ThomasDenton

I didn't ride the bus in high school because the ride from John Battle to my house and vice versa was at least an hour, and I only live 15 minutes from the school.

Forgot to mention that we don't want any money for him.....he's free to a good home.

I have a dog that needs a good home asap. My family can't afford to keep him and he's just not getting the attention he needs (his lot is also in pitiful shape, but we can't let him roam free because of the neighbors). He's a male chow/lab mix, about 5 or 6 years old, has had his shots, is not neutered, and is very playful 24/7. I've tried contacting no-kill shelters (I don't want to send him to a regular one) but they're all full. If anyone knows of a place to send him or of anyone who wants a dog, just send me a pm or comment on here. Whoever gets him can also have the doghouse we built, it's wood with a metal roof and really sturdy.

Forgot to mention that we don't want any money for him.....he's free to a good home.

I have a dog that needs a good home asap. My family can't afford to keep him and he's just not getting the attention he needs (his lot is also in pitiful shape, but we can't let him roam free because of the neighbors). He's a male chow/lab mix, about 5 or 6 years old, has had his shots, is not neutered, and is very playful 24/7. I've tried contacting no-kill shelters (I don't want to send him to a regular one) but they're all full. If anyone knows of a place to send him or of anyone who wants a dog, just send me a pm or comment on here. Whoever gets him can also have the doghouse we built, it's wood with a metal roof and really sturdy.

I have a dog that needs a good home asap. My family can't afford to keep him and he's just not getting the attention he needs (his lot is also in pitiful shape, but we can't let him roam free because of the neighbors). He's a male chow/lab mix, about 5 or 6 years old, has had his shots, is not neutered, and is very playful 24/7. I've tried contacting no-kill shelters (I don't want to send him to a regular one) but they're all full. If anyone knows of a place to send him or of anyone who wants a dog, just send me a pm or comment on here. Whoever gets him can also have the doghouse we built, it's wood with a metal roof and really sturdy.

http://www.heraldcourier.com/sports/john-battle-hires-basketball-coaches/article_e4d09112-2e5e-11e6-9091-3b2c1c5a5a61.html#.V1q0AcDbiPI.facebook
 
John Battle hires basketball coachesPosted: Thursday, June 9, 2016 12:26 pm
BHC Sports Desk
 
Jon Odum (boys) and Jeff Adkins (girls) are the new basketball coaches at John Battle High School.
They  replace Tim Sholes and Jeremy Humphrey, respectively, in their positions.
  Battle principal Randy Poole confirmed the hires on Thursday.
Odum was a star player at John Battle, earning all-state honors in leading the Trojans to a VHSL Group A runner-up finish in 1998. He also played at Virginia Intermont College and had been an assistant coach on Sholes' staff.
Adkins is a coaching veteran and most recently led the girls program at Eastside. He has 192 victories on the boys side and 193 wins in the girls game over the course of his career.
 

http://www.wimp.com/schoolrunner/

I'm really afraid that the next presidential election will be between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The last couple of elections to me have felt like "choosing the lesser of two evils" but this scenario would go beyond that IMO.

I'm really afraid that the next presidential election will be between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The last couple of elections to me have felt like "choosing the lesser of two evils" but this scenario would go beyond that IMO.

My name is Ryan Dye. Today is Janurary 6th, 2016. Today is the day my life changes.
 
There is no easy way to start this. I'm morbidly obese. As a 6' 2" twenty-five year old, the ideal weight for someone my age/height/weight would be between 144-210 lbs. I weigh 345.
 
If you go back and look at pictures of you youth, you'll see a very skinny version of myself. Nearly always active. Always happy. I was the prototypical child. But something changed. Somewhere along the way, you see a chubbier child emerge. This is somewhere around the time that I began school, and looking back I think I know the trigger. My parents divorce. It's something I've never really talked about much, but as I grow older, I begin to see the effects that one single act early in my childhood would cause.
 
Maybe I was too young to immediately truly comprehend what was happening. Yeah, my time was split with my parents and my relationship with my father suffered immensely from it. But a 5/6 year old can't see that fully, or at least that's the common perception. In all honestly, it was very saddening, almost traumatic. I didn't actually know why my parents split until I was in my late teens. I'm beginning to believe this set the stage for what would be the next 20 years.
 
My weight grew as I grew, and I was never "skinny." But I certainly didn't let that bother me. I made friends, I hung out with all the crowds, and I had no issues with talking to girls. I was a very typical teen, in that regard. I lost some weight when I started playing basketball at the Rec. weekly at about age 15. I was still overweight, but I wasn't anything ungodly obese or anything.
 
I've touched on my grandmother passing away at age 18 and its effects on my mental state, but what about my physical state? Depression leads to over-eating which leads to depression. It's a truly vicious cycle that I know all too well. I've lived this cycle for the last 8 years.
 
I wake up every day and look in the mirror, absolutely disgusted by what stares back at me. I dream of being back to a smaller size. Doing the things I used to love (basketball, marching band). Wearing shirts you can buy without special ordering. (There is no pain quite like having to search special sections of stores/online stores just to find a 3 or 4x shirt to fit you) But even when I think of those things, what do I do? I go eat. Not because it makes me feel good. It actually makes me feel worse, guilty even. Nope, I eat because it's what my mind tells me to do. And it's something that I don't have a lot of control over.
 
Until today. Until right now.
 
I type this with full transparency. This will be hard. And I'm not going to act like I won't need help along the way.
 
Last year, I was sitting in my room and realized I had drank 14 cans of Mountain Dew in a day. I immediately put it down and quit cold turkey. Now, 18 months later, I still haven't had a soda. Instead, I stick to water, milk, and power/gatorade...and maybe the occasional lemonade. All this to say, I've cut things out before, I can do it again.
 
And this is that time.
 
When I wake up, I'm going to go help my mother like I've planned for a month now, and then I'm going to figure out what to eat. But not anything unhealthy. I'm going to figure out a filling meal that I can eat twice a day and have it come in under 2000 calories for a day. I'm also going to find an elliptical and go for 10 minutes. Fight for 10 minutes. 6 days a week I'm going to fight. And I'm going to succeed.
 
The ultimate goal is 200 lbs. and I know that won't come quick or easy. But I will see 200 lbs. I will march in the Marching Virginians this season. And I will wear a shirt with the size L.
 
I won't be stopped. As Buzz Willams says over and over, you don't succeed with what you did yesterday, it's what you stated with a year ago. Time to lay my foundation for next year. Making up ground is the hardest thing to do in life.
 
This is day one.

Fools will be fools. Hell for all you know I may be Catholic haha Buying your right to be a fan by going to school somewhere. ...yes that seems real legit on what it means to be a TRUE fan. Let me just get on the line and drop a few thousand into the ND program....I guess ill be a true fan that way since I've already earned my degree and won't be going back to school there. Get a grip man....minus one fluke year no one has had anything to be a bandwagon fan about with ND for the past 25 years. It's not like they have reeled off a half dozen titles in 10 years like Bama. (not too far fetched) Not sure if you watch any football but they haven't won it since 88. I've dealt with the drought and still enjoyed every season. I don't have to be represented by anyone or any team...I'm very well established. I don't have to pull out the "I graduated from _____" card to get respect or to try to impress or to thump my chest. They do represent what I like in every aspect of the game. Some fan either pissed in your wheaties back when Moby was a minner or God forbid somewhere in the past 100 years ND may have beaten your beloved team who you don't even mention. People either love or hate ND...and you obviously hate them. Bitterness from other fan bases makes it even better come football time.
 
You sure your not the fella that poisoned those Oak trees at Toomers Corner down in Auburn? Sure seem like you might fit the bill...Alot of similarities!!
 
And Thomas, there's always people who hate certain Universities. Bama, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, ND...etc etc. All of them share the same common recipe for attracting such hate (myself included on half of those teams)...... SUCCESS at some point or another....OR just good ol fashion rivalry of course

SERVICE...
 
 
I became confused when I heard the word "Service" used with these agencies:
1,   Internal Revenue "Service". 

2,    U.S. Postal "Service". 

3,   Telephone "Service". 

4,   Cable T.V. "Service". 

5,   Civil "Service". 

6 ,   State, City, County & Public "Service". 

7,   Customer "Service". 

This is not what I thought "Service" meant. 
 
But today, I overheard two 2 farmers talking, and one of them said he had hired a bull to " Service"  a few cows.  BAM!!! It all came into focus.
 
"Now I understand what all those agencies are doing". 
 
I hope that YOU are now just as enlightened as I am.

After 24 1/2 years in the US Air Force, I am retiring and leaving Germany after 5+ years. It's been quite the adventure and I've been to 60+ countries; however, I'm glad it's coming to an end. Military life is demanding and definitely not for everyone. My family and I will be retiring to Canton, GA, where I will be teaching Aerospace Science and Leadership Principles at Cherokee High School. It's going to be great and I look forward to being back in the prime for high school athletics. Hope to get home to see some Honaker games as well.

Britt Stone new head football coach at John Battle
 
BRISTOL, Va. – Britt Stone describes himself as a “high-energy†guy.
That’s why the past few days have been so challenging for the 29-year-old Alabama native.
“I didn’t sleep Saturday or Sunday night. I guess that was part of the reason that I was so at peace Monday,†Stone said.
After weeks of meeting, waiting and hoping, Stone was officially named as the new John Battle head football coach late Monday night during a meeting of the Washington County School Board.
During an interview Tuesday afternoon, the Ozark, Alabama, native offered insight into his circuitous journey from Osceola High School in Florida and Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia to Battle Hill.
“My goal has been to be a head coach one day,†Stone said. “Did I think opportunity would present itself this early? Probably not. But this opportunity at John Battle was special.â€
Stone, who is married to former Tennessee High and Liberty University basketball star Courtney Watkins, was a four-year starter on the offensive line at Liberty.
In addition to guiding the Flames to a pair of Big South Conference titles, the 6-foot-2, 275-pound Stone was selected as all-conference pick as a senior. He earned an undergraduate in youth ministry at Liberty before acquiring a master’s degree in special education in 2009.
Stone began his coaching career with a one-year stint as an assistant at Morristown West High School, following up with a three-year apprenticeship at Daniel Boone. For the past two years, Stone served in a variety for roles for Tennessee High head coach Mike Mays.
“It’s been a blessing to work under Coach Mays,†said Stone, who favors a power-oriented running attack on offense. “I’ve been able to see all the hard work and the responsibilities that a new head coach faces.â€
Stone also credits Mays for allowing him to expand his knowledge base in football, including serving in the role as secondary coach.
“I always try to learn something new and get better every year, and Coach Mays kind of took me under his wing and allowed me to grow,†Stone said.
Due to the inclement weather which forced the closure of Washington County Schools, Stone was unable to meet the Battle faculty, players and assistants Tuesday.
“That’s my number one priority,†Stone said. “I want to meet all those people to build those relationships.â€
Stone has talked with several members of the John Battle community at his church and through informal chats. The topic of stability has been recurrent.
“I don’t have a one-year plan, I’ve got a 10-year plan,†Stone said. “I’m really looking forward to listening to everyone and investing in this community.â€
That community involvement path was the approach used by former head coach Steve Wright, who elevated the Battle program to new heights before resigning after the 2013 season. The Trojans posted a 2-8 record in 2014, a turbulent season in which Wright and Rocky Baker returned as interim co-coaches after Brian Lee resigned after a season-opening blowout loss to Abingdon.
Stone attended two Battle games in 2014.
“I’ve talked to Coach Wright before at coaches clinics and I’ve heard nothing but good things about him,†Stone said. “Coach Wright did a fantastic job with the Battle program and we share a similar perspective. We believe that football can be a tool that allows you to mold the lives of young men.
“I am big on the development of the whole person.â€
The son of a pastor who lives in the Birmingham, Alabama, area, Stone said he spent many hours praying over his new job.
“All my family is in Alabama, but Bristol feels like home to me,†he said. “It has the hometown feel and family values that are important to me and my family.
“And I really feel that John Battle is a unique opportunity that will be a good fit for me. It’s all about building those relationships. I see a lot of potential here.â€
 

For me, I don't give a flying spit who anyone pulls for, so long as they are not a fair weather or bandwagon fan. 
 
I can't even begin to explain how tired I am of answering the question, "Your Colts are playing your old QB this week. Guess you'll be a Peyton fan this week." No. I won't. I'll pull just as hard against him as I did Andy Dalton, and Tony Romo, and Brady, and Eli, and Flacco and etc and etc and etc. Just because he was my QB does not mean that I'm going to jump ship when my team plays him. 
 
Peyton will come back to Indy and retire as a Colt. That is when I will pull for him again. Until then, I'll be a Colts fan. 
 
All that to say, if you like a team, just stay with them. I don't care if you like them because they had a dynasty, because Oregon's uni's are the best in college football, if you dad liked them, if your dad hates them, if your girlfriend/wife is from there, if its on a different continent (raises hand), whatever it may be. Just don't change teams when the going inevitably gets tough.

You don't have to be a dick about it.

You have to start somewhere with becoming a fan. The teams I'm a fan of (like Dallas and Chicago) were winning a lot and thus getting a lot of attention when I first started watching sports, so I obviously started paying attention to those teams. I was a kid when all that started, but like I said, I've continued to be a fan of those teams through thick and thin over the years and have no plans to switch teams. It shouldn't really matter why you start liking a team (whether it's a local player, the team is local, family tradition, or just because they're winning at the time), what matters is if you are a true fan over the years by sticking with them even when they suck. The way a lot of bandwagon fan haters talk, teams like Alabama, Notre Dame, New England, Dallas, etc. shouldn't have any fans at all. And on a side note: about liking a team because you went to see them play, many people go their whole lives never seeing their favorite teams play...mostly because it's too far away and too expensive.

So someone actually devotes their time and effort to create a Twitter account just for one football game? I wish I had that kind of free time.

So someone actually devotes their time and effort to create a Twitter account just for one football game? I wish I had that kind of free time.

So someone actually devotes their time and effort to create a Twitter account just for one football game? I wish I had that kind of free time.

With Abingdon finally turning things around and Holston and Battle having success these last few years, it's really odd to see that PH is the only one still going in the playoffs. But I'm really happy these teams are getting better and I'll be cheering PH on all the way. Go Rebels!

God gave us these resources to use and preserve. We are the stewards of this planet, not the owners. I think we should act as such.  Use what has been given but not haphazardly and not destructively(the rain forests are a good example)

I work for a company in Bristol that makes custom electro-mechanical equipment for mining companies (transformers, substations, switchgear, etc.) and our biggest customer, the one the company was really built on, is the coal mining industry. However, this past year there's been some pretty huge changes with the decline in coal and we've actually taken on a huge job for a fracking company. I don't know where they do their fracking, but it's given us a lot of needed business, though I have mixed feelings about it since I'm against fracking. I also don't know how long it'll last since so many want fracking to end and as redtiger mentioned, jobs might decline in that industry when the wells are dug.
On the other hand, my company is currently sending me to Virginia Highlands Community College to take their electrical program and one of my teachers is the head of the solar program. From what I've seen and heard, solar is getting huge at VHCC and other places and they are pushing hard to bring more of it to this area. My teacher even told me he had a great deal to give John Battle a solar set up for really cheap, but the WC school board turned it down, saying they like coal better. Coal can keep us going for a while and natural gas can help, but these green energy industries really need to be pushed in this area. There could be lots of manufacturing jobs set up to build solar and wind equipment and businesses hiring people to install them. School districts are even being pushed to include more incentives for green energy programs (my teacher has gotten the technical school in Smyth Co. to set up a program where students can get nearly a quarter of their electrical degree through VHCC done in high school and is pushing to get the same done in Wash. Co. and Bristol....though they're more reluctant for whatever reasons).
Wind and especially solar can bring in lots of jobs from research to assembly to installation to servicing on both large and small scale in this area and if we really pushed it, we could lead the nation easily I believe. My company tried dabbling a bit in assembling wind energy equipment before and I hope they try it again and try to do a little more. Sorry for the long post, but since working for this company and going back to school, I've become very interested in this topic.