ThomasDenton

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.

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.

When I first read the reports, my thought was "so what? Me and my brothers got whipped with switches, big leather belts, hands....you name it", but then I read later that the whippings brought blood, bruises, and he hit the kid in the genitals (said that part was an accident). I agree that this was too much of a whipping and should be considered child abuse. What this'll do though is turn more people against whippings and there'll be more talk about banning such punishment. Also, I did read that part where they said he used a tree branch. Even if you aren't familiar with the word "switch" and even though switches are technically branches, just saying that he used a tree branch makes it seem much worse. Shouldn't have worded it that way.

Lee was a bad hire from the get go.  Anyone who knows SWVA football knew that.  There is no excuse for quitting on a group of kids that have put their trust in you  I hate it for the kids b/c they had bought into him but they'll have better leadership the rest of the way.   Those kids have been running the wing T for the last 3 years.  I don't think it'll take to long to put a small version of it back in.    Wright has still been teaching the strength and conditioning program at Battle.  I've heard the off season program wasn't remotely as challenging as the past few years but I'm sure Wright has at least made up for some of it in class.         This team was in a rebuilding mode reguardless but I guarantee that Wright will have them competing their butts off for 4 quarters reguardless of the scoreboard.       Hate this for the kids but they're in better hands now.       I just hope that the administration makes a better hire the next time around.  

I really wish VHS could join the Mtn District. Would be really competitive in multiple sports, especially baseball.

It's crazy to think that since 1959, Bluefield has only had 3 head football coaches while in the same time frame, John Battle has had.....well, a LOT more than that, lol. Then, of course, there's Lee's case since they opened in the 80's (??? correct me if I'm wrong). Stability at the top is one of the major keys to success in any program.
 
BTW, nice site. I know next to nothing about Bluefield (or any WV high school), but I just couldn't stop reading all the school's history on the homepage. I did notice a few typos, so you might want to proofread it, but other than that I really like it.

Redtiger, Lebanon isn't in the Mountain District. They are in the Southwest District. The other team you didn't mention in the MD is Central. I agree with your prediction though. GC and Union should vie for the title (for what it's worth) with Lee being a possible sleeper. Battle will be young and rebuilding while I think Central will be rebuilding as well since their coach went to AHS.

I like how they worded his alma mater as "The Richlands" instead of Richlands High School. Now there's some respect.

I like how they worded his alma mater as "The Richlands" instead of Richlands High School. Now there's some respect.

The elders have oft said that it is "bird".

I didn't mean the schedule was changing. It'll be the same teams, but everyone seems to be getting better each year. I remember last year when Battle made it to the semi finals and everyone was talking about how down EVERYONE was except for Battle. Now, the teams that Battle has on their schedule are getting better (there were a lot of young teams last year and they're all getting experienced now while Battle will be fairly young next year).

I don't know about Altavista, but Essex doesn't have that many fans at their own home games (even in the state tournament), so this championship game crowd might not be nearly as big as it would be if it were Haysi vs Fort Chiswell.

Well, they got the two most popular conferences for this are in the big game, but I believe people were expecting something more along the lines of Bama/VT, lol.

I don't know about Altavista, but Essex doesn't have that many fans at their own home games (even in the state tournament), so this championship game crowd might not be nearly as big as it would be if it were Haysi vs Fort Chiswell.

http://www.tricities.com/sports/article_2c3aea74-5e33-11e3-a6d8-0019bb30f31a.html
 
GREGORY: Something we can all be proud of
Posted: Thursday, December 5, 2013 11:59 pm
Allen Gregory | Bristol Herald Courier
 
 
    It's one of the most enduring traditions of Southwest Virginia prep football. At schools across the region, fans gather on the field long after games. They hug the players, shake hands with the head coach and listen in on the team meeting.In terms of raw emotion, nothing rivals these postgame sessions in the playoffs. After a loss, seniors are suddenly confronted with the end of a quest that dates back to midget league.After years of 7 a.m. wake-up calls, repetitive practices in the August heat, muscle-wrenching sessions in the weight room, late-night homework cramming through exhaustion and bonding on road trips and camps, the ride is suddenly over.
    Players often linger under the goalposts or in the dressing room before taking off the pads for the final time. It’s an excruciating ritual, even for a state championship squad. Many men can recite every play from their final game, and they spend years longing for the electricity of those Friday nights.
While fans and players from the other team celebrate just a few feet away, the head coach from the losing team must somehow project a positive spin while allowing his seniors to undergo their catharsis.
    Two weeks ago, first-year Virginia High head coach Michael Crist had the task of consoling his Bearcats after a crushing triple-overtime playoff loss at Richlands. VHS appeared to have the game won before Richlands scored on an 85-yard fumble return with just one minute and 39 seconds remaining.
With rain falling, the VHS players were heartbroken and bitter. But instead of lashing out at officials or the cruel hand of fate, Crist simply reminded his players of how far they had come from a 1-3 start to the season.
    Richlands coach Greg Mance employed a similar big-picture message last week after his team dropped 48-14 decision at Giles. Mance urged his players to look him in the eye while he stressed his pride in the way the Blue Tornado overcame a spate of injuries and bounced back to win their 10th straight Southwest District title.
    For the winning coach, the postgame speech is a time to rejoice and recognize standout performances.No leader in Southwest Virginia was better at the postgame sermon than Don Williams of Lee High. This guy was part evangelist, part ambassador and part war general.Williams knew how to touch on all the key points, especially regional and school pride. When Williams got on a roll, grown men were moved to tears and the community became galvanized behind the Lee Generals.
    Sadly, some coaches, players and fans forget all about humility after wins while rubbing salt into the wounds of defeated opponents. In this Twitter-ized age of five-second attention spans and on-demand video, coaches must resort to unique methods to console and motivate teens. In a simpler age, it was common for elaborate wreaths to mysteriously show up at schools on game day. Naturally, most folks assumed that the flowers and the accompanying “inspirational†cards came from the opposition. Some coaches would also use newspaper predictions and stories to fire up their players. That’s what bulletin boards were used for. Now, Internet message boards are the primary source for boasting, trash talking and motivation.
    Former Powell Valley head football coach Phil Robbins relied on a standard pre-game speech during his highly-successful 28-year coaching run.
“I think you have to be consistent,†Robbins said. “I wanted the weekly practice schedule and game-day routine to be the same.â€Robbins stayed away from the stereotypical “Win One for the Gipper†exhortations. “I never wanted my players to get too high or too low,†Robbins said. “There are ways to motivate kids now, and it might be as simple as a new pair of socks and compression shirt. But consistency is the key.†Robbins shared the themes of his pre-game routine.
“I focused on ball security on offense, getting 11 helmets to the ball on defense, and executing in the kicking game. That was it, and it worked,†said Robbins, who won seven state titles at Powell Valley.
    Win or lose this Saturday, Southwest Virginia fans can rest assured that veteran Haysi coach James Colley will deliver an appropriate post-game speech before the usual throng of red-clad Tiger supporters. After Saturday’s emotional victory over J.I. Burton, the charismatic Colley urged his players and fans to give thanks for their blessings and friends and to spread goodwill throughout the community. Football in Southwest Virginia may have lost some of its star appeal in recent years, but the postgame prayer meeting is one tradition we can all take pride in.

Play it at Thomas Walker.

Congrats to Haysi....tell the state that the sandlick field is fine....I think Home field advantage is something earned and needs not to be taken away....does the NFL tell the Green Bay packers to reschedule because it is to cold...the Chicago Bears to stop the wind......The cowboys to take the cheerleaders off the pedestals around the field because they distract the visiting team...NO....so let AltaVista come and play in the trenches in sandlick....just my opinion....Hope to see Haysi and Fort Chiswell in Salem in 2 weeks

Group 1A State Championship
Auburn def. Altavista, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-13)
 
Group 2A State Championship
Gate City def. Luray, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-23)
 
Hidden Vally and Warhill playing for the 3A title at about 3.
 
Auburn and Gate City win volleyball titles for SWVA!!
 

http://now.msn.com/petrona-smith-bronx-teacher-fired-for-saying-negro?ocid=ansnow11
 
A Spanish teacher in the Bronx was fired for using the word negro in a color lesson (and in case anyone didn't know, negro is the Spanish word for black). I'm guessing the student who reported her was failing the class.

http://www.wimp.com/kisscam/

I could have sworn that there was some kind of talk about a football game in this thread somewhere.......VHS @ Richlands wasn't it? lol. My prediction is that this game will come down to the 4th quarter. IMO it'll be close and I could honestly see either team pulling it out, but I'll go with Richlands in this one. Home field advantage and a lot of recent experience with the playoff atmosphere. I think VHS has a good coach and good athletes (the Gretna game shows what they are capable of) but the Bearcats need a few years UNDER THE SAME COACH before they get where they need to be. Talent is great, but experience goes a long way from the coaches to the players.

How bout you children talk football? Hell, at least I stay on subject!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fertilizer-plant-explosion-leaves-more-than-100-wounded-in-central-texas/2013/04/18/14fa7cb2-a7ef-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_story.html
 
Explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, TX, injured an estimated 160 people and killed between 5 and 15 people. Some first responder fire fighters are reported missing. Those first responders were responding to a fire in the plant and were trying to evacuate everyone when they realized that the fire could spark an explosion.

I service my own vehicle......I don't trust anyone.

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_5afce372-df84-11e2-b153-001a4bcf6878.html
 
The Pinnacle will double in size to 500 acres and include land in Washington County, VA. I wonder how The Falls in Bristol, VA, will fair now?