SWVAFB

This game should be a good one, with athletes all over the field. Chilhowie is 1A, but can play with most 2A teams. VIRGINIA HIGH is always very talented and capable of putting points on the board very fast. This game is very important for both teams, with a lot of power points at stake. VHS should take this one, but Chilhowie should give them a good game. VHS 28 CHS 21

You need to wake and smell the roses. Marion has 2 real good wins over 2 good 1A schools, Chilhowie and George Wythe, both could beat several 2A Teams, IMO. They are some good football played in SWVA in addition to BSG, IMO also. I would never belittle any team of teenagers that play the game by saying their team is no good. Grow up!

Marion does have a solid team this year. The match up with Grayson County will be interesting. Marion's schedule for a 2A team has not been the strongest, but wins over George Wythe and Chilhowie is certainly better than blowing out 2 weak 2A schools., imo. Grayson has always played good football. Marion should not sleep on them, or they will Get beat. Expect a tough games from the guys from Independence. Marion 28 Grayson 7.

Ok guys, I said that the Canes had a good team this year. I knew they could play with GW. Congratulations on the win. GW is still a force to be reckoned with in 1A. Both are two good teams.

Big Game Canes........Where are the Canes Fans ??? You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you can Not afford one, one will NOT be appointed for you. Anything you say will not be used either for or against you, concerning the outcome of this game. This is a game. Coach Carroll will not get mad at you if you speak. He is a decent guy. OK. Let's try this. You have a life line you can use. Call a friend, and quote him....then you are off the hook with the Coaches, and you did not have any influence on the outcome of the game. OK one more idea. Wait till the game is over, then make your comments. Just kidding guys. Have a nice day AND night. l

Marion vs GW should be a real slobber knocker. I think Marion has one of it's better squads in recent years. The Canes can pass and run the ball. Ford and Wyatt are no joke. These dudes can flat play the game. Marion is well coached, and a mature team. They handled Northwood with ease, and beat a good Chilhowie team on the road, taking advantage of turnovers by playing good Defense. Marion should win this one, but it all depends GW'S mind set. GW has so much potential, but a lot is lost by the bickering on and off the field. If GW comes to play, and leaves the bickering to the little league, they will give Marion a fit, and pull this one out. I do not see Marion beating themselves; they are too well coached.

Final Chilhowie 36 JI Burton 0

Our Father in Heaven, we ask that you be with Landon, His family and His team mates during this difficult time. We ask that you heal him with your Spirit and Grace. You are our Great Physician! May Landon be without pain and recover according to Your Will. This We ask in the name of our Holy Father, Amen

Any games postponed or canceled for tonight due to " possible rain " ?

Chilhowie is coming off a loss to Marion, while JIB is coming off a loss to Union. Both CHS & JIB need a win. Burton played Union well, but some say Union did not show much. Marion has a good ball team, but Marion is not as good as Union, imo. This one will probably go to the one who makes the fewest errors. We just may see these four teams play again in November in 1A and 2A. Any thoughts ?

Ryan, I have downloaded the new VHSL scoreboard ( Scorestream). It is pretty unique and quite frankly I am impressed with it. It is taking sometime to learn how to navigate around . Quite a surprise from VHSL ! What do you think?

If I was a school AD, I would make dang sure the transferring student met ALL the VHSL requirements before he joined the team as a transfer athlete. Back in 1980, one school failed to follow the rules. The transfer student told his new Coach that his family was in the process of moving to the new school district. The Coach ( who was new to the system )did not follow up if the new student's family did move........well guess what......they did not move, yep, the school in violation had to forfeit 10 games that season. This transfer was a third string player and only played in the games for about 3 minutes In each game. But the VHSL slapped the forfeits on without blinking an eye. No pun intended, but the transfer student only Had only one eye! That is the gospel truth !!!!!!!!!

Ryan, that sounds good. It should be something positive that the VHSL could do for the schools they represent. I would think they could pay someone $ 50 on Friday night to keep the scoreboard up to date, but knowing how The VHSL is about money, I seriously doubt that this service would become a reality. Like you said, it's a new thing For VHSL, so we can all just wait and see if it pans out. Better not hold your breath!

I would be absolutely shocked if the VHSL kept the scores up to date or up to the minute. You probably just might get a updated score or final score from a Friday night game, on Monday afternoon! Just my opinion..............

The Chilhowie / Marion game is one of the best rivalry games in SWVA. Like it was said in a previous post, the game this Year will probably be a dog fight. Both teams have looked pretty good in the preseason from what I understand. I know a little Bit more about Chilhowie, than Marion. The Warriors are still young. They play mostly juniors and sophomores, and about 3 Seniors. They graduated several good athletes last year, and will have to grow up fast to compete with the Canes. Marion returns several real good players. They should be strong on defense, and they will be very capable of scoring points With their returning QB and RB. Experience wise, Marion will have the edge. I see Marion winning this one, but closer than Last year. Marion 24 Chilhowie 21

My thoughts and Prayers are with Mike and his family. May our Holy Father touch Mike and heal Mike's body with all HIS Grace, and through Our Faith in Christ. We ask Our Lord to be with the family, giving them strength and confidence that Mike will be healed. Our Lord is the Great Physician ! May God Bless Mike and his Family!

The last time I checked, the Smyth County Tech. and Career Center was still in operation. #14.

Mr. Vitale, I am sorry that I upset you with my post, and the format it was in. Mr. Vitale, I Worked for over 30 years helping prosecute cases of this nature, until my retirement. My words stand As they are. My heart feels the pain of that young child, and the pain her parents are experiencing. Was I upset when I wrote the post, sure; and I am still upset. Many citizens of Smyth County share My views of our county educational system. Where do we we turn for help? Senior citizens such as me, Are at the mercy of our elected officials when it comes to providing a promising education for our Youth. Again, I can only write the way I do. As for my post being " formatted strangly ", well it is what It is. I am certainly open to your suggestions, if you would like to share the way I should write My post. You have a nice Day!

We send our young children off to school, which we like to think is a safe Place, and no harm will come to them, under the protection of adult teachers And instructors. Well, according to reports today in the News, an adult volunteer assistant volleyball coach at Marion Senior High School has been Charged with several different criminal sexual offenses that involved a student At MSHS. If these allegations are true, some heads need to roll in the school system In Smyth County. From what I have read, a young " volunteer " assistant Coach Of the Volleyball team had an " inappropriate " relationship with a student. Details are limited at this time, but some employees at MSHS and the Central Office needs to be relived of their duties immediately. Common sense should Tell normal people that young adults do not need to be " volunteering " for Girls high school sports. It has disaster written all over the entire matter. The school board had to approve of this arrangement, as well as the school principal, head coach, and athletic director. The arrangement allowed This person to be in a caretaker role at MSHS. There appears to be a great deal Of incompetence with these employees, and they should never be put in a decision Making role again. Their employment should be terminated immediately. The Smyth County School system is in a state of despair. The Superintendent is New and inexperienced, and the school system itself is a very tough situation Financialy. Smyth County tries to operate 14 schools, all over the county, when In reality, Smyth County needs only about half that number. The citizens are being taxed to death to keep all these schools and their employees in good standing. The county refuses to recruit businesses and industry to help offset the educational cost. Real estate and personal property Tax and higher taxes assessment is the County way to pay for educational cost. The county has recently lost several principals and vice principals. Some have Just quit and took factory jobs, and other retired to just get out of a very poor administered school system. Get ready Smyth County, you are going to need A whole lot of money, when all the law suits are settled. My thoughts and Prayers are with this young child in Smyth County.

When a child is born into this world, we never know what lies ahead for that young child and his Family. I believe that God blesses us with talent at times, and he sets back and sees what the youngster will do with that talent. A lot of times, we are influenced by others around us, and those people have a large impact on The future of the talented youngster. God knows what lies ahead for us all. Sometimes we are Surprised at the end of the day, other times we are disappointed, and did not fulfill God's plan. Those that are truly blessed with God's gifts and make the best of it, are to be commended. They Persevered through thick and thin, met the challenges, overcome the obstacles and made many people Proud. Our youth should seize the moment, and do the very best that they can be in the eyes of our Maker. The impact that we have on others will last a lifetime. The memories will be told by many to other Small kids, that will make them want to be great athletes also. We can't determine our future, we can Only steer it in one direction or another, and hope that we chose the right direction. It comes Down to one very important thing; our choices that we make, and the free will that God gives us All to make those choices.

High school kids transferring from one high school to another seems to be the Trend these days all across the State. We didn't see much of it several years ago, but now it is common. If the proper guidelines are followed, the VHSL has No problem with kids transferring, again as long as the VHSL rules are followed. Why is this happening now, more than a few years back. Well, let me give you my Take on it, which may be way off base. Say a football player is a rising senior At a small school, or a large school with little or no football tradition. That Student may want to transfer to a school where he can excel, and play against Tough competition, and possibly get a college scholarship, which in the long run He gets a chance to play at the next level with financial help. It makes for some interesting conversation when it occurs. It usually doesn't set to well with the small school, but there is absolutely nothing that can Be done about it. We all live in a very mobile society. Families move from one Area to another, sometimes out of necessity for employment. I really see no end In site with transferring students. It is a family decision. Some have legitimate reasons that are very necessary for the sake of the family, others May do it simply for more or better exposure for the player. Either way, get used to it folks. Unless the VHSL makes it totally illegal, It may get even more common place than what we see happening today. What is good For the goose,may be bad for the gander!

Hey guys, the down turn in the coal fields counties is taking it toll in counties outside the coalRegion. Two mining support companies in Chilhowie are shutting down, with good jobs being lost. We Share the pain of the coal industry. There is a ripple effect in SWVA when it comes to coal mining. Chilhowie has lost students down to 414 from 439 according to VHSL stats. I may be wrong, but at one Time Chilhowie High had close to 500 students.The other two high schools in the county is in the same Position, losing enrollment just about every year. If you add up both the enrollment of Chilhowie And Northwood, you will get just a few more students than Marion Senior. Smyth County has 14 schools to operate. As I stated on a different thread, two schools are over Crowded, while some have classrooms with few or no students. But the cost of operation is the same For both types of schools. The kids in schools with the smaller enrollment gets the better education, As more attention can be given to them, than in the over crowded classroom. Smyth County has a problem. A problem that is not going to get any better unless the County Government Starts recruiting industry and businesses on the 1-81 corridor, like Washington and Wythe Counties, Our neighborhood counties. I don't know what the future holds for Smyth County, but I do expect the County leaders just to Pass the rising cost of education on to the citizens, and continue to turn the cheek at new Business and industry. The kids will get an education, but it will be on a shoe string Budget. Smyth County is living In a push button world, but using pull string equipment. The beat goes on.I think the time has Come for Smyth County to looking into stream lining the school system, and take a hard look at Consolidation for the betterment of education of all our students. .

Question: Are the new consolidated schools in the coal fields going to make it thru The hard times of less coal tax revenue? What does to future hold for schools like the Multi-million school in Dickenson County. The Virginia General Assembly is addressing the Issue to bring some type of financial relief, but just a one or two years of help is not going To maintain the school over the years to come. What lies ahead?

Smyth County has spent millions of tax dollars " fixing " up old Schools over the last 10 years Or so. They built one new elementary school near Seven Miles Ford, off I-8, Oak Point ES, to serve Marion...... Well, the old schools are still what they were before this first hammer hit a lick......We still have Old schools with a lot of mileage on them. Some of these schools are full of asbestos, in the floor Tiles, pipes, and around the schools. We all know how asbestos was used in the 50's for insulation When some of these old schools were built. In my opinion, the powers at be are afraid to bring up the subject of consolidation, fearing political Reprecussions.......so the beat goes on......Patch work construction at old schools. We have schools that should be closed, due to lack of students, but those same schools cost just as much to heat And Administer, just like the over crowded schools. We have schools were students have to eat lunch at 10:45 am, because the cafeteria can not accommodate The students at a normal lunch time. But instead of addressing that issue, a new school is built to Serve a different group. No one wants their neighborhood school closed, and I can understand that. But when you live in a county that doesn't bring in business tax, but just raises real estate and auto taxes and fees, it is Very hard to understand the thinking of some people. Smyth County is on I-81, between Washington and Wythe Counties. Look at those two neighbor counties, And then take a good look at Smyth County. Big difference in industrial and business recruitment. Will the mom and pop stores bring in the tax revenue to support our schools on a Consistent bases now, or in the future ? Best of Luck!

I keep reading articles about the loss of students in SWVA schools,along which Means less State funding for our Counties to operate as they do today. SWVA Has seen student loss in just about every County, and has become a major problem For some localities. Our State representatives are trying to address the issue to the General Assembly, in an effort To bring some relief for those Counties that are sinking Very fast with the loss of State funding. This is not only a Problem in SWVA. It is a State wide issue, just not as Concentrated across to Commonwealth, as it is in SWVA. SWVA really did not See a recovery from the great recession. As a matter of fact,things may be Worst now, than before the recession. Is this issue related to high school sports? In my opinion it is.Budget cuts In the schools may have to cut back on extracurricular activities, sports, and offer only academic classes, and meet the bare essentials public schools can offer. What our schools have to offer to our students and athletes in the near future May look very different from what we enjoy today. I hope our leaders in Richmond Do the right thing and help us all our schools, if that is possible. I love my high school sports. It is a way of life for a lot of us. Let's hope and pray we still have our sports programs for our students in the years to come.