Down Memory Lane

August 8, 1985

The Rappahannock News now has a watchful eye to record life in the county. Greg Turner, a 1978 graduate of Rappahannock County High School, has accepted a position as a part-time photographer for the newspaper.

It is only fitting since Turner began his photography career right here in Rappahannock, shooting photos for the high school yearbook.

A secretary to the Rappahannock County zoning administrator has this week been named deputy administrator. Sandra Brown was appointed by the Rappahannock County Supervisors Monday. The position was established to fill a vacancy created when Building Inspector Emiel Smet, who accepted the additional job as zoning administrator, left for vacation.

Rappahannock County showed the slowest increase in growth of any of the five surrounding counties since the 1980 census was taken, according to figures released this week by the Rappahannock-Rapidan Planning District. Within the county, estimates show that the population increased less than 1 percent. Rappahannock was said to contain 6,093 persons in 1980 and 6,100 in the current, “provisional” figures supplied by Tayloe Murphy Institute Demographics Studies Center. That growth represents an increase of 0.5 percent.

March 1, 2000

Molly McCarthy, fourth grader from Rappahannock County Elementary School, won WVPT Public Television’s fourth annual Young Environmentalist Award Contest.

In her “Schoolyard Makeover” essay, Molly discussed some of the habitat problems around her school and how they affect water quality, insect life and plant life.

Molly and Rappahannock County Elementary School received a $500 gift certificate from Fine Earth of Harrisonburg to purchase plants to improve their schoolyard habitat.

Thanks to a rapid response by the Library’s Buildings and Grounds Committee Chair Joy Sloane with the support of Bob Anderson and

Roberta Anderson, repair wiz Jack Estes, and the Rappahannock Farmers Co-op, what could have been a dry week for the Rappahannock Library turned into but one dry day. The library crew was faced Monday, Feb. 21, with a total lack of water caused, they later learned, by the destruction of the 5 horsepower submersible pump’s impeller due to mineral build-up.

The co-op boom truck did the trick, the problem was identified, and the pump was replaced.

The 2000 Bland music competition was a truly memorable success. The entire event at The Theatre on Gay Street was of course enhanced by the responsive spirit of a capacity audience on Sunday afternoon.

Winning musicians at the annual Bland Music Competition were pianist

Jami Gillis and soprano Samantha Breeden, both from Rappahannock County High School.