The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 52
" We want to be a rural community. We
don't anticipate business growth. Most
people who work don't work here. The
largest employer is the school system. "
-Jesse Spence, resident
The Essence of
Craig County
written by
Dan Smith
Close community
and natural
abundance help
Craig County shine.
I
52 MARCH/APRIL 2024
t is small, poor, often backward, beautiful,
friendly and-for the most part-content with
what it is.
" I have lived [in Craig County] for 24 years but,
of course, I am not considered a local and I consider
myself a transplant. I moved here because of the beautiful
scenery and vast amount of national forest. Unfortunately,
our county is financially broke all the time because the population
is so small. Ecotourism and agritourism are viable
resources but it seems some outspoken locals do not want visitors
here. It is a place where some people imagine they can live
off the grid. In my opinion, you must love a place to preserve
it and to love a place, you must experience it, so sharing with
others is in our favor. "
-Craig County veterinarian Marge Lewter
You could talk to Craig Countians all day and get a hundred
different opinions. All of them would be right, even
when they are diametrically opposed.
Craig is one of Virginia's most rural counties. It ranks
73rd out of 135 localities in per capita income ($23,500).
That's seven places higher than Roanoke City. Nearly
two-thirds of its land is owned by the federal and state
governments (Jefferson National Forest, Niday Place
State Park, Appalachian Trail) and that means minimal
taxes for the county.
But relative poverty doesn't mean the school system
doesn't work. College acceptance rates for Virginia in
general are 72.9%. In Craig, they are 86.4%.
Susan Shea Stimeling, a third-generation graduate
of the Craig County system, is the principal for Craig
County Schools, which are located in a compact set of
buildings just outside the county seat of New Castle. The
schools have 275 students in grades 6-12 (425 total in all
grades) and " the benefit is more one-on-one education, "
says Stimeling. " That means more positive connection
with the community. " Students are " just as prepared for
college as at larger institutions. "
New Castle High senior Emmie Radford, who hopes
to seek an agriculture degree in college with the goal
of teaching, says, " Sometimes I feel bad for the teachers "
because of the workload. But " community members
help out. " She finds it is " cool to have K-12 in the same
building. We interact with the kids. We see them in the
grocery store, and they recognize us. "
There is little diversity in the schools (or anywhere else
in Craig, for that matter, where the white population is
more than 95%), but, says Radford, " We do our best to
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The Roanoker March/April 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker March/April 2024
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - Cover1
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - Cover2
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 3
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 4
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 5
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 6
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 7
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 8
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 9
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 10
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 11
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 12
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 13
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 14
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 15
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 16
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 17
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 18
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 19
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 20
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 21
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 22
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 23
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 24
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 25
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 26
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 27
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 28
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 29
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 30
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 31
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 33
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 34
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 35
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 36
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 37
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 43
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 49
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 50
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 52
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 53
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 54
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 55
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 56
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 61
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 62
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 63
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 64
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 65
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 66
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 67
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 70
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 90
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 91
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The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 96
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 97
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 98
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - Cover3
The Roanoker March/April 2024 - Cover4
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