Blue Ridge Country November/December 2020 - 5

LETTERS

NOT SO FUNNY . . HOW
TIME JUST SLIPS AWAY
In my 72 years, Kurt Rheinheimer is the
first to elicit an editorial comment from
me. "The Past Becomes so, and Fast...
It's Time to jump on Time, Before it
Gets Away," reflection (September/
October) hit a nerve. Not only do I
suffer the continually resultant pain of
youthful neglect by not having asked the
important questions of my family when
they were alive, but I seem generally
unable to inspire or instill a sense of
urgency in the following two generations
to not make the same grievous mistake. I
sent them copies of the editorial with the
hope that Mr. Rheinheimer may be more
convincing, but I am not hopeful as it
seems to be a common malady for youth
of which there is no cure.
However, there are moments of
encouragement such as some deeply

generations of being misunderstood,
Appalachians have become used to their
story being smeared in negativity. When
in actuality, the area and its people
are magical in so many ways. Articles
like Joan's that name and share great
features so seamlessly, of course, will
draw new visitors, but also help my local
community and the others see their own
specialness more clearly.
Thanks to Joan for "seeing" our
people, acknowledging our strengths,
and the needs (not negatives) our area
faces. Her piece is spot on in calling
out the need for greater broadband,
outdoor recreation support, education
and art funding. As she wrote, even
while we remain under dark clouds at
the moment, we can see the sun poking
through. I know wholeheartedly that we
will reemerge brighter than before.

introspective and genuinely inquisitive
questions from (at 9 years old) the
youngest of my five grandchildren.
My attempted solution? I will try
to document the mass of ancestral
information I started collecting in 1975
to be available for those family members
who, with this information, might just
be able to avoid the same perpetual selfinflicted punishment.
Best wishes.
-Bick Marshall, Townsend, Tennessee

APPRECIATING OUR TOWNS
As I was flipping through the September/
October issue, I was surprised to see a
downtown shot of Prestonsburg. I want
to thank and commend Joan Vannorsdall
on her column, "A New Normal for
Blue Ridge Towns." She put in the extra
effort of detailing "hidden secrets" from
each community she visited. Due to

-Samantha Johnson, Executive Director, Prestonsburg Tourism, Prestonsburg, Kentucky

CONTRIBUTORS

Marla Hardee Milling

Bruce Ingram

(Virginia Ward, WNC Quick Guide) started
writing for Blue Ridge Country in 1989. She's
proud to be a native of Asheville, North
Carolina. She's the author of "Only in Asheville:
An Eclectic History"and "North Carolina Day
Trips." She is a contributing editor for the
magazine, and mom to Ben and Hannah.

(Riddle Profile) is the author of nearly 2,400
magazine articles, and has written five books
on river fishing, plus "Living the Locavore
Lifestyle," and two young-adult novels.
In 2014, the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy
named his wife, Elaine, and him its Landsavers
of the Year.

Jay Huron

Our Readers
(Dogs in the Mountains). Over Blue Ridge Country's 195 issues
since our inaugural edition in 1988, the magazine's readers have
supported us with letters, stories, votes on polls for best towns, parks,
waterfalls, Blue Ridge Parkway places and much more, including their
favorite doggie photos.

(Gray Wolves) was a graphic designer for
17 years until COVID-19 led him to pursue
photography full-time with his company
caseSensitive Photos. He specializes in event,
tourism, commercial (including drone), and of
course fine art wildlife and nature photography.
He has also served as the official photographer
of the National Storytelling Festival in
Jonesborough, Tennessee.

STATEMENT REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF AUGUST 12, 1970, SECTION 3685, TITLE 39, UNITED STATES CODE SHOWING THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION OF:
Blue Ridge Country, published bi-monthly at 3424 Brambleton Avenue,
Roanoke, VA 24018. Number of issues published annually. Subscription
price: $18.95 (6 issues), $29.95 (12 issues). The general business offices of the publisher are
located at 3424 Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24018.
The names and addresses of the Publisher, Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor are:
Publisher, Richard Wells, P.O. Box 21535, Roanoke, VA 24018, 3424 Brambleton Avenue,
Roanoke, VA 24018; Editor-in-Chief, Kurt Rheinheimer, P.O. Box 21535, Roanoke, VA 24018,
3424 Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24018; Managing Editor, Kurt Rheinheimer,
P.O. Box 21535, Roanoke, VA 24018, 3424 Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24018.
The owner is Leisure Media 360, Richard Wells, P.O. Box 21535, Roanoke, VA 24018,
3424 Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24018.

The average number of copies each issue during the preceding 12 months:
A) Total of copies printed: Net press run: 41,017
B) Paid circulation:
1) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter
sales: 5,265
2) Mail subscriptions: 20,129
C) Total paid circulation: 25,394
D) Free distribution by mail carrier or other means, samples,
complimentary, and other free copies: 3,938
E) Total distribution: 29,332
F) Copies not distributed, office use, leftover, unaccounted, spoiled after
printing, returns from news agents: 11,685
G) Total: 41,017

The average number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date:
A) Total of copies printed: Net press run: 40,000
B) Paid circulation:
1) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales:
14,650
2) Mail subscriptions: 20,174
C) Total paid circulation: 34,824
D) Free distribution by mail carrier or other means, samples, complimentary,
and other free copies: 3,713
E) Total distribution: 38,537
F) Copies not distributed, office use, leftover, unaccounted, spoiled after
printing, returns from news agents: 1,463
G) Total: 40,000
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

Blue Ridge Country November/December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country November/December 2020