● OBITUARIES Page 4 ● SPORTS Page 6 ● ON THE TRAIL Page 9 ● POST SCRIPTS Page 9 ● CLASSIFIEDS Page 12 Thursday, February 2, 2017 On The Trail 9 Museum announces Festival of Trees winners. VOLUME 127, NUMBER 5 14 PAGES USPS 4395401 $1.00 Big Stone Gap, Virginia Two arrests result in meth charges against five people Two separate arrests recently for after Lee deputies discovered a meth lab alleged manufacture of methamphetamine at the 274 Sherman Crouse Drive address, have resulted in five people being held at the sheriff’s office said. the Duffield regional jail. Parsons said his office received a call The Lee County Sheriff’s Office reporting suspicious activity at 274 arrested three people with Big Stone Gap Sherman Crouse Drive just after midnight addresses on the morning of Thursday, of Thursday, Jan. 26. Deputies Sgt. J.T. Jan. 26 for allegedly manufacturing Coleman, Chris Dillman and Bob Harber methamphetamine and possession of pre- saw a man set an item outside of a win- cursors for manufacturing, Sheriff Gary dow of the residence while another man Parsons’ office said in a press release. climbed out of another window. A week earlier — on Thursday, Jan. 19 Parsons said the deputies determined — the Lee Sheriff’s Office and Virginia that the item was part of an active meth State Police served a search warrant for an lab. Officers detained Sturgill and Aimee Payne Samuel Lee Stidham Bruce Allen Sturgill illegal drug operation in the Stickleyville Stidham, then discovered Payne inside the section of Lee County, resulting in the residence. arrest of a man and woman. Following Lt. A.J. McQueen’s arrival, On Jan. 19, officers served a search Officers found an active meth-produc- The Jan. 26 search in Jasper led to the officers obtained consent to search the warrant for an illegal drug operation in the ing lab in the Dry Creek Drive residence arrests of Aimee Payne, 38, of 274 residence, discovering the rest of the lab Stickleyville community outside Duffield, and arrested 52-year-old Vickie Cantor Sherman Crouse Drive, Bruce Allen along with the chemicals to manufacture Parsons reported. The search came after and 50-year-old Johnny Cantor, Parsons Sturgill, 29, of 2217 6th Avenue, and methamphetamine, Parsons said. his office gathered information indicating said. Both were charged with manufactur- Samuel Lee Stidham, 35, of 2012 Payne, Sturgill and Stidham were held a meth lab was operating at 2350 Dry ing methamphetamine and were held Carnegie Lane. The three were arrested without bond at the Duffield regional jail. Creek Rd., Duffield. without bond at the Duffield regional jail. ‘Pink Ladies’ still demonstrate volunteer spirit Stream rule BY GLENN GANNAWAY NEWS EDITOR faces vote While times have changed, the auxiliary still has a place at BY GLENN GANNAWAY Lonesome Pine Hospital. NEWS EDITOR If it’s nothing more than a smiling Congressional face and directions, the ladies who Opponents said staff the desk just inside the main Republicans were entrance make a visit to the hospital a poised Wednesday the rule would to overturn the little bit brighter. mean job losses While the auxiliary’s membership Stream Protection has gone down, “Pink Ladies” con- Rule, a measure and higher energy issued by the tinue to demonstrate the volunteer costs as well as spirit that has been a constant in Big Obama administra- Stone Gap history and throughout the tion’s Office of putting valuable hospital’s 45-year existence. Surface Mining The LPH Pink Ladies still have Reclamation and coal reserves off about 15-18 active members on their Enforcement and limits. Ninth District roll, treasurer Patricia Bowden said. much hated by the Membership has been at about 20 for coal industry. Congressman the last five or six years, new presi- The House of Morgan Griffith dent Sallyann Dunton estimated. Representatives In the hospital’s early years, the was expected to characterized the auxiliary had a roster approaching vote Wednesday on rule as ‘costly and 100 members. “It was a big thing in a joint resolution town,” secretary Paxton Allgyer said. under the job-killing.’ “Everybody wanted to be a part of Congressional it.” Review Act. H.J. Long-time Pink Ladies include Resolution 38 would overturn the rule, saying it Virginia Meador, Inez Blevins, Betty would “have no force or effect.” The vote had not Fleenor, Kathleen Gillespie, Gladys Jones and Emma Lawson. been taken as of press time. Action by the Senate Tasks have changed, in part would follow. because of changes in patient confi- The Congressional Review Act allows dentiality rules. Previously, auxiliary Congress to overturn rules issued by federal agen- PHOTO BY GARY BUSH members had more contact with cies, if it can muster support for a joint resolution patients. of disapproval. “At one time (the auxiliary) rented New Lonesome Pine Hospital Auxiliary president Sallyann Supporters argued that the Stream Protection TVs in the rooms at hospitals, they Dunton, center, with volunteer coordinator Cindy Garrett (left) Rule would help protect waterways and ensure could go around to patients’ rooms and Shelia Barger. See Page 9 for photo of new officers. they remain a resource as the region seeks eco- and fill water pitchers . they did a nomic diversification. Opponents said the rule lot of errands transporting papers,” would mean job losses and higher energy costs as Bowden said. well as putting valuable coal reserves off limits. The comparatively small size of before and need help,” Bowden said. munity will utilize the gift shop more Ninth District Congressman Morgan Griffith has LPH means it doesn’t have multiple “Just being there is the main thing, this year. The gift shop helps support characterized the rule as “costly and job-killing.” waiting rooms that need auxiliary because a lot of these people are from the auxiliary’s annual scholarships at OSM’s analysis said the rule would improve members to assist families, Bowden out of town, or even some people Mountain Empire Community water and habitat quality “through an overall added. “We don’t have that, so our from in town who have never been College and the University of reduction in coal mining activity . because basic role is really just to kind of oper- there,” Dunton said. “I know when I Virginia’s College at Wise. “We have implementing the rule increases the cost of coal ate the gift shop and man the desk to first moved here I got lost one time. one-of-a-kind items at a very good production.” try to provide information to every- When you’ve never been someplace, price, and we’d like to get the com- The joint resolution was introduced by Ohio body and to escort them to different you just never know.” munity more involved in that,” Republican Bill Johnson. areas if they’ve never been there Dunton said she’s hoping the com- Dunton said. SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION HERE SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION Slide a reminder of mountains’ ‘dominant’ process BY GLENN ridges that border Powell books on the region’s GANNAWAY Valley. geology. The new book NEWS EDITOR Outerbridge’s map is a has a working title of visual reinforcement of Cumberland Gap: First Meeting Friday to dis- the assertion that, in these Gateway West. The two cuss and view the land- mountains and over geo- in-print books are Natural slide in Powell Valley, the logic time, slides do as Tunnel: Nature’s Marvel first thing geologist Tony much as anything to shape in Stone and The Breaks: Scales did was to share a the landscape. Or as Grand Canyon of the map that helps put the Scales told The Post for a South, both published by slide in perspective. 2011 story, in the moun- The Overmountain Press. The topographic map, tains of Southwest When The Post asked published in 1982 by geol- Virginia, “the dominant Scales to put last week’s ogist William F. land-forming process is Outerbridge, shows active the landslide.” See SLIDE, Page 2 as well as old and potential Scales, who is retired slide areas. Outerbridge’s from the Department of map identifies more than Mines, Minerals and A closer look at the 60 old slides just along the Energy, is just finishing slide, showing trees Little Stone and Powell the third of his trilogy of collected at the foot. Page 2 Thursday, February 2, 2017 The Post Big Stone Gap, Virginia Boone Interpretive Center The Scott County Economic Development Authority pro- vided this Thompson & Litton rendering of the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center in Duffield. The total cost of the project is more than $4.17 million, the EDA said, and completion is expected in January 2018. Parks attendance up; Breaks sees coal-related dip BY GLENN GANNAWAY to 163,276 in 2016. Non-paying use the coal industry, because one thing we Collaborative Theater in Elkhorn City, NEWS EDITOR increased from 115,628 to 152,260, but did see a pretty pronounced decline in Ky. to do a dinner show. That wouldn’t paying day use dropped by more than 17 was the number of people coming to do be a direct conference center rental, but State parks across Virginia enjoyed an percent, from 13,042 to 10,740. weddings, parties, meetings . At one would help with restaurant sales. overall attendance increase in 2016, with • Natural Tunnel’s attendance time we would host 12 or 13 Christmas The Breaks recognized several years a couple of local parks reflecting the increased by more than 5 percent, from parties for coal and coal-related business- ago that park user demographics were upsurge. 224,344 to 235,899.