■ WEATHER PAGE 3 ■ OBITUARIES Page 4 ■ OPINION Page 6 ■ SPORTS Page 8 ■ IN TOUCH Page 11 ■ CLASSIFIEDS Page 14 $1.00 The WEDNESDAY ■ OCTOBER 19, 2016 CLINTWOOD, VA. VOL. 34, NO. 42 USPS 684-350 Summit focuses on school funding inequities Dickenson County BY JENAY TATE ic measures to put forth in the next session that night. Sen. Bill Carrico of Galax, new Schools Superintendent of the General Assembly. chair of the kindergarten through 12th grade While some believe it is time to alter the subcommittee of the finance committee, Haydee Robinson led the WISE — School and government lead- local composite index, Kilgore warned was thinking along the same lines. Carrico crowd down a troubling ers from across the coalfields got promises against it. “I’m not certain we want to was at a K-12 retreat and couldn’t make the but familiar population of support and words of caution during an change it,” he said, but working to get more night’s summit but texted Kilgore that a Oct. 13 summit on inequities in state fund- recent information into the formula would hold-harmless approach has potential. overview, showing ing for education. be worthwhile. The data is used to determine There is state precedent for such a step, the coalfield region’s Speaking on behalf of a Southwest a locality’s ability to pay for education and is summit speakers pointed out. Virginia legislative delegation as the sum- likely two or three years old, he said. Getting Dickenson County Schools dramatic losses — mit drew to a close, Republican Del. Terry updated information is in line with one of Superintendent Haydee Robinson led the 40,000 people since 1980 Kilgore commended the ideas and priorities the ideas being proposed at the summit. crowd down a troubling but familiar popu- and 16,000 fewer people shared that night during the gathering at Holding school divisions harmless from UVa-Wise. Kilgore promised to return enrollment loss through some kind of fund- PLEASE SEE SUMMIT, PAGE 5 under age 18 since 1990. before the end of the year to discuss specif- ing protection was another idea advanced Progress continues on Ridgeview Trail system BY PAULA CULBERTSON EDITOR HAYSI — Construction of a multi-use trail system here continues on schedule, with completion still targeted by the end of fall. The Ridgeview Trail, part of the larger Spearhead Trails system, includes two separate parts going in opposite directions — one for all-terrain and off-highway vehicles and another for horses. RITA SURRATT PHOTOS Haysi resident Charlotte Mullins, chair of the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority, said in a recent interview she is pleased with the trails’ progress. A Color show groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate start of trail construction was held in May. Finishing touches are being put on the starts 8-10 mile long equestrian trail, she said. The aim is to eventually connect the trail Autumn’s showcase of to Breaks Interstate Park. colors is expected to Mullins said just as the ATV trails offer peak in the next two routes for beginner to more advanced rid- weeks. Breaks Interstate ers, the horse trail offers three different levels of difficulty. Park, above, is among The Haysi equestrian trail is the first the most popular local one the authority has tackled. Up until this spots to view fall’s point, it has constructed only ATV/OHV splendor. At right, trails. Most of the Ridgeview ATV/OHV trail kayakers on the Russell on the Haysi Kiwanis side of Route 80 is Fork River, captured here finished. That trail is expected to be from the Bartlick bridge, about 50 miles long. As of two weeks had great weather and ago, access points to the town of Haysi spectatular scenery over the weekend. PLEASE SEE TRAIL, PAGE 5 State cuts: local program affected BY JEFF LESTER potential $1.5 billion budg- PAGE 5: Also, some general fund geology positions at a • Arts. The Virginia ★ STAFF WRITER et shortfall. personnel costs in the lower pay rate. Also, a Commission for the Arts Among the local effects Statewide administrative division grant-funded energy posi- will reduce the second pay- Gov. Terry McAuliffe is the fact that pay raises overview would be covered by non- tion was eliminated and the ment on certain grants, sav- last week announced a for state employees and of cost-cutting general funds, saving money will go toward ing $151,088. variety of cost-cutting public school teachers will measures. $19,669. funding “a previously gen- According to commis- measures to cope with a be canceled. DMME spokesperson eral funded position.” sion Executive Director Other specific local nonessential vacant posi- Tarah Kesterson explained • Tourism. State fund- Margaret Vanderhye, these effects include: tions, filling positions Monday that the agency ing for the Spearhead Trails cuts are unfortunate but • Department of vacated by senior staff with will leave two vacant posi- off-highway recreational could have been much SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION HERE SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION Mines, Minerals and more junior staff and using tions in the Division of trail system in the coal- worse. Energy: McAuliffe’s plan non-general fund dollars, Mined Land Reclamation fields will be cut by 5 per- includes eliminating cutting costs by $196,441. unfilled and will fill two cent, or $15,000. SEE CUTS, PAGE 5 Caney Ridge native rediscovers value of ‘mountain medicine’ BY RODERICK MULLINS years in the Washington, D.C. and roots to concocting salve from “When I was growing up in ★ STAFF WRITER Maryland area, Zeigler has plant extract. Clintwood and you tried to take me returned home in a sense, with a Zeigler was raised on “the Four- out to the barn and show me where Growing up on Caney Ridge in move to Abingdon in Southwest Way end of Caney Ridge,” as chicory was growing and Queen Dickenson County, Cathy Virginia. many locals refer to it. She is the Anne’s lace and more, as a young Robinson Zeigler had no interest in Now she wants to share what daughter of Joe and Sharon girl, I couldn’t have cared less the “weeds” that grew around her she’s learned. But it’s not related to Robinson, who owned a story on about that,” noted Zeigler with home. her knowledge of urban living. the ridge for many years before laugh during a recent interview. Years later as an adult, though, Zeigler is actually interested in closing it and moving to the Zeigler went to college, but she would come to appreciate the sharing what she has learned of Abingdon area. Before her parents’ grew restless and uncertain as to medicinal value offered by some of about “the old ways” of mountain move, Zeigler graduated what the region’s future may hold the plants and herbs found in the medicine, how pioneers used what Clintwood High School, where she for her. The coal business and local mountains where she grew up. nature provided in the mountains was a marching band member, in After spending more than 20 to heal, from making tea from the late 1980s. SEE ZEIGLER, PAGE 4 PAGE 2 ■ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016 ■ THE DICKENSON STAR Historical society hosts Civil War Era Tea SUBMITTED BY EDITH FAYE REDDEN DICKENSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESIDENT On Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, Dickenson County Historical Society hosted a Civil War Era Tea for its members and other invited guests. Janice Busic por- trayed Mrs. Robert E. Lee. In her portrayal of General Robert E. Lee’s wife, Mrs. Busic informed our group that on that exact date 146 years ago, the funeral of Robert E. Lee was held, and he was buried in the basement of the Lee Memorial Chapel on the grounds of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. David K. Mullins Today, the Civil War period is not considered to John Jackson Fleming be a politically correct sub- Kentucky Infantry, United in Letcher County, ject for discussion in most States Union Forces Kentucky. They Marshall Mullins circumstances. However, (USA), Killen’s Home had 11 children: from an historic perspec- Guard. Jacob, Jonathan, Marshall E., tive and from the perspec- James, Henry and Andrew, Sarah, Nancy, tive of a genealogist, one cannot forget that such a war took place. Our ancestors fought on both sides. Fathers fought against sons. Brothers fought against brothers. Some fought because they volunteered. Others fought because they were forced to do so. Some deserted for reasons for which we can only speculate. Some were court-martialed. Some were prisoners. Some served for long periods of time. Others served a short time. No matter when or where they served, no mat- ter which side they served on, these men were our ancestors. They were the brave, hardy people from whom we are descended. Robert Rose Zachary Taylor Yates Most people in this area who trace their family line- Hare Bowman Any financial assistance age can and do proudly which were five of Polly, Martha, ran up and would be greatly appreciat- claim that heritage. Zachary Yates’ brothers, Isom, Lydia, started to ed. After Saturday’s inter- also served in the same Lilbourn, Harmon, Wilson Rose shoot Pa Dickenson County esting presentation, I 39th Kentucky Infantry. Wilburn, and again. But Historical Society is a non- decided to take a quick On Oct. 24, 1872, in Melissa. Their son, mother cov- profit 501(c)3 organization Kentucky. His brother, look into my family’s Civil Wise County, Virginia, Marshall E., was my pater- ered Pa’s head with her that operates on donations George Washington War history; and I came up Zachary Taylor Yates mar- nal great-great grandfather, apron and told Hare that he and volunteerism, and your Dutton, served in the with some interesting facts ried Martha Ann Vance, who married Parthena had shot her brother, Clark support through member- Union Army.