THE VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEER

 

On-Line Edition

Buchanan County's Family Newspaper Since 1922

Thursday, October 12,  2006

Home
Subhome

News

Sports

Mountain Market Classifieds

Obituaries

Good Old Days

Reunions

Contact Us

online edition FRONT PAGE - page one

FREE Classified Ads
in the
Mountain Market!
(regular and online editions)
(must qualify)

Mountaineer Message Center:

* Thank you for reading.
















Advertise With the Virginia Mountaineer Today!

 

 







 

 

 

 

 

 

    Whitewater Fun!
The 2006 whitewater rafting season got underway Saturday on the Russell Fork River as whitewater releases began occurring for the fall season. In the top photo, rafters make their way down the river at Bartlick, just below where Bartlick and the Spillway meet. At left, three rafts make their way down the river through the mountain headed toward the Garden Hole and the gorge. Whitewater released are planned the remaining weekends of October and are expected to draw a number of rafters and kayakers as the fall colors peak in the coming weeks. 
(Staff photos/Mike Stiltner.)

Methadone Clinics Target of Ordinance
Hour-Long Hearing Ends With New Law Making It Harder to Locate in County

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor 
  An ordinance restricting any future location of methadone clinics in Buchanan County was agreed to last Thursday during a meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
  The action to adopt the ordinance followed an hour-long public hearing on the topic.
  The ordinance imposes specific requirements on anyone seeking to locate such a clinic in the county related to documenting need, site suitability and more.
  In fact, at present, under the terms of the ordinance, there is no location in Buchanan County which would qualify as eligible for a local license.
  Specifically, the ordinance states that in addition to a variety of other factors, the site proposed for the location of a clinic must be within 1,000 feet of a medical facility providing emergency medical treatment, which County Attorney Mickey McGlothlin defined as a full-fledged hospital emergency room. However, the ordinance further stipulates any proposed clinic could not be located within one half mile of a daycare center or school.
  In Buchanan County, the only hospital emergency room is at Buchanan General, however the hospital's proximity to Grundy High School would rule out that area as any methadone clinic location in the event anyone ever applied with a proposed site in that area.
  Board members and McGlothlin stressed Thursday that there is no one currently proposing or asking to locate a clinic in the county.
  Some members of the public appeared confused about the purpose of the ordinance at the start, telling board members the bottom line was the community did not want a methadone clinic located within the county's borders. They added they thought that was made plain several years ago when a proposed clinic location in the county was halted.
  "The purpose of this ordinance is to regulate it and to make sure we have full control over what happens before anyone ever applies or attempts to get one," South Grundy Chairman Roger Rife explained.
  "When they attempt it . . .  just say no," said Ray Davis. "The only thing you gotta do is say no."
  Davis and other speakers at the hearing suggested there were enough drugs already in the county without more coming in.
  "We don't need no bootlegging pain killers," Davis added.
  Several speakers expressed concern about the safety of driving in the vicinity of methadone clinics and other locations where it appears drugs are present.
  "You can't drive on account of these drugs," Davis said. "You can tell where these drug places are by the traffic count."
  After listening to some of the comments at the public hearing, McGlothlin spoke up, adding there was apparently some misunderstanding about the reason for the ordinance and he clarified again, "this is not an ordinance to set up or to try to get or bring one (a methadone clinic) into Buchanan County. The ordinance regulates how, if someone wanted to open one . . . how they would have to go about doing it. At this point, the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors has no power to just say 'no' if someone wanted to put one in. There is no zoning to zone out methadone clinics, but this ordinance imposes additional law on anyone wanting to bring it in."
  McGlothlin noted the Buchanan ordinance is based on one adopted by Russell County.
  "Instead of making it easier (to locate a methadone clinic in the county), it will make it much more difficult to have one," McGlothlin explained.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.


Remote Area Medical Event This Weekend at Riverview

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
  The doctor is free this weekend as the fourth annual Remote Area Medical (RAM) Expedition gets underway at Riverview Elementary-Middle School, October 14 and 15.
  Free medical check-ups will be offered to the uninsured, underinsured, unemployed and those unable to afford health care and will provide adults and children with free dental cleanings, fillings and extractions; eye exams and prescription eye glasses; and hearing exams.
  Physicals, cancer screenings, immunizations for children, blood work and pulmonary functions will also be performed. Those with diabetes, or who are in need of medical aid will be assisted.
  Mammograms, pap smears and breast and pelvic exams will be offered, as well.
  Registration will begin at 6 a.m. daily.
  Services will be rendered on a first come, first serve basis.
  Services will be provided by volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists, ophthalmologists, optometrists, dental hygienists, nurse practitioners and other trained health care professionals.
  The Lions Club Mobile Screening units will be on hand to assist with eye exams.
  "Last year we had 463 volunteers and this year, with area schools increasing their numbers, we expect to have over 600 volunteers," said Frannie Minton, one of the organizers of the Buchanan County event.
  "We still need volunteers and anything anybody can donate . . . from a box of Nabs to six-packs of coke," said Sandy Stiltner, another RAM organizer.
  Volunteers are expected to be local and regional, as well as those from throughout the United States. It is the volunteers, both Stiltner and Minton said, who make the RAM event possible.
  "The people coming don't have to come and volunteer, but they give their time to serve the people," Minton said.
  Stiltner noted that residents thinking about volunteering need to remember that if they can't volunteer all day on one of the two days the event is being held, whatever amount of time they give will be appreciated.
  "Give us one hour . . . give us 10 hours; it's all very greatly appreciated," Stiltner said.
  Last year, the RAM program provided more than $237,000 in free medical and dental care to some 1,224 area residents.
  Statistics from last year's event showed 46 obtained mammograms; 480 took advantage of general medicine services; 37 had eye tests and 240 had eye tests which resulted in glasses; and 421 took advantage of dental services.
  The dental totals showed there were 1,223 extractions performed, 529 fillings, 114 cleanings and 24 exams.
  Stiltner and Minton noted that in addition to serving residents of Buchanan County, those in the surrounding counties of Southwest Virginia, Southwestern West Virginia and Southeastern Kentucky are also served.
  "We've been blessed with an outpouring of people and donations this year," Stiltner said.
  Minton agreed, adding, "we can't thank the public enough. That's what makes Buchanan County special."
  Residents attending this year's event, who will be seeking services need to remember it is first come, first serve, Minton and Stiltner said. Doctors and dentists will begin registering patients at 6 a.m. and Minton encouraged people coming to take part in the event to come prepared to wait. If it's cold, she said, dress warmly or bring a blanket and bring any food or drinks needed to to get one through the wait.
  Among the organizations participating in this yea's event include the Appalachian School of Law, the University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine,  East Tennessee State University, Southwest Virginia Community College, the University of Virginia,  Virginia Commonwealth University, Missions of Mercy, Mountain Mission School, Cumberland Plateau Health District, Buchanan General Hospital, the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce, the Grundy Woman's Club, the Grundy Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, Buchanan County Youth Inc., Virginia Dental Association, Daughters of the American Revolution, Buchanan General Hospital, Mercy Ambulance, the Virginia Department of Health, the Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens/Four County Transit, Food City,  Buchanan County Public Schools and the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
  Volunteers are asked to use the entrance marked for volunteers on the days the event is offered and further are reminded to register so an official count of volunteers may be recorded.
  "If you can't come, then send us your prayers," Minton said.
  In addition to needing volunteers on the two days the event is offered, Minton and Stiltner said volunteers are also needed on Friday afternoon (October 13) after 3 p.m. to help get things set up for Saturday morning. No  patient care will be offered on Friday.
  For more information on the RAM event, or to volunteer time, medical services or food, call Sandy Stiltner at the Buchanan County Administrator's Office (276) 935-6508 or Frannie Minton at Appalachian Family Care Center at (276) 935-2880.
  For transportation information, call Four-County Transit at (276) 935-1486.


Subscribe to the Mountaineer today and don't miss out on all the Buchanan County news!   Call 276-935-2123 or write: P.O. Box 2040, Grundy, Va., 24614-2040 to get your subscription started. Pricing information is found on the Advertising page of this site.


*  *  *  *  *  * 
ATTENTION: ASL Students, 
Parents, Community Members . . .

Keep a Lasting Memory of the
Appalachian School of Law!
Order a beautiful color photograph of 
the law school. Get details by e-mail -- 
jjcat@netscope.net


Photo Prices Are: (includes shipping)
5x7.................... $10.00
8x10...................$12.50
11x16.................$17.00  

*  *  *  *  *  *