Volume 31, Number 2, May 2007 Issue

Mountain Empire NewsTHE

“Let us take care of the children, for they have a long way to go. Let us take care of the elders, for they havecome a long way. Let us take care of those in between, for they are doing the work.” — African Proverb

VOLUME 31, NUMBER 2 MAY 2007 P.O. BOx 888, Big STONE gAP, VA 24219

Alzheimer’s Support Services Section - Pages 20B - 28BIn This

Issue:

Tony Lawson Hired As MEOC Pace DirectorA program being established locally which pro-

vides a one-stop health care and social center forelderly residents in Lee, Scott and Wise countiesand the city of Norton now has a director.Mountain Empire Older Citizens ExecutiveDirector Marilyn Pace Maxwell announced recent-

ly that TonyLawson of LeeCounty has beenhired by MountainEmpire OlderCitizens, Inc. toserve as theDirector of the newMountain EmpirePACE Program.PACE is theacronym forProgram of All-inclusive Care forthe Elderly.

“Tony is theabsolute perfectperson to make this

ten year dream of MEOC’s Board, AdvisoryCouncil and staff a reality. Tony brings the rightcombination of talents, skills, vision, experienceand passion to MEOC to lead us successfully inthis exciting new venture—to have PACE in ourarea would truly be a Godsend for not just our frailelderly friends, neighbors and relatives, but anequal blessing for their families and caregivers,”

Tony Lawson (left), Director of Mountain Empire PACE andMarilyn Pace Maxwell, (right) Executive Director of MountainEmpire Older Citizens, Inc., proudly display the architecturaldrawing of the new Mountain Empire PACE facility. This pro-gram will provide a one-stop health care and social center forelderly residents in Lee, Scott and Wise counties and the cityof Norton.

Tony Lawson, Director,Mountain Empire PACE

See LAWSON, on page 2

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE NEWSPage 2

said Maxwell.MEOC was recently award-

ed more than $3.6 million ingrant and loan funds to buildthe first rural PACE Center inthe nation. The U.S.Department of Agriculture’sRural Development Agency isproviding MEOC with a $3.4million low-interest federalloan to build the 15,000-square foot structure on landadjacent to the agency’s cor-porate offices on 3rd Ave.East. Congressman RickBoucher and State USDARural Development DirectorEllen Davis made theannouncement of this fundingat a press conference heldrecently at MEOC. Additionalfunding has been awarded toMEOC PACE from successfulgrant proposals to The Centerfor Medicare and MedicaidServices and The VirginiaDepartment of MedicalAssistance Services, and TheWise County IndustrialDevelopment Authority hasdonated property for thePACE Center to MEOC.

Individuals enrolled in theMountain Empire OlderCitizens PACE program willbe able to live in their ownhomes while receivinghealth care and therapy athome or in the new PACECenter.

Lawson brings a wealth ofexperience to the new ven-

ture. Most recently, he wasExecutive Director of theSouthwest VirginiaGraduate Medical EducationConsortium (GMEC), anagency that supports med-ical training in rural andunderserved communities.

“Setting up MountainEmpire PACE is a real chal-lenge. It is calling on everyskill that I have picked up

over 30 years spent inhealth and education- fromresearch methods to cross-discipline planning to serv-ice coordination to systemsdevelopment, professionalrecruitment and day-to-daybusiness management. Thework is hard but satisfying,”Lawson explained. “And Ibelieve that PACE will be atremendous benefit for peo-

ple in our region.” He said that while the

PACE model has beenavailable in U.S. cities formore than 20 years, it is anew approach to health carefor people in rural Virginia.

“Most people in our areatreasure Family, Home, andCommunity, and most of uschoose to spend our days infamiliar places with the peo-ple we love,” Lawson said.“PACE suits SouthwestVirginia because a commu-nity-based model enablesfrail seniors to live at homeand still get the special careand attention they need.”

Lawson said our overallhealth care system is “sort offractured.” We get healthcare in piecemeal fashionfrom many different sources.Lines of communicationwithin the overall system areeasily broken or have neverbeen connected. He notedthat PACE is designed toheal fractures in the healthsystem by improving com-munications and coordinat-ing the provision of care.

As people age, they needmany health care providers -doctors, nurses, therapists,pharmacists, dietitians andothers. Each provider doeshis/her part, but none ofthem is responsible for over-all patient care. Eachpatient has to filter throughand make sense of all thedirections given by variousprofessionals, manage

n Lawsoncontinued from page 1

Dr. Donna Adkins (left) and Tony Lawson, Director ofMountain Empire PACE are working together to devel-op pharmacy services for the new Mountain EmpirePACE program. Dr. Adkins is a member of the faculty atthe University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy. Shewill be the consulting pharmacist for PACE.

See PACE, on page 3

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE NEWS Page 3

appointments with a shifting, growing set of clinicians, andtrust that everyone involved in the case is exchanging vitalinformation. While doing all this, patients have to cope withproblems that come with age – changes in mobility, mem-ory loss, heart disease, diabetes, depression, reducedincome, unsafe housing, isolation and loneliness.

“People do their best to coordinate their own care, butthey don’t always know what to expect from clinicians oreven what services areavailable to them,” Lawsonexplained. “Navigating acomplex health systemwhile coping with personalproblems can be too muchfor frail seniors and theirfamilies to handle withouthelp.”

Lawson said that thePACE model assembles allthe pieces of a brokenhealth care system into aseamless whole. In PACE,each participant is assignedto a care team that includes a doctor, nurse, pharmacist,social worker, home care coordinator, dietician, personalcare aide, driver, physical therapist, speech therapist, andoccupational therapist. The care team assesses the needsof each person who enrolls, creates a plan of care forthem, and makes sure that they get every service includ-ed in the plan. The team works closely with participantsand their caregivers to implement each action plan.

Participants in PACE receive services at the PACECenter, in their homes, and elsewhere as needed. Peoplecome to the Center for socialization, meals, recreation,physical, speech, and occupational therapies, medicalcare, counseling, personal care, and medicine. In theirhomes, participants receive personal care, skilled nursing,homemaker services, medicine, nutrition, and restorativetherapies as needed.

When participants need specialty medical care, PACEmakes appointments, provides transportation and coordi-nates care with the specialists. The PACE

doctor admits and follows patients in the hospital or nurs-ing home as needed.

“The PACE team oversees care for each personenrolled to help them live safely and independently in theirown homes,” Lawson explained.

Mountain Empire PACE is one of the first rural PACEorganizations in the United States. Lawson said he is hon-ored to be a part of the new program and believes PACEmeets a deeply felt need in our area.

“I live in a place called Millers Chapel, in a house about100 yards from the two room shack where I was born. Myhouse is within earshot of my mother, brother, aunts,

uncles, and cousins. I haveknown most of my neighborsall my life, or at least all theirlives. Millers Chapel is abeautiful place with hills andhollows and pastures andpatches of woods framed bydistant mountains. Onefocal point in the communityis a church that sits on thecrown of a gentle hill. Thechurch faces another hillacross a deep hollow,and on that second hill is asecond focal point, the well-

tended cemetery where generations of my ancestors restin peace. The spiritual bond between the church andcemetery is almost palpable: it vibrates like the pluckedstring of a violin. I feel at home in Millers Chapel, where Iam part of the past, the present, and the future,” saidLawson. “But to unfamiliar eyes, there is nothing specialabout Millers Chapel. It looks like hundreds of other ruralcommunities in the mountain region. I guess that’s mypoint: every place in the mountains is special to the peo-ple who live there.” He continued, “I love my corner of theuniverse, and I want to live here until my time comes. I’mproud to be a part of PACE because the program enablespeople like me to live where we choose, secure in theknowledge that help and support is close at hand when weneed it.”

Lawson can be reached at MEOC at 276-523-4202 or800-252-6362 for more information on the planning for aPACE Program for Lee, Wise, Scott Counties and TheCity of Norton.

n PACEcontinued from page 2

“People do their best to coordinatetheir own care, but they don’t alwaysknow what to expect from clinicians oreven what services are available to

them. Navigating a complex health sys-tem while coping with personal prob-

lems can be too much for frail seniors

and their families to handle without

help.”— Tony Lawson


Our Home, Our Family, Our Life, TooDon’t Leave Hometown, Family and Friends For Rehab

Come to Heritage Hall in Big Stone Gap

Ms. Dezarn recentlybroke her left leg andhad surgery at WellmontLonesome Pine Hospital.She then choose HeritageHall-Big Stone Gap forinpatient rehabilitation.

Heritage HallManaged by American HealthCare, LLC

Patty Akers - Administrator2045 Valley View Drive • Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219

276-523-3000 Fax 276-523-0531

“Everyone is good to me here. Our goalis for me to walk out of here and be ableto live in my home with little or no help.I know it will happen soon.”

— Ruth Dezarn.


The Virginia Insurance Counseling and

Assistance Program (VICAP) is seeking volunteers

to provide free health insurance counseling for area

seniors 65 and older. Training sessions will be pro-

vided for these volunteers to be able to assist people

with Medicare and decisions about Medicare supple-

ment and long-term care insurance.

VICAP is looking for volunteers who are com-

fortable working with people and numbers. People

who are licensed to sell insurance, or who consult in

the insurance business, are not eligible to participate

in the volunteer program.

The Virginia Department for the Aging sponsors

VICAP in cooperation with the State Corporation

Commission’s Bureau of Insurance and other agen-

cies and organizations. Since 1993, VICAP has

reached tens of thousands of Older Virginians with

information and help on health insurance issues. If

you would like to become a trained VICAP coun-

selor and help our area seniors, please call MEOC

and talk to Jennifer Spangler (1-276-523-4202 or 1-

800-252-6362)

MEOC SEEKS VOLUNTEERS TO COUNSELSENIORS ON HEALTH INSURANCE

Second annual ‘Duck Race’ nets $10,000By Ida Holyfield

EditorReprinted with permission

from The Post

Half the proceeds of thesecond annual Heritage HallNursing Home andMountain Empire OlderCitizens Duck Race is goingto Christmas gifts, clothes,replacement false teeth andnew glasses for residents atthe nursing home.

The other half will gotoward paying fuel bills forfolks who feel the chill notonly from the weather, butfrom the grim prospect ofpersistent poverty and

Heritage Hall Nursing Home staffers, from left, Shawn Cooper, Lisa Gilliam andMel Bledsoe take bins containing 2,500 numbered plastic ducks into the PowellRiver as they prepare for the signal to start the second annual Heritage Hall andMountain Empire Older Citizens Duck Race. Cooper and Bledsoe are maintenanceassistants at Heritage Hall, while Gilliam is Director of Human Resources. (Photosby Ida Holyfield and reprinted with permission from The Post.)

See More Photos on Page 6

See DUCK, on page 8


Organizers moved the‘duck drop point’ forthis year’s race down-stream a couple of hun-dred feet from the walk-ing bridge that crossesthe Greenbelt, in thearea above KentuckyFried Chicken, GilliamFuneral Home, theBlack Diamond storeand Riggs AnimalHospital. Officials saidthey were looking forswifter water to give theducks a better start.

This year, with a swifter current behind them, the‘racers’ stayed in a tighter unit and moved rapidlydownstream.

At the finish line, Lisa Gilliam and Heritage HallAdministrator Patti Akers joined two volunteers fromMountain Empire Older Citizens, Tim Begley and BillBegley in plucking winners from the water. Plastic bagswere pre-marked for place winners, so that ducks couldbe scooped from the water and immediately placed inthe appropriate bags. Crowds dotted the Greenbelt andopen spaces at the Jessie Lea RV Park and Campgroundto watch the event.


2007 MEOCWalkathon

Exceeds $150,000 Goal!

Full details and photos in next

issue of the Mountain

Empire News.


ongoing prescription drugcosts.

Proceeds from this year’sDuck Race, like last year’s,were divided three ways,officials said. Prize moneytook $2,500 of the revenueand the sponsoring partnerssplit the rest.

Heritage Hall staffers sayneedy residents at the nurs-

ing home will benefit fromrace proceeds all year. Afterthe holidays are over, thegiving will continue for thosewho have no families to seeto their needs, Director ofHuman Resources LisaGilliam explained.

“Some of the residentsneed clothes, and don’thave them, or their denturesget lost or damaged. Theyneed new glasses, butthere’s no one to come for-ward and help them. That’s

where the Resident’s Fundsteps in.”

MEOC officials will beusing their share of themoney to shore up theagency’s Emergency FuelFund until the annualMEOC 10K Walkathon, setfor Sunday, May 6, at 2p.m. at Powell Valley HighSchool.

With weather forecasterspredicting a chilly spring fol-lowing the recent warmweather, the need for assis-

tance with elderly residents’heating bills will be signifi-cant, they predict.

Both agencies expressedappreciation for the commu-nity support they received instaging the Duck Race.

Will the event be repeatednext year? “Absolutely,”said Gilliam.

Volunteers have alreadycollected the ducks used inthis year’s race, cleanedthem up, and stored themfor the 2008 event, she said.

n Duckcontinued from page 5

Teens Teach Caregivers Internet BasicsBy Ida Holyfield

Reprinted with permissionfrom The Post

A pilot program that in2005 was first in the nationto have teens teach Internetskills to in-home caregiversmay soon become a modelfor hundreds of communitiesacross the country.

In that first round of ses-sions, caregivers — whomay be confined to thehome for days on end look-ing after Alzheimer’s ordementia patients — weretaught how to access theInternet, email and onlinechat rooms.

They were provided usedWise County School Systemcomputers and givenInternet connections for ayear while they learned toconnect to others throughthe technology which wasso new to them.

Powell Valley High School senior Rebecca Durham, far right, keeps an eye on thescreen as, right to left, Tech World participants Carolyn Shepard and Sherri Stuartare under the watchful eye of Appalachia High School student Jocelyn Stuart alongwith Tech World participant Vickie McCoo as they polish their Internet chat andemail skills. (Photos courtesy of The Post.)

See More Photos on Pages 10 & 12See TEENS, on page 10



Recently, MountainEmpire Older Citizens offi-cials, project partners, twodozen teen volunteers and19 caregivers finished upwork on a revised five-weeksession of the Tech WorldTeens and Alzheimer’sCaregivers Technology

Project, staged this secondtime at the request of TheBrookdale FoundationGroup.

MEOC Executive DirectorMarilyn Maxwell explainedthat based on resultsachieved by first-round par-ticipants, who continued tobuild on their Internet skills,foundation officials believedthe program could benefitcaregivers across the coun-

try.Last fall, Maxwell said,

Brookdale Foundation offi-cials asked the agency torepeat the program, updat-ing the instructional note-book and providing videos ofthe sessions to help thefoundation evaluate ways tolaunch a national model.

Now, Tech World: An

Information Portal, may helpfolks in inner cities, rural

areas and remote sectionsof the nation to feel moreconnected through similarintergenerational learningprograms, Maxwell said.

In the Powell Valley HighSchool based sessions,teens exhibited incrediblepatience, and seniors weredelighted to see how quicklythey could learn with one-on-one instruction.

n Teenscontinued from page 8

Tech World participants at the final Saturday work-shop include, from left, first row, Carolyn Shepard,Vickie McCoo, Perry Ashley, Ariel Cornett and LeannaRobbins; second row, Sherrie Stuart, Jocelyn Stuart,Nicholas Moss, Darryl Ayers, Margaret McAfee, PatDockery, Wanda Woods, Anna Wilson and instructorPat Johnson; third row, PVHS custodian Joe Millerwith his father, participant Marvin Miller and grand-

daughter Kari Miller, Rebecca Durham, Ashley Tucker,Buena Evans, Catherine Eads, Patricia Tomlinson,Cora Haynes and Alisa Evans; fourth row, programofficials Pat Duesing and Julia Trivett Dillon, EmmaSpangler, Adam Winebargar, Brittany Grubb, JaniceMickles and MEOC Executive Director MarilynMaxwell; top row, David Kleineick and Virgie GraceHill.

See BASICS, on page 12


ATTENTION ! IF YOU ARE FIFTY-FIVE

OR OLDER,WILLING TO SHARE YOUR

SKILLS AND ABILITIESAND

LOOKING FORVOLUNTEER

OPPORTUNITIES…THE MEOC RETIRED AND

SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMNEEDS YOU!

TO FIND OUT MORE, CALLLYNNETTE AT

MOUNTAIN EMPIRE OLDER CITIZENS, INC.

PHONE: (276) 523-4202PHONE: (800) 252-6362

“This is great,” Buena Evans ofCoeburn said as tutor Nick Mossof McClure looked on. “It wasconfusing at first. I’d forget mypassword and I was afraid I’dmess up. I’d never even turned acomputer on, but now, I’m send-ing emails.”

Marvin Miller of Big Stone Gapnoted, “I believe a lot of us olderpeople would like to get into this,if we had somebody like thesekids to be right with us and teachus.”

“I wrote him step-by-stepinstructions,” his granddaughterand tutor Kari Miller said.

“I can do a little on a computer,but I never got far with it becauseI was always afraid to deletestuff. Now that I understand howthings work, I’m on target, a lotmore confident,” CarolynShepard said.

“These folks are doing amaz-ingly well,” noted Pat Johnson,Wise County instructional tech-nology coordinator. “Some ofthese adults had never toucheda keyboard and have gone fromlearning what a backslash is tosearching websites for medicalinformation. The interaction withthe students has been great.”

Family members are often reluctant to teach their eldersabout computers, she noted, because they literally don’tknow where to begin. These students, however, learncomputer orientation and teaching skills in three prelimi-nary sessions, then follow a structured plan to take theircharges through the remaining two sessions. After class-es end, reference notebooks with screen pictures anddetailed instructions refresh participants’ memories.

This second time around,instruction focused more on chatrooms and email, with easy-to-follow steps to get computerusers from one format to anoth-er, Anne Duesing, of theUniversity of Virginia’s HealthSciences Library Outreach atUVa-Wise, noted. “We’re plan-ning a follow-up session atMEOC, just for caregivers, tobuild their skills in health infor-mation research and do a chatroom review.

“The chat room is especiallyimportant for caregivers whomay be up in the night with theirloved ones, and need someoneto communicate with about whatthey’re going through,” shenoted.

At session’s end, Maxwell pre-sented the teens with letters ofrecommendation for use with jobor scholarship applications and aspecial gift selected by Johnson:an MP3 player that brought“oo’s” and “ah’s” around theroom.

“I want to be a teenager likethem,” a program participant saidas she saw the teens’ delightedreactions.

“I want to know what they knowabout computers,” another par-ticipant said. “I’m getting there.”

The back of a “graduation” t-shirt given to participants lists the

program partners for this session: MEOC, the BrookdaleFoundation Group, Wise County Schools, PVHS,Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Research AwardFund; Virginia Center on Aging at Virginia CommonwealthUniversity, University of Virginia’s Health Sciences LibraryOutreach at UVa-Wise, Southwest Virginia Alzheimer’sAssociation, the Regional Adult Education Program andthe Virginia Department for the Aging.


n Basicscontinued from page 10

Mountain Empire Older Citizens' TechWorld class participants get a little extrahelp from Pat Johnson, Wise Countyschools instructional technology coordi-nator. Johnson assists Catherine Eads,foreground, as students Ariel Cornett andDavid Kleineick continue to work. Adultlearner Pat Dockery concentrates onKleineick's screen.


Do You Enjoy Working With Children?

Is Your Income Below $12,250

(one person household or $16,500 for two)?

MEOC NEEDS YOU

YOU WILL RECEIVE:

• $2.65/hr. (this, by federal law, is not taxable

and does not affect public benefits)

• A ride to your volunteer site

• A meal at the volunteer site, when available

• In-service training

• Excess liability insurance

• And especially, the satisfaction in knowing you

are making a difference in the life of a child

If You Are Interested, Please Call: Jennifer Spangler

(276) 523-4202



Black History Programs Presented at Local Schools

Sixth grade students enjoying the Black History Day programheld at Appalachia Elementary School are (from left) AshleyMullins, Deonna Trent, Brandee Childress, Tessa Sloan, TessaMullins, Kelsey Harris, Alayna Timberlake and Karley Harris.

Stickleyville ElementarySchool staff and mem-

bers of the BlackHistory Committee

pose for a picture fol-lowing the presentationeducating students on

black history events.Pictured are (row one)

Jack Mooney and JakeRavizee; row two (from

left) Virginia Spence,Lue Carson, Ralph Cox,

Lula Reasor, JenniferSpangler and Lynnette

Stuart.

Jennifer Spangler (right), MEOC FosterGrandparent Director and Justin Prestonchat following the Black History Month pro-gram presented at Appalachia ElementarySchool. Justin gave a moving presentationreciting Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have ADream” speech.

On Tuesday February 13th and Thursday February 22nd

Mountain Empire Older Citizens’ Foster GrandparentProgram and MEOC’s Retired and Senior VolunteerProgram sponsored Black History events at Appalachia

and Stickleyville Elementary. Jack Mooney, Norton; LueCarson, Pennington Gap; Jake Ravizee, Lynch, Kentucky;and Justin Preston, Clinchco, presented music and storytelling.


Library Hosts Black History Month PerformanceBy Hannah Morgan

Staff Writer

Reprinted with permissionfrom The Post.

The afternoon of Sunday,Feb. 17, the C. BascomSlemp Library hosted a per-formance of local singers andspeakers, entitled “BluesSinging Women: The SorrowSongs,” to recognizeFebruary as Black HistoryMonth.

The hour-long presentationwas written by HowardCummins and incorporatedmany aspects of black cul-ture, including traditionalsongs, female singers, dis-cussions about athleticstandouts and the inspira-tional leader Dr. MartinLuther King Jr.

“It’s great to be recognizedas a culture, not just a race,”said Flo Patterson, one of theblues singers. “Thank you forallowing us to share our cul-ture with you.”

The room was filled withnearly 30 people from thecommunity and it was crowd-diverse in age and race. Inthe front row, a 2-year-old girldanced in her grandmother’slap to songs such as “StealAway,” “We Shall Not beMoved,” and “Oh Freedom,”led by Lynnette Stuart andJosie Ellis. Other perform-ances and speeches were

given by Dovie Sowards,Donny Jenkins and FloPatterson.

The event closed with areading of Dr. King’s speech,“I have a dream,” by 7-year-old Hayley Johnson of GateCity.

“All the participants did awonderful job,” Cumminsnoted. “The program justflowed, and the interactionwith the audience made the

afternoon very special.”Tunes such as Tommy

James and the Shondells’“Crystal Blue Persuasion”illustrated the underlyingtheme of peaceful ways toresolve problems, as adopt-ed by Gandhi and MartinLuther King Jr., while thewonderful “Koom-Ba-Yah”demonstrated the wonderfulspiritual legacy, Cumminsnoted.

Librarian Chris Smith andthe staff set up a display ofbooks, music, CDs and othermaterials to illustrate themany resources available tothose who want to learnmore about Black History,Cummins said.

Groups participating inSunday’s program —Community Life Volunteers ofAppalachia, June Tolliver

PHOTOS BY ELISSA POWERS

Lynnette Stuart and June Tolliver House President Deborah Smith look on as,inspired by the speakers and singers, a little girl from the audience comes to themicrophone to sing ‘Jesus Loves Me.’

SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 17

See LIBRARY, on page 17


House Volunteers and theBigAppy Storytellers — arecurrently working on addition-al offerings for March, Apriland May, Cummins said.

While dates have not beenset, plans are to present “Lifein the Coal Camps — theGood, the Bad and the Ugly”featuring Jay Swiney, inMarch. Assisting will beBrownie Polly, Cummins

noted.In April, the groups present

“Springtime and WildFlowers” in the parlor at theJune Tolliver House, featur-ing Elayne Swiney.

In May, the program will be“Games Children Play,” astreet program in front of theJune Tolliver House. “FromHop Scotch to Kick the Can,we’ll look at the games ofyesterday,” Cummins noted.

For more information aboutprograms, contact Cumminsat 565-0155.

n Librarycontinued from page 16

(Left) Developing thetheme ‘Living Peacefully,’Flo Patterson remindseveryone that whileFebruary is Black HistoryMonth, the black commu-nity is always here, everymonth of the year.

(Right) Singer and songwriter Dovie Sowards’ dis-cusses ‘Black Women and their Musical Heritage,’ andthe range of music from spirituals to jazz and Blues.Singing Bessie Smith and Elizabeth Cotton songs, shebrings black history to life in song.


2007 governor’s Conference on Volunteerism and Community ServiceIn partnership with the

Office of Volunteerism andCommunity Service, theGovernor’s Commission forCommunity & NationalService is charged by theGovernor with salutingVirginians for their signifi-cant contributions to the lifeand welfare of theCommonwealth and its peo-ple. This year’s event washeld in Richmond. TheGovernor’s Volunteerism &Community Service Awardshave recognized exception-al volunteer service inVirginia for more that 16years.

Pictured attending the event are (back row, left to right) Mattie Robertson, CraterDistrict AAA; Barbara James, LOA AAA Roanoke; Mary Dean, Brighton’s SolidRock, Portsmouth; Tony Williams, Senior Connections, The Capital Area Agency onAging, Richmond; Debra Bressler, Loudoun County AAA; Lynnette Stuart, MEOC(Front row left to right) Jennifer Spangler, MEOC; Pat Hale, Crater District AAA;Jean Taylor Payne, State Program Specialist; Tammy Blair, Campbell County Boardof Supervisors.

We were so very thankful to have members of theFlatwoods Job Corp assist us with putting together therecent issue of the Mountain Empire News, along with ourfaithful RSVP volunteers. Flatwoods volunteers andRSVP volunteers work side-by-side getting the newspa-per ready for distribution.

RSVP volunteer Roxie Mabe (right) and helper,Brittany Barker, use team work to get the newspa-pers labeled for distribution. We appreciate yourhard work!


FRIENDSHIP Is my choice for…

Ambulance &

Home Medical Equipment

276-328-9111Wise

276-523-6000Big Stone Gap

276-546-4100Pennington Gap

Operating 24 hours 7 days a week.

Pictured isCarol Bentley

andRespiratory

TherapistMarleneCharles.


During a Super Bowl party hostedby the town of Big Stone Gap in

recognition of Chicago Bears run-ning back and Powell Valley High

School alumnus Thomas Jones,items were raffled off to benefit

the MEOC Emergency Fuel Fundfor the Elderly. Nancy Bailey,

member of Big Stone Gap TownCouncil, shows her support for

Thomas by proudly wearing oneof his jerseys while purchasing

tickets to benefit MEOC from BigStone Gap town clerk Judy Hall.

Judy C. Hall, Big Stone Gap TownClerk/Interim Treasurer recentlypresented Marilyn Pace Maxwell,Mountain Empire Older CitizensExecutive Director, with a donationin the amount of $468 to be usedfor the MEOC Emergency FuelFund for the Elderly. The donationscame in as a result of the ThomasJones Super Bowl Party. Localbusinesses donated items thatwere raffled off during the party toraise money for the fuel fund.Those businesses donating itemswere Dotson’s Chevrolet, South-West Insurance Agency, WellmontLonesome Pine Hospital, GeneralAuto Parts and Dr. Chapman’soffice. MEOC appreciates every-one’s support of the EmergencyFuel Fund for the Elderly.

Super Bowl Party Raffle Benefits MEOC


The Ladies Auxiliary of MountainView Regional Medical Centerrecently made a donation of $755 tothe Emergency Fuel Fund ofMountain Empire Older Citizens.Pictured, left to right, are AuxiliarySecretary Joyce Lackey, MEOC’sMargaret McAfee and AuxiliaryVice-President Barbara Caruso, allof Norton. This donation representsa portion of the proceeds from thehospital’s Love Light Tree, a proj-ect begun by Ms. Lackey and SisterAnne. The project is in its thir-teenth year. Donations may bemade to honor or to memorialize aloved one with a beautiful ceremo-ny being held on the first Tuesdayof each December.

WANTED

Missing Walkathon Tee ShirtThis is the tee shirt we need to complete our collection. Check your stash. if you have this shirt

would you please donate it to MEOC so that we can complete our walkathon history. For further information contact

Margaret Sturgill at MEOC, 1-800-252-6362.


Members of the Mountain LaurelCancer Support and Resource CenterAdvisory Council have been busyworking on various grant proposals toexpand the storytelling project previ-ously developed by the AdvisoryCouncil. The goal of this project will beto develop a professionally producedDVD of the storytelling project as wellas a comprehensive curriculum of edu-cational materials and trained commu-nity based facilitators and health careprofessionals. Pictured (left to right)are Ann Duesing, Outreach Librarianfor the University of Virginia’s HealthSciences Library; Leigh Ann Bolinskey,Mountain Laurel Center Director andSharon Dwyer, Virginia Tech, followinga recent meeting.

Mountain Laurel Cancer Resource Center News

Local events benefit American Cancer Society

Area residents have three opportunities coming uplocally to support the American Cancer Society withevenings of fun, entertainment and fellowship. Relayfor Life, a fundraising event of ACS, is an overnightevent designed to spread awareness of cancer pre-vention, treatments and cures, celebrate survivorshipand raise money for research.

In 2006, more than three million people took part inmore than 4,600 Relays in the United States alone.Over half a million survivors walked the opening lap, atraditional part of all Relays, and more than $375 mil-lion was raised, making it by far the biggest fundraising

activity in the world. Local Relays will be held in Lee, Scott and Wise

Counties. The Scott County Relay is set for June 15 atGate City High School. The Lee County Relay will beJune 22 at Leeman Field in Pennington Gap and theWise County Relay will be held July 27 at theUniversity of Virginia’s College at Wise.

To make a donation which will benefit local events,contact Leigh Ann Bolinskey, Director of the MountainLaurel Cancer Center of Mountain Empire OlderCitizens, Inc. at 276-523-4202 or P.O. Box 888, BigStone Gap, Virginia 24219.


On January 19, a special ceremonywas held at the Claude MooreHealth Sciences Library at theUniversity of Virginia to honor thisyear’s award winners. GretchenArnold presented Mir Said Siadatyand Marilyn Pace Maxwell withFriends of the Library award. MirSaid Siadaty, faculty member in theDepartment of Public HealthSciences, was recognized fordeveloping ReleMed, a new bio-medical search engine. As theExecutive Director of MountainEmpire Older Citizens, Marilyn PaceMaxwell worked with Ann Duesing,the Library’s Outreach Librarian inWise, to make quality health infor-mation more accessible to the resi-dents of rural Southwest Virginia.Ann Duesing, (left) is picturedalong with Marilyn Pace Maxwelland the award she received.

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library of University ofVirginia Honors Maxwell with Friends of the Library Award

Protect : Protect yourself from Medicare errors, fraud, and abuseProtecting your personal information is the best line of

defense in the fight against healthcare fraud and abuse.Every day, consumers get ripped off by scam artists.Medicare and Medicaid lose billions of dollars each year.You can make a difference!

Here are some ways to take an active role in protectingyour healthcare benefits:

• Treat your Medicare, Medicaid and Social Securitynumbers like a credit card number. Never give thesenumbers to a stranger.

• Remember, Medicare doesn’t call or visit to sell youanything.

• Don’t carry your Medicare or Medicaid card unlessyou will need it. Only take it to doctor’s appoint-ments, visits to your hospital or clinic, or trips to the

pharmacy. • Record doctor visits, tests and procedures in your

personal health care journal or calendar. • Save Medicare Summary Notices and Part D

Explanation of Benefits. Shred the documents whenthey are no longer useful.

Detect : Learn to detect potential errors, fraud, and abuse.

Even when you do everything right, there is a chancethat you could be a target of healthcare fraud. There are alot of ways that your personal information can be usedwithout your permission.

Here are some steps you can take to detect potentialerrors, fraud and abuse:

See FRAUX, on page 24


• Always review your Medicare Summary Notice(MSN) and Part D Explanation of Benefits (EOB) formistakes. Access to your current Medicare accountis available 24 hours a day, simply visitwww.MyMedicare.gov.

• Compare your MSN and EOB to your personalhealth care journal and prescription drug receipts tomake sure they are correct.

• Look for three things on your billing statement: 1. Charges for something you didn’t get2. Billing for the same service twice

3. Services that were not ordered by your doctor

Report : If you suspect that you have been a target of errors, fraud, and abuse, report it.

If you suspect errors, fraud or abuse, report it immedi-ately! You will protect other people from becoming victimsand help to save your Medicare benefits.

Here are the steps you should take to report your con-cerns and abuse:

• If you have questions about information on yourMedicare Summary Notice or Part D Explanation ofBenefits, call your provider or plan first.

• If you are not comfortable calling your provider orplan or you are not satisfied with the response youget, call your local SMP, at 1-877-808-2468.

n Fraudcontinued from page 23

In Memoriam

June 16, 1962 - March 24, 2007

The MEOC family was saddened tolearn of the death of fellow employee RobMilby on Saturday, March 24, 2007. Robworked as a dispatcher in the MEOCTransit Department and truly believed inhis job at MEOC and what the agencydoes for the people of Southwest Virginia.A hard worker with one of the most posi-tive attitudes, Rob consistently receivedpraise for his customer service skills. Robwas named MEOC Transit Employee ofthe Quarter for the First Quarter 2007posthumously.


MEOC Welcomes New TransitEmployees

The Mountain Empire Older

Citizens Transportation depart-

ment is pleased to welcome a

host of new employees.

They include:Nita Branham

CoeburnKeith Davis

Big Stone Gap

Claude BlairBig Stone Gap

Kristy LovellBig Stone Gap

Jan HeadPennington Gap

MEOC Transit Replaces Older VehiclesThe Mountain Empire Transit Department recently replaced two older model Jimmys with two new Ford Explorers


Pharmacy Connect of Southwest Virginia

Offers

FREE MEDICINE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGESIf you need medicine and can’t afford it, we may be able to help!

Who can get help?

Adults of ALL AGES who do not have insurance that pays for their medicines.

People who have Medicare Part D may be eligible for free medicine through this program.

How do I get help?Call 1-800-252-6362

Your doctor must participate by writing a prescription and signing the application.

Our friendly and helpful staff will complete all the necessary paperwork for you. This is a FREE SERVICE!!

1-800-252-6362


Sharing Our Daily BreadGeorge Vail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ClinchportClifford & Artie Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Hospice Support Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AppalachiaThelma Gilley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Beech Grove Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap George and Nancy Culbertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Don Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Wise Baptist Church Women on Mission . . . . . . . . . .Wise Charlotte Brooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville Ann Cawood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville Peggy B. Lawson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JonesvilleLee Farmers Cooperative, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville Old VA Hand Hewn Log Homes, Inc. . . .Pennington Gap Gilbert - NS Lumber, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Duffield Robert and Courtney Kilgore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise William and Grace Bradshaw . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Ronald and Joan Short . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Powell Valley High School

Faculty & Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Emily Qualls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Sykes Enterprises, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tampa, FloridaTax Pros, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap First Bank & Trust Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Abingdon Betty J. Stallard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coeburn Gladeville Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church . . . . . . . .Jonesville Lee County Redevelopment

& Housing Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JonesvilleThompson & Litton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Winston Ely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Ruby Nell Cawood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville Patsy and Wayne Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville Pound Veterinary Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Joyce Winston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Lee County Animal Hospital, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville Scott County Telephone Cooperative . . . . . . . . .Gate City Carl Holler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HamptonVelma Newman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .HamptonCarl Deskins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise M-World, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Joy Mining Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Duffield The Bank of Marion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion

Mildred Poston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bedford Ina Witt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap BSG Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Eastman Credit Union . . . . . . . . . . .Kingsport, Tennessee Betty F. Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ewing Derby United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Derby T. Ray Richmond . . . . . . . . . . .Mount Carmel, TennesseeLee County Community Foundation Board . . . . . .Ben HurDr. Theresa Dunton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Mid-Mtn. Heating & Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Dine Mullins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CoeburnJerome Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KeokeeZelma Aichel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WiseSharon Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. CharlesJohnny Patterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapMichael Pease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ClinchportHazel Ramey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonNancy Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapSteven Hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapMcGraw-Hill Companies . . . . . . . . .Princeton, New Jersey

Emergency Fuel FundMary Ruth Ferrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Frazier & Mann Fuel Oil Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . .Weber City Kate Hibbitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Sally Baird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Clifford and Artie Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Joe and Pat Stallard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Vickie Maphis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lynchburg Dotson Chevrolet-Olds, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Ben Garrett III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gloucester Marcia and Marvin Gilliam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Abingdon Greg Large - Family Drug . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Deep Springs Baptist Church

Young Adult S. S. Class . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Mossie K. Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pennington Gap Beech Grove Sunday School . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Preceptor Alpha Omega . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton West End Baptist Church

Ladies Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Angela Kennedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Wise Primary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise

Many Thanks to Our Contributors

See CONTRIBUTORS, page 28


J. H. Gibbs Foundation . . . . . . . .Charlotte, North CarolinaEwing Church of the Brethren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ewing Good News Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pennington Gap Ronald and Marilyn Wright . . . . . .Church Hill, TennesseeIndependent Church of God . . . . .Mt. Carmel, TennesseeDarthula Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hiltons Mary’s Chapel Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coeburn Stephanie and Roger Lundy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Tacoma United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . .Coeburn Gregory and Jayne Sluss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CoeburnTommy and Cathy Maggard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Pound United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Hurricane Bethel Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Women on Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Harold C. Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Imogene Sturgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Wayne and Sally Leftwich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Hope Freewill Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Park Avenue Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Lambs Chapel Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rose Hill Indian Creek Freewill Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Lena S. Haight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pennington Gap Norton United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Nannie Bellamy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Christ Episcopal Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Imboden United Methodist Church . . . . . . . . . . . .Imboden Mildred Horne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coeburn Guest River Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Joseph and Doris Berta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Trinity United Methodist

Church Honeycutt Class . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Mossie K. Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pennington Gap Ewing First Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ewing Artesian Baptist Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap T. Ray Richmond . . . . . . . . . . .Mount Carmel, TennesseeMountain View Regional

Medical Center Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Commonwealth of VA Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . .Richmond Arch Coal, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Appalachia Kaye Mink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Timothy and Stephanie Cassell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Ronnie and Vickie Swindall . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap The Vintage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise

Dr. Gregory & Catherine Killough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Norton Education Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Norton Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Jonathan and Sherry Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton T. Watkins and K.D. Watkins . . . . . . . . . .East Stone Gap Christina Duncan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Jewell Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Walt and Teresa Rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Dawneda and Stafford Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Clarence E. Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coeburn Powell Valley National Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville R. Jeffrey and K. Eileen Cantrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise C. A. Absher and Chollie Absher . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Joyce Winston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton FGA Automotive, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Shirley J. Meade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Michael J. Quillen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bristol Anne Jacobe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Janie E. Mullins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Glenn’s Finer Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton James and Virginia Shupe . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Billy and Lena Edwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville Myer’s Home Center, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonesville Q’Straint - Valeda

Company, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Mary L. Bingman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Donna Porterfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Clinch River Health Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dungannon Virgie E. Fletcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Torrance, CaliforniaTown of Saint Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Saint Paul Kenneth and Judy Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coeburn Betty Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Duffield Cumberland Resources Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise School Sisters of Notre Dame . . . . . .Mankato, MinnesotaBankers Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlottesville Frazier & Mann Fuel Oil Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . .Weber City Cindy Robinette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .East Stone Gap Betty Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .EwingZelma Aichel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WiseLinda Begley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapBetty Carter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DuffieldGerald Compton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gate CityJulia Dillon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapSharon Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. Charles

n Contributorscontinued from page 27



Kim Gibson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonDennis Horton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Weber CityMichael Pease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FairviewHazel Ramey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonJean Rhoton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BlackwaterTeresa Shoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapNancy Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapBob Tipton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gate CityJerome Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keokee

Care CoordinationClyde and Louise Robinette . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapLeonard Sargent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapMarilyn Maxwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonIrma Snodgrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Weber CityMargaret Sturgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound

RespiteMr. & Mrs. Willie Brickey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Weber CityKenneth & Shirley Meade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PoundNancy Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapBeulah Dinsmore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap

KinCareDebbie Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap

TransitCarl Deskins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise

HomemakerBetty Elkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CoeburnMary Tate & Duane Tate Akridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .East Stone GapNannie Cooper & Bertie Sulfridge . . . . . . . . . . . .CoeburnGeneva Skorupa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton

Mountain Empire NewsJerome Wright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KeokeeGladys Stallard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonCarol W. Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapAgnes Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elkhorn City, KentuckySister Mayette Hughes . . . . . . . . . . . .Mankato, Minnesota

Lona W. Roberts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WiseEleanor Schlenker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BlacksburgJunior Bentley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonIda J. Bevins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coeburn

Mountain Laurel Cancer Center Ruben Lovell Memorial Fund

Linda Begley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapKim Gibson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonLeigh Ann Bolinskey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone GapJudy Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton

Children’s Advocacy CenterCarl Deskins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WiseAlpha Natural Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Abingdon United Way of

Central Indiana, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . .Indianapolis, IndianaSanyogta K. Singh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Clifford and Artie Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Pat Stallard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton D.J. and M. L. Prior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .WiseCarol Sue Gilbert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Margaret Sturgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound I. R. Stallard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise United Way of Roanoke Valley, Inc. . . . . . . . . . .Roanoke Sally Baird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Linda Mullins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Buchanan Nancy D. Baugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Jeanette and J. A. Knight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Herbert and Kathy Ladley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hiltons Marilyn Pace Maxwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Joyce Winston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Lions Club of Big Stone Gap . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap John and Barbara Surber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rose Hill Gigi and Don Pippin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Norton Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonVelma McConnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonElizabeth and Brian Wills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise Jerry and Melissa Wharton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise James and Michele Brooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Weber City Lelia Baum Hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richmond Wendell and Rebecca Caldwell . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Pat Bean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Coal Energy Resources, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Duffield Joseph R. Carico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise




Marcia Adams-Gilliam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Abingdon Wellmont Health System . . . . . . . . .Kingsport, TennesseeAdriana Trigiani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New York, New YorkVirginia Meador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Nannie Bellamy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap Wellmont Foundation . . . . . . . . . . .Kingsport, TennesseeDonald and Anne Sturgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pound Lonesome Pine Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . .Big Stone Gap

In HonorTown of Jonesville

In Honor of Howard Bledsoe . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JonesvilleGladys J. Stallard In Honor of Hugh Cline . . . . . . .Norton

In MemoryIna Witt In Memory of Ethel Haynes . . . . . .Big Stone GapJonesville VDOT In Memory of

Loreen Williamson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JonesvilleJackie Gilliam In Memory of Martha Jones . . . . . . .PoundChris Evans In Memory of Mabel Palmer . . . . . . . .PoundMary Hampton Davis In Memory of

Maudie L. Mullins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NortonItaly Vanover In Memory of

Margie Belcher Mayes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PoundBetty M. Humphreys In Memory of Faye Williams . . .WiseHolbrook Family In Memory of

Glenn Monroe Freeman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wise


Pharmacy Connect of Southwest Virginia offersFREE Medicine for people of ALL AGES

at the following locations:

Appalachia Family Health Center 276-565-2760Clinch River Health Services 276-476-2896 or 467-2201

Dickenson County Health Department 276-926-8157Haysi Clinic 276-865-5121

Junction Center for Independent Living 276-679-5988Lee County Health Department 276-346-2011

Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc. 276-523-4202 or 1-800-252-6362Russell County Health Department 276-889-7698Scott County Health Department 276-386-1312

St. Charles Community Health Clinic 276-383-4428, ext. 205St. Mary’s Health Wagon 276-835-9474

Stone Mountain Health Services, Inc. 276-383-4428Tazewell Community Health Clinic 276-979-9899

Thompson Family Health Center 276-597-7081, ext. 205Western Lee County Health Clinic 276-445-4826, ext. 227

William A. Davis Clinic 276-762-0770Wise County Health Department 276-328-8000


2007 Foster grandparent Program Recognition HeldMore than 50 volunteers

from the FosterGrandparent Program andthe Foster GrandparentAdvisory Council cametogether for a recognitiondinner on April 19, 2007held at Heritage Church ofGod in Big Stone Gap.Entertainment for theevening was provided byGrace Stidham. Grace is the13 year old granddaughterof Foster GrandparentShirley Gardner.

A very special “ThankYou” to the men and womenof Heritage Church of Godfor the recognition dinnerthey provided.

Several Foster Grandparents gather for a picture following the recognition cere-mony. Pictired (L to R front row) Marie Smith, Hiltons; Shirley Gardner, Hiltons;Thelma Welch, Jonesville; Pauline Newton, Norton. (L to R back row) JenniferSpangler, Foster Grandparent Director and Zelma Aichel, Wise.

Lynn Johnston has pro-vided 8 years of volunteerservice to the FosterGrandparent Program.Lynn is a resident ofJonesville.

Five yearpins werepresented to(L) PatsyKing, BigStone Gapand (R)Nelda “Moe”Dennison,Appalachia.Congratulations ladies!

See More Photoson Page 32


Betty Barker of BigStone Gap is a volunteerat Powell Valley PrimarySchool.

Foster GrandparentRena Ashworth of Nortonis a volunteer at WisePrimary School.

Grace Stidham and her grandmother Shirley Gardnerpose for a picture at the Foster GrandparentRecognition. Shirley is a Foster Grandparent at WeberCity Head Start.

Pictured (L to R) Betty Vaughan, Appalachia; LorevaCornett, Norton; Zelma Aichel, Site Manager of theCoeburn WIN Center. Loreva and Betty have beenFoster Grandparent Volunteers for 6 years.

Pictured (L to R) Margie Beach, Pennington Gap;Zelma Aichel, Wise; George Bozzell, Appalachia.Margie and George celebrate their 9th year as a volun-teer with the Foster Grandparent Program.

2007 Foster grandparent Program Recognition Held

Documents

Volume 31, Number 2, May 2007 Issue