Gatlinburg Donations coming in to Bristol Fire Station

Members of the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department load their trailer with donations from the community on Tuesday afternoon.  Over 100 bottles of water, Gatorade, diapers, blankets and other items were collected during the day to take to Gatlinburg this evening.  Donations will be accepted all week long at the Haynesfield Fire Station.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/how-to-help-gatlinburg-fire-victims/article_cb7b28bd-f727-5b75-afa5-32c5947ed10d.html

Community Christmas Tree lighting

A group sits in front of the Bristol Community Christmas Tree after the lighting on Monday for the 36th. year.  Hundreds of people showed up for the sing, drinking hot cocoa and eating cookies before the lighting at 7 pm.





Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/bristol-tree-lighting-brings-families-together-to-celebrate-the-upcoming/article_e691cebe-14fb-5355-bd7a-9efed9dc9951

Tree Sales in Bristol

Amanda Campbell, right, holds cousin Brayden Poore,5, while picking out the perfect christmas tree with daughter, Jada Campbell, center, and Sandy Arnette and Kayleigh Poore,2, at Fleenor Christmas Trees in the parking lot of Southern States in Bristol, Virginia.  The family wanted a tree tall and not too wide for their place.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/community/live-tree-sales-to-help-addiction-program/article_74750273-9b4a-57a6-9402-c1d2e38fb1d3

Small Business Saturday in Bristol and Abingdon

Small Business Saturday promotes local downtown businesses.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/small-business-saturday-brings-big-boost-to-local-merchants/article_83af7407-e08c-5a2b-aa2a-b803d620eb86.html

Black Friday Sales

Colt and Chelsea Vaughn dressed up as an Elf and Mr.Santa Claus for their shopping on Black Friday smelling scents at Bath and Body Works at the Pinnacle.  The two are from Kingsport, Tennessee and started this tradition several years ago to dress up.  They started their day early at Bass Pro Shops and were hitting all the shops they could on Friday for the fun and deals.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/black-friday-thrives-in-the-mountain-empire-as-shoppers-hit/article_5bdec0b4-f4bc-5582-beff-4bad1fef834c.html

Local Celebrities bag groceries for United Way

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey helps out Jean Lambert with her shopping on Tuesday during the United Way Food City Celebrity Bagging event at the Food City in Blountville, Tennessee.



Bristol Herald Courier reporter David McGee works bagging at the Food City on Euclid Ave. on Tuesday during the United Way Food City Celebrity Bagging event.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/reporter-joins-celebrity-baggers-to-raise-funds-for-united-way/article_97c76c41-0780-52e0-9c8f-2f4fb9c3dc8d.html

Thanksgiving Dinner 2016

Raymond Clark looks throught the Fresh Turkey Breasts at the Food City on the Volunteer Parkway on Tuesday.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/Heraldcourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local-grocery-stores-ready-for-last-minute-thanksgiving-meal-shoppers/article_70326d50-6cff-5c9e-8baa-0da250b4bfca.html

Boy Scouts collect food for local pantry

Cub Scout 121 Shawn Mann, right, with the Sequoyah Council loads 40 bags of canned goods collected on Saturday for the 29th. Annual Food Drive.  The food is sorted and then stored at the Bristol Emergency Food Pantry and then give out to the community who are served by the Pantry.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/boy-scouts-collect-food-for-local-pantries/article_6d77791e-ae9c-11e6-894c-9350f07bdf0c.html

George Wythe over Patrick Henry Football

Patrick Henry #7 Connor Buchanan gets swarmed by George Wythe #22 Gordan Harber, #32 Landon Thompson, #15 Booger Owens and #10 Ben Bishop.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/maroons-mash-patrick-henry/article_ca10363c-ae1c-11e6-84f3-277bad79d986.html

Bristol Motor Speedway Children's Charities Night of Smiles

Clauda Byrd, Executive Director Speedway Children's Charities Bristol Motor Speedway, applauds as the total amount raised to be given to local charities was $1,002,380.  The Night of Smiles is held to give out the money raised over the year to organizations who have a direct impact on children in the community.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/bristol-chapter-of-speedway-children-s-charities-hits-m-benchmark/article_36abad79-b50d-5e78-b585-1e87ffc02dd8.html

Santa Train begins to load up

The Food City on Eastman Road in Kingsport was the location for the sorting and bagging of the food for the Santa Train on Wednesday.  The train will make its run on Saturday traveling from Kentucky to Kingsport and stopping along the way to hand out food and toys to the children.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/volunteers-turn-out-for-packing-party-for-santa-train-s/article_1dffc374-f043-5a91-91f9-bd5a23a10f2c.html

Marion Volleyball going back to State Championship

Marion #6 Sarah Oakes and #2 Caeley Glisan block the ball for a point against Buffalo Gap on Tuesday.





Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/marion-downs-buffalo-gap-in-a-volleyball/article_a75139ba-abbb-11e6-9dcb-b74d8a61e7d9.html

Churches learn to help Family Violence victims

Debbie Masters, Abuse Alternatives Inc. talks on Tuesday to local ministers and pastors about the role the church can have with victims of Domestic Violence.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/church-leaders-learn-to-help-abuse-victims/article_10b1e577-7d5b-5cfe-80b6-e46816e38fcf.html

Drought taking toll on region

Tri-State Livestock Market in Abingdon, Virginia started getting farmers at 6 am on Friday for the afternoon sale.  There was approx. 1500 head enter in the auction.  Little rain this year has caused some farmers to thin out their herds.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/lingering-drought-taking-its-toll-on-mountain-empire-region/article_12addb47-7271-51c1-b2f8-be62dbc482a4.html

Abingdon loss to Northside Friday Night Football

Northside #2  Sami Abed gets swarmed by a host of Abingdon Players including #44 Carter Counts, #46 Ryan Adkins and #48 Deano Czadzeck.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/northside-stuns-abingdon-in-a-playoffs/article_8e9689ee-a89a-11e6-b5fd-972ca8ad84b0.html

Hurley Rebels undefeated going into playoffs

The Hurley Rebels are entering the post season without a loss this year. Zack Lester, Devin Tester, Tayten Sykes and Bardy Justice .





Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/hurley-riding-high-entering-the-postseason/article_119421f0-a7d1-11e6-8f0e-8770b4ebc06b.html

Emory & Henry College Students stage protest march

Emory & Henry College students Hailey Ellis, left, and Nina Wernick lead a group of over 100 students, faculty and community members in a peaceful protest walk across the campus on Thursday in protest of the election of Donald Trump and the hate they feel he represented during the election.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/emory-henry-students-organize-anti-trump-rally/article_b65e3d6f-7a40-5e4a-8c98-b114c32c108d.html

Williams makes Wasps buzz

Emory and Henry #7 Rhasheen Williams sets up to bring down #14 Alejandro Ros on Saturday.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/williams-makes-wasps-buzz/article_b7fe61a2-a706-11e6-a6ae-ebc84aa0bebf.html

Smoke in Bristol because of Forest Fires

The setting sun and the surrounding mountains on Monday have a color cast due to the forest fires smoke floating over the Bristol area.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/local/local-wildfires-blanket-region-with-thick-haze/article_1fecbd64-b7c2-5ed7-80cf-e05451f40d5a.html

Southwest Virginia Health Authority approves Hospital Merger

Jeff Mitchell, right,  attorney for the Health Authority, goes over the items that the Southwest Virginia Health Authority voted on during meeting on Monday in Abingdon, Virginia.

Photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/southwest-virginia-health-authority-approves-merger/article_e3c86abc-3d4d-5b5c-b2e3-9f0dcc52d3af.html