Apple Nursery 4th of July Parade

Apple Nursery at Central Presbyterian on Euclid in Bristol, Virginia, had a 4th. of July parade on Thursday long Eluclid Avenue in front of the church.   Approx. 95 summer students from Nursery to School age children made hats, flags, tshirts and other red, white and blue items to wear.  The tradition began in the 1990's.  Students chanted USA and waved to cars passing by during the morning walk.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/red-white-and-blue-parade/article_8d9a5a6e-7db5-5c48-a576-8cf522176c55.html

Summer Air Travel do and do not put in carry-on luggage

TSA Lead Officer Diana Garcia looks over a sample of items that had been surrendered by passengers in East Tennessee.  The items were not allowed on planes because of their use as a potential weapon.  The items were on display at the Tri Cities Airport by the TSA on Wednesday.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/as-summer-travel-heats-up-tri-cities-airport-sees-more/article_258389da-de4d-5e13-9b3d-a092b8487ec6.html

Sullivan County Anti-Bully Camp shows off K9 Officers

Sullivan County K9 officer Roger Antone , right,  plays with his partner Neeko and children during Anti-bully Camp "Camp Take a Stand" on Thursday in Blountville.  Students from 3-5th. Grades take part in the weeklong camp to help children identify and stop the bully process and Thursday was demonstration day with the K9 officers of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office.

Photo Earl  Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/sullivan-county-sheriff-s-office-encourages-kids-to-fight-back/article_3888a9f2-d90e-57e4-b270-4f8cb8082ce2.html

Sullivan County Mayor and Sheriff come together on Funding Lawsuit

Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson talks about the settlement of the lawsuit he brought against the Sullivan County Mayor for funding of his department back in 2015.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/sullivan-sheriff-says-he-expected-more-in-settlement/article_e892b1ed-ca0f-5334-977a-df52c5f3779f.html

Chipper Jones comes to play Golf at the Olde Farm

Chipper Jones, left, Atlanta Braves,  and Mike Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on hand for the Niswonger Children's Hospital Classic Golf on Monday at the Olde Farm in Bristol.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/jones-dishes-on-wagner-braves-career-long-drive-event-announced/article_d3a2b5fe-5abe-11e7-9f39-ebf10121c6e2.html

Sullivan East Stratton pitching in the pros tonight

Pirates #12 Hunter Stratton pitches during his pitching debut on Monday against the Greeneville Astros.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/short-but-solid-outing-for-stratton-in-bribucs-debut/article_54376918-5ae6-11e7-b4c0-cbe27518c02a.html

Good Times at Tennessee Nationals 2017 at Muddy Creek Raceway

Two riders take a jump on Saturday.  Saturday was a picture perfect afternoon for Tennessee Nationals Motocross Racing at Muddy Creek Speedway in Blountville, Tennessee.









Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/osborne-has-a-good-day-at-muddy-creek/article_fa878b04-595b-11e7-91cb-eb52eb370c57.html

Webb and others want to win at Muddy Creek

Cooper Webb talks about his rise this season and how he plans to ride on Saturday at Muddy Creek for the Tennessee Nationals 2017.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/webb-hoping-to-duplicate-dramatic-tennessee-national-triumph/article_ddbf718e-587b-11e7-a550-2fb4acfdbc71.html

Sunset Digital still wants to buy OptiNet

Jeff Mitchell, standing, spoke to the BVU board on Friday on behalf of Sunset Digital Communications concerning the progress of the deal for Sunset to purchase OptiNet from BVU.  The process has taken over a year and still is unresolved between all the parties involved across the coverage area in Southwest Virginia.  Sunset Digital Communications Ryan, left, and Paul Elswick, President and CEO, center,  were on hand for the presentation to the board.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/sunset-still-plans-to-press-forward-on-optinet-deal/article_a98cfc71-0d7c-516e-b0e1-f315d912d075.html

Pirates take on the Cardinals to start season

Pirates #24 Domingo Robles pitched against the Cardinals on Thursday.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/walker-robbins-hits-walk-off-homer-to-beat-bribucs-in/article_5eb86a6a-57c4-11e7-988a-ab4c5912c902.html

Tennessee Nationals coming this weekend to Muddy Creek Raceway

Zach Osborne talks about his rise this season and how he plans to ride on Saturday at Muddy Creek for the Tennessee Nationals 2017.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/osborne-returns-home-to-muddy-creek/article_1dff95ae-57bd-11e7-80ff-3fe4fa5e99a1.html

Veterans Cookout in Abingdon, Virginia

Marcy Culbertson, Chilhowie, US Army talks about the care he received at the VA in Johnson City, Tennessee. He attended the Veterans Cookout in Abingdon, Virginia on Saturday with Keith Vancannon, Meadowview, Va., US Navy.  All branches of the Armed Services were represented as well as Korean War, WWII, Viet Nam and others.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/veterans-enjoy-food-camaraderie-during-abingdon-cookout/article_c9e0c069-c805-57eb-9b52-3b0fffb46999.html

Day 2 at NHRA Thunder Valley Mello Yello Nationals

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

Steve Torrence talks smack to other drivers

Steve Torrence laughs during the Saturday NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals during some down time.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/torrence-swipes-no-qualifying-spot-in-top-fuel/article_2b3b7c4e-53dd-11e7-a8b5-bf39092c7d28.html

Leah Pritchett, Pro Fuel, talks about her season so far

Leah Pritchett, Pro Fuel, talks about her season so far as a NHRA Pro Fuel driver during the Thunder Valley Nationals on Friday.



Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/gregory-pritchett-staying-cool-in-top-fuel-feud-with-torrence/article_b3bc97b6-53b9-11e7-89ff-9f762b782a63.html

Matt Hagan - Country Boy that Races

Matt Hagan, Funny Car,  during a qualify run on Friday at Thunder Valley Dragway during the NHRA & Mello Yello Thunder Valley Nationals.



photo Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/hagan-hoping-to-pay-back-father-with-a-thunder-valley/article_691849ac-53ab-11e7-b6d8-f393487cf6de.html

Day One NHRA Mello Yellow Thunder Valley Nationals

Antron Brown, Top Fuel,   during the Thunder Valley Nationals on Friday.







Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/kalitta-wilkerson-coughlin-excel-on-opening-day-of-thunder-valley/article_c52a0674-5313-11e7-b8b8-bfc9a764b73c.html

Bears visiting Abingdon property and damaging autos

Frances Goodson points on where a bear broke the window to her car and took her groceries out and ate them leaving packaging on the ground.  The bear also has taken all the door handles off the car and several of her cats are also missing.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/news/washington-county-woman-dealing-with-bears-on-property/article_60c3c088-5de3-5591-aeb5-5421bdb00b42.html

VHSL Spring Sports Jubilee 2017

Battle Hunter Brown is safe at first as Goochland player misses the throw, loose near base, during game on Friday.  Battle won 10 - 0.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/vhsl-a-baseball-battle-blasts-goochland-in-state-semis/article_2446eba8-4d5c-11e7-85a6-9b006bd3dd84.html



Richlands #10 Lauren Earls gets high fives after scoring the winning run to win the game against Goochland 1-0 and moving the team to play for the 2A State Title on Saturday.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/vhsl-a-softball-youthful-richlands-unfazed-advances-to-state-final/article_924b19cc-4d56-11e7-a45f-77e9a6028312.html



Lebanon #44 Morgan Hamm slides into home base and was out during the beginning of the game against Madison on Friday.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/vhsl-a-softball-madison-county-ousts-defending-champion-lebanon-in/article_e99266fa-4d50-11e7-a3cf-eb8470e546fa.html



Wise Central Jessie Kennedy spins her racket walking off the court with Marian Barnette after their match against Maggie Walker.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/vhsl-a-tennis-kennedy-barnette-fall-in-doubles-state-final/article_294c921e-4d49-11e7-83cc-cb02c03e3a90.html

Pitcher and Catcher teammates and friends whole lives

Patrick Henry Pitcher Madison Booth, left, and Catcher Lacy Robinson have been friends and teammates for thousands of innings playing softball.

Photos Earl Neikirk/Bristol Herald Courier/HeraldCourier.com

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/ph-s-booth-robinson-lifelong-teammates-and-friends/article_07ff29be-4cb3-11e7-8008-67fb60c3fab0.html