Podcasts about Giles County

Giles County's Mike Mayfield has been named state executive director for the Tennessee Farm Service Agency.  The announcement came from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins as Mayfield had served as the county executive director for 34 years before serving as state director under President Trump's first administration.

Seth Carelli is a private investigator from Covert Results. Covert Results, LLC is a licensed and insured private investigations and security company based in Tennessee, with offices in Nashville and Clarksville. They specialize in a range of services, including private investigations, armed security, cybersecurity, and training. Founded by Robert Young. Seth discusses his wildest cases ranging from cheating spouses, parent molestation allegations, being followed by suspects and murder. One specific case included a funeral director keeping child bodies to rot in a funeral home. We also discuss Josh's preparation for his first ever professional wrestling match April 12 at the Pearisburg Community Center in Giles County, VA. Seth Carelli from Covert Results: (615) 861-1680seth@covertresults.comcovertresult.com CRYPTIC HOTLINE: (590) 447-8258itscrypticoutthere@gmail.com

Initial estimates in Virginia suggest at least 200 homes were flooded across several counties, and that number will likely rise, as officials continue assessing all the damage across southwest Virginia. Roxy Todd was in Giles County, where volunteers are organizing to help people here in Virginia, and across Appalachia.

Jammie Hale moved to a rural hilltop in Southwest Virginia to get back to his family's roots. When the Mountain Valley Pipeline came through a neighboring property, he found another purpose

We hear some great stories from 3 awesome people. Matt, Amanda and Emily share their life changing stories from the Giles County Recovery Court. Special thanks to Cora Gnegy, Tourism Director & Economic Development Coordinator at Giles County, Virginia for bringing our attention to such a great program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hear some great stories from 3 awesome people. Matt, Amanda and Emily share their life changing stories from the Giles County Recovery Court. Special thanks to Cora Gnegy, Tourism Director & Economic Development Coordinator at Giles County, Virginia for bringing our attention to such a great program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy joins Keith and Mark to talk all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy joins Keith and Mark to talk all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy joins Keith and Mark to talk all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could the ticking clock on the U.S. debt ceiling bring forth an economic tempest or will political bravado yield to practicality? That's the urgent question we tackle, as I lay bare the high-stakes tug-of-war in Washington that could affect millions, including our veterans who might face VA budget cuts. We also slice through the thick air of the Kansas anti-LGBTQ legislation debate, with a personal touch provided by my cousin Josh, whose insights add depth to the discourse. Our conversation aims to cut through the layers of complexity and present straightforward solutions amidst the tumultuous climate of contemporary issues like gun control and abortion rights.The spirit of competition is alive, but so is the controversy in the world of sports, as we confront the topic of transgender athletes on the playing field. From the history of sports integration to the logistics of trans teams, we're analyzing what fairness really means when we step onto the track or the court. But the arena of sports isn't the only place where predictability reigns – I share my candid thoughts on the recent Trump Town Hall, the unwavering nature of his supporter base, and what that could spell out for the political landscape as we inch closer to 2024.Taking a step back from the frontline of current events, we delve into the interpretation of historical narratives with an eye for humility and the empathetic teaching of complex social issues. I'm looking forward to bringing more discussions to the table with Over-opinionated's Josh Scott, spotlighting the voices from Giles County, Southwest Virginia, and unpicking systemic failures like the tragic incident involving a homeless individual and a former Marine. And as we pore over Senator Diane Feinstein's Senate return and the $5 million defamation case victory against Donald Trump, we're setting the stage for a political season that promises to be as riveting as it is unpredictable. Join me, and let's navigate these waters together, seeking clarity amid the chaos of our times. Support the show

Keith and Mark are joined by Cora Gnegy to talk all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith and Mark are joined by Cora Gnegy to talk all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith and Mark are joined by Cora Gnegy to talk all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Click to listen to episode (5:44). Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 12-26-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of December 25, 2023, and January 1, 2024. MUSIC – ~13 sec – instrumental. That's part of “The Foggy Dew” by Timothy Seaman.  It's one of the songs heard on Virginia Water Radio in 2023, and it opens our annual episode where we listen back to some of the previous year's sounds and music.  We start with a medley of mystery sounds.  Have a listen for about 40 seconds, and see how many you recognize. SOUNDS - ~39 sec. 1.  Eastern Narrrow-mouthed Toad.2.  Humpback Whale.3.  Hooded Merganser.4.  Cascades waterfall.5.  Gray Tree Frogs, an Eastern Screech Owl, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and Wood Thrush. If you knew all of most of those, you're a 2023 authentic aquatic ace! You heard, first, an Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad; second; a Humpback Whale; third, a Hooded Merganser; fourth, the Cascades Falls in Giles County, Virginia; and, last, the sounds of Gray Tree Frogs, an Eastern Screech Owl, an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a Wood Thrush, all recorded at a pond in Blacksburg, Va., at sundown on July 27, 2023. Thanks to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and to Lang Elliott for permission to use this week's sounds, from the 2008 CD, “The Calls of Virginia Frogs and Toads”; to the National Park Service for the Humpback Whale Sound; and to Lang Elliott for permission to use the Hooded Merganser sound, from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs. We close out 2023 with a 1 minute/45 second sample of music heard this year, with parts of “I Walk in Beauty,” by the late Madeline MacNeil; “Driftage,” by Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand; “Frog Level Yacht Club,” by Trevor McKenzie; “Backburner,” by the group The Faux Paws; and, last, “World's Too Big,” by Kat Mills, whose lyrics help us look toward the coming year.  Thanks to all the musicians who gave permission to use their music, and thanks to Janita Baker for permission to use Madeline MacNeil's music. So long to 2023, and here's hoping for a 2024 the brings to your ears, good sounds; to your heart, good music; and to your health, good water. MUSIC – ~1 min./43 sec. 1.  From “I Walk in Beauty” – lyrics: “Beauty is behind me, above and below me.” 2. From “Driftage” – instrumental. 3.  From “Frog Level Yacht Club” – lyrics: “I know it's fantasy and my plays tricks on my memory, but that's how I recall the Frog Level Yacht Club.” 4.  From “Backburner” – lyrics: “I put my heart in the freezer, I put my love on ice, I tell myself I don't need her, wouldn't that be nice?  I put  my heart in the freezer, I put my love on hold, I tell myself I don't need her, and then I wonder why I feel so cold.  I wonder why I feel, I wonder why I feel, I wonder why I feel so cold.” 5.  From “World's Too Big” – lyrics: “World's too big to see in one lifetime; what do you think you'll do this year in the world, world, world, in the world?” SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Ben Cosgrove for his version of “Shenandoah” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (2 min./22 sec.) of the “Shenandoah” arrangement/performance by Ben Cosgrove that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Cosgrove is available online at http://www.bencosgrove.com. Sounds Used and Their Previous 2023 Virginia Water Radio Episodes  (listed in the order heard in this episode's audio). The sounds of the Eastern Narrrow-mouthed Toad was from “The Calls of Virginia Frogs and Toads” CD, copyright 2008 by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (now the Department of Wildlife Resources) and Lang Elliott/NatureSoundStudio, used with permission.   The CD accompanies A Guide to the Frogs and Toads of Virginia, Special Publication Number 3, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; that publication is no longer available at Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources online store, https://www.shopdwr.com/.  For more information, contact the Department at P.O. Box 90778, Henrico, VA 23228-0778; phone: (804) 367-1000 (VTDD); main Web page is https://dwr.virginia.gov/; to send e-mail, visit https://dwr.virginia.gov/contact/.  Lang Elliott's work is available online at the “Music of Nature” Web site, http://www.musicofnature.org/.  This sound was used in Episode 649, 2-20-23, a medley of frog and toad calls. The Humpback Whale sound was from the National Park Service ‘Sound Gallery,” online at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/sounds-humpback-whale.htm, as of 12-22-23.  This sound was used in Episode 651, 3-20-23, on ocean and  marine biodiversity. The Hooded Merganser sound was from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs-Eastern Region CD set, by Lang Elliott with Donald and Lillian Stokes (Time Warner Audio Books, copyright 1997), used with permission of Lang Elliott.  Lang Elliot's work is available online at the “Music of Nature” Web site, http://www.musicofnature.org/.  This sound was used in Episode 670, 12-11-23, a duck names quiz. 4.  The waterfall sound was recorded by Virginia Water Radio at the Cascades waterfall in Giles County, Va., on September 28, 2023.  This sound was used in Episode 666, 10-16-23, on waterfalls in Virginia. 5.  The sounds of Gray Tree Frogs, an Eastern Screech Owl, and an Eastern Wood-Pewee, with the less prominent sounds of a Wood Thrush, were recorded by Virginia Water Radio at a pond in Blacksburg, Va., at about 8:30 p.m. on July 27, 2023.  These sounds were used in Episode 661, 8-7-23, on the sounds between dawn and dusk on a summer day at a Virginia pond. Musical Selections Used and Their Previous 2023 Virginia Water Radio Episodes (listed in the order heard in this episode's audio)

Click to listen to episode (4:36).Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesExtra InformationSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 11-9-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of December 11 and December 18, 2023.  [Please note: the audio mistakenly says December 20 instead of December 18.] SOUND – ~6 sec. Those sounds of Mallard ducks, recorded in December 2015 at the Virginia Tech Duck Pond in Blacksburg, set the stage for a duck designation derby—that is, a duck names quiz game! I'll give you clues to the common names of six duck species inhabiting areas of Virginia, either year-round or seasonally.  After each set of clues, you'll have a few seconds to hear sounds from the duck and try to guess its name.  In the clues, “diving duck” refers to those birds that dive deep under the surface and feed underwater; and “dabbling duck” refers to those birds that feed on or just below the water surface. Number 1:  This large diving duck, noted for its reddish head and bright whitish body, has a name that a painter would recognize.  SOUND - ~6 sec.  That's the Canvasback. Number 2:  This diving duck is known and named for its golden-yellow eyes.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Common Goldeneye. Number 3:  For people who appreciate colorful birds, this small dabbling duck's iridescent green feathers on its head and wings are a big deal.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Green-winged Teal. Number 4:  If people who wear “hoodies” wanted to know how to look like a bird, the male of this diving duck would be the answer.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Hooded Merganser. Number 5:  This dabbling duck has a name—based on its spoon-like bill—that could be applied to what people in, say Minnesota, have to become after a big snowfall, if they want to clear a path.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Northern Shoveler. And number 6:  This elaborately colored dabbling duck, notable for its nests in tree holes and for its ability to perch on tree branches, has a name that comes from trees.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Wood Duck. The birds in this game are among 25 duck species known to occur in Virginia, at least occasionally.  Many are around in wintertime, so if you're venturing out near water during the cold-weather months, perhaps—with luck and pluck—you'll glimpse or hear some ducks. Thanks to Lang Elliott for permission to use the sounds in the duck names quiz, which were all from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs. We close with some music for ducks, with a tune attributed to the late Henry Reed, a traditional musician who lived in Giles County, Virginia.  Here's about 25 seconds of “Ducks on the Pond,” performed by Timothy Seaman of Williamsburg, Virginia. MUSIC - ~27 sec – Instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Northern Shoveler, and Wood Duck sounds heard in this episode were from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs-Eastern Region CD set, by Lang Elliott with Donald and Lillian Stokes (Time Warner Audio Books, copyright 1997), used with permission of Lang Elliott.  Lang Elliot's work is available online at the “Music of Nature” Web site, http://www.musicofnature.org/. The Mallard sounds were recorded by Virginia Water Radio at the Virginia Tech Duck Pond in Blacksburg on December 10, 2015. The version of “Ducks on the Pond” heard in this episode is by Timothy Seaman, part of the medley “Virginia Rail Reel/Ducks on the Pond/Old Blue,” from the 2004 album “Virginia Wildlife,” on Pine Wind Records, used with permission; that album was done in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (now the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources).  More information about Timothy Seaman is available online at http://timothyseaman.com/en/.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio in Episode 398, 12-11-17. The tune “Ducks on the Pond” is attributed to Henry Reed (1884-1968), a native of West Virginia but a long-time resident of Glen Lyn in Giles County, Virginia; more information about Henry Reed is available online at http://www.henryreed.org/.   Information on the tune is available from The Traditional Tune Archive, online at “Ducks on the Pond” entry is online at http://www.tunearch.org/wiki/Ducks_on_the_Pond.  A June 1966 recording by Alan Jabbour of the tune being played by Mr. Reed is available from the Library of Congress, online at https://www.loc.gov/item/afcreed000072/; at this site, the tune is referred to as “Ducks in the Pond.” Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGES The following photos of the ducks featured in this Virginia Water Radio episode were taken from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library, online at http://digitalmedia.fws.gov.  More details and specific URLs for each photo are given below the photos; all specific URLs were as of 11-8-23.Canvasback male; location and date not identified.  Photo by Lee Karney.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/6798/rec/3.Canvasback male; location and date not identified.  Photo by Lee Karney.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/6798/rec/3. Common Goldeneye in 2003, location not identified.  Photo by Gary Kramer.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/34171/rec/3.Green-winged Teal male (left) and female; location and date not identified.  Photo by Dave Menke.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/3728/rec/2.Hooded Merganser male; location and date not identified.  Photo by Tim McCabe.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/1085/rec/4.Mallard female and brood at Cheney Lake, Anchorage, Alaska, June 2005.  Photo by Donna Dewhurst.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/50/rec/32.Northern Shoveler male (right) and female at Westchester Lagoon in Anchorage Alaska; date not identified.  Photo by Donna Dewhurst.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/699/rec/2.Wood Duck male in California, date not identified.  Photo by Lee Kearney.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/17774/rec/4. EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT THE DUCK SPECIES HEARD IN THIS EPISODE Following are the scientific names, and information on occurrence in Virginia, for the seven duck species heard in this episode.  Occurrence information (including quotes) is from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (formerly Department of Game and Inland Fisheries), “Fish and Wildlife Information Service,” online at https://services.dwr.virginia.gov/fwis/, using the “Occurrence” tab at the individual entry for each species; each bird's common name is linked to its individual entry. Canvasback – Scientific name is Aythya valisineria.  Occurrence in Virginia: “[N]onbreeder and a locally common to abundant transient and winter resident (10 November to 10 April) on the coast, ...chiefly near the Chesapeake Bay and in Back Bay.  They are uncommon inland and a rare winter visitor in the mountains and valleys.” Common Goldeneye – Scientific name is Bucephala clangula.  Occurrence in Virginia: winter resident in much of Tidewater Virginia and a few counties farther west. Green-winged Teal – Scientific name is Anas crecca.  Occurrence in Virginia: “This is a common transient and winter resident on the Coastal Plain, and uncommon inland.  Peak counts occur along the coast during the winter.” Hooded Merganser – Scientific name is Lophodytes cucullatus.  Occurrence in Virginia: “This is a casual breeder.  It is a transient, winter resident, and summer visitor throughout the state.  It is common on the Coastal Plain, and uncommon to common in the rest of the state.  Peak counts occur along the coast during December.” Mallard – Scientific name is Anas platyrhynchos.  Occurrence in Virginia: “This is an abundant transient and winter resident, and a common summer resident in the Coastal Plain.  It is a common transient and winter resident, uncommon summer resident elsewhere.  Peak counts occur along the coast in the fall.” Northern Shoveler – Scientific name is Anas clypeata.  Occurr

Click to listen to episode (5:19).Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesExtra InformationSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 11-6-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of November 27 and December 4, 2023. MUSIC – 8 sec – Instrumental. That's part of “Backburner,” by The Faux Paws.  It opens Virginia Water Radio's annual episode on winter-weather preparedness.  Have a listen for about 30 seconds to some of the song's lyrics to set the stage for talking about cold times. MUSIC – ~32 sec – Lyrics: “I put my heart in the freezer, I put my love on ice,  I tell myself I don't need her, wouldn't that be nice?  I put my heart in the freezer, I put my love on hold, I tell myself I don't need her, and then I wonder why I feel so cold.  I wonder why I feel, I wonder why I feel, I wonder why I feel so cold.” All Virginia residents, whether or not they've tried to put their heart in the freezer, will soon have no wonder about why they feel so cold: winter astronomically begins in Virginia on December 21 at 10:27 p.m.  That's the Eastern Standard time of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, when that hemisphere is at its maximum tilt away from the sun.  From well before the December solstice, all the way through the season's conclusion in March, winter can bring cold temperatures, hazardous roads, power outages, fire hazards, and other concerns.  To help you be prepared, here are 10 tips compiled from information provided by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1. Avoid traveling in winter-storm conditions if you can.  If you must travel, get road-condition information from the Virginia 511 telephone system, mobile app, or Web site, and carry in your vehicle an emergency kit, including jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, food and water, and other items. 2. Have battery-powered sources of lighting and information, along with enough batteries to last through a power outage of several days. 3.  Develop and practice a family emergency plan that covers sheltering; escape from a home fire; emergency meeting places; communications; a supply of food, water, and medications; and other factors specific to your circumstances. 4.  Get fireplaces, wood stoves, and chimneys inspected and cleaned. 5.  Install a smoke detector in every bedroom and on every floor level; test them monthly and replace the batteries at least annually.  6.  Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home and check or replace the battery every six months. 7.  If you use electric space heaters, make sure they'll switch off automatically if the heater falls over; plug them into wall outlets, not extension cords; keep them at least three feet from combustible objects; don't leave heaters unattended; and check for cracked or damaged wires or plugs. 8.  Generators, camp stoves, and other devices that burn gasoline, charcoal, or other fuels should be used outdoors only. 9.  Learn where to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.And 10.  Be careful of overexertion during snow shoveling. More information on preparing for winter weather, fires, and other emergencies is available online from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, at vaemergency.gov. Next time the forecast calls for snow, freezing rain, or other wintry weather, here's hoping that you can stay warm, dry, and safe. Thanks to Andrew VanNorstrand for permission to use this episode's music, and we close with about 20 more seconds of “Backburner.” MUSIC - ~20 sec – Instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Ben Cosgrove for his version of “Shenandoah” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Backburner,” from the 2023 album of the same name, is copyright by The Faux Paws, used with permission of Andrew VanNorstrand.  More information about The Faux Paws is available online at https://thefauxpaws.bandcamp.com/. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (2 min./22 sec.) of the “Shenandoah” arrangement/performance by Ben Cosgrove that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Cosgrove is available online at http://www.bencosgrove.com. IMAGES (Photographs are by Virginia Water Radio.) Ice on the New River in Giles County, Va., January 1, 2018.  Frozen rain on, and sleet below, a Red Maple tree in Blacksburg, Va. (Montgomery County),December 16, 2020.Ice on a seasonal pond in Heritage Park in Blacksburg, Va. (Montgomery County), December 31, 2022. EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS The following information is quoted from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, “Winter Weather,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/winter-weather, as of 11-6-23. “Winter storms can range from freezing rain or ice to a few hours of moderate snowfall, to a blizzard that lasts for several days.  Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures, power outages, and unpredictable road conditions. Before, during, and after a winter storm, roads and walkways may become extremely dangerous or impassable.  Access to critical community services such as public transportation, child care, healthcare providers and schools may be limited.  Preparing your home, car, and family before cold weather and a winter storm arrives is critical. *During a winter storm, stay off the roads as much as possible and only drive when absolutely necessary.  Always give snow plows the right of way.*Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning device inside your home, garage, basement, crawlspace, or any other partially enclosed area.*Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks!  Always avoid overexertion when shoveling.*When severe weather occurs, plan to check on elderly or disabled neighbors and relatives.*If you must travel, know the road conditions before you leave home.  Visit 511Virginia.org or call 511 for road condition updates.*Protect yourself from frostbite!  Hands, feet, and face are the most commonly affected areas so wear a hat, and mittens (which are warmer than gloves) and cover your mouth with a scarf to reduce heat loss.*Keep dry!  Change out of wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.*Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer or heavy clothing. Winter Storm Watch – Be Aware Severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two. Winter Storm Warning – Take Action Severe winter conditions have either begun or will begin soon in your area. Prepare Your Home *Make sure your home is properly insulated.*Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors.*Learn how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.*Have additional heat sources  on hand in case of a power outage.*Keep a fire extinguisher accessible.*Replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector annually. Prepare Your Car *Batteries lose power as temperatures drop, be sure to have yours tested.*Check your car's antifreeze level.*Have your radiator system serviced.*Replace your car's windshield wiper fluid with a wintertime mix.*Proactively replace your car's worn tires and wiper blades.*To help with visibility, clean off your car entirely – including your trunk, roof, windows, and headlights. Include a Car Emergency Kit Tailor your winter car emergency supply kit to you and your family's needs.  Here are suggested items: blankets;drinking water and snacks for everyone in the car, including pets;boots;basic first-aid kit;warm coat and insulating layers (sweatpants, gloves, hat, socks,);rags, paper towels, or pre-moistened wipes;basic set of tools;car emergency warning devices such as road flares or reflectors;ice scraper/snow brush;jumper cables/jump pack;fire extinguisher;cash;items for children such as diapers, baby wipes, toys, etc.;flashlight, with extra batteries;hand warmers;paper map;portable smartphone power bank;extra medication;garbage bags;traction aid such as sand, salt, or non-clumping, cat litter;tarp, raincoat, and gloves;shovel. Did You Know? *Dehydration can make you more susceptible to hypothermia.*If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pet!  Don't leave pets outside for prolonged periods of time and have plenty of fresh, unfrozen water on hand.*It can snow at temperatures well above freezing.*Temperatures do not have to be below zero degrees to cause harm.” SOURCES USED FOR AUDIO AND OFFERING MORE INFORMATION Timeanddate.com, “December Solstice: Longest and Shortest Day of the Year,” by Konstantin Bikos, Aparna Kher, and Graham Jones, online at https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice.html. American Red Cross, “Winter Storm Safety,” online at https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html, or contact your local Red Cross chapter. Farmers' Almanac, “The First Day Of Winter 2023: Winter Solstice,” online at https://www.farmersalmanac.com/winter-solstice-first-day-winter.    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):“Be Prepared for a Winter Storm,” online at https://community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/article/Winter-Storm;“Build a Kit,” online at https://www.ready.gov/kit; “Car Safety,” online at https://www.ready.gov/car; “Make a Plan,” online at https://www.ready.gov/plan;“Portable Heater Fire Safety,” online (as a PDF) at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/portable_heater_fire_safety_flyer.pdf;“Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (2017-2019),” online (as a PDF) at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v21i11.pdf; and “Winter Weather,” online at http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “NOAA Weather Radio,” online at https://www.weather.gov/nwr/.National Weather Service, “Weather and Water Events Preparedness Calendar,” online at https://www.weather.gov/safety/events_calendar. This page lists events by state.National Weather Service/Cleveland, Ohio, Forecast Office, “The Seasons, the Equinox, and the Solstices,” online at https://www.weather.gov/cle/seasons. Smithsonian Science Education Center, “What is the Winter Solstice?”  Online at https://ssec.si.edu/stemvisions-blog/what-winter-solstice.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/Frequently Asked Questions,” online at https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm; and “Proper Use of Candles During a Power Outage,” online at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/psa/candles.html. U.S. Department of Energy, “Small Space Heaters,” online at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/small-space-heaters. Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/.  This is the Commonwealth of Virginia's central source of information on preparedness for all types of emergencies and disasters.  See particularly the following pages:“Winter Weather,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/winter-weather;“Fires,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/fires; and“Make a Car Emergency Kit” (1 min./31 sec. video), online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPgvWgtiWHI. Virginia Department of Health, “Winter Weather Preparedness,” online at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/public-relations-contacts/winter-weather-preparedness/. Virginia Department of Transportation, “Virginia Traffic Information,” online at http://www.511virginia.org/. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Weather/Climate/Natural Disasters” subject category. Following are links to previous years' winter-preparedness episodes, with music used in the episodes. Episode 190, 12-2-13. Episode 242, 12-1-14 – featuring “Cold World” by Kat Mills. Episode 292, 11-30-15 – featuring “Winter is Coming” by The Steel Wheels. Episode 344, 11-28-16 – featuring “Drive the Cold Winter Away” by Timothy Seaman. Episode 396, 11-27-17 – featuring “Winter's Fall” by No Strings Attached. Episode 448, 11-26-18 – featuring “New Boots” by John McCutcheon. Episode 501, 12-2-19 – featuring “Cold Frosty Morn'” by New Standard.Episode 553, 11-30-20 – featuring “Drive the Cold Winter Away” by Timothy Seaman and “Cold World” by Kat Mills.Episode 605, 11-29-21 – featuring “Mid-winter Etude” by Timothy Seaman.Episode 643, 12-5-22 – featuring “Winter is Coming” by The Steel Wheels. Following are links to some other winter-related episodes.Frost – Episode 597, 10-4-21. Freezing and ice – Episode 606, 12-6-21 (especially for grades K-3). Ice on ponds and lakes – Episode 404, 1-22-18 (especially for grades 4-8). Ice on rivers –

Ryan Gilland takes to the sky a lot during growing season. His small business, Gilland Ag Services, makes use of his airplane to both spray and plant crops. It's a unique way to help grow crops and is sustainable. Thomas Capps Farming row crops from the sky. Hello and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I'm Thomas Capps. Ryan Gilland We ended up buying our own ag airplane to kind of start our own operation. Thomas Capps It takes all kinds of machinery to row row crops these days, tractors, planters, sprayers and airplanes. In fact, Ryan Gilland from Giles County has built his own ag based business out of using his personal airplane. Ryan Gilland We're essentially acting as a small ag retailer, an independent ag retailer we're selling agricultural seed corn, soybeans, kind of in North Alabama and southern Middle Tennessee direct to the farmer. And then we small scale farm and then obviously we do the flying as well. So we've kind of tried to make full circle with it. Thomas Capps Gillen isn't just spraying crops with his plane, he's planting with it too. Ryan Gilland About 50% of our work that we do is dry work and it'd be either you know, wheat fertilizer or corn fertilize, but we also do a lot of spraying a lot of wheat seed, as well as cover crops. So you're working on soil health, kind of going into the winter trying to hold solar structure together, prevent erosion, that kind of thing. Thomas Capps Not only is using the airplane for agriculture, cool, it's also a very sustainable way to farm. Ryan Gilland There's been a pretty big push within the last six, eight, 10 years with FSA and NRCS to just kind of help with soil health and mainly erosion. It's helping kind of retain some of the nutrients that we put out in the in the commercial fertilizers and things of that nature to make sure we don't have runoff which obviously we spent a lot of money on these fertilizers that we put out. We don't want those nutrients going into the water source and you know, taking a chance that might be polluting the water source on our stream somewhere. So if we put the cover crops out to kind of draw those nutrients and help hold the soul together, hold them there and then allow it to recycle back into the end of the next growing season. And that's that's what we're really trying to target. Thomas Capps A fun job that Gillen has grown to love, and that comes with a heck of a view. Ryan Gilland I really enjoy. It gives you a lot of time to think I know a lot of us. Spotify has really been good to us a player so radio in the sky, at least for my use. Thomas Capps For Tennessee home and Farm Radio. I'm Thomas Capps.

Click to listen to episode (5:07).Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 10-13-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of October 16 and October 23, 2023. SOUNDS and VOICES – ~8 sec - people visiting Dismal Falls in Giles County, Va., August 20, 2011. That's the sound of people enjoying a scenic and splashy site in southwestern Virginia, where the main attraction is a type of water feature renowned for fascinating formations and dramatic drops.  Have a listen for about 35 seconds to some music and mystery sounds, and see if you know this type of water feature.  And here's a hint: the alternative name for autumn is what the water does. MUSIC and SOUNDS  - ~33 sec If you guessed a waterfall, you're right!  You heard three Virginia waterfalls: the Cascades in Giles County; a waterfall in Mill Creek Nature Park, also in Giles County; and Falls Ridge Falls in Montgomery County.  The accompanying music, by Williamsburg, Va., musician Timothy Seaman, was “Crabtree Falls,” named for a Nelson County waterfall whose 1200-foot total vertical drop is the highest of any waterfall east of the Mississippi.  And the episode's opening sounds were from Dismal Falls, once again in Giles County.  These five are among 61 scenic and publicly accessible waterfalls in the Commonwealth listed in the “Great Virginia Waterfall Trail,” compiled by the Let's See America Web site.  Meanwhile, the World Waterfall Database has 186 entries for Virginia, including smaller waterfalls, some located on private properties, and some now inundated by reservoirs. Encyclopedia Britannica defines a waterfall as “an area where flowing river water drops abruptly and nearly vertically,” and notes that the terms cataract, cascades, and rapids can also be applied to water coursing over an elevation change, depending on the height and the sharpness of water's drop. Most of Virginia's waterfalls occur along the Blue Ridge or farther west in the Valley and Ridge province; additionally, significant drops of the Potomac, Rappahannock, and James Rivers occur along the Fall Line between the central Piedmont and eastern Coastal Plain.  These are places where some key waterfall-formation factors occur: changes in the elevation of the landscape, rock layers with different levels of resistance to erosion, and plenty of flowing water. Virginia's waterfall champ Crabtree Falls doesn't rival the world's tallest, such as Tugela Falls in South Africa, with a total drop of over 3000 feet.  Nevertheless, the Commonwealth's many and varied, large and small waterfalls are popular, scenic, and invaluable water treasures. Thanks to Blacksburg neighbors for recording the Dismal Falls sounds.  Thanks also to Timothy Seaman for permission to use part of “Crabtree Falls.”  We close with another waterfall-related musical selection.  Here's about 40 seconds of the traditional tune “Over the Waterfall,” in a version by Virginia Tech geography instructor Stewart Scales. MUSIC - ~38 sec – instrumental.  SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Dismal Falls sounds were recorded by friends of Virginia Water Radio at the falls in Bland County, Va., on August 20, 2011. The other waterfalls sounds heard in this episode were recorded by Virginia Water Radio as follows: Cascades Falls in Giles County, Va., recorded September 28, 2023;Waterfalls along Catwalk Trial in Mill Creek Nature Park in Giles County, Va., recorded September 6, 2020;Falls Ridge Falls in Falls Ridge Nature Preserve in Montgomery County, Va., recorded April 20, 2019. “Crabtree Falls,” from the 2002 album “Sycamore Rapids,” is copyright by Timothy Seaman and Pine Wind Music, used with permission.  More information about Timothy Seaman is available online at  http://www.timothyseaman.com/.  “Crabtree Falls” was used previously by Virginia Water Radio most recently in Episode 125, 8-27-12. The version of “Over the Waterfall” heard in this episode was recorded for Virginia Water Radio on July 11, 2014, by Stewart Scales, used with permission.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio in Episode 222, 7-14-14.  Information on “Over the Waterfall” and on Henry Reed (1884-1968), a Giles County musician noted for his version of this tune, is available from the Library of Congress, “Fiddle Tunes of the Old Frontier: The Henry Reed Collection,” online at http://www.loc.gov/collection/henry-reed-fiddle-tunes/about-this-collection/; and from http://www.henryreed.org/, a Web site produced by Terry Reed, Henry Reed's granddaughter.  Henry Reed's version of “Over the Waterfall” is available from the Library of Congress's online audio archive, at http://www.loc.gov/item/afcreed000177/. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGES (Photographs are by Virginia Water Radio.) Cascades Falls in Giles County, Virginia, September 28, 2023.Waterfalls along Catwalk Trial in Mill Creek Nature Park in Giles County, Virginia, September 6, 2020.Waterfall in Falls Ridge Nature Preserve in Montgomery County, Virginia, April 20, 2019. SOURCES Used for Audio Encyclopedia Britannica, “Waterfall,” online at https://www.britannica.com/science/waterfall-geology.  The is the source of the quote used in this episode's audio. Giles County [Virginia] Administration: “Dismal Falls,” online at https://virginiasmtnplayground.com/dismal-falls/; and“Mill Creek Nature Park,” online at https://virginiasmtnplayground.com/mill-creek/. Let's See America, “The Great Virginia Waterfall Trail,” online at https://lets-see-america.com/virginia-waterfalls/.  The site includes maps, a video, and detailed information on 61 waterfalls included in a 1373-mile waterfall trail route. National Geographic, “Waterfall,” online at https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/waterfall/. The Nature Conservancy, “Falls Ridge Preserve,” online at http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/virginia/placesweprotect/falls-ridge-preserve.xml.  The site includes photos and a short video (1 min./37 sec.) of plants, animals, and the falls. Radford University, “Geology of Virginia CD-ROM Web Edition,” (several authors), online at https://sites.radford.edu/~jtso/GeolVAHome.html.  A map of Virginia's geomorphic (or physiogaphic) provinces is online at https://sites.radford.edu/~jtso/GeologyofVirginia/Piedmont/PPhysio-2.html. U.S. Forest Service, “Cascades Day Use Area,” online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73639.Virginiaplaces.org, “Waterfalls,” online at http://www.virginiaplaces.org/watersheds/waterfalls.html.  World of Waterfalls, “How are Waterfalls Formed?”  Online at https://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/how-are-waterfalls-formed/. World Waterfall Database, online at https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/.  The list of Virginia waterfalls is online at https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/country/United-States/Virginia/list. For More Information about Waterfalls in Virginia or Elsewhere McDowell County [N.C.] Tourism Development Authority, “Blue Ridge Traveler/Waterfalls,” online at https://www.blueridgetraveler.com/attractions/category/waterfalls/.  National Park Service:“Shenandoah National Park-Virginia/Hikes to Waterfalls,” online at https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/hikes-waterfalls.htm; and“Waterfalls & Gorges,” online at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/waterfalls/waterfalls.htm. Joe Tennis, “Natural wonder: County accepts ownership of Abrams Falls; discusses state park,” Bristol Herald-Courier, October 12, 2023.  This article describes the purchase by Washington County, Va., of 46 acres around and including Abrams Falls and the county's efforts to have Virginia create a state park in the area. U.S. Geological Survey, “Waterfalls and Rapids in the Conterminous United States Linked to the National Hydrography Datasets V2.0,” July 14, 2020, online at https://www.usgs.gov/data/waterfalls-and-rapids-conterminous-united-states-linked-national-hydrography-datasets-v20. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Rivers, Streams, and Other Surface Water” subject category. Following are links to other episodes on waterfalls. Episode 125, 8-17-12 – on Crabtree Falls in Nelson County, Va.Episode 205, 3-17-14 – on Falls Ridge Falls in Montgomery County, Va.Episode 222, 7-14-14 – on Cascades Falls in Giles County, Va. FOR VIRGINIA TEACHERS – RELATED STANDARDS OF LEARNING (SOLs) AND OTHER INFORMATION Following are some Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) that may be supported by this episode's audio/transcript, sources, or other information included in this post. 2020 Music SOLs SOLs at various grade levels that call for “examining the relationship of music to the other fine arts and other fields of knowledge.” 2018 Science SOLs Grades K-3 plus 5: Matter3.3 – Materials interact with water. Grades K-5: Earth and Space Systems3.7 – There is a water cycle and water is important to life on Earth.5.8 – Earth constantly changes. Grades K-5: Earth Resources4.8 – Virginia has important natural resources. Grade 66.6 – Water has unique physical properties and has a role in the natural and human-made environment.6.8 – Land and water have roles in watershed systems. Earth ScienceES.8 – Freshwater resources influence and are influenced by geologic processes and human activity. 2023 History and Social Science SOLs Grade 4: Virginia StudiesVS.1 – The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the relationship between physical geography and the lives of Virginia's peoples, past and present. Grade 5: United States History to 1865USI.1 – The student will understand the geography of North America, including by locating and describing major geographic regions and bodies of water of North America and their impact on the early history of the United States. Grade 8: World GeographyWG.2 – The student will evaluate the significance of natural, human, and capital resources. WG.3 – The student will analyze the characteristics of the United States and Canadian regions, including by describing major physical and environmental features and how geography may change over time. Virginia's SOLs are available from the Virginia Department of Education, online at https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction Following are links to Water Radio episodes (various topics) designed especially for certain K-12 grade levels.Episode 250, 1-26-15 – on boiling, for kindergarten through 3rd grade. Episode 255, 3-2-15 – on density, for 5th and 6th grade. Episode 282, 9-21-15 – on living vs. non-living, for kindergarten. Episode 309, 3-28-16 – on temperature regulation in animals, for kindergarten through 12th grade. Episode 333, 9-12-16 – on dissolved gases, especially dissolved oxygen in aquatic habitats, for 5th grade. Episode 404, 1-22-18 – on ice on ponds and lakes, for 4th through 8th grade. Episode 407, 2-12-18 – on snow chemistry and physics,

Cora Gnegy joins Keith and Mark to discuss all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy joins Keith and Mark to discuss all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy joins Keith and Mark to discuss all things Giles County!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

June is dairy month in Tennessee and all across the country as dairy farmers and industry representatives look to spread the good news about nature's perfect beverage, milk. Lee Maddox: Celebrating June Dairy Month. Welcome and hello again everyone. for Tennessee Home and Farm Radio - I'm Lee Maddox. it is official Brian Flowers: It is the official beverage and should always be the official beverage it's it's nothing nothing any better. Lee Maddox: June is Dairy Month in Tennessee and all across the country as dairy farmers and industry representatives look to spread the good news about nature's perfect beverage - milk and the other associated dairy products that provide health and economic benefits to all. Giles County dairyman Brian Flowers is president of the American Dairy Association of Tennessee. Brian Flowers: Yeah milk does do a body a good. So many alternative beverages out there other, other products, you know, being tried to call milk because they know how how good milk is and was but they nothing - no comparison to the real whole milk. Lee Maddox: Brian Flowers says it's proven science that continues to show the health benefits associated with dairy. Milk is the original nutritional powerhouse with eight grams of protein and 13 essential nutrients and the technology on dairy farms continues to improve as well with robotic milkers and herd health practices now better than ever. Brian Flowers: I think dairy farmers has been the leader in technology on farm you know robots is has been out wide open now for about 10 years and and they keep improving and you know better for the cows. They'll tell you everything about a cow and we're definitely looking into probably we'll be putting in robots in the near future and you got to stay on top of the technology or you know, it'll pass you by. Lee Maddox: And same goes for Tennessee's Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Charlie Hatcher, who has a dairy on his farm in Williamson County, and they're looking to bring in robots later this year as well. Commissioner Charlie Hatcher: If we've got any hope of feeding the world and trying to stay in business as a farmer, it's going to be through innovation and technology and making some investments in the future. Lee Maddox: And for Tennessee Home and Farm Radio - I'm Lee Maddox.

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (5:35).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments ImagesExtra InformationSources Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 5-29-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of June 26 and July 3, 2023. MUSIC – ~8 sec –lyrics: “Ah reflections in the window pane, fallin' in love, in the drivin' rain.” That's part of “Driving Rain,” by the Charlottesville- and Nelson County, Va.-based band, Chamomile and Whiskey.  The song's a love story, but its title and main phrase lead in to a legal water story—that is, how does rain, and any other water on the landscape, become water covered by the federal Clean Water Act, specifically by the Act's phrase, the “waters of the United States?”  On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court wrote a new chapter in this story. Passed in 1972, the Clean Water Act's main goal is “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters.”  The Act states that it applies to “navigable waters,” defined as “waters of the United States, including the territorial seas,” and amendments in 1977 added wetlands that are adjacent to other covered waters.  All waters covered by the Act are known as “jurisdictional waters,” and any discharges into such waters require a federal permit.  Defining what waters—particularly what wetlands and small tributaries—are jurisdictional has enormous impact on the Act's environmental and economic reach. Many questions and legal challenges have been raised over the meaning of “waters of the United States,” its relation to the term “navigable waters,” and the Act's implementation by the U.S. EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers.  The Supreme Court has a long history of decisions on these questions.  Here are short accounts of five important Court decisions, including the most recent one, affecting the Act's jurisdiction. 1.  The 1870 Daniel Ball decision held that “navigable waters of the United States” are those that support commerce between states or with foreign countries.  Later Supreme Court cases expanded that test to include waters that formerly supported, or could support, such commerce. 2.  The 1985 Riverside Bayview decision affirmed that the Act covered wetlands adjacent to other “waters of the United States.” 3.  The 2001 SWANCC decision held that the Act did not cover wetlands solely on the basis of their use by migratory birds. 4.  In the complicated 2006 Rapanos decision, a plurality opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia held that the Act covers only relatively permanent water bodies that form recognizable geographical features, plus wetlands only if they have a “continuous surface connection” to other covered waters.  Justice Anthony Kennedy's concurring opinion held that wetlands were covered if they have a quote, “significant nexus,” unquote, to conditions in other covered waters. And 5.  The 2023 Sackett decision returned to the Scalia opinion of 2006, while dismissing Justice Kennedy's “significant nexus” test.  So the Court now holds that the Act covers only, quote, “relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing water bodies, forming geographical features…described in ordinary parlance as streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes,” unquote;  plus wetlands with a “continuous surface connection” to such water bodies.  This removes many previously regulated wetlands from the Act's jurisdiction.  While the Sackett decision focused particularly on wetlands, the new test articulated in the decision may have impacts as well for small streams that do not flow year-round. Through amendments, executive orders, agency actions, and litigation, defining the reach of the Clean Water Act has been a long, meandering story.  It's probably safe to say that more turns await. Thanks to Chamomile and Whiskey for permission to use “Driving Rain.”  We close with some more music, this time from Wake Up Robin, with musicians from California, New York, North Carolina, New York, and Washington.  The song's watery title recalls debates over what water bodies are, so to speak, enough like navigable waters to be covered by the Clean Water Act.  Here's about 20 seconds of “Like a River.” MUSIC – ~19 sec – instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Driving Rain,” from the 2012 album “The Barn Sessions,” is copyright by Chamomile and Whiskey and by County Wide Records, used with permission.  More information about Chamomile and Whiskey is available online at http://www.chamomileandwhiskey.com/.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio most recently in Episode 650, 3-6-23. “Like a River,” from the 2018 album “Wake Up Robin,” on Great Bear Records, by the group of the same name, is used with permission of Andrew VanNorstrand.  More information about the album and band is available online at https://wakeuprobin.bandcamp.com, and at https://www.wakeuprobin.com/. Virginia Water Radio thanks Stephen Schoenholtz, Kevin McGuire, and Daniel McLaughlin, all of the Virginia Water Resources Research Center and the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, for their help with this episode. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com.IMAGES (Photographs are by Virginia Water Radio.) What does the definition of “waters of the United States” say about the following areas? Marsh at Eyre Hall near Cheriton, Virginia (Northampton County), October 6, 2007.Bog near the community of Interior in Giles County, Virginia, October 3, 2009.Wetland-lake complex in the Loup River watershed near Valentine, Nebraska, July 14, 2011.Upper photo: Dry (at the time) seasonal floodplain pond in Heritage Park in Blacksburg, Virginia (Montgomery County), May 27, 2023; lower photo: the same pond in wet conditions three days later, on May 30, 2023. EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT CASE SACKETT v. EPA (2023) The following is quoted from the first page of the Supreme Court's syllabus of the Sackett v. EPA case, decided May 25, 2023; the information was accessed online (from a PDF) at https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-454_4g15.pdf, May 29, 2023. SACKETT ET UX . v. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ET AL . CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT No. 21–454. Argued October 3, 2022—Decided May 25, 2023 Petitioners Michael and Chantell Sackett purchased property near Priest Lake, Idaho, and began backfilling the lot with dirt to prepare for building a home.  The Environmental Protection Agency informed the Sacketts that their property contained wetlands and that their backfilling violated the Clean Water Act, which prohibits discharging pollutants into “the waters of the United States.” 33 U. S. C. §1362(7).  The EPA ordered the Sacketts to restore the site, threatening penalties of over $40,000 per day.  The EPA classified the wetlands on the Sacketts' lot as “waters of the United States” because they were near a ditch that fed into a creek, which fed into Priest Lake, a navigable, intrastate lake.  The Sacketts sued, alleging that their property was not “waters of the United States.” The District Court entered summary judgment for the EPA.  The Ninth Circuit affirmed, holding that the CWA covers wetlands with an ecologically significant nexus to traditional navigable waters and that the Sacketts' wetlands satisfy that standard. Held: The CWA's use of “waters” in §1362(7) refers only to “geographic[al] features that are described in ordinary parlance as ‘streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes' ” and to adjacent wetlands that are “indistinguishable” from those bodies of water due to a continuous surface connection.  Rapanos v. United States, 547 U. S. 715, 755, 742, 739 (plurality opinion).  To assert jurisdiction over an adjacent wetland under the CWA, a party must establish “first, that the adjacent [body of water constitutes] . . . ‘water[s] of the United States' (i.e., a relatively permanent body of water connected to traditional interstate navigable waters); and second, that the wetland has a continuous surface connection with that water, making it difficult to determine where the ‘water' ends and the ‘wetland' begins.”  Ibid. Pp. 6–28. SOURCES USED FOR AUDIO AND OFFERING MORE INFORMATION Justia Company, “U.S. Supreme Court/The Daniel Ball, 77 U.S. 557 (1870), online at https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/77/557/. Justia Company, “U.S. Supreme Court/United States v. Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc., 474 U.S. 121 (1985), online at https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/474/121/.Justia Company, “U.S. Supreme Court/Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 531 U.S. 159 (2001),” online at https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/531/159/. Justia Company, “U.S. Supreme Court/Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006),” online at https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/547/715/. Justia Company, “U.S. Supreme Court/Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 598 U.S. ___ (2023),” online at https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/598/21-454/. John Krunzel and Andrew Chung, “US Supreme Court rules against EPA in wetlands regulation challenge,” Reuters, May 25, 2023. Adam Liptak, “Supreme Court Limits E.P.A.'s Power to Address Water Pollution,” New York Times, May 25, 2023. John Lowenthal, “Summary on Sackett v. US EPA,” Society of Wetland Scientists [McLean, Va.], e-mail message sent May 26, 2023. Supreme Court of the United States, No. 21-454, Michael Sackett, et ux., Petitioners, v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al., May 25, 2023.  Cited as 598 U.S.__(2023).  The case was argued October 3, 2022.  The opinions (majority plus two concurring) are available online (as a PDF) at https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-454_4g15.pdf. Nina Totenberg, “The Supreme Court has narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act.” NPR, May 25, 2023. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):“EPA and Army Finalize Rule Establishing Definition of WOTUS and Restoring Fundamental Water Protections,” December 30, 2022, news release.“Revising the Definition of ‘Waters of the United States': Final Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States',” online at https://www.epa.gov/wotus/revising-def

Dr. Pamela Arnell - Dr. Arnell has been the Youth Service Officer (YSO) for Giles County, Tennessee, since 2014. Before being the YSO, she owned Arnell's Counseling Service, Inc., as a contract provider for the State of Tennessee for 14 years. Dr. Arnell has been an adjunct faculty at Columbia State Community College since 2004, teaching in the Psychology program and some Education classes. Dr. Arnell has been a member of the Giles County Fire and Rescue Squad since 2008 and is also a member of the Pulaski Lions Club. She served on the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network as the regional committee chair from 2004- 2011. Dr. Arnell also served on the State Advisory Council for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network from 2004-2014. As part of her dissertation, Dr. Arnell completed an analysis on The Tennessee Strategy for Suicide Prevention based on the original National Strategies for Suicide Prevention. Trisha Paquette, after dedicating 20 years of her life to working as a social worker and earning a degree in social rehabilitation, has gained a wealth of knowledge about herself as well as those she serves. Throughout her career, Trisha has learned the value of compassion and empathy, and attributes much of her success to her grandmother, Millie, who taught her these virtues. Millie's influence has had a profound impact on Trisha's life, shaping her into the caring and understanding person she is today. Trisha's father, a Vietnam Combat Veteran, instilled in her the tenacity to overcome life's challenges, which has been invaluable in her personal and professional life. Trisha firmly believes that life presents countless opportunities for growth and learning, and her two sons, Ethan and Aiden, have been some of her most influential teachers. Their lessons on personal and professional development have helped Trisha become a better individual, and she hopes to pass on the knowledge she has gained to others, building strong, trusting relationships along the way. See more about 22Zero at www.22zero.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow US at: https://www.instagram.com/goheroesinc Website : https://www.goheroes.org See more at www.leadershiploading.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the new episode, we receive a hotline call about an ultra marathon runner experiencing paranormal activity on the May Apple Trail in Brush Mountain, Virginia. Then, we tell the story of a couple being stalked by a group of strangers with bad intentions. This occurred on a trail in the Giles County, Virginia area. Do they make it out safely? AUDIO WHACKY FOR A FEW MINUTES MID EPISODE. Cryptic Hotline: (540) 358-1583 JOIN OUR PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/crypticoutthere https://www.facebook.com/groups/2531530113816495/ https://www.instagram.com/itscrypticoutthere itscrypticoutthere@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/itscrypticoutthere/support

On February 8, 2023, the citizens of Pulaski, TN were shocked to hear that their 167-year-old newspaper was to be shut down. Then owner David Lake, along with publisher Scott Stewart announced in a statement that: “Declining advertising and subscription revenues combined with increasing costs, finally reached a point where maintaining the Pulaski (Tennessee) Citizen as a business has not been possible, and that county will have no newspaper or news platform dedicated solely to covering local news, sports, events, government and people.” Pulaski is a city in the county seat of Giles County, located on the central-southern border of Tennessee, where Wikipedia shows a 2020 population recorded as 8,397. The city lies halfway between Nashville, TN and Huntsville, AL, on the I-65 corridor. The paper's publisher Scott Stewart, who was born in Pulaski and began as a reporter at the paper in 1995 stated in the closing announcement: “As devastating as this is for those of us who cherish what local news is and means to our community, so many people will never realize what they've lost until it's gone. That may be the saddest part of the whole thing. Personally, I offer my apologies to everyone who does care that the PULASKI CITIZEN is going away. It went down on my watch, and I accept responsibility for my part in its demise." But, as negative and sad as Stewart's words were, he possibly was unaware of how much the county's citizens actually supported the Citizen. Recently elected Pulaski Mayor J.J. Brindley stated in this interview with E&P that his family "always supported the newspaper" and (that he) relied on the Citizen to ensure pertinent information about the town could be placed. He went on to say: “I believed in the newspaper with everything I have.” And that he and other Pulaski residents were "scared" when the news about the closing was published. However, Mayor Brindley continued, "This almost HAD TO HAPPEN for people to see how valuable this paper is and how much they did to serve this community!” However, within that same week the Citizen was publishing its last issue, word about the closing came to Dave Gould, the owner of Main Street Media, a company he founded in 2013 that publishes 12 local weekly newspapers in 10 Nashville-area counties. Once he got word via a Facebook post shared by one of his reporters, he quickly contacted then-owner David Lake. In a matter of hours, he negotiated a purchase and saved the publication from extinction. Gould stated, "There was a passion for this newspaper within the community. There was a lot of angst and worry about it closing. So, we felt good about the purchase and have seen overwhelming support from the people of Pulaski.” In this 178th episode of "E&P Reports," we explore a single week in the life of the 167-year-old Pulaski (TN) Citizen — a newspaper announced its closing, the citizen's reactions to the pending loss of their newspaper of record, and the last-minute saving of the publication as a new owner swooped in to purchase it. Chatting with the host and publisher of E&P Magazine, Mike Blinder, were recently-elected Pulaski Mayor J.J. Brindley, Citizen Publisher and Pulaski life-long resident Scott Stewart, and the new owner of the paper, Main Street Media's CEO and Founder Dave Gould.

A family is experiencing paranormal activity after visiting an abandoned house in Giles County, VA. The family is seeing scary figures laying with their child, pigs squealing outside their home and demon-like faces captured on camera. Whatever it is, the family is terrified for their young child. We interview the mother and it left us disturbed.  Cryptic Hotline: (540) 358-1583  SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON! $5 A MONTH  https://www.patreon.com/crypticoutthere  https://www.youtube.com/@itscrypticoutthere  https://www.instagram.com/itscrypticoutthere  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2531530113816495/ itscrypticoutthere@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/itscrypticoutthere/support

We chat with ACCE All In student Jackson Parks along with Giles County, Virginia's Cora Gnegy on this Saturday's show! Tune in Saturday, Feb. 4th at 9am chat with the Mark & Keith about what ACCE All In is & what he's been doing as part of the community service component to the program!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We chat with ACCE All In student Jackson Parks along with Giles County, Virginia's Cora Gnegy on this Saturday's show! Tune in Saturday, Feb. 4th at 9am chat with the Mark & Keith about what ACCE All In is & what he's been doing as part of the community service component to the program!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith and Mark are joined by Lyndsi, VP of Sales at Mountain Lake Lodge & Cora Gnegy of Giles County, Virginia as they share more about Freeze Your Glass Off special events happening now through FebruarySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith and Mark are joined by Lyndsi, VP of Sales at Mountain Lake Lodge & Cora Gnegy of Giles County, Virginia as they share more about Freeze Your Glass Off special events happening now through FebruarySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (5:11).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments ImagesExtra InformationSourcesRelated Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 12-16-22. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of December 19 and December 26, 2022.  This episode is the last in a series this year of episodes related to trees and shrubs. MUSIC – ~16 sec – instrumental. That's part of “Fair Meadows and Goodly Tall Trees,” by Timothy Seaman, of Williamsburg, Virginia, on his 2006 album, “Jamestown: On the Edge of a Vast Continent.”  Across that vast continent, from the Chesapeake Bay to forested western states, people recognize that “goodly tall trees,” as well as shorter trees and shrubs—in woods, parks, yards, and built areas—affect water resources in many important ways.  Have a listen to the music for about 30 more seconds and see if you can think of some of those ways. MUSIC  - ~30 sec – instrumental. If you thought of tree impacts on water supplies, aquatic habitat, or the physical or chemical quality of water, you're right!  Such impacts frequently provide benefits to humans, and those benefits are often called “ecosystem services.”  Here are five examples of water-related services that trees provide to human societies. 1.  Trees can slow or reduce stormwater runoff by intercepting precipitation, by transpiration (that is, the evaporation of water from leaves), and by increasing infiltration of water into the ground. 2.  Trees can improve water quality through reducing sediment inputs to waterways, when they slow runoff speed so that more sediment settles out, and when they hold soil in place at streamsides and in uplands. 3.  Trees can also improve water quality through uptake of plant nutrients that otherwise would remain in soil or water; excessive nutrients can degrade aquatic ecosystems and impair groundwater quality. 4.  Trees living on shorelines, and woody debris in waterways, provide food, habitat, and temperature regulation for aquatic ecosystems. And 5.  Trees can help reduce climate changes, with their many water-related aspects, through the uptake of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and through reduction of human energy use by shading in hot weather and wind breaks in cold weather. In some cases, though, trees can have water-related impacts that are not positive for humans.  For example, tree use of water in some situations can reduce stream flows that provide water supplies, especially in summer; and in western states that depend on snowpack for water supply, trees may either increase or decrease the available snowpack, depending on several factors. Such circumstances remind us that trees exist for their own survival and reproduction, not for human benefit; nevertheless, those long-living, photosynthesizing, woody, and goodly tall beings do provide human beings with irreplaceable benefits. Thanks to Timothy Seaman for permission to use this episode's music, and we close out the episode—and our series on trees and shrubs—with the final 20 seconds of “Fair Meadows and Goodly Tall Trees.” MUSIC  - ~22 sec – instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Virginia Water Radio thanks Kevin McGuire and Stephen Schoenholtz, both of the Virginia Water Resources Research Center and the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, for their help with this episode. “Fair Meadows and Goodly Tall Trees (Fingal's Cave),” from the 2006 album “Jamestown: On the Edge of a Vast Continent,” is copyright by Timothy Seaman and Pine Wind Music, used with permission.  More information about Timothy Seaman is available online at https://timothyseaman.com/en/.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio in Episode 354, 2-6-17. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGES (Photographs are by Virginia Water Radio.) Trees planted along in riparian (streamside) zone of Stroubles Creek on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va. (Montgomery County), December 8, 2022.Trees planted beside a stormwater facility on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va., October 3, 2010.Sycamore trees along the James River in Buchanan, Va. (Botetourt County), December 27, 2008.Tree leaves providing a source of food and habitat for aquatic invertebrate animals in Pandapas Pond in Montgomery County, Va., January 4, 2009.Woody debris in Little Stony Creek in U.S. Forest Service's Cascades Day Use Area in Giles County, Va., July 10, 2014.Trees providing shade, stormwater runoff reduction, and other benefits in downtown Blacksburg, Va., June 13, 2013. EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT WATER-RELATED BENEFITS OF TREES The following information is from the Virginia Department of Forestry, “Benefits of Trees,” online at https://dof.virginia.gov/education-and-recreation/learn-about-education-recreation/benefits-of-tree/, as of 12-19-22. “Trees in Forests: Forests are well known for providing a renewable source of wood products. Some products come from the trees themselves, while others, like mushrooms or medicinal herbs, come from the forested environment. In addition to lumber, paper, and a host of other products, forests provide benefits called ‘ecosystem services,' including filtering air to improve air quality; preventing soil erosion; supplying places for outdoor recreation; providing wildlife and pollinator habitat; sequestering and storing carbon; protecting water quality; offering scenic beauty.”  “Trees in Cities and Towns: Trees in urban areas and yards have value, too. Neighborhoods with lots of trees have lower crime rates, less air pollution, lower energy costs, and higher property values than those without trees. Walking among trees can improve health, and even viewing trees through a window can speed patient recovery times.” “Trees in Riparian [Streamside] Areas: Trees in riparian, or streamside, zones provide special ecosystem benefits, including: filtering runoff to remove pesticides, fertilizer, and other chemicals; preventing streambank erosion and keeping sediment out of the stream; shading streams to keep them cool for aquatic organisms; dropping organic matter that serves as food and microhabitat for aquatic organisms; [and slowing] water during storm events....reducing flood potential.”   (This image was also including in the Show Notes for Virginia Water Radio Episode 621, 3-21-22, the introductory episode in the series on trees and shrubs.)SOURCESUsed for AudioAlliance for the Chesapeake Bay, “Forests,” online at https://www.allianceforthebay.org/forests/. See also the Alliance's November 29, 2022, blog post about goal of planting 29,000 trees in 2022; and information on their 2022 Volunteer Tree-planting Relay, online at https://www.allianceforthebay.org/2022-volunteer-tree-planting-relay.Center for Watershed Protection, “Trees and Stormwater Runoff,” online at https://www.cwp.org/reducing-stormwater-runoff/. F. Stuart Chapin, III, et al., Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology, Second Edition, Springer Science+Business Media, New York, N.Y, 2011.Chesapeake Bay Program, “Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement,” online at https://www.chesapeakebay.net/what/what-guides-us/watershed-agreement.  The 2014 Bay Watershed Agreement is online (as a PDF) at https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakebay/Chesapeake-Bay-Watershed-Agreement-Amended.pdf; see the “Vital Habitats” section in “Goals and Outcomes” (page 8 of the document) for a statement of the desired “Outcomes” for forest buffers and tree canopy.Vincent Cotrone, “The Role of Trees and Forests in Healthy Watersheds,” Penn State Extension, August 30. 2022, online at https://extension.psu.edu/the-role-of-trees-and-forests-in-healthy-watersheds. Michael Kuhns, “Windbreaks for Energy Conservation,” National Urban and Community Forestry Council, September 10, 2019, online at https://trees-energy-conservation.extension.org/windbreaks-for-energy-conservation/. Colleen Meidt, “USU study finds big trees play a big role in preserving snowpack,” Utah Public Radio, May 5, 2022, online at https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2022-05-05/usu-study-finds-big-trees-play-a-big-role-in-preserving-snowpack. Danielle Rhea, “Benefits of Large Woody Debris in Streams,” Penn State Extension, March 1, 2021, online at https://extension.psu.edu/benefits-of-large-woody-debris-in-streams. Eryn E. Schneider et al., “Tree spatial patterns modulate peak snow accumulation and snow disappearance,” Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 441, pages 9-19, June 1, 2019; accessed through ScienceDirect, online at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112718323776, 12-15-22 (subscription may be necessary for online access). Virginia Department of Forestry:“Benefits of Trees,” online at https://dof.virginia.gov/education-and-recreation/learn-about-education-recreation/benefits-of-tree/;“Benefits of Streamside Forests, online at https://dof.virginia.gov/water-quality-protection/learn-about-water-quality-protection/benefits-of-streamside-forests/;“My Trees Count,” online at https://vdof.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=f41f85765879480cab068547645d9d8e(this Web site has information about tree-planting projects across Virginia). Timothy B. Wheeler and Jeremy Cox, Bay region loses ground in effort to increase urban tree canopy, Bay Journal, October 11, 2022.For Examples of Tree Issues and Efforts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed &

Mark A. Tapp and Keith Weltens are joined by Cora with Giles County, Virginia, Lindsey with Narrows, Virginia and Hope with Pearisburg, Virginia! Lindsey in Narrows talks all about the new ice rink, parade, and lights. Hope in Pearisburg talks about the Christmas Lights Trail and other community programs! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark A. Tapp and Keith Weltens are joined by Cora with Giles County, Virginia, Lindsey with Narrows, Virginia and Hope with Pearisburg, Virginia! Lindsey in Narrows talks all about the new ice rink, parade, and lights. Hope in Pearisburg talks about the Christmas Lights Trail and other community programs! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark A. Tapp and Keith Weltens are joined by Cora with Giles County, Virginia, Lindsey with Narrows, Virginia and Hope with Pearisburg, Virginia! Lindsey in Narrows talks all about the new ice rink, parade, and lights. Hope in Pearisburg talks about the Christmas Lights Trail and other community programs! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (5:21).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments ImagesExtra InformationSourcesRelated Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 12-2-22. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of December 5 and December 12, 2022. SOUND – ~ 5 sec That sound of a winter storm opens our annual episode on winter-weather preparedness.  To start, have a listen for about 15 seconds to three more mystery sounds, and see if you can guess what winter-preparedness aspects you're hearing. SOUNDS  - ~14 sec – Virginia 511 Road Conditions System phone recording; filling a container with water; smoke alarm beeping. If you guessed road conditions, emergency supplies of water and other essentials, and fire protection, you're right! In 2022, winter astronomically begins in Virginia on December 21 at 4:48 p.m.  That's the Eastern Standard time of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, when that hemisphere is at its maximum tilt away from the sun. From well before the December solstice, all the way through the season's conclusion in March, winter can bring cold temperatures, hazardous roads, power outages, fire hazards, and other concerns.  To help you be prepared, here are 10 tips compiled from information provided by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1.  Avoid traveling in winter-storm conditions if you can.  If you must travel, get road conditions from the Virginia 511 telephone system, mobile app, or Web site, and carry in your vehicle an emergency kit, including jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, food and water, and other items.2.  Have battery-powered sources of lighting and information, along with enough batteries to last through a power outage of several days.3.  Develop and practice a family emergency plan that covers sheltering; escape from a home fire; emergency meeting places; communications; a supply of food, water, and medications; and other factors specific to your circumstances.4.  Get fireplaces, wood stoves, and chimneys inspected and cleaned.5.  Install a smoke detector in every bedroom and on every floor level and replace the batteries at least annually. 6.  Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home and check or replace the battery every six months.7.  If you use space heaters, make sure they'll switch off automatically if the heater falls over; plug them into wall outlets, not extension cords; keep them at least three feet from combustible objects; don't leave heaters unattended; and check for cracked or damaged wires or plugs. 8.  Generators, camp stoves, and other devices that burn gasoline or charcoal should be used outdoors only.9.  Learn where to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts. And 10.  Be careful of overexertion during snow shoveling. More information on preparing for winter weather, fires, and other emergencies is available online from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, at vaemergency.gov. Next time the forecast calls for snow, freezing rain, or other wintry weather, here's hoping that you can stay warm, dry, and safe. We close with about 35 seconds of music for the approaching winter.  Here's part of “Winter is Coming,” by the Harrisonburg- and Rockingham County, Va.-based band, The Steel Wheels. MUSIC - ~36 sec – Lyrics: “Summer's gone, we're movin' on, can't regret that frozen dawn.  Summer's over, winter's coming; summer's over winter's coming; summer's over winter's coming.” SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Ben Cosgrove for his version of “Shenandoah” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The winter storm sound was from the recording DMP013016 HEAVYSNOWSTORM.wav, by user martypinso, made available for public use on Freesound.org at https://freesound.org/people/martypinso/sounds/22606/, accessed 12-1-22. The excerpt from the Virginia 511 phone service was recorded by Virginia Water Radio on December 1, 2022.  The running water sounds and smoke alarm were also recorded by Virginia Water Radio. “Winter is Coming,” from the 2015 album “We've Got a Fire,” is copyright by The Steel Wheels, used with permission.  More information about The Steel Wheels is available online at https://www.thesteelwheels.com/.  Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (2 min./22 sec.) of the “Shenandoah” arrangement/performance by Ben Cosgrove that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Cosgrove is available online at http://www.bencosgrove.com. IMAGES (Photographs are by Virginia Water Radio.) Snow on U.S. 460 Bypass in Blacksburg, Va., January 16, 2022.Ice on the New River in Giles County, Va., January 1, 2018.Red-winged Blackbirds in a snowy tree in Blacksburg, Va., March 12, 2018.EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS The following is from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, “Winter Weather,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/winter-weather/, as of 12-7-22. Winter storms can range from freezing rain or ice to a few hours of moderate snowfall, to a blizzard that lasts for several days.  Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures, power outages, and unpredictable road conditions. Before, during, and after a winter storm, roads and walkways may become extremely dangerous or impassable. Access to critical community services such as public transportation, child care, healthcare providers and schools may be limited. Preparing your home, car, and family before cold weather and a winter storm arrives is critical.  [Following are several suggestions.] *During a winter storm, stay off the roads as much as possible and only drive when absolutely necessary. Always give snow plows the right of way.*Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning device inside your home, garage, basement, crawlspace, or any other partially enclosed area.*Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks! Always avoid overexertion when shoveling.*When severe weather occurs, plan to check on elderly or disabled neighbors and relatives.*If you must travel, know the road conditions before you leave home. Visit 511Virginia.org or call 511 for road condition updates.*Protect yourself from frostbite! Hands, feet, and face are the most commonly affected areas so wear a hat, and mittens (which are warmer than gloves) and cover your mouth with a scarf to reduce heat loss.*Keep dry! Change out of wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.*Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer or heavy clothing. Winter Storm Watch – BE AWARE Severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two. Winter Storm Warning – TAKE ACTION Severe winter conditions have either begun or will begin soon in your area. PREPARE YOUR HOME *Make sure your home is properly insulated.*Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors.*Learn how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.*Have additional heat sources  on hand in case of a power outage.*Keep a fire extinguisher accessible.*Replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector annually. PREPARE YOUR CAR *Batteries lose power as temperatures drop, be sure to have yours tested.*Check your car's antifreeze level.*Have your radiator system serviced.*Replace your car's windshield wiper fluid with a wintertime mix.*Proactively replace your car's worn tires and wiper blades.*To help with visibility, clean off your car entirely – including your trunk, roof, windows, and headlights. INCLUDE A CAR EMERGENCY KIT Tailor your winter car emergency supply kit to you and your family's needs. Here are suggested items: Blankets;Drinking water and snacks for everyone in the car, including pets;Boots;Basic first-aid kit;Warm coat and insulating layers (sweatpants, gloves, hat, socks,);Rags, paper towels or pre-moistened wipes;Basic set of tools;Car emergency warning devices such as road flares or reflectors;Ice scraper/snow brush;Jumper cables/jump pack;Fire extinguisher;Cash;Items for children such as diapers, baby wipes, toys, etc.;Flashlight, with extra batteries;;Hand warmers;Paper map;Portable smartphone power bank;Extra medication;Garbage bags;;Traction aid such as sand, salt or non-clumping, cat litter;Tarp, raincoat, and gloves;Shovel. DID YOU KNOW? *Dehydration can make you more susceptible to hypothermia.*If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pet!  Don't leave pets outside for prolonged periods of time and have plenty of fresh, unfrozen water on hand.*It can snow at temperatures well above freezing.*Temperatures do not have to be below zero degrees to cause harm. SOURCES USED FOR AUDIO AND OFFERING MORE INFORMATION American Red Cross, “Winter Storm Safety,” online at https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html, or contact your local Red Cross chapter.Farmers' Almanac, “Winter Solstice 2022: When Is It, and What Is It?” online at https://www.farmersalmanac.com/winter-solstice-first-day-winter.          Federal Emergency Management Agency: “Be Prepared for a Winter Storm,” online at https://community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/article/Winter-Storm;“Build a Kit,” online at https://www.ready.gov/kit; “Car Safety,” online at https://www.ready.gov/car;  “Make a Plan,” online at https://www.ready.gov/plan;“Winter Weather,” online at http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “NOAA Weather Radio,” online at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/.National Weather Service/Cleveland, Ohio, Forecast Office, “The Seasons, the Equinox, and the Solstices,” online at https://www.weather.gov/cle/seasons. National Weather Service, “Weather and Water Events Preparedness Calendar,” online at https://www.weather.gov/safety/events_calendar. National Weather Service/Wakefield, Va., Forecast Office, “Virginia Winter Weather Awareness Week,” online at https://www.weather.gov/akq/WinterWeatherAwarenessWeek. Smithsonian Science Education Center, “What is the Winter Solstice,” online at https://ssec.si.edu/stemvisions-blog/what-winter-solstice.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:“Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/Frequently Asked Questions,” online at https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm;“Proper Use of Candles During a Power Outage,” online at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/psa/candles.html. U.S. Department of Energy, “Small Space Heaters,” online at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/small-space-heaters.Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/.  This is the Commonwealth of Virginia's central source of information on preparedness for all types of emergencies and disasters.  See particularly the following pages:“Winter Weather,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/winter-weather/;“Fires,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/fires/;“Make an Car Emergency Kit” (1 min./31 sec. video), online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPgvWgtiWHI. Virginia Department of Health, “Winter Weather Preparedness,” online at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/public-relations-contacts/winter-weather-preparedness/. Virginia Department of Transportation, “Virginia Traffic Information,” online at http://www.511virginia.org/. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Weather/Climate/Natural Disasters” subject category. Following are links to previous years' winter-preparedness episodes, with music used in the episodes. Episode 139, 12-3-12. Episode 190, 12-2-13 (a repeat of Episode 139).Episode 242, 12-1-14 – featuring “Cold World” by Kat Mills. Episode 292, 11-30-15 – featuring “Winter is Coming” by The Steel Wheels. Episode 344, 11-28-16 – featuring “Drive the Cold Winter Away” by Timothy Seaman. Episode 396, 11-27-17 – featuring “Winter's Fall” by No Strings Attached. Episode 448, 11-26-18 – featuring “New Boots” by John McCutcheon.Episode 501, 12-2-19 – featuring “Cold Frosty Morn'” by New Standard.Episode 553, 11-30-20 – featuring “Drive the Cold Winter Away” by Timothy Seaman and “Cold World” by Kat Mills.Episode 605, 11-29-21 – featuring “Mid-winter Etude” by Timothy Seaman. Following are links to some other winter-related episodes. Frost – Episode 597, 10-4-21.Freezing and ice –

Nate Emerson runs Armadillo Excavation in Chattanooga, TN. Nate grew up on a 100-acre farm in Giles County, about an hour south of Nashville. After 2 years of college studying construction management, Nate knew that it wasn't for him, and made a hard pivot to working in the music industry, selling merchandise, and doing stagehand work. After some office work experience, Nate found himself staring out the window into the Chattanooga mountains and realized that was where he needed to be. So he started chatting with local contractors and before he knew it, he was digging a basement on the side of a mountain. The rest, as they say, is history. This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt and Nate Emerson of Armadillo Excavation discuss the primal instinct to want to get out in the dirt, learning the hard lesson that building a business is mostly just making it up as you go, and doing hard things for your own mental wellness.  Follow along with Nate's story on IG at @armadilloexcavationllc.  — DirtWorld.com Let's build a BETTER DIRT WORLD Without the Dirt World, we wouldn't have the food, clean water, electricity, roads, or shelter required for survival. Demand for the industry is growing, yet over 40% of our workforce will retire by 2031. We must add hundreds of thousands of people every year only to keep up... So let's fix that. What if society viewed our profession as noble? What if parents were proud when their kids declared they wanted to be in the Dirt World? What if a workforce shortage was no longer a worry? Now is the time for us all to work together to build a movement. We need to tell our industry's story, further care for and train our existing workforce, and create clear pathways for people to join and succeed in the Dirt World. It's all possible, but only together, and time is of the essence. Help us secure the future of the Dirt World. Listen to Dirt Talk: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GK5UWkulNJ6tNFXvWngMt?si=2332acb8e2954301  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirt-talk-by-buildwitt/id1494235724  Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnV6enNwcm91dC5jb20vNzc5NjAz Stay Dirty!

Welcome back to another episode of "It's Cryptic Out There" Season 3! In this local story, we cover the 1978 murder case of Jeff Scott and Karen Noble in Wolf Creek, VA. We analyze the events that took place and travel to the murder scene. We discuss whether or not George Voster Bird committed the murders and we get an interesting but very dark and sad development involving George.  Check out Magic Mind: https://www.magicmind.co/cryptic And get 40% off your subscription for the next 10 days with code: CRYPTIC20   CRYPTIC HOTLINE: (540) 358-1583  https://www.youtube.com/@UC_1q0phngPj...  https://www.instagram.com/itscryptico...  https://www.facebook.com/groups/25315... itscrypticoutthere@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/itscrypticoutthere/support

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (3:27).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments Images Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). All Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 11-9-22. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of November 21 and November 28, 2022.  This is a revised version of an episode from November 2013. MUSIC – ~ 11 sec – instrumental. That's part of “Rainy Night,” by the group Wake Up Robin, with musicians from North Carolina, New York, California, and Washington State.  It opens an episode where we drop in on a lively Thanksgiving gathering to hear several people name something about water for which they're thankful.  Have a listen for about 50 seconds to some of water's variety and value.VOICES - ~50 sec Water for my mom's garden.Thunderstorms.For the snow.Glaciers.Waterfalls.Oceans.I am thankful for the Pacific Ocean.I'm thankful for the Atlantic Ocean.Evaporation—it's sustains life, and keeps us cool.Without water, we would not be alive.For life.You drink it.It keeps me hydrated.It makes up at least 75 percent of my being.Cleanliness.I love to exercise in the water—it keeps me going.Tears.What's not to like about water?  It's all good as long as it's clean.Virginia Water Radiothanks the Virginians you just heard for reminding us of the diversity, utility, necessity, and vitality of our common wealth of water. Thanks also to Andrew VanNorstrand for permission to use this week's music; and in honor of hydrologic events that provide our water, we close with about 35 more seconds of “Rainy Night.” MUSIC - ~37 sec – instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Virginia Water Radio episode revises and replaces Episode 189, 11-25-13. “Rainy Night,” from the 2018 album “Wake Up Robin,” on Great Bear Records, by the group of the same name, is used with permission of Andrew VanNorstrand.  More information about the album and band is available online at https://wakeuprobin.bandcamp.com. Guest voices heard in this episode were recorded by Virginia Water Radio on November 22 and November 24, 2013, in Blacksburg; used with permission.  Virginia Water Radio thanks Blacksburg friends and Virginia Tech co-workers for their participation. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGES (Photographs are by Virginia Water Radio.) Here's a photographic sampler of some of the water resources for which Virginians can be thankful. Historic Aldie Mill in Loudoun County, March 2010. Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County, September 2010. Cascades Falls in Giles County, July 2014.  Woodland stream in Montgomery County, December 2015. Rainbow over Montgomery County, March 2017 Wetlands at Frog Level in Tazewell County, June 2018. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Overall Importance of Water” subject category. Following are links to other episodes related to the Thanksgiving holiday. Episode 291, 11-23-15 – Thanks for Musical Measures of Water.Episode 343, 11-21-16 – Wild Turkey and Water.Episode 395, 11-20-17 – Thanks for the Water—Thanksgiving 2017 Edition.Episode 500, 11-25-19 – The Variety of Virginia's Water Story. FOR VIRGINIA TEACHERS – RELATED STANDARDS OF LEARNING (SOLs) AND OTHER INFORMATION Following are some Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) that may be supported by this episode's audio/transcript. 2020 Music SOLs SOLs at various grade levels that call for “examining the relationship of music to the other fine arts and other fields of knowledge.” 2018 Science SOLs Grades K-3 plus 5: MatterK.4 – Water is important in our daily lives and has properties. Grades K-4: Living Systems and ProcessesK.7 – Plants and animals have basic needs and life processes.1.5 – Animals, including humans, have basic life needs that allow them to survive. Grades K-5: Earth and Space Systems3.7 – There is a water cycle and water is important to life on Earth. Grades K-5: Earth ResourcesK.11 – Humans use resources.4.8 – Virginia has important natural resources. Grade 66.6 – Water has unique physical properties and has a role in the natural and human-made environment. Earth ScienceES.6 – Resource use is complex. BiologyBIO.2 – Chemical and biochemical processes are essential for life. 2015 Social Studies SOLs Grades K-3 Economics Theme2.8 – Natural, human, and capital resources.3.8 – Understanding of cultures and of how natural, human, and capital resources are used for goods and services. Virginia's SOLs are available from the Virginia Department of Education, online at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/.Following are links to Water Radio episodes (various topics) designed especially for certain K-12 grade levels. Episode 250, 1-26-15 – on boiling, for kindergarten through 3rd grade. Episode 255, 3-2-15 – on density, for 5th and 6th grade. Episode 282, 9-21-15 – on living vs. non-living, for kindergarten. Episode 309, 3-28-16 – on temperature regulation in animals, for kindergarten through 12th grade. Episode 333, 9-12-16 – on dissolved gases, especially dissolved oxygen in aquatic habitats, for 5th grade. Episode 404, 1-22-18 – on ice on ponds and lakes, for 4th through 8th grade. Episode 407, 2-12-18 – on snow chemistry and physics, for high school. Episode 483, 7-29-19 – on buoyancy and drag, for middle school and high school. Episode 524, 5-11-20 – on sounds by water-related animals, for elementary school through high school. Episode 531, 6-29-20 – on various ways that animals get water, for 3rd and 4th grade. Episode 539, 8-24-20 – on basic numbers and facts about Virginia's water resources, for 4th and 6th grade. Episode 606, 12-6-21 – on freezing and ice, for kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Keith and Mark are joined by Cora Gnegy, tourism director for Giles County.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy of Giles County joins the show to talk about all things ACCE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy of Giles County joins the show to talk about all things ACCE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy of Giles County joins the show to talk about all things ACCE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cora Gnegy of Giles County joins the show to talk about all things ACCE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special "It's Cryptic Out There" episode, the crew investigates Giles County's historical graveyard located in VA. The Pearis Cemetery. Colonel George Pearis fought in the American Revolutionary war and founded the town of Pearisburg. It is said that George haunts the graveyard as well as over 200 spirits. The Cryptic crew travels at night to investigate and what they capture is quite creepy... Cryptic Hotline: (540) 358-1583 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_1q... https://www.instagram.com/itscryptico... https://www.facebook.com/groups/25315... itscrypticoutthere@gmail.com https://www.patreon.com/crypticoutthere --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/itscrypticoutthere/support

Chris McCoy has our cover story this week. In "It's OK to Not Be OK" Chris explores what health officials across the globe are calling a mental health "crisis" and how that is playing out in Memphis. Josh Spickler, executive director of Just City, talks about what we can expect in the first few months of Steve Mulroy's term as DA. From our state desk, a Black man in Giles County was convicted recently by a jury sitting in the "Confederate Room." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/memphis-flyer/message

CLICK HERE to listen to episode audio (3:57).Sections below are the following: Transcript of Audio Audio Notes and Acknowledgments Images Sources Related Water Radio Episodes For Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.). Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 4-8-22. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the week of April 11, 2022.  This revised episode from August 2013 is part of a series this year of episodes related to trees and shrubs. MUSIC – ~12 sec – instrumental. This week, we feature a musical selection inspired in part by one of Virginia's largest and most distinctive riverside plants.  Have a listen to the music for about 35 more seconds. MUSIC – ~ 34 sec – instrumental.You've been listening to part of “Sycamore Rapids,” by Timothy Seaman, of Williamsburg, Va., on a 2002 album also called “Sycamore Rapids.”  The album was inspired by the trees of Virginia's state parks and forests, and the “Sycamore Rapids' tune honors particularly James River and Shenandoah River state parks.  According to the composer, the tune's progressions are meant to signify changes a paddler might experience from small riffles to larger rapids to smooth water. At any of those water features throughout the eastern United States, part of a paddler's scenery is often the American Sycamore tree.  Of the three sycamore species native to North America, the American Sycamore is the most familiar and by far the most widespread, ranging from New England to the Midwest and down to Texas, including all of Virginia.  Common in floodplain areas along rivers and streams, the sycamore's distinctive features are large, often hollow trunks; peeling, patterned bark; crooked limbs; large root masses visible along stream banks; and spherical fruits persisting on leafless twigs long into winter. Virginia riversides are of course commonly home to other tree species, too, such as Black Willow, Silver Maple, and Eastern Cottonwood.  But with its large size and distinctive bark, the American Sycamore is perhaps the Commonwealth's most noticeable waterway marker. Thanks to Timothy Seaman for permission to use this week's music, and we close with about 15 more seconds of “Sycamore Rapids.” MUSIC – ~ 16 sec – instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of Cripple Creek to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Virginia Water Radio episode revises and replaces Episode 176, 8-26-13. “Sycamore Rapids,” from the 2002 album of the same name, is copyright by Timothy Seaman and Pine Wind Music, used with permission.  More information about Timothy Seaman is available online at http://www.timothyseaman.com/.Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGES Fruit on an American Sycamore beside Toms Creek in Blacksburg, Va. (Montgomery County), March 19, 2022.American Sycamore beside Sinking Creek in Newport, Va., (Giles County), April 10, 2022.American Sycamore roots along the James River near Wingina, Va., along the Nelson-Buckingham county line, July 12, 2009.Hollow trunk of American Sycamore beside the New River in Radford, Va., October 4, 2009.American Sycamores beside Toms Creek in Blacksburg, Va., November 5, 2016.SOURCES Used for Audio eFloras.org, “Flora of North America,” online at http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=1.  The American Sycamore entry is online at http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200010589. William C. Grimm, The Book of Trees, Hawthorn Books, New York, N.Y., 1962. Oscar W. Gupton and Fred C. Swope, Trees and Shrubs of Virginia, University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville, 1981. University of Texas at Austin/Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, ‘Plant Database: Platanus occidentalis,” online at https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ploc. U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service, “PLANTS Database,” online at https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home.  The American Sycamore entry is online at https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=PLOC. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, “Virginia State Parks,” online at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/.  The James River State Park entry is online at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/james-river; the Shenandoah River State Park entry is online at https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/shenandoah-river. Virginia Department of Forestry, Common Native Trees of Virginia, Charlottesville, 2016. A.S. Weakley, J.C. Ludwig, and J.F. Townsend, Flora of Virginia, Bland Crowder, ed.  Copyright by the Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project, Inc., Richmond.  Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, 2012.  (The Flora of Virginia Project is online at https://floraofvirginia.org/.) Herbert S. Zim and Alexander C. Martin, as revised by Jonathan P. Latimer et al., Trees—A Guide to Familiar American Trees, St. Martin's Press, New York, N.Y., 2001. For More Information about Trees and Shrubs in Virginia and Elsewhere Chesapeake Bay Program, “Field Guide: Plants and Trees,” online at https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/all/plants_trees/all. Sanglin Lee and Alan Raflo, “Trees and Water,” Viriginia Water Resources Research Center, Virginia Water Central Newsletter, pages 13-18, online at https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/49367.   (A Virginia Cooperative Extension version of this article—“Trees and Water,” by Sanglin Lee, Alan Raflo, and Jennifer Gagnon, 2018—with some slight differences in the text is available online at https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/ANR/ANR-18/ANR-18NP.html.) Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension, “How Trees Grow,” online at https://agrilife.org/treecarekit/introduction-to-tree-care/how-trees-grow/. U.S. Department of Agriculture/U.S. Forest Service, Forests of Virginia, 2018, Resource Update FS-264, Asheville, N.C., 2020; available online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/59963. U.S. Department of Agriculture/U.S. Forest Service, “State and Private Forestry Fact Sheet—Virginia 2022,” online (as a PDF) at https://apps.fs.usda.gov/nicportal/temppdf/sfs/naweb/VA_std.pdf. Virginia Botanical Associates, “Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora,” online at http://www.vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=start&search=Search. Virginia Department of Forestry, “Virginia's Forests,” online at https://dof.virginia.gov/. Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program, Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Tech College of Natural Resources and Environment, online at https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/. Virginia Forest Products Association, online at https://www.vfpa.net/. Virginia Native Plant Society, online at http://vnps.org/. Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Conservation, “Virginia Tech Dendrology” online at https://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/vtree.htm.  At this site, one can search for trees by common or scientific name. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Plants” subject category. Following are links to other episodes on trees and shrubs. Introduction to trees and water – Episode 621, 3-21-22.American Witch Hazel – Episode 238, 10-31-14.Ash trees – Episode 376, 7-10-17.Early spring wildflowers in woodlands – Episode 573, 4-19-21.Forest lands and work in Virginia – Episode 623, 4-4-22.Maple trees – Episode 503, 12-16-19.Photosynthesis – Episode 602, 11-8-21.Poison Ivy and related plants, including the shrub Poison Sumac – Episode 535, 7-27-20.Rhododendrons – Episode 574, 4-26-21.Tree buds – Episode 622, 3-28-22. FOR VIRGINIA TEACHERS – RELATED STANDARDS OF LEARNING (SOLs) AND OTHER INFORMATION Following are some Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) that may be supported by this episode's audio/transcript, sources, or other information included in this post. 2020 Music SOLs SOLs at various grade levels that call for “examining the relationship of music to the other fine arts and other fields of knowledge.” 2018 Science SOLs Grades K-4: Living Systems and Processes 1.4 – Plants have basic life needs (including water) and functional parts that allow them to survive; including that plants can be classified based on a variety of characteristics.2.5 – Living things are part of a system.3.5 – Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems support a diversity of organisms.4.2 – Plants and animals have structures that distinguish them from one another and play vital roles in their ability to survive.4.3 – Organisms, including humans, interact with one another and with the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Grades K-5: Earth Resources2.8 – Plants are important natural resources.4.8 – Virginia has important natural resources. Grade 66.6 – Water has unique physical properties and has a role in the natural and human-made environment.6.8 – Land and water have roles in watershed systems. Life ScienceLS.5 – Biotic and abiotic factors affect an ecosystem.LS.6 – Populations in a biological community interact and are interdependent.LS.7 – Adaptations support an organism's survival in an ecosystem. Biology BIO.8 – Dynamic equilibria exist within populations, communities, and ecosystems.Virginia's SOLs are available from the Virginia Department of Education, online at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/. Following are links to Water Radio episodes (various topics) designed especially for certain K-12 grade levels.Episode 250, 1-26-15 – on boiling, for kindergarten through 3rd grade. Episode 255, 3-2-15 – on density, for 5th and 6th grade. Episode 282, 9-21-15 – on living vs. non-living, for kindergarten. Episode 309, 3-28-16 – on temperature regulation in animals, for kindergarten through 12th grade.Episode 333, 9-12-16 – on dissolved gases, especially dissolved oxygen in aquatic habitats, for 5th grade.Episode 404, 1-22-18 – on ice on ponds and lakes, for 4th through 8th grade.Episode 407, 2-12-18

Hi All,Episode two of “American Song” is an exploration of some of the early regional music from before the 20th century.  Like some of the things we listened to in episode one, many of these forms survive and continue to be popular today!In this half-hour episode, we'll listen to Appalachian and Mountain music, then travel down to Louisiana for a sampling of Cajun music!  No trip to Louisiana is complete without at least a short stop in New Orleans – we'll be back to New Orleans again in episode three.  This week, however, we're digging into the march music; early jazz music was, at least in part, played of ex- marching band members.  And I hope you're leaving a little room on your plate for some Mexican food – or at least music!  Our neighbors to the south have contributed to our culture like everyone else. Here's a list of the music used in this episode:  West Virginia GalsRecorded 11/26/66 in the family home of Glen Lyn; Giles County, Virginia.Source:  Library of CongressBarbara AllenSung by “Granny Porter”; Wade Ward, fiddle player.Source: Ballads and Songs of the Blue Ridge Mountains; Persistence & ChangeCamden Clog DancingMike Adamson YouTube videoDarlin' CoriCedric Watson on Gourd BanjoCedric Watson YouTube videoWash Tub Bass Demonstration by Mick RalphsYouTube videoWhiskey Before BreakfastPerformed by:  Stephen Seifert YouTube videoHigh On a MountainPerformed by:  Ola Belle ReedClassic Mountain Songs; Smithsonian FolkwaysCajun Comedian Comedy by:  Kent GonsoulinYouTube videoLa Danse du Mardi GrasPerformed by: The Balfa BrothersPomona WaltzEmil Waldtleufel; composerRecorded by E. Berliner Gramophone; 1897Source; Library of CongressSoldier's MarchPerformed by Prince's Military BandRecording Date; 3-25-1909Source:  Library of CongressPanama RagPerformed by:  Regimental Band of the Republic (instrumentalist)Recorded By:  American Record Co.Date:  1905La CucarachaPerformed by:  Cuco SanchezVolver, VolverPerformed by:  Vicente Fernandez

Burglar pounded by home owner. Commutation for killing son-in-law. Gen. Jackson's scandalous affair. The news of January 14, 1886 came from The Pulaski Citizen, a newspaper from Giles Count, which is in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee. During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to historic newspapers is limited and on some dates, no newspapers originating in West Tennessee can be accessed. However, newspapers reported many of the same crimes from around the county so surely Madison County citizens read many of the same stories as the readers in Giles County. Source: The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.), 14 Jan. 1886. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

What does a football reporter know about drug overdoses?  Giles County, Virginia native Lauren Sisler from ESPN joined me to talk about her journey from denial to acceptance to advocacy.   Ms. Sisler will be the keynote speaker at the Appalachian Communities Opioid Response Summit, May 12 in Huntington, WV.