Signal Knob FFA attends White House turkey pardons

Signal Knob Middle School’s FFA officers had the opportunity to witness an American tradition up close and personal during the recent presidential pardoning of a two turkeys at the White House.

Eight members of the FFA program, which was recently named the National Middle School Models of Excellence winner, attended the ceremony on Monday morning.

Signal Knob was provided the tickets by the National FFA organization which allowed seven eighth grade officers and one seventh grade officer to attend the event alongside six National FFA officers.

FFA Advisor Dakota Stroud and SKMS Principal Scott Schlentner also attended the event.

In President Biden’s remarks before issuing the ceremonial pardons, he praised the FFA and 4-H as crucial organizations that serve as catalysts for agriculture education.

Following the ceremony, Signal Knob students met some of the other esteemed attendees and took pictures with the pardoned turkeys, Peach and Blossom.

To check out more pictures from their trip, click here. 

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

FEMA is approved to assist Virginia in Helene recovery

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been approved by President Biden to assist Virginia in recovery from Helene.

This means that federal funding has become available to the state and certain nonprofits organizations on a cost sharing basis for emergency in the hardest hit areas.

Direct assistance is available for Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wyth Counties and the City of Galax.

Governor Youngkin visited Damascus in Southwest Virginia September 29 to assess the storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene and emphasized the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting the affected communities in their recovery efforts.

Over 50 swift water crews were deployed with helicopter air support and able to help stranded people in Washington County in the city of Damascus where substantial flooding was recorded particularly at Radford University.

A Virginia State Police helicopter was dispatched to assist at least 50 people on the roof of a hospital in Tennessee.

In Virginia one fatality occurred in Craig County when a tree fell causing a building collapse.

Five counties including Augusta were under voluntary evacuation recommendations during the brunt of the storm.

Governor Youngkin said the recovery from this storm is going to take some time.

He also commended the efforts of all first responders in answering the call.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

President Biden signs Warner backed act on Semiconductors

The Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Virginia Senator Mark Warner issued a statement on President Biden signing his CHIPS act.

Warner stated by email that the CHIPS and Science Act will lower costs for families, strengthen the nations security and create manufacturing jobs in the United States.

Nearly everything that has an on switch contains a chip of this type.

Only 12 percent of these types of chips are produced in the United States.

The newly signed  Warner backed act will include $52 billion in funding to manufacture chips here in America.

Warner adds that this will help America compete against countries like China for the technology or the future.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Virginians 16 are eligible for vaccine Sunday Apr. 18

emergency funding for homeless

All Virginians age 16 and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations on Sun. Apr. 18.

Approximately half of all adults in the Commonwealth have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Gov. Northam is encouraging all Virginians to seek vaccination appointments at the statewide vaccination website vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877 VAX IN VA (877-829-4682).

Virginia’s eligibility expansion meets the nationwide goal set by President Biden to make all adults eligible by April 19.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.