Union's Katelyn Witt (5) takes a shot on the basket during the VHSL Class 2 girls basketball state championship in Richmond, Va., on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Union's Katelyn Witt (5) takes a shot on the basket during the VHSL Class 2 girls basketball state championship in Richmond, Va., on Friday, March 13, 2026.
The Mary Sue Dean Poetry Series ended Thursday, March 12, at the Appalachian Arts & Events Center in Cedar Bluff with Rob Merritt, Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at Bluefield University. Merritt shared his love for stories and poetry. Pictured (left to right) Dr. John Willis, Series coordinator, Mary Sue Dean, honoree and Rob Merritt, author
The Mary Sue Dean Poetry Series ended Thursday, March 12, at the Appalachian Arts & Events Center in Cedar Bluff with Rob Merritt, Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at Bluefield University. Merritt shared his love for stories and poetry. Pictured (left to right) Dr. John Willis, Series coordinator, Mary Sue Dean, honoree and Rob Merritt, author
Tazewell County Career and Technical Center student Lillian Wimmer was elected to the 2026–2027 SkillsUSA State Officer team, becoming the first student from TCCTC in over 20 years to achieve this honor.
To earn the honor of serving as a SkillsUSA State Officer, Wimmer submitted a candidate application which included her resume as well as recommendations from her criminal justice instructor, Corporal Matthew Stiltner, and TCCTC Principal Lee Salyers Jr. Next, Wimmer went through a mult-step selection process which took place in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the SkillsUSA Virginia State Leadership and Skills Conference. During the process, she was evaluated by a panel of judges on her leadership ability, communication skills, and knowledge of SkillsUSA. Then Wimmer gave a short speech to the voting delegates at the conference and was selected as one of a select few to serve the state of Virginia next year as a member of the SkillsUSA Virginia State Officer Team.
Upon learning that she was chosen as a state officer Wimmer said, “I was really shocked, but I am also very honored to have this opportunity.“ Wimmer will now get to travel throughout the state, attending SkillsUSA conferences, trainings, meetings, and events in places such as Alexandria, Virginia, Doswell, Virginia, and Richmond Virginia. In addition, she will also attend the 2027 State Leadership and Skills Conference.
TCCTC's students that placed at state.
TCCTC's students that placed at state.
A Tazewell County grand jury on March 10 indicted a former teacher on four felony charges.
Jessica McCoy, 42, of Cedar Bluff is charged with two counts of abduction of a minor and two counts of cruelty to a child. All four charges are felonies and stem from an incident in February 2025, when McCoy was employed at Richlands Elementary as a special education teacher.
Officers with the Richlands Police Department charged McCoy after investigating claims that a 5-year-old special needs student had been taped to a desk. McCoy has retained Bob Briemann of Grundy as her attorney. Her next court appearance is set for April 7.
Ginger Shortt of Raven was charged with two counts of cruelty to a child and one count of failure to report child abuse by a mandatory reporter.
Shortt is awaiting a May 12 preliminary hearing in juvenile and domestic relations court. Shortt worked in the same classroom as McCoy and was also dismissed from her job with the school system.
Other indictments handed down include:
Raekwan Deshea Robins of North Tazewell is charged with two counts of attempt to deliver drugs to prisoner and possession of schedule I, II and III drugs.
Darlene Baker of Bluefield, Virginia, was charged with two counts of possession of schedule I, II drugs and possessing schedule III drugs.
Simon Peter Comer, III of Bluefield, West Virginia, is charged with possessing schedule I or II drugs.
Rachel Sewell Peters from Bristol, Virginia, was charged with one count of possession of cocaine.
Jonathan Gabriel Phipps of Jewell Ridge was indicted on two counts of larceny of catalytic converter and two counts of conspiracy.
Lisa Danette Estep of Bluefield, West Virginia, faces three counts of possession of schedule I or II drugs, possession of schedule IV drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Christopher Dean Altice of Jewell Ridge was charged with assault and battery of a family member, third or subsequent offense, abduction, refusing a blood or breathalyzer test and DWI first offense.
John Paul Lovell of Bluefield, West Virginia, was indicted on three counts of statutory burglary, two charges of enter structure to commit assault and battery, two charges of wearing a mask in public and grand larceny.
Lloyd Michael Cook Jr. of Richlands is charged with possession of meth.
James D. Crawford of Narrows was charged with possessing meth, possessing a weapon as convicted felon, obstructing or resist without force and driving suspended.
Robert Lee Dempsey of Bluefield, West Virginia, is charged with statutory burglary, grand larceny and larceny with intent to sell or distribute.
Roy Shannon Dotson of Hurley is charged with possession of meth and possession of fentanyl.
William Taylor Helton of Cleveland was charged with possessing a gun with a schedule I or II drug, possession with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of hydrocodone, carrying concealed - not firearm, possessing a schedule IV drug and carrying a concealed firearm.
Christopher Glenn Leonard of Marion was charged with possessing meth and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Timothy L. Miller of Richlands was charged with attempted grand larceny of automobiles, entering an automobile to set in motion and becoming intoxicated in public.
Jessee Morgan of Tazewell was charged with possessing schedule I or II drugs, possessing schedule IV drugs and possessing schedule III drugs.
Adam Seth Lloyd Nichols of Jewell Ridge is charged with being a nonviolent felon possessing a gun within 10 years, possessing a weapon not a gun as a convicted felon and public intoxication.Â
William Chad Sopsher of Bluefield, Virginia, is charged with possession of meth.
Marty Leander Stacy of Richlands was charged with possession of meth.
A multi-purpose facility with a walking track is one possibility for the former Ramey Ford Lot owned by the town of Tazewell.
Cara Spivey, with the town’s Industrial and Economic Development Authority told council at its March 10 meeting that the group is looking at collaborating with Carilion and Virginia Tech on ideas to develop the area.
Spivey said she was meeting with a group from Virginia Tech in hopes of getting ideas and plans. She planned to ask the group for advice on developing facilities in the flood zone.
In other action council:
Reviewed a partnership support request from Friends of Southwest Virginia and opted to review this request further during the budget planning sessions to determine if this annual partnership request should be completed as part of the proposed budget.
Reviewed and approved a request from Foundation Moto for their annual Old Town Revival (OTR) event. The 2026 event will be held June 5-7 at the Back of the Dragon and at Tazewell County Fairgrounds. Town Council additionally reviewed a request from Foundation Moto for a donation in support of this event and declined this request.
Approved a request from Jess Beavers to accept his donation of trees for Lincolnshire Park and to allow Beavers to work with the Public Works Department to plant the trees.
Reviewed an ongoing issue with sewer lines affecting a property owner.
Received a request for funding from Tazewell County 4-H to assist with summer camp. Council voted to approve a $500 donation.
Received a request for funding from Brain Injury Solutions. Council voted to donate $300.
Heard from Emily Combs Davis that the annual Polar Plunge raised $3,144.
Heard from Davis that the annual Easter Egg hunt will be March 28 at 10 a.m. at Lincolnshire.
Appointed Danny Willis to the recreation commission.
Declared May as cleanup month.
