Joe Tennis

2 weeks ago | heraldcourier.com | Joe Tennis

Somewhere along the way, in the age of lent, you need to stand up and say thank you. Like paying attention to that special teacher you had in school. Maybe there was one who encouraged you to be a nurse or even another teacher. I had one in 11th grade, a teacher who loved a particular essay I wrote about the crabber who lived next door to me when I was growing up in the 1980s in the backwaters of the Elizabeth River in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

3 weeks ago | heraldcourier.com | Joe Tennis

Members of the Washington County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Thursday to reduce the county property tax rate to $.43 per $100 of assessed value. The new rate is one penny lower than what County Administrator Jason Berry had recommended Tuesday would be needed for a balanced budget during the next fiscal year. That once cent equals $655,000. The vote came during a Thursday called meeting, following a motion by Supervisor Dwayne Ball.

3 weeks ago | heraldcourier.com | Joe Tennis

All kinds of arts and activities are coming up in Abingdon, Virginia, over the next couple of weeks. And, while we’re on the subject of art, longtime arts promoter Ben Jennings wants you to know about the winners of the Arts Alliance Mountain Empire’s annual arts achievement awards: Nancy Fischman, Joyce Kistner, Kem Naegele, Derek Smith, and Barbara and Jim Street.

4 weeks ago | heraldcourier.com | Joe Tennis

Work began on assessing the upcoming fiscal year budget on Monday by the Washington County Board of Supervisors. “We’re getting ready to start what we call March Madness,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Randy Pennngton said at Monday’s meeting in Abigndon, Virginia. This proposed $201 million budget for the next fiscal year does not contain contingency funds — or “rainy day money” – for unexpected expenses that may be faced by the Board of Supervisors, County Administrator Jason Berry said.

1 month ago | heraldcourier.com | Joe Tennis

All it took was one guitar to change the life of young Carl Wayne Meekins. Growing up in Chesapeake, Virginia, Meekins was inspired to play music because his dad was in a band. And then, as a kid, he saw Elvis Presley on television, just a few days after Presley died on August 16, 1977. Along the way, Meekins learned a strong work ethic, delivering both morning and afternoon newspapers. Now, at 53, this Virginia native goes by Gary Wayne.