Letter From the Country A haunted house story for Halloween (copy) Oct 28, 2026 Oct 28, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Dear Folks,kAm*@FC pF?E q:==J 96C6] xE H2D 2 =:EE=6 367@C6 J@FC E:>6 2?5 2== E92E’D =67E @7 E96 @=5 (:==:2>D A=246 ?@H :D 2 76H D42EE6C65 2?E:BF6 3C:4<D 9:556? :? E96 H665D 2?5 6?4C@249:?8 3CFD9 2?5 8C25F2==J 5:DD@=G:?8 324< :?E@ E96 C65 5:CE H96C6 E96 =2H? 2?5 82C56? FD65 E@ 36] xE H2D @?46 2 362FE:7F= 3:8 72C>9@FD6 3F:=E @AE:>:DE:42==J E@ DFDE2:? 2 =6824J 3FE 27E6C :ED 3F:=56C 5:65 @7 A?6F>@?:2 H:E9@FE 96:CD[ D:3=:?8D @C 6G6? 2 H:76 :? E96 >F55J EC6?496D @7 ((\` q6=8:F> :E D2E 6>AEJ 7@C >@C6 E92? EH@ 564256D] %:>6[ H62E96C 2?5 D>2== 3@JD H:E9 C@4<D D@@? EFC?65 :E :?E@ 2 8C2J 2?5 8=2DD=6DD 9F=< 6>AEJ @7 6G6CJE9:?8 E92E 4@F=5 36 AC:65 =@@D6 2?5 42CC:65 @77 — 6I46AE 7@C H92E6G6C 92F?E65 :E]k^Am kAm|JDE6C:@FD 7=:4<6C:?8 J6==@H =:89ED 2D :7 7C@> 42CC:65 =2?E6C?D[ 4C62<:?8 D@F?5D 7C@> E96 H2==D 2?5 7=@@CD[ E9:4< DA:56CH63D DH2J:?8 2D :7 7C@> 2 3C66K6 :? 5625\DE:== 2:C 2?5 @7E6? 9:89\A:E4965 D4C62>D 2?5 =@H >@2?:?8] |@C6 E92? 2 76H @7 E96 =@42= 3C2G6\962CED 2?5 D<6AE:4D DH@C6 E96J H@F=5 DA6?5 2 H9@=6 ?:89E :? E96 9@FD6j ?@?6 6G6C 5:5] ~E96CH:D6 DEC@?8 J@F?8 >6? C2? 2H2J D4C62>:?8] }@3@5J <?6H H92E :E H2D[ >2?J H6C6 4@?G:?465 :E H2D E96 56G:=[ 3FE[ 7:?2==J[ @?6 @7 E96 =@42= AC62496CD 564:565 :E H2D E:>6 E96 56G:= 8@E 9:D 5F6[ :7 :?5665 :E H2D E96 @=’ 3@J 9:D @H? 7:?6 9@C?65\2?5\9@@G6C65 D6=7] pC>65 @?=J H:E9 9:D 962GJ 3=24< q:3=6 2?5 2 %96C>@D @7[ D@>6 =2E6C 4=2:>65[ D24C2>6?E2= H:?6 @C >@@?D9:?6[ E96 3C2G6 C6G6C6?5 6?E6C65 E96 @=5 9@FD6 :? E96 6G6?:?8 8=@2>:?8 2?5 96 DE2J65 2D E96 2:C H2D 7:==65 H:E9 >@2?:?8[ E96 =:89ED 7=:4<6C65 2?5 E96 6?E:C6 9@FD6 D66>65 E@ D92<6[ 2D 5:5 E96 AC62496C[ 3FE E96?[ ;FDE 2 76H >:?FE6D A2DE >:5?:89E[ E96 89@DE @7 2 J@F?8 2?5 362FE:7F= H@>2?[ =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? ;FDE 2 8:C= >2E6C:2=:K65] %9:D D6E E96 AC62496C 324< @?E@ 9:D 966=D D:?46 D96 H2D 92C5=J H92E 96 925 366? 2?E:4:A2E:?8[ 2 7246\E@\7246 9:89\?@@?6C H:E9 r9C:DE:2?:EJ’D C2?<:?8 ?6>6D:D[ 3FE 96 96=5 9:D 8C@F?5 2D D96 E@=5 9:>[ :? E96 D@7E6DE @7 G@:46D[ E92E D96 925 366? EC2G6=:?8 E9C@F89 E96 2C62 H96? D96 H2D 2DD2F=E65 2?5 >FC56C65 3J 2 >6>36C @7 9:D G6CJ @H? 4@?8C682E:@? 2?5 4@F=5 ?@E C6DE F?E:= 96C >FC56C6C H2D 6IA@D65 2?5 3C@F89E E@ ;FDE:46] “*@F H:== 7:?5 >J 3@?6D 3FC:65 :? 2 D92==@H 8C2G6 :? E96 62CE96? 7=@@C @7 E9:D 9@FD6[” D96 D2:5] “v@ 5@H? 2?5 5:8 E96C6 2?5 E2<6 E96 D>2==6DE 3@?6 @7 >J =67E =:EE=6 7:?86C[ E96? A=246 :E :? J@FC 4@==64E:@? A=2E6 ?6IE $F?52J 2?5 :E H:== :56?E:7J >J <:==6C]”k^Am People are also reading… Chilhowie confirms it's exploring boundary adjustment Cuts to schools, social services on Smyth supervisors' agenda Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Social worker issues appeal for more foster families Smyth County considers permit for second battery energy storage facility Verizon wants to hang up on landlines, but some customers aren’t so sure Democrats capture Congress in sweeping setback for Trump Diesel costs force Smyth schools to review bus use Legislators honor T-Bone Lewis, present General Assembly resolution Smyth School Board honors educator who builds on student strengths Grant allows Chilhowie PD to put AED in each police vehicle Chilhowie chief shares ideas state can adopt to help with disaster response Pete Hegseth stares down likely impeachment vote. And he's not the only one Unflappable: QB Grunkemeyer setting the tone for Virginia Tech kAm%96 AC62496C 5:5 2D D96 925 E@=5 9:> 2?5 2D E96 4@==64E:@? A=2E6 C624965 2 46CE2:? >2?[ 2 5624@? @7 E96 49FC49 :? 724E[ E96 E:?J 3@?6 7=6H @FE @7 E96 A=2E6 2?5 DEF4< E@ E96 >2?’D 7@C69625] r=2H:?8 56DA6C2E6=J 2E E96 3@?6[ 96 3682? E@ D4C62> 2?5 4@?76DD65 E@ E96 4C:>6] w6 H2D 2CC6DE65 2?5 AFE :? ;2:=] %96 8:C=’D 3@5J H2D 5F8 FA 2?5 C6:?E6CC65 H:E9 2 AC@A6C r9C:DE:2? 3FC:2= @? {:EE=6 w@A6 w:== 2?5 ?@3@5J 6G6C 282:? D2H E96 >JDE6C:@FD =:89ED @C DH2J:?8 4@3H63D @C 962C5 E96 D4C62>D 2?5 >@2?:?8 3FE 3J E96? E96 @=5 9@FD6 925 56E6C:@C2E65 6G6? >@C6 2?5 ;FDE H2D?’E H@CE9 7:I:?8 FA 6G6? 3J C6E:C:?8 *2?<66D H:E9 G:D:@?D @7 @A6?:?8 2 365 U2>Aj 3C62<72DE 2?5 ?@3@5J ?6G6C DA6?E 2 ?:89E E96C6 282:?] xE 42F89E @? 7:C6 @?6 3=FDE6CJ ~4E@36C b`DE ?62C >:5?:89E[ ?@3@5J <?@HD H9J 2?5 3FC?65 E@ E96 8C@F?5]k^Am kAm%96C6 H2D 2 EC:2=[ E96 <:==6C 4@?76DD65 282:? 2?5 H2D D6?E6?465 E@ 36 AF3=:4=J 92?865 2 >@?E9 =2E6C] xE H2D 2? 6G6?E 6286C=J 2?E:4:A2E65[ A:4?:4 =F?496D H6C6 A=2??65[ H@>6? 2?5 8:C=D 3@F89E ?6H @FE7:ED E@ H62C 7@C E96 @442D:@?[ $:=2D 5@H? 2E E96 86?6C2= DE@C6 @C56C65 :? 2?5 BF:4<=J D@=5 2 5@K6? A2:CD @7 >@E96C\@7\A62C= @A6C2 8=2DD6D[ H2E6C>6=@?D H6C6 D6E E@ 49:==:?8 :? DAC:?8 9@FD6D 2?5 6G6CJ >2=6 @G6C E96 286 @7 `a D64C6E65 2 =:EE=6 7=2D< @7 H9:D<6J H:E9 H9:49 E@ E@2DE E96 DH:?86C] %96 D96C:77 6G6? D6?E @77 E@ $62CD #@63F4< 7@C 2 ?6H 92?8:?8 C@A6 D:?46 |236= q6==6[ 9:D H:76 925 4@>>2?566C65 9:D @=5 @?6 7@C FD:?8 2D 2 4=@E96D=:?6 2?5 C67FD65 E@ 8:G6 :E 324<]k^Am kAmqFE[ 2D D@ @7E6? 92AA6?D[ !C@G:56?46 DE6AA65 :? E@ 4@?7@F?5 E96 A=2?D @7 >2?] %96 4@?56>?65 AC:D@?6C 362E E96 42C?:G2=\2?E:4:A2E:?8 4C@H5 3J 5J:?8 @7 2 962CE 2EE24< =6DD E92? 2 52J 367@C6 DE2CC:?8 :? E96 3:8 6G6?E] tG6CJ@?6 :? E96 w@==@H H2D 2?8CJ[ FAD6E 2?5 5@H?C:89E A665 @77 2E 36:?8 C@3365 @7 E96 3:886DE 6?E6CE2:?>6?E @7 E96 J62C] |@DE D2:5 E96 >2? D9@F=5 92G6 366? 92?865 2?JH2J 3FE E96 D96C:77 C67FD65 3642FD6 $62CD H@F=5 ?@E 2446AE E96 C6EFC? @7 2 FD65 92?8:?8 C@A6] %96J 2== H6?E 29625 2?5 925 E96:C A:4?:4D 2?JH2J 3FE ?@3@5J’D 962CE H2D C62==J :? :E] $:=2D C67FD65 E@ E2<6 324< E96 5@K6? A2:CD @7 @A6C2 8=2DD6D 2?5 C67F?5 E96 >@?6J] p 76H DF886DE65 92?8:?8 9:> :?DE625 3FE E96J ?66565 E96 DE@C6 E@ DE2J @A6? @C 36 C6A=2465 3J 2 s@==2C v6?6C2= D@ E96 :562 5:65 DE:==3@C?]k^Am kAm!6@A=6 D2:5 324< E96? E92E 2 8@@5 @=5 72D9:@?65 92?8:?8 362E 2 4:C4FD 2?J 52J[ 6G6? @?6 H:E9 4=@H?D[ 6=6A92?ED 2?5 2 9F>2? 42??@?32==] %96C6 92D?’E 366? 6:E96C :? E96 w@==@H 7@C 7:7EJ J62CD ?@H 2?5 x C64<@? E96C6 H@?’E 6G6C 36] yFDE H2E49:?8 D@>63@5J 6I64FE65 3J 7:C:?8 DBF25 @? E6=6G:D:@?[ x’G6 366? E@=5 3J D@>6 @=5\E:>6CD[ H@F=5 36 2 J2H?6C :? 4@>A2C:D@? E@ E96 C62= E9:?8 2?5 E96 2?E:4D @7 r@?8C6DD AFED 6G6? E96 36DE q:8 %@A 4:C4FD E@ D92>6 2?5 E96C6 2:?E ?@ =:@?D @C E:86CD E@ 36 765]k^Am kAm}@3@5J 6G6C =62G6D E96 =:89ED @? H96C6 E96 @=5 (:==:2>D 9@FD6 FD65 E@ 36 7@C ~=’ $4C2E49 @C 3@@86CD @C 2?J3@5J 6=D6 3FE >:?6’D 2=H2JD @? 7@C J@F] p?5 7@C 2?J EC:4<\@C\EC62E6CD @C C62= 89@DED E92E >:89E 92AA6? 3J] &?E:= ?6IE E:>6[ x C6>2:? H:E9 =@G6[ *@FC pF?E q:==J] k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Chilhowie confirms it's exploring boundary adjustment Following an anonymous social media post on Wednesday that included several presentation documents, the Town of Chilhowie issued a statement c… Cuts to schools, social services on Smyth supervisors' agenda When it came to school services directly impacting children, the Board of Supervisors balked at a proposed budget cut. They’ll talk about thei… Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations A Marion citizen has filed a complaint in Smyth County Circuit Court, asking the court to order the Board of Supervisors to repeal the portion… Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Northwood High School was built nearly 70 years ago. The windows in the auditorium may be the original ones. Social worker issues appeal for more foster families In early October, 43 Smyth County children were in foster care. Only seven of those youngsters were able to stay in the community. The others …
Chilhowie confirms it's exploring boundary adjustment Following an anonymous social media post on Wednesday that included several presentation documents, the Town of Chilhowie issued a statement c…
Cuts to schools, social services on Smyth supervisors' agenda When it came to school services directly impacting children, the Board of Supervisors balked at a proposed budget cut. They’ll talk about thei…
Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations A Marion citizen has filed a complaint in Smyth County Circuit Court, asking the court to order the Board of Supervisors to repeal the portion…
Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Northwood High School was built nearly 70 years ago. The windows in the auditorium may be the original ones.
Social worker issues appeal for more foster families In early October, 43 Smyth County children were in foster care. Only seven of those youngsters were able to stay in the community. The others …
