Feedback from today:
Fall ball is a time to focus on what you have and what you need. We played well today in the second game and showed some big improvement. We had the lead most of the game but came up short in the end.

The team has only had 5 practices before today, so there is a lot of improvement and getting to know each other to be done. This group has lots of potential and I feel sure we will have a “W” soon

Keep fighting the Good Fight !

When you meet the number of people that I do and combined with my age, its a lost cause to remember everyone by their given name. This is where the high number of nicknames comes from.

Every Sunday that we are in town we find our way to Hillsville Elementary School 🏫 to assist Vickey Ritchie with her Carroll County Special Olympics Basketball 🏀 program. Today we were still on our way home from Durham when we pulled into the lot.

We have a really friendly young Lady 👩 that shows up most weeks and she has a Pup 🐶 named Stormy. The mental note 📝 is made that she is the friendly Lady with the Pup.

My pay for my time is always two miniature Blueberry Moon Pies but thats another story.

The next piece of the story is that this Lady is the Sister of Christy Collins Shupe. Christy and I have a couple of things in common, announcing ball games and being fans of Duke University.

Now the nickname has gotten to point of being absurd. Nice Lady with Dogs 🐕 that is Christy’s Sister. Realizing this, I broke down and asked Vickey her name. The answer was Stephanie.

Fast Forward to the moment were I go to introduce Linda to Stephanie. It went something like this – Honey, this is Stephanie, she is just like her Sister, always pleasant and always with a smile on her 🙎‍♀️.

Stephanie tried her best to keep a straight face and then replied – you can’t possibly be talking about my Sister…………….

Now that the light hearted moment is out of the way, its time to unpack and then get to the rest of what’s in the Inbox 📥……

Please check out Vickey’s Facebook page for pictures 📷 from today’s event!

Good morning!

I was encouraged by a mutual friend, Beth Bouldin, to reach out and provide you with updates regarding the CCHS JROTC Raider team.

The CCHS JROTC Raider teams compete at the Varsity level against all-Male and Co-Ed teams across the US Army JROTC 4th Brigade (6 states -VA, SC, NC, WV, MD and DE – as well as DC). These young men and women compete in events that simulate real-world scenarios our soldiers face everyday with serving our country. Events include 5k (over-terrain run), Litter Carry (simulated casualty transport through various obstacles), TPFC (Team Physical Fitness Challenge), Rope Bridge (simulated over-water transport), then the 5th event can vary between Humvee Pull, Fireman’s Carry, and a Logistics Course (transporting supplies through various obstacles.)

Yesterday, the CCHS Raiders competed in the first event of the year in Roxboro, NC and placed 1st place overall in the Male division as well as 1st place overall in the Co-Ed division. Their next competition is in Pilot Mountain, NC on 10/5/24. The Male team then moves on to compete at the US Army JROTC Raider Nationals in Fort Knox, KY 10/25-10/26, having earned the spot by placing 2nd overall at the 4th Brigade Best of the Best competition in Chesterfield, VA last May. Best of the Best is the top 15+ teams from across the entire 4th Brigade, competing for a spot at Nationals.

If you would like to share, please feel free! These young men and women work hard to be competitive in the 4th Brigade, against schools much larger than ours and with a lot more resources at their disposal!

Thank You Beth and Thank You Marietta !

Here are the words that were attached to the two photos 📷 last night 🌙

” I know you like to follow our kids in their college careers. Maddie Spencer is performing with the Emory & Henry marching band as a freshman color guard member. E&H had a win today against Bluefield State. 40-13.”

Mrs. Dalton is the one I refer to as the brains 🧠 of our operation and I will happily admit she has 50 IQ points on me. Kris Richardson says don’t kidd yourself, its more like 75!

When we had our very first conversation at about our goals a while back, Shannon took the time to read through the site a bit to see 👀 that were not trying to do hard core reporting here but simply be uplifting to as many of our own as possible.

Maddie Spencer is out in the World 🌎 representing herself, her family 👪 and our Community. We truly appreciate 🙏 her for that and we Love the Lady 👩 that took the time to bring it to our attention ❤.

We could call our work with Mrs.D, Smart & Not so Much. Know this about both of us, we care about our Youth !

Miss Spencer, Thank You for your efforts !