Clinch Valley Times

05/15/2025

COMING UP at the Oxbow Center in St. Paul, VA on Friday, May 30th. 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Richard Kretz and I have been friends for years and I've seen past presentations by him. Everyone who was present enjoyed them thoroughly! The upcoming presentation will be both entertaining and educational. It's FAMILY FRIENDLY and something people of all ages will enjoy. There is no admission charge, so plan to come on out and join us :-)

05/13/2025

Our latest CVT local history article is now available for viewing by clicking this link: https://clinchvalleytimes.net/2025/05/13/dante-virginia-one-hundred-years-ago/

We value our sister community of Dante, Virginia and we especially value its people. No matter which community we're from, we still have more in common with each other than we do with people of other regions.

© Jerry F. Couch In 1925, the community of Dante and its surrounding area were thriving. Not only was Dante Russell County’s foremost multicultural community, it also boasted Russell County& #…

05/12/2025

CHECKS might seem like something from the past, but scammers often use fake checks in their crimes so they can exploit the time it takes for them to bounce. During that waiting period, scammers will ask you to act on those funds. But once the check bounces, any amount you acted on is gone. This tactic shows up in several scam types from fake job and work-from-home scams (the fake check is to purchase equipment from the “employer” or for you to wire or otherwise send funds to “vendors”), to a seemingly innocent overpayment you received where you’re asked to send part of the money back.

It’s important to know that, just because the check looks like it cleared, it doesn’t mean it has – it can take time for a bank to validate a check, but the federal rules are to make the amount available, usually within 24-48 hours. Use caution when accepting a check: ensure it is validated by your bank and reject seeming overpayments where you’re asked to pay back the overage to the sender.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop it.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork

05/12/2025

PIECEING TOGETHER a list of businesses once located in what we refer to as "Old Castlewood" is not an easy task. There isn't much of a paper trail because advertising was mostly by word of mouth, and the buildings these small businesses occupied were often rented from others. Fortunately, this little tidbit made a blip on my radar screen today. It's from the Dec. 18, 1925 edition of The Lebanon News.

The term "department store" may have been somewhat ambitious, but why not? Most dry goods stores sold a little bit of everything in those days. And if they didn't have it, they could get it for you. Also, stores would sometimes barter for payment in lieu of cash transactions.

05/08/2025

Today my friend Richard Kretz and I had lunch at one of our favorite St. Paul restaurants - Giovanni's Pizza!

I usually order either their signature Hot Ham & Cheese sub, or a pepperoni pizza. But today I opted for something different - a Philly Cheesesteak Sub. I'm glad I did. It was the best I've had since I moved back home from Richmond in 2008.

To me, Giovanni's "tastes like home."

05/07/2025

Blending soulful blues rock, New Orleans funk and jazz fusion into a style all their own, The Jason Cale Band will play Big Glades Amphitheater in downtown Wise on Saturday, May 17 at 6 PM. Full of heart and soul, their music is inspired by the fearless musical offerings of the late 60's and early 70's. The concert is free, open to the public and brought to you by the Town of Wise and the Pro-Art Association.

https://clinchvalleytimes.net/2025/05/07/blues-funk-band-live-in-downtown-wise/

The inaugural Michael Chandler Memorial Car Show will take place downtown from 4-8 PM. Main Street will be closed and food trucks Just Melt It, Kilgore’s Korner, and Engine 343 will be set up for the events. In the event of inclement weather, The Jason Cale Band performance will be moved to the Gilliam Center for the Arts Black Box Theater at UVA Wise. For more information and weather updates, please visit proartva.org.

Wise, VA – Blending soulful blues rock, New Orleans funk and jazz fusion into a style all their own, The Jason Cale Band will play Big Glades Amphitheater in downtown Wise on Saturday, May 17 at 6 …

05/05/2025

Who wouldn’t want to win thousands or even millions of dollars, or the chance to go on a luxury vacation? There are many legitimate sweepstakes and contests out there, and the idea of winning some fabulous prize can be mighty alluring. Criminals get that, and they exploit our excitement to score that big check or dream trip.

When a sweepstakes or a contest is fraudulent, there is often a big red flag: you must first pay upfront fees or taxes to get your prize. No legitimate sweepstakes or contest requires upfront payment. Another clue is if you are asked to share sensitive information to receive your prize, such as your Social Security number or bank account information. Again, this is something perpetrators do, not legitimate entities.

If you find yourself reacting to an out-of-the-blue communication with a heightened emotion, and it comes to you with great urgency, let that be an indicator or a fraud attempt. Take an “active pause” – consider what you are being confronted with, what you might know about it, and then react with intention. That moment of deliberation could be what keeps you safe.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

05/05/2025

Coming up on June 8, 2025...click the link to read all about it.

DURING ITS YEARS OF OPERATION, Eastern Isles, a garment factory that was once located in Richlands, Virgnia, employed hundreds of people. On Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. former Eastern Isles e…

04/28/2025

SEVERAL SCAMS rely on convincing the target to deposit a check as a first step of the crime. They then convince the target to use the money in a specific way. For example, in some work-from-home scams, the “company” will send a check for deposit, and then once it “clears”, they direct the target to purchase needed office equipment from the company’s “catalogue”.

The catch? The check was fake and it bounced, and the equipment catalogue was fake, too. The money the target spent on “equipment” came from their own money. And, the equipment never comes.

Even though a check deposit may appear to be cleared on your banking app or website, the process can take several weeks. The criminals rely on most of us not knowing this, so they get us to deposit and then quickly transact against the deposit. When the check is determined to be fake, the target is out that money.

Be suspicious anytime someone wants to send a check that you then must act on with some immediacy – making purchases, paying a fee or sending funds to a third party for example.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop it.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

04/25/2025

HUDDLE HOUSE IN ST. PAUL, VA is now open from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. for your dining pleasure. If you're an Appalachian, you know that breakfast is a meal that's good anytime. Pictured here is the Huddle House signature MVP Breakfast I enjoyed last week. Looking at it makes me want another one :-)

Huddle House has some new menu items, and the friendly staff will be happy to tell you about. them. It's also the only eating establishment in St. Paul that's reminiscent of "The Good Old Days" you read about in the Clinch Valley Times. The red Formica countertops...the stools at the counter...the griddle behind the counter. Best of all, the food is cooked after you place your order. It's almost like being at the Lyric Shoppe or Molinary's!

And YES, that's Wayne Hamilton's red Dodge truck parked beside "The Lone Ranger" out front.

04/24/2025

DO YOU LIKE CHOCOLATE FUDGE? For years, my mother (Tommie Couch) used the recipe you see here. Your mother probably did so as well. I used this recipe today for the first time in MANY years, and it tasted like "the good old days."

Most of the time, my mother made cocoa fudge, which is tricky. About 1/3 of the time, it turns out great. Other times, you either have to eat it with a spoon (no problem!), or it's dry and grainy. The marshmallow creme recipe delivers the most reliable results.

If you give it a try, tell us what you think.

04/22/2025

Known for his seamless blend of jazz, hip-hop, R&B and gospel, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, composer and genre-defying artist Julius Rodriguez will take the stage for an unforgettable performance on Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. in the Gilliam Center for the Arts Black Box Theater at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Read more at https://clinchvalleytimes.net/2025/04/22/julius-rodriguez-brings-genre-bending-brilliance-to-uva-wise/

Rodriguez will perform alongside saxophonist Emilio Modeste, bassist Brandon Rose and drummer Jaylen Petinaud. The concert is free, open to the public and brought to you by the Pro-Art Association in partnership with UVA Wise. A Q&A will follow the performance. Reservations are encouraged as venue seating is limited. For more information and to make reservations, please visit proartva.org.

Wise, VA – Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, composer and genre-defying artist Julius Rodriguez is set to take the stage for an unforgettable performance on Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. in the Gilliam …