Today at The Carroll News, we solidified the role that David Broyles will play in our September 13th gathering at Cavalier Park ! The obvious question is why should you care about this and the answer my Friends, comes straight from the desk of Vickey Ritchie.

Vickey Ritchie is the Gate Keeper for our Special Olympics Basketball 🏀 in Carroll County, Virginia. More often than not, Vickey sets up a Sunday afternoon practice at the Hillsville Elementary School and proceeds to do two things.

First, she does everything she can to get the word out about what we call the 5 topics – Who, What, When, Why and How. The goal is to make everyone feel that they are invited to attend and there is no cost.

Second and more importantly, Vickey finds a role for EVERYONE who comes through the Gym door 🚪. We call this part, Inclusion and it is quite possibly the Greatest Gift in the Toolbox 🧰 that Vickey carries around.

  Now that we have done our best to spread the word in regards to inviting people to Cavalier Park on September 13th at Noon, its time to move on to Phase 2. Finding a role for anyone who wants to be a part of the festivities is easy enough, especially when folks let you know they are interested in participating.

David Broyles is a big part of our Community and has made himself available a number of times over the years when we were putting something together. This time will be no different as we are thrilled to find him a staring role!

The operation budget for the Gala is $26.00 and we are thrilled to add Plucky to the cast. Bonus is we landed him for just .12cents, as he knows that both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning deferred Big Bucks in hopes of their teams landing more talent around them.

Welcome 🙏 to the Show, David and Thanks for leaving some money 💰 for us to land some Bigger Fish 🐟 down the road. Who are we kidding, David is us what Jaws was to Shark 🦈 movies 🎥.

  Everyone needs to have people in their lives that bring a smile 😃 to their face and one of those people who fits in that category for me is Velvet Creed Leonard!

Velvet stays as busy as the day is long and with the Wedding 💒 plans ongoing its has her going full throttle. But she still found a few minutes to brighten a Day.

Here is the Link :

https://www.pmg-va.com/nester-added-to-cchs-wall-of-fame/article_91c65e6b-cacd-5141-acb2-799bcf632fdf.html

Anytime there’s a story about someone who is from Laurel Fork and it includes Positivity, I can’t wait to share it. We are closing out Year 5 out here in our little Hamlet and its now part of the story.

Daniel Nester and I have only crossed paths one time to my knowledge. It was the night of our third annual Banquet back in 2024. The exchange was a brief one but it left an impression just the same.

In my search for information about Doug Saunders, it led me to this story about another Laurel Fork resident who has made it and understands the Big Picture !

  I am going to give credit to this young Man’s Mother 👩 for raising him well !

Carroll County High School 🏫 was still in its first decade of existence when Doug Saunders captured the State Championship in the 119 weight class for the Cavaliers.

Doug Saunders was just getting started on his journey with success on the Wrestling mat when he attended High School 🏫. Proof of that is found in the Carroll County High School Wall of Fame as Saunders is enshrined there for his efforts after he left The Hill.

  It wasn’t until a recent visit to the Carroll County Wrestling room that I was aware of the accomplishments of Mr Saunders. The timing is very fitting in that my current work is focused on 2015 when the Lady Cavaliers Softball team captured the initial ” Team ” State Championship in the schools history.

  Coach Long is chasing his goals for his now two Wrestling teams ( Boys and Girls) in a manner that is worthy of appreciation. Does it still matter that almost 50 years ago, CCHS was home to a Student Athlete that brought glory to the Cavalier community ? Or does next level success come with an expiration date ?

The questions are free flowing, from what was the drive inside of Saunders during his Wrestling days at Carroll County and later Chowan ? What was the Olympic trails like back then ? What words of wisdom would Saunders offer a young Boy or Girl who is trying hard to Wrestle at the High School level ?