Mayor Gary Heninger presented the resolution to Raegan Jones.
Mayor Gary Heninger presented the resolution to Raegan Jones.
News
Centerpiece Top Story
Seeking gold: Marion teen to compete in world fly fishing championship
Blake Hall is serving as captain of the US Fly Fishing Youth Team.
Blake Hall and is his team will be competing in the 23rd youth world fly fishing championship.
Blake Hall loves to fish locally and around the world.
To learn more about Blake Hall, see him on Instagram @holston_native.
A rising senior at Marion Senior High School is preparing to go to Ireland to compete against teams from eight other countries and bring a gold medal back to the U.S. However, expenses come with the endeavor and to help raise money Blake Hall is holding a drawing. The winner will get a guided fishing trip led by Hall, a recognized champion at 17 years old.
Hall is serving as captain of the US Fly Fishing Youth Team that is preparing to compete in the 23rd youth world fly fishing championship.
Hall is no stranger to the international stage. For the last three years, he’s helped secure the team’s gold medals and is anxious to bring home a fourth. In last year’s world championship, he brought home an individual bronze medal, and he’s a three-time national champion.
For Hall, this competition is important. “This year's world championship is very important to me as it is my final year on the youth team. I am super proud to be able to represent the USA and to try to bring back the win for our country,” he said.
Hall and his five teammates come from all over the country.
When he was 13 years old, Hall told the News & Messenger that he started fishing with his dad -- “just regular spin fishing”.
The son of Brent and Kellie Hall, he said, “we did it a lot, almost every afternoon, and one day, I don’t exactly remember how the conversation came on but he started talking about my grandmother [and how] before she passed she liked to fly fish a lot. We had lots of her stuff that she had fished with. We went through it and it seemed pretty cool, and that Christmas, I believe I was 10, I think I got my first fly rod. It took me a little while to get the hang of it. Once I got the hang of it, I loved it. Every single afternoon I was out fishing after school. It was great.”
Now, when asked about the time and energy he’s devoted to fishing, Hall said, “I feel it's been a good journey getting to fish all kinds of different places and meet a lot of amazing people. I wouldn't have it any other way!”
He’s also excited about sharing his sport with other people.
“I'm very passionate and thankful to be able to teach others things I have learned and give people an appreciation of the waters I live on and love fishing,” said Hall, who has already gained a year’s experience guiding fishing on several local rivers.
He hopes his future includes even more time in and on the water. Hall plans “to continue guiding and competitive fly fishing. I hope to own a guiding company and be able to make a living at it. I also hope to make the men's USA team and continue to fishing world championships.”
Kelli Hall noted that “the expenses for a world championship are many and are the sole responsibility of the angler/family. With the team spanning the entire country, team fundraising is not an option.”
To help her son, she’s set up a raffle for a guided fishing trip for two with Blake. Trips will be tailored for any age and skill level and will be catered to suit client ability and goals. Tickets are $15 for one or $25 for two. Interested individuals can pay via Venmo at https://venmo.com/u/Kellie-Vernon-2 and include name and phone number. Other payment arrangements can be made if preferred by messaging Kelli Vernon.
The drawing will be held on July 7.
For those not interested in fishing, a GoFundMe effort to assist him has been set up at https://gofund.me/027091be7.
To learn more about Blake Hall, see him on Instagram @holston_native.
Marion Fire-EMS chief praises first-responder training achievements
A Marion first responder was recognized Monday evening for training that took more than 237 hours to complete.
Before the Marion Town Council, Fire-EMS Chief Richard Keesling honored Bonnie Blevins, who earned her Advanced EMT certification. For that certification, he said, Blevins had to put in about 165 classroom hours and another 72 clinical hours.
Keesling told the council that it will allow her to perform advanced life support procedures.
“We’re very proud of her,” the chief said.
Keesling also praised firefighter-paramedic Rebekah Salyer and firefighter-paramedic Tim Peak, who both earned their Firefighter 2 certification, a training course that requires about 75 hours.
He said that other department members are constantly continuing their education to better serve the community.
He also praised firefighter Brett Miller for rescuing a dog from a fire.
Marion Fire-EMS was assisting with fighting a fire in Adwolfe, when the homeowner told first-responders that her dog was still inside.
With smoke about mid-chest level, Keesling said Miller found the dog on a couch. While the canine was too big to carry, Miller helped it get outside.
In terms of calls, Keesling said that the department continues to run about 15% ahead of last year.
“We’re busier than we’ve ever been.”
News
Centerpiece Top Story
Wellness fair to return to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion
Last's years wellness fair attracted about 3,000 people.
More than 3,000 people attended last year’s 5 Bridges Wellness Fair at Hungry Mother State Park. This year, even more individuals are expected to take advantage of its opportunities to enhance their wellbeing.
Hosted by Mount Rogers Community Services, the wellness fair is set for June 26 at Hungry Mother. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, which is in its fifth year, will celebrate community wellness, connection, and access through about 115 vendors, guest speakers, kids’ activities, music, and free offerings from food trucks.
Fair entry is free as is parking.
Covering physical, spiritual, and mental health, the fair hosts a range of vendors from massage therapists to medical screeners, barbers to artists, financial experts to wildlife experts.
Nadia Gourlay, Mount Roger’s Community Engagement Coordinator, noted that this year the fair will also incorporate a community art installation that participants and vendors are encouraged to help develop. The art project will build a community bridge with five arches – one color for each bridge of wellness.
The resource booths at the fair are set up around the five bridges to wellness approach. The five bridges are Bond — How You Connect, Fuel — What Goes In, Move — What You Do, Rest — When You Recover, and Give — Your Positive Output.
The 5 Bridges approach was developed by Jacob Moore, the founder of NoStigmas, a mental health nonprofit. The5bridges.com says, “This evidence-informed system is the result of two decades of research, clinical opinion, lived expertise, and experimentation.”
Gourlay explained, “Each arch is part of our wellness.”
The five colors for the art project are:
Bond (blue) – What connects you to others?
Fuel (green) – What gives you energy?
Move (orange) – How do you move your body or mind?
Rest (yellow) – What helps you slow down?
Give (red) – How do you give to others?
To take part, Gourlay said, each person will take strip, write what that word means to them, and tie the strip to the matching arch.
“As we share, we learn from each other and build the bridge together. A symbol of how community and wellness is interconnected,” Gourlay said.
Other materials will be on hand with which to decorate the bridge.
This year’s wellness fair will also feature a community yoga session at 11 a.m. led by The Groovy Elephant. It’s free for everyone to join.
Gourlay also noted that two new food vendors will join the food trucks that will be on site: Mami’s Café, which serves Caribbean and Hispanic food, and The Blended Pedaler, which serves smoothies and smoothie bowls.
Kids will be able to take part in face painting and a bounce house.
Reflecting about the fair, Gourlay wants prospective visitors to know that “it’s a fantastic, family-oriented, and FUN event! While the focus is on community wellness resources, there will be a number of fun activities and food for everyone to enjoy.”
The event will be set up outside of the Lakeview Event Center, formerly The Restaurant.
