There was no one in the Riverview Elementary-Middle School gymnasium Thursday morning who was any more surprised than was veteran teacher Kimberly Ratliff.
  When Jim Wayne Childress announced she was the winner of this year’s Thank You Foundation Apple Award, recognizing a teacher for going above and beyond the call of duty, Ratliff was busy trying to keep her class of pre-K at-risk students quiet and focused at the impromptu assembly announced Thursday morning.
  When she heard her name called out, she realized that the assembly was called in order to honor her.
  She stepped forward to accept the award and the $10,000 check which comes with it from TruPoint Bank.
  Ratliff, has been a teacher for 15 years, having started her career at J.M. Bevins Elementary in 1991. She later taught at Vansant Elementary before it was consolidated and she, like others, joined the Riverview faculty.
  REMS Principal Melanie Hibbitts, in calling the assembly to order commended students and staff for their hard work during SOL testing week and throughout the year as the 2005-2006 school years wound down to a close.
  "We are blessed to have a wonderful group of outstanding teachers," Hibbitts said, adding, "it takes a true calling to be a teacher."
  Childress made the Apple Award presentation, noting that each year, the Thank You Foundation and TruPoint team up to give the award.
  "It is a very prestigious award and I am pleased to give it today to Kimberly Ratliff," Childress announced.
  TruPoint Bank’s Ben Church presented Ratliff with the check for $10,000, noting it was both an honor and privilege for him to be a part of the awards ceremony.
  "I think all our teachers do a great job here in Buchanan County," Church said prior to the announcement being made that Ratliff was the 2006 Apple Award recipient.
  Childress noted the award recognizes the teacher who has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
  "It goes to a teacher who has put in the extra time and effort and gathered the respect and esteem of her students, classroom teachers, faculty and staff," Childress said.
  Ratliff, a Buchanan County native, is the daughter of Don and Virginia Lester, of Big Rock. She is married to Kirk Ratliff and has two children, Jessica Christian, a Pikeville College graduate and Jeremy Christian, a student at Southwest Virginia Community College.
  Ratliff, a graduate of Grundy High School and the University of Virginia at Wise, holds a master’s degree in science and education with a specialization in special education from Old Dominion University.

   While the bids opened for school system roofing repairs were within $2,056 of the estimated cost, bids received to replace furnaces were some $78,000 higher than anticipated. They were awarded, however and those repairs are expected to get underway soon.
  The bids were opened last Thursday during a continued meeting of the Buchanan County School Board and school board members accepted the low bids in hopes the board of supervisors would approve funding for them as part of a $3 million school capital improvement plan the supervisors tentatively agreed to fund at the rate of $1.5 million this year and $1.5 million in the coming fiscal year.
  The funding for the projects was approved by the board of supervisors Monday.
  Thursday’s bids put this year’s plan over by some $106,739.69 -- not including paving bids approved separately at some $326,390.42.
  The capital improvements okayed were as follows:
  • Council Elementary-Middle School: bleachers, $105,000 and gym floor, $3,250.
  • Council High: roof, $160,089; gym floor, $1,600; ad furnace, $112,137.
  • Hurley Elementary-Middle: roof, $241,775; and gym floor, $2,700.
  • Hurley High: roof, $178,539; two furnaces, $207,153; and gym floor, $2,000.
  • J.M. Bevins Elementary: roof flashing, $23,730; and gym floor, $1,600.
  • Russell Prater Elementary: roof flashing, $25,570; and gym floor, $1,600.
  • Twin Valley Elementary-Middle: bleachers, $133,000; and gym floor, $2,500.
  • Twin Valley High: gym floor, $2,650.
  • Grundy High: roof, $197,353; bleachers, $61,800; and gym floor replacement, $89,000.
  The architectural fee for the improvements is $39,698.69. Beeson & Beeson Architects, Inc., is the architectural firm used by the school system on the projects.
  Marion Roofing & General Contracting Inc. was the low bidder on the roof replacement projects.
  Architect Charles Day noted at Thursday’s school board meeting he had worked with the roofing company before adding, "they do a first class job."

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by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
    Changes to a proposed litter ordinance which will allow county litter control officers to file civil actions against those caught littering were approved Monday during a meeting of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors.
  The board had proposed allowing litter control officers, county attorneys or their designees to bring civil actions -- including claims for injunctive relief, fines, penalties, court costs and attorney fees -- against any person or entity illegally littering the roadways and streams in the county or dumping or allowing the illegal dumping of trash, debris and waste within county boundaries.
  After a few public comments, the board unanimously agreed to adopt the ordinance changes on a motion by Garden Supervisor Buddy Fuller and second by Knox Supervisor Pat Justus.
  Attorney Frank Kilgore, who sat in Monday for County Attorney Mickey McGlothlin, who was on vacation, noted a similar ordinance is used in Wise County and has been successful there.
  Cumberland Plateau Regional Recycling Coordinator Toby Edwards, who was in the audience Monday to lend his support to the ordinance change, noted there have been more than 200 illegal dumps identified in Buchanan County. He suggested the ordinance change would be a "wonderful tool to help with clean-up."
  In Wise County, some $7,000 has been collected through the assessment of fines and penalties against those caught littering or dumping illegally .
  "It sends a message," Edwards said. "It’s serious business and I commend the board for this new litter ordinance."
  County Resident Wade McNeely, who was also in Monday’s audience, noted the board needed to have a litter ordinance with teeth in it. Harold Woods said he had caught people in the act of illegally dumping their trash and asked if people were aware they’re already paying for the service and can put their trash out at curbside instead of loading it up to take it and dump it illegally.
  "You reckon it would help if you tell them they’re already paying for it?" he asked.
  He suggested the board might want to advertise the fact again that county residents already pay for garbage pickup service through an assessment on their utility bills.

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