Centerpiece Top Story Celebration of Life: Ridgerunner shares the transformation she witnesses SPorter Oct 9, 2026 Oct 9, 2026 0 1 of 3 Appalachian Trail Conservancy Ridgerunner Melissa Finelli helps hikers along 73 miles of the AT. She loves promoting the outdoors. Stephanie Porter-Nichols/Smyth County News & Messenger The High Country's wild ponies were grazing just a short hike from the Elk Garden trailhead. Stephanie Porter-Nichols/Smyth County News & Messenger The Elk Garden Trailhead sits between Mount Rogers and Whitetop mountains. Stephanie Porter-Nichols/Smyth County News & Messenger Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save SPorter Melissa Finelli gets to spend many of her days watching people transform.kAm%96J H2=< @FE @7 E96 t=< v2C56? %C2:=9625 A2C<:?8 2C62 2?5 DE6A :?E@ 2 ?62C3J 7:6=5 @?E@ E96 pAA2=249:2? %C2:=] “%96J 766= E96 >28:4] x D66 :E 92AA6?[” D2:5 u:?6==:[ 2? pAA2=249:2? %C2:= r@?D6CG2?4J C:586CF??6C – 2 A@:?E A6CD@? H9@ 96=AD 2?5 65F42E6D 9:<6CD] “!6@A=6 2C6 ;FDE :? 2H6[” D96 @3D6CG65]k^AmkAmu:?6==: 96=AD 4@G6C fb >:=6D @7 E96 p%] “|@DE=J[ H92E x 5@ :D =:DE6?[” D2:5 E96 H@>2? H9@ C6E:C65 2E e_ 2?5 ?@H 2E e` D2JD D96’D :? E96 36DE D92A6 @7 96C =:76]k^Am kAms64256D 28@[ u:?6==: 8@E 96C 32496=@CVD 568C66 :? A2C<D 2?5 C64C62E:@? 2?5 E96? 62C?65 2 >2DE6C’D 568C66 :? 4@>>F?:42E:@?D] {:76 =65 96C E@ H@C<:?8 7@C &?:E65 w62=E942C6 2D 2 52E2 2?2=JDE] pD D96 C6E:C65[ D96 C6>6>36C65 2== E96 H@?56C7F= C:586CF??6CD D96’5 6?4@F?E6C65 2?5 <?6H D96 4@F=5 96=A A6@A=6]k^Am People are also reading… Diesel costs force Smyth schools to review bus use Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Smyth School Board honors educator who builds on student strengths Seth Greenberg sizes up Virginia Tech, UVa men's basketball Legislators honor T-Bone Lewis, present General Assembly resolution Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations Smyth supervisor, school board member unite to host forum on 1% sales tax referendum ‘Star Trek’ actor Walter Koenig dies at 90 Smyth County considers permit for second battery energy storage facility Virginia Tech football rallies, stuns Clemson in final minutes Answering the call: Disabled Smyth veteran and family get new home after Helene's destruction Loved ones of people lost to addiction urged to take part in Remembering Our Neighbors Greg Madia: What we learned from Virginia football's disappointing loss to Duke Why would Musk merge SpaceX and Tesla? How did Virginia Tech football grade in its win at Clemson? kAm(:E9 2 9@>6 :? u=@C:52[ u:?6==: :D DA6?5:?8 D:I >@?E9D :? $@FE9H6DE ':C8:?:2 2?5 D:I >@?E9D 5@H? D@FE9] p7E6C 96C 7:CDE D62D@? @? E96 p%[ D96 A=2?D E@ 4@>6 324< ?6IE J62C]k^AmkAmw6C :?E6C24E:@?D H:E9 A6@A=6 92G6 366? ?@E9:?8 3FE 8@@5[ D96 D2:5] $@>6 92G6 =67E E96:C >2C< @? 96C DA:C:E]k^Am kAm~?6 52J[ u:?6==: 6?4@F?E6C65 2 9FD32?5 2?5 H:76 9:<:?8[ >@G:?8 D=@H=J[ E96 9FD32?5 6?4@FC28:?8 9:D A2CE?6C]k^Am kAmpD E96:C DE@CJ F?7@=565[ u:?6==: =62C?65 E92E E96 H:76 H2D 5J:?8[ 2?5 D96 H2?E65 E@ >2<6 E96 DF>>:E 2D “96C 46=63C2E:@? @7 =:76]”k^Am kAmpE E92E A@:?E[ E96 4@FA=6 H6C6?’E DFC6 :7 E96J 4@F=5 >2<6 :E] u:?6==: DE2J65 H:E9 E96>[ 86?E=J 8F:5:?8[ DFAA@CE:?8[ 2?5 4@2I:?8] %96J DF>>:EE65 E@86E96C]k^AmkAm~? E96 EC2:=[ u:?6==: D2:5 E92E A6@A=6 @A6? FA 2?5 D92C6 H92E E96J’C6 6IA6C:6?4:?8]k^Am kAm~? 2 >@C?:?8 9:<6 @? uC:52J[ D96 6?4@F?E6C65 EH@ 9:<6CD H:E9 E96 EC2:= ?2>6D ~EE6C 2?5 q=2K6] w6CD :D |@@?] %96J D92C65 E96:C A=2?D 7@C EH@ H66<D @? E96 p%] %96J 6I4:E65=J A@:?E65 @FE E92E E96 H:=5 A@?:6D H6C6 ?62C3J]k^AmkAm“xE’D 2 E6CC:7:4 4@>>F?:EJ[” 564=2C65 u:?6==:]k^AmkAm$96 E@=5 96C @H? DE@CJ @7 E2<:?8 7C:6?5D 9:<:?8 H96? E96J G:D:E65] “tG6? H96? x’> ?@E H@C<:?8[ x’> H@C<:?8[ AC@>@E:?8 E96 @FE5@@CD[” u:?6==: D2:5]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. SPorter Author email Follow SPorter Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Diesel costs force Smyth schools to review bus use The cost of diesel is forcing the Smyth County School Board to examine its routes and look at ways to curb fuel use. ‘Star Trek’ actor Walter Koenig dies at 90 "Star Trek" alum Walter Koenig has died at 90 years old. The actor, known for playing Russian navigator Pavel Chekov on the original sci-fi se… Answering the call: Disabled Smyth veteran and family get new home after Helene's destruction Wednesday morning, Steven and Janet Stanley accepted the key to their new house in Marion. That key opens far more than a door. It unlocks lif… Loved ones of people lost to addiction urged to take part in Remembering Our Neighbors Lives have been lost throughout Smyth County to substance use disorder. A new initiative wants to help the community see the faces and names o… Why would Musk merge SpaceX and Tesla? Elon Musk believes a merger between Tesla and SpaceX is a good idea, publicly backing an idea that would create a company worth about $3.5 trillion. Watch Now: Related Video Binance Freezes $3 Billion in Crypto Assets Amid Suspected Hack Binance Freezes $3 Billion in Crypto Assets Amid Suspected Hack. Binance Freezes $3 Billion in Crypto Assets Amid Suspected Hack. Obama mocks Trump team’s Cheesecake Factory response Obama mocks Trump team’s Cheesecake Factory response Katie Zacharia believes 'Hannity,' 'Fox & Friends' appearances led to firing Katie Zacharia believes 'Hannity,' 'Fox & Friends' appearances led to firing
SPorter Author email Follow SPorter Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Diesel costs force Smyth schools to review bus use The cost of diesel is forcing the Smyth County School Board to examine its routes and look at ways to curb fuel use.
‘Star Trek’ actor Walter Koenig dies at 90 "Star Trek" alum Walter Koenig has died at 90 years old. The actor, known for playing Russian navigator Pavel Chekov on the original sci-fi se…
Answering the call: Disabled Smyth veteran and family get new home after Helene's destruction Wednesday morning, Steven and Janet Stanley accepted the key to their new house in Marion. That key opens far more than a door. It unlocks lif…
Loved ones of people lost to addiction urged to take part in Remembering Our Neighbors Lives have been lost throughout Smyth County to substance use disorder. A new initiative wants to help the community see the faces and names o…
Why would Musk merge SpaceX and Tesla? Elon Musk believes a merger between Tesla and SpaceX is a good idea, publicly backing an idea that would create a company worth about $3.5 trillion.
