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Energy company awards grant to Marion Fire-EMS, expresses support for firefighters
SPorter
Consultant Richard Dickerson, Marion Fire-EMS Chief Richard
Keesling, Dominion Energy's Katharine Geisler, and
firefighter/paramedic Sarah Wyatt celebrated the company's
grant to the department.
SPorter / Stephanie Porter-Nichols/Smyth County News & Messenger
An energy company headquartered in Virginia is spending more than $50,000 on a social media campaign to raise awareness about the work of volunteer firefighters and the sacrifices they make. Wednesday company representatives came to Marion to celebrate Marion Fire-EMS and award them a grant from an associated program.
The event allowed a Southwest Virginia native to come home.
The programs are persona to Katharine Geisler, who now works for Dominion Energy in Richmond but grew up in Abingdon.
Geisler explained that her grandfather helped establish the fire department in Grundy.
“Volunteer firefighters are part of the backbone of the country,” she said Wednesday. “They are the glue that keeps communities together.”
For Dominion Energy, she said, it’s important that the company supports fire departments.
Richard Dickerson, a consultant working with Dominion, said the company is awarding grants to 46 fire departments.
Dickerson believes the program is making a difference.
As a veteran, he said he understands sacrifice and firefighters sacrifice daily. “You don’t know what will meet you” as they respond to calls.
Focusing on their service, Dickerson said, is also vital. “In these times, now more than ever, we need to come together…. We’ve got to get beyond what separates us,” he said. Dickerson reflected on firefighters’ work to save lives and protect property.
He acknowledged that visiting the 9/11 memorial outside the Marion department that includes a steel beam from the World Trade Center gave him chills.
Dickerson’s visited 10 departments in the last two weeks. “We should embrace this service. It is truly special,” he said.
Geisler thanked the team at Marion Fire-EMS, saying, “You all are taking care of my home and family.”
Dickerson and Geisler presented a grant of $3,000 to Marion Fire-EMS.
Chief Richard “Dickie” Keesling expressed his gratitude to Dominion, saying they’re investing in departments around the state. Locally, he said the department will use the money to buy new firefighting equipment.
Race Relations Sunday event in Marion to focus on Native American concerns
SPorter
FBI statistics say that 10,248 missing Indigenous persons reports were filed with the agency in 2024. At the same time, on some reservations, Native American women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average.
Maggie Jackson’s firsthand experiences help her put faces and stories with the numbers. The healthcare professional from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Snowbird community is committed to raising awareness about the problem.
This Sunday, Jackson will be taking part in a special event in Marion.
A Race Relations Sunday program is being hosted by the Dismantling Racism Team within the United Methodist Churches in the Clinch Mountain District. It will be held at the Mount Pleasant museum at 318 South Main St. and is open to the community.
The Rev. Barbara Doyle explained that Race Relations Sunday “originated years ago within the African-American community. It was especially relevant during Jim Crow, when race relations were poor, and the event served an important purpose.”
Doyle, a Marion pastor, said, “We decided to renew the event when race relations weakened, and tensions began to resemble those of present-day Jim Crow. Our purpose is to continue addressing those concerns. This year, the focus is on Indigenous People (North American Indians) and their plight.”
Jackson will serve as the event’s keynote speaker. She co-founded the Qualla Boundary Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) initiative and is an advocate for survivors of domestic violence. She also helped launch the We Are Resilient podcast, which helps raise awareness of the MMIP crisis through survivor stories and dialogue.
In addition to her presentation, the Mosaic Community Choir will perform.
The choir, which includes members from churches throughout Southwest Virginia, is under the direction of Jerry Hill of Glade Spring. Dr. Jerry Jones, also of Glade Spring, serves as pianist.
The event will take place on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 3 p.m.
A love offering will be taken for the guest speaker and Mount Pleasant.
Attendees are encouraged to park at the nearby Virginia Farm Bureau.
SPorter
The Chilhowie Town Council is considering action to join the
Virginia Main Street, a program focused on community and economic
development.
Page A3
SPorter
The Chilhowie Town Council is considering action to join the
Virginia Main Street, a program focused on community and economic
development.
Ballad Health receives American Cancer Society grants to support transportation, lodging for cancer patients
The American Cancer Society recently presented a donation
to Ballad Health Cancer Care.
SPorter / Submitted photo
Ballad Health Cancer Care has been awarded two grants from the American Cancer Society totaling $30,000 to help patients and caregivers overcome critical barriers to accessing cancer treatment – namely, the costs of transportation and temporary lodging.
The grants include $20,000 to support transportation needs and $10,000 to assist with lodging. The funding is part of $9 million awarded to health systems nationwide by the American Cancer Society to reduce the financial burden on cancer patients, enabling them to focus on healing and recovery.
“We are incredibly grateful to the American Cancer Society for their continued partnership and support,” said Dr. Ibrahim Nakhoul, a medical oncology specialist at the Ballad Health Cancer Care – Kingsport. “For many cancer patients in our region, access to care depends not only on having a provider, but also on reliable transportation and a place to stay during treatment. These grants will help ensure more of our patients can receive the lifesaving care they need without the added stress of transportation or lodging expenses.”
Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, often require frequent visits that can be physically and financially draining, especially for patients traveling from rural communities. These grants will help cover expenses such as gas, hotel rooms and temporary lodging for both patients and their caregivers.
Ballad Health’s social work team plays a critical role in connecting eligible patients with these and other support services. Through Ballad Health Cancer Care, patients have access to financial navigation, support and resource referrals – all aimed at easing the burden of cancer treatment.
“These grants strengthen the support network we’ve built through our cancer care social work services,” Dr. Nakhoul said. “Our teams work closely with patients to help them navigate every aspect of care, including addressing the hidden costs that could otherwise prevent them from continuing treatment.”
Patients who qualify may also be eligible for the Appalachian Highlands Care Network – a Ballad Health initiative that connects low-income, uninsured patients to medical, specialty and social support services. The network helps bridge gaps in care and ensures patients have access to vital resources such as diagnostic testing, food, housing and transportation.
The American Cancer Society’s mission is to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer – regardless of where they live or their financial circumstances. In addition to supporting health systems, the organization operates the Road To Recovery® program, which provides free rides to and from treatment for cancer patients across the country.
To learn more about the American Cancer Society grants awarded to Ballad Health or to speak with a team member, contact Jennifer Darnell, director of corporate navigators, at jennifer.darnell@balladhealth.org or by calling 423-302-3045.
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