Clinch Valley Times

05/08/2026

COMING UP AT UVA WISE - Another fine live musical performance brought to you by Pro-Art. For complete details, click this link: https://clinchvalleytimes.net/2026/05/08/garth-newel-piano-quartet-to-perform-at-uva-wise/

The best, as always!

Wise, VA – The Garth Newel Piano Quartet is known for their spirited and impassioned performances that offer an enlivened interpretation of both standard and new repertoire. Pro-Art and the Univers…

05/05/2026

MY ANNUAL SPRING CLEANING of the St. Paul, Virginia Railroad Museum is now complete. Due to an issue with the building's water supply, I'm opening the museum a little later than in previous years. The Town of St. Paul's maintenance crew have now completed their repairs, so I'll be at the museum this coming Sunday (May 10, 2026). I'll be bringing my computer along, which means you can see old photos from the Clinch Valley Times archives and the St. Paul Heritage Collection. Weather permitting, we can also sit on the museum's front porch and talk about "the good old days."

Jerry Couch

05/04/2026

AARP FRAUD ALERT - A Big Win, or a Big Red Flag?

Reports of sweepstakes scams to the AARP Fraud Watch Network™ Helpline are on the rise. The prospect of a big financial windfall or amazing vacation plays on our emotions. Criminals count on our excitement to deceive us into paying a fee or divulging sensitive information.

Know that no legitimate sweepstakes or contest requires payment in advance or sharing your Social Security number or bank account details.

If an unexpected message sparks strong emotions and demands urgency, treat it as a potential fraud attempt. Take an “active pause”—an intentional step back to consider the scenario and reflect on what you might know about it. That moment could lead you to recognize the scam and protect yourself and your assets.

Learn how to spot and avoid scams with AARP Fraud Watch Network™. Suspect a scam? Call our free helpline at 877-908-3360 and talk to one of our fraud specialists about what to do next.

With about 1 million members in Virginia, AARP is the largest organization working on behalf of people age 50-plus and their families in the Commonwealth. To learn more about how AARP Virginia is working in your community, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aarpvirginia and follow on X at www.X.com/aarpva.

05/03/2026

REMEMBERING the great food served at Frosty Bossie all those years! Do you miss it?

05/03/2026

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION was submitted to the CVT by Scott Chafin on 05/02/2026:

Castlewood Middle School boys baseball team finished out a successful season with a victory versus district rival Rye Cove Eagles 16-6. Ben Chafin got the win in relief for the Devils striking out 6 while giving up only 2 hits.

The team was led in hitting by Devin Phillips, Salem Hall, Hank Summers, Kingston Holley and Ben Chafin who all had multiple hits, RBI's, stolen bases and runs scored on the day.

Team members on the season included:

Devin Phillips, Salem Hall, Hank Summers, Kingston Holley, Ben Chafin, Rylee Stacy, Aiden Kiser, Malachi Milan, Braden Compton, Daylan Phillips, Thomas Sigmon and Logan Carter.

Coaches: Rodney Neece and McKinley Dale

05/03/2026

THE ST. PAUL LIONS CLUB defined community service in our area during its long run. The club's annual minstrel shows in the 1950's and 1960's are remembered by many, and the money they raised was used to help local people. I hope to publish an article about the minstrel shows (compete with photos) sometime this summer.

05/03/2026

SOME DANTE HISTORY from the CVT's archives. Take note of the youthful onlookers on the hillside behind the drill team :-)

04/30/2026

APRIL 30, 2026 - - - Criminals steal billions by promoting fake investment opportunities that promise quick, guaranteed, or low‑risk returns. They may sound professional and convincing, but they exist for one reason: to steal your money.

Scammers often reach victims through seemingly errant text messages or on social media and dating platforms. Many build trust over time before the “investment opportunity” arises. But the opportunity is fake, and when you try to withdraw your gains, they invent fees, taxes or technical problems—then disappear altogether.

As exciting as a new investment opportunity sounds, this is high-risk territory, and the financial consequences can be life-altering. Always research the investment and the person offering it. You can find great resources at SEC’s investor.gov website as well as FINRA’s brokercheck.gov tool. Scammers rely on targets acting with emotion rather than logic – this is from their playbook.

Learn how to spot and avoid scams with AARP Fraud Watch Network™. Suspect a scam? Call our free helpline at 877-908-3360 and talk to one of our fraud specialists about what to do next

With about 1 million members in Virginia, AARP is the largest organization working on behalf of people age 50-plus and their families in the Commonwealth. To learn more about how AARP Virginia is working in your community, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aarpvirginia and follow on X at www.X.com/aarpva.

04/26/2026

THE YOUNGSTERS IN THIS 1987 CVT PHOTO were obviously excited by their new adventure - Kindergarten at Copper Creek Elementary School. Were you one of them?

04/25/2026

ONE OF MY ST. PAUL HISTORY ARTICLES written and published in the printed edition of the Clinch Valley Times several years ago: https://sphistory.wordpress.com/articles/gin-gera-bottling-company/ It's on my St. Paul history website - click the embedded link to read it - and see more pictures.

Can you imagine a world without carbonated soft drinks? Carbonated soft drinks, sometimes called “phosphates”, became popular in the late 1800’s following the widespread commercial availability of …

04/25/2026

TODAY'S VINTAGE PHOTO from the CVT's archives is a reminder of family continuity in St. Paul. Robinson descendants have been part of this community for generations.