celebrated-saturday-at-the-bristol-train-station/article_daefc94c-44fd-51ce-92c6-a9987deb2f80.html

Great American Clean up

The Great American Cleanup, a Keep Bristol Beautiful program, took place on Saturday, May 14. Electronic waste recycling (no tube TVs), paper shredding and tire recycling, along with Bristol, Virginia’s household hazardous waste was picked up like the truck full of paint cans shown.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/keep-bristol-beautiful-holds-g...

Trail Days draws thousands to Damascus

Dr. "C" (Carlton Dorsey) left, and Green Lady (Connor Dakour) play an original tune during Trail Days in Damascus on Saturday.  The two hikers are from Oklahoma.



Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/news/thousands-of-hikers-gather-in-...

Getting Ready for Summer

Bristol Tennessee Parks and Recreation employees spent the sunny Friday painting the Haynesfield Pool with new sealing swimming pool blue paint.  The pool opens on May 28th. for the season till September 5th.  The deck was smoothed with new concrete and the pool walls and bottom were cleaned and scraped prior to the new coat.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/bristol-s-haynesfield-pool-gets-a-fresh-coat-of-paint/article_6a7ae1e9-1e31-5273-a46a-c1866aedf38f.html

VHS vs Abingdon Baseball Friday

Virginia High #3 Clay Malcolm eyes Abingdon #24 Thomas Francisco sliding into second at the moment his is fielding the ball.  Malcolm lost control and the runner was safe.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

www.heraldcourier.com/sports/bearcats-edge-falcons/articl...

Tennessee High vs Dobyns Bennett 1-AAA Soccer

Tennessee High #17 Corey Lavinder drives the ball down field against Dobyns Bennett #23 Steven McKinney on Thursday.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/d-b-topples-tennessee-high-in-district--aaa-soccer/article_4601b318-18b5-11e6-8bb4-fb67298eb93d.html

Hazmat Training with Bristol Virginia Fire Department.

A member of the Bristol Virginia Fire Department swabs a container that contained radioactive material as part of training on Thursday in Bristol, Virginia.  Members of Bristol Virginia Fire Department shift C from all stations were gathered for their Radiological Training on Thursday in Bristol, Virginia.  All members of the department were required to attend the training as part of the Quarterly Hazmat Training.  Classroom and hands on training was scheduled over the past three days.  The Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the U. S. Department of Energy sponsored the training.  Medical grade radioactive material was used to give the fire fighters real readings on their equipment instead of simulation.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/bristol-virginia-fire-department-takes-part-in-radioactive-hazmat-exercises/article_31bf5004-ae94-5829-89c2-944581ab127f.html