OF NEW RIVER SATURDAY January 2, 2016 newrivervalley.roanoke.com BLACKSBURG CHRISTIANSBURG RADFORD PULASKI COUNTY MONTGOMERY COUNTY Re Photos by MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times Sharon Scott, executive director of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, is launching a new regional marketing campaign in 2016, with the motto "All In." Montgomery County Chamber continues its recovery The organization has gained members and improved its finances. By Robby Korth robby.korth@roanoke.com 381-1679 CHRISTIANSBURG The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, which has worked to rebuild after troubles with its former leader, has improved its finances and gained members in 2015, CHAMBER according to the organization's director. The chamber reduced its debt to less than half of what it had been, increased its community visibility and will soon have new relocation packets for potential new residents that hadn't been updated since 2008, chamber Executive Director Sharon Scott said. Membership has also increased from 660 at the beginning of 2015 to 694 currently. The chamber is climbing toward its goal of getting about half the businesses in Montgomery County about 1,300 to join, according to Scott.
It's a far cry from the state of the chamber in 2010, when its former president CAME Or COMRAdE Al 4 The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, located in Christiansburg, has seen growth over the past year, after five years of rebuilding its reputation and finances following the 2010 conviction of its former leader on embezzlement charges. Complaints County's schools ALL IN MORE INSIDE Montgomery Chamber to welcome Coach Fuente, staff at a breakfast Jan. 8. Page 2 and chief executive officer, Shane Adams, was arrested and eventually convicted on several counts of embezzlement. Adams had been fired from his job in 2009.
Adams' actions led Christiansburg, Blacksburg and Montgomery County to pull funding from the Montgomery Tourism Development Council, which had been running its operations through See CHAMBER, 2 CHAMBER COMMERCE Business membership in the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce has increased from 660 at the beginning of 2015 to 694 in December. The chamber is progressing in its goal of getting about half the businesses in Montgomery County about 1,300 to join. continue about Floyd superintendent tation with Harris at an the months that followed August track meet became the track meet, Floyd resia rallying point for critics. dents came to school board Neukirch's story of confronting Harris about coaching changes, then having sheriff's deputies arrive at his house to deliver a warning from the superintendent that he wouldn't be allowed on school property if he did it again, sparked an outcry. "We were concerned about this pattern' of behavior.
I must have had a dozen or 15 people come and tell me a Dr. Harris story," Neukirch said. In VALLEY THE ROANOKE TIMES FLOYD COUNTY GILES COUNTY Today Christiansburg Barnes Noble Storytime: "Lady Pancake Sir French Toast" Enjoy the funniest "food fight" story ever. Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have a beautiful friendship until they discover that there's only one drop of maple syrup left. Join us to see who will enjoy the sweet taste of victory.
Activities to follow. When: 11 to 11:30 a.m. Where: Barnes Noble, 110 Conston Christiansburg Cost: Free Contact: 381-4923 Americana Afternoons at The Floyd Country Store Noon: Small Town Renegades; 1:15 p.m.: Blue Ridge Arrangement. Good food! When: Noon to 3 p.m. Where: Floyd Country Store, 206 S.
Locust Floyd Cost: No cover Contact: David Cannaday, 745-4563 Dayspring Christian Academy 2016 Alumni Event All alumni, families, teachers and staff are invited to Dayspring's annual alumni event. Enjoy a varsity boys' basketball game versus Oak Level (alumni get in free), including a half -court shooting contest and an informal alumni pickup game. Refreshments will be served in Room 104 for all to enjoy while visiting. Stop by and catch up with old friends. When: 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: Dayspring Christian Academy, 505 Clay Blacksburg Cost: Free Contact: 552-7777 Highway South Live music. When: 6 to 8 p.m. Where: Wildwood Farms General Store, 2380 Floyd Highway Floyd Cost: No cover Contact: 745-5155 Ed Bridge John Hassler at India Garden Classical guitar duets featuring works by Bach, Handel, Schubert and many other composers. When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Where: India Garden Restaurant, 210 Prices Fork Road, Suite Blacksburg Cost: No cover; tips for musicians are suggested Contact: 951-5100 Sunday Sunday Music Jam at The Floyd Country Store Open old-time and bluegrass jams every Sunday afternoon.
Bring your instrument and join in or just come and enjoy the music. Old-time 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Bluegrass 4 to 6 p.m. When: 1:30 to 6 p.m. Where: Floyd Country Store, 206 S.
Locust Floyd Cost: No cover Contact: floydcountrystore.com, 745- 4563 Music Jam All pickers welcome. When: 2 to 4:30 p.m. Where: Wildwood Farms General Store, 2380 Floyd Highway Floyd Cost: No cover Contact: 745-5155 Open Mic Night at Dogtown Roadhouse Come share your musical talent or come to listen. Musicians wishing to perform should arrive early to sign up. Each gets three songs.
PA system and sound man are provided, but if your instrument needs an amplifier, please bring it. When: 7 to 10 p.m. Where: Dogtown Roadhouse, 302 S. Locust Floyd Cost: No cover Contact: Rick Hall, net School board members can't agree on how to assess school employee morale. By Mike Gangloff mike.gangloff@roanoke.com 381-1669 FLOYD Floyd County's schools superintendent is welcome again at the meetings of county supervisors after being banned for most of last year due to angry outbursts, the supervisors' chairman said recently.
But parents who launched an autumn of discontent in the small school system say they are still seeking Superintendent Kevin Harris' removal. A school board debate about whether to conduct a survey that might gauge Harris' leadership style is scheduled to resume as soon as a new school board member takes her seat. "This whole thing. has been such an ongoing saga," said Rob Neukirch, the parent whose confron- and supervisors' meetings to ask for Harris' firing, accusing him of pressuring a popular track coach to quit and creating an atmosphere of intimidation in the school system. Harris did not reply to emails and phone.
messages left over weeks seeking comment for this story. None of the five members of Floyd County's school board responded to emails See SCHOOLS, 2 Kevin Harris Kevin Harris.
