393 Acres Burn in County; Arson Suspected in Several
Lack of Rain, Low Humidity, Wind Contribute to Quick Spread

by Scotty Wampler
Staff Reporter
  Arson is being blamed for recent fires in Buchanan County that have burned 303 acres of land.
  The local fires were part of a rash of burnings around the region that saw hundreds of acres set ablaze primarily in the counties of Buchanan, Lee and Scott, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.
  In addition to the cases of arson in Buchanan County, 90 more acres have accidentally been burned since the beginning of the month.
  The arson fires were reported at Home Creek (50 acres), Smith Branch (12 acres), White Mountain (5 acres), and Spruce Pine (236 acres), according to county Forest Warden David Tolliver.
  Accidental burnings occurred at Hobbs Branch (10 acres, debris burning), Brushy (40 acres, juvenile) Smith Branch (10 acres, tree on power line) and Motts Branch (30 acres, equipment use).
  Forestry officials said a lack of rain, low humidity and high winds contributed to the quick spread of the arson fires.
  “Any time a wildfire is set, it can cause unbelievable destruction to land, trees and homes and endanger lives,” said Ed Stoots, VDOF’s regional forester in Abingdon. “In addition, when we are working an arson fire, the fire fighters and their equipment are not available to suppress other wildland fires. This puts more people and their property at risk.”
  Woods arson is felony in Virginia and, when convicted, the guilty person could serve up to five years in prison, pay a fine of $2,500 and be liable for the cost of suppressing the fire.
  "We need the public's help to catch the people who set the woods on fire,” Stoots said. “Please call your local Forestry Department or Sheriff’s office with any information no matter how insignificant you might feel it is. Your information may be just the piece of the puzzle that helps us put an end to these criminal acts.”
  State Forestry officials are also concerned about a 34 percent increase in acres burned statewide compared to the same period last year. Since January, a total of 5,010 acres have burned this year compared to 3,732 in 2006.
  "If the trend continues, we could be in for another tough year," said John Miller, VDOF director of resource protection. "While we've seen a 12 percent decrease in the number of fires over this time last year, a 34 percent increase in the number of acres burned is something that concerns us."
  In addition, the fires are threatening more homes and other structures. VDOF records show that firefighters have already protected 41 percent more homes and 112 percent more other structures (such as garages, sheds, barns) than this time last year.

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Food City Founder Jack Smith Dies at 81

  Food City Founder and Chairman Jack C. Smith was remembered last week as a man of "great vision and wisdom."
  Smith, 81, died last Thursday at his home in Abingdon following a brief illness.
  The only child of Buchanan County natives Curtis and Elizabeth Belcher Smith, Jack Smith was a 1942 graduate of Grundy High School and in 1944 was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by U.S. Congressman John Flannagan. Due to the end of World War II, he graduated the Naval Academy three years later in June 1947, earning a degree in electrical engineering.
  He married Jewell Garland Smith in September 1947 and served seven years active duty in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Panama and San Diego, Calif. He returned to his hometown of Grundy in 1954 and opened his first 8,800 square foot Piggly Wiggly store in 1955 with the help of his father, Curtis; his uncle, Earl Smith; and cousin, Ernest Smith.
  It was with that store opening that the foundation was laid for what one day would become the K-VA-T Food Stores chain. The letters represent the three states -- Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee -- in which the company has operations.
  Smith served as Food City's chief executive office until passing the torch to his son, Steven C. Smith in 2001.
  "As luck would have it, my mother sent me to the store for her one day," Jack Smith said recently in telling the story of how K-VA-T first got started. "It was a a small A&P with only two checkouts and one of those was always closed. I collected the groceries I needed and then had to stand in line at the checkout 45 minutes. When I returned home, I informed my family I had found my calling as the town was in need of a good supermarket."
  He opened the first in Grundy and then in 1963, Smith added a second store in South Williamson, Ky., followed by a newly constructed third store location in Pikeville, Ky., in 1965 and a store in Prestonsburg, Ky., in 1967. Through the years, the company continued to grow, acquiring Quality Foods, a 19-store chain in 1984 and adopting the Food City name there. In 1986, the company acquired 37 White Stores; and in 1998, added 11 Kennedy Piggly Wiggly locations. Seven Winn-Dixie stores joined the company in 1999; and in 2006, eight Bi-Lo locations were added to the store chain.
  Now headquartered in Abingdon, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. operates 95 Food City and Super Dollar supermarkets throughout the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. The company also operates its own 1.2 million square foot distribution center and water bottling facility, Misty Mountain Spring Water, LLC.
  "Jack Smith was a man of great vision and possessed great wisdom," said Jessee Lewis, Food City chief operations officer and senior vice president. "His wisdom and vision kept our company on the cutting edge of use of technology and change in the fast-paced, ever changing food industry. He lead the leaders, taught the teachers and trained the trainers. In addition to being a very wise businessman, he was also a true patriot. He loved the United States of America and was a firm believer in the free enterprise system."
  Smith's strong sense of community involvement was evident in the organizations he and Food City supported.
  Smith received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Tennessee Grocer's prestigious 1996 Grocer of the Year Award.
  He served on various boards including the Federal Reserve Board of Richmond, Virginia Food Dealers Association Board of Directors where he served as president in 1981; president of the National Piggly Wiggly Operations Association in 1969; and past president and member of the Grundy Rotary Club. He was also a long-time member of the National Grocers Association, where he received the 2002 Clarence G. Adamy "Great American" Award, declaring Smith, "a man of many accomplishments and a true gentleman. A pioneer and entrepreneur, providing the foundation and vision to grow Food City from a small neighborhood grocery story to a modern community supermarket leader.
  Funeral services for Smith were held Monday. Farris Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements.

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