By CHAD COOPER
65 YEARS AGO
August 10, 1961
Kiwanian John Hash, director of Civil Defense for Buchanan County was the speaker at this week’s meeting of the Kiwanis Club and gave an interesting talk on the need for preparedness for an atomic war in this area. He discussed the various hazards to the civilian population as a result of an atomic explosion, stressing the danger of radioactive fallout.
Randy Venable, who recently won second place in a state-wide 4-H contest in public speaking, delivered her prize-winning address to the Grundy Rotary Club at its meeting Monday. Rotarian T. M. Arrington was in charge of the program.
45 YEARS AGO
August 13, 1981
Contrary to reports circulated in some areas, Hurley High School will field a football team for the 1981 season. School superintendent Ernest R. Raines announced early Wednesday morning that Tommy Blankenship had been rehired to coach the Rebels again this year and continue the job of rebuilding the football program.
Fifty-Year Membership Certificates were presented to two local Masons at a special ceremony on July 4 at Sandy Valley Lodge. Earnest L. Smith and Lawrence R. Lindsay were recognized by the Grand Lodge of Virginia signifying their service and continuous membership in Masonry. Both were also presented with gold veterans lapel emblems.
30 YEARS AGO
August 8, 1996
Kermit Rife was given the Democratic nod for Knox District supervisor Saturday during a Democratic convention at Hurley Middle School. Rife emerged victorious from a field of three candidates vying for the post with a fourth candidate Hufford Rife, having withdrawn his name from consideration prior to the start of Saturday’s 10 a.m. meeting.
A handful of Buchanan County Republicans turned out Saturday afternoon to give Republican Party Chairman Robert M. “Bobby” Hall the GOP nomination for Knox District supervisor. Hall was uncontested in his bid for the Republican nomination during a mass meeting of Knox District Republicans held at Hurley High School.
25 YEARS AGO
August 2, 2001
Brandon Hankins led a team of young Grundy wrestlers competing for the Grundy Wrestling Club at the annual Commonwealth Games earlier this month at the Christiansburg Recreation Center. Hankins, who will be a seventh grader at Riverview Middle School when it opens this coming school year, won the 75-80-pound weight class championship in the Schoolboy folkstyle division.
David Byrd killed his first deer Nov. 13, 2000. It was an 11-point, 210-pound buck killed on the Big Buchanan Hunting Club property. He used a Knight .50-caliber muzzleloader. He is the son of the Rev. Kenneth and Teresa Byrd of Clifton Fork.
Nicholas Harmon caught a nice 14 1/4 inch trout while fishing in Dismal River. He is the son of Carl and Debbie Harmon, of Mavisdale.
