Tag Archive

Elementary students get pepped up about SOL tests

NEW CASTLE – A giant kangaroo, a famous gobbler and the Craig County Rocket Dog helped get third, fourth and fifth-graders at McCleary Elementary on May 3 excited about upcoming Standard of Learning tests they will take this week. Earlier last week across the mountain, Mugsy, the Salem Red Sox Baseball mascot was doing... »

Community can vote for Maci to get wheelchair-accessible van

NEW CASTLE – Eight-year-old Maci Winebarger has defied the odds again and has completed chemotherapy to fight back against a rare form of brain stem tumor. Her family was originally told she the Craig County girl who has smiles for everyone had only a 10 percent chance of living this long. Now the Craig... »

Student’s art work chosen to hang in Virginia Capitol building

CRAIG COUNTY – Craig County Middle School student Harrison Early’s art work will be hanging in the Virginia Capitol building in Richmond. Harrison’s colored pencil drawing of an owl sitting on a branch was chosen as the middle-school winner in Delegate Greg Habeeb’s House of Delegates’ District Back to School Art Contest. The theme... »

Students learn what it’s like to be blind

NEW CASTLE – Second and third graders at McCleary Elementary have a new understanding about what it is like to be blind. Tina Van Buren’s third grade class had just finished reading a book written by Sharon Creech, “Granny Torrelli Makes Soup,” in which Bailey, a boy who is one of the main characters,... »

Schoolmates raise money for Maci and family

NEW CASTLE – It’s been one year since now-7-year-old Maci Winebarger was diagnosed with a rare brain stem tumor. That anniversary on Feb. 22 isn’t one most families would want, but in Maci’s case, this year is a cause for celebration. Only a small percentage of children with her type of tumor are alive... »

Craig County celebrates Christmas

CRAIG COUNTY – From nativity scenes in the front yards of homes to Santa Claus listening to children’s wishes, Craig County and her people are celebrating Christmas. Craig people still have the opportunity of old-fashioned Christmas traditions that many people in cities envy: • attending worship services in a historic old church lit only... »

Maci’s fight against tumor steps up a notch

CRAIG COUNTY – Seven-year-old Maci Winebarger bravely faced a setback in her fight against an invasive brain tumor. Last week she had surgery in Roanoke for doctors to make a port for chemotherapy. Maci’s outlook was good after March 17 surgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Md., and months of therapy. But earlier... »

Maci will return to her school

NEW CASTLE – Six-year-old Maci Winebarger is excited about going back to school next week. She will be back at McCleary Elementary School in Susan Wilcher’s first grade class, where she was before Maci’s March 17 surgery at Johns Hopkins medical center to remove an invasive tumor on her brain stem. Maci and hundreds of... »

Anti-drug curriculum succeeds in Craig Schools

CRAIG COUNTY – A drug-prevention program in Craig County Schools has helped change the minds of local students regarding tobacco, alcoholic drinks and illegal drug use, sponsors say. For five years a prevention specialist and school guidance counselors have worked with each student in specific grades at McCleary Elementary School, Craig County Middle School... »

Maci happily back home after rehab

NEW CASTLE – After brain surgery in Baltimore, Md., and three months of rehabilitation, Maci Winebarger is glad to be back home in Craig County. The 6-year-old arrived back from Kennedy Kreiger rehabilitation facility 10 days ago. Maci’s dad, Jerry, wrote on her Caring Bridge journal site that she rode with her held high... »