ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 12, 1996 TAG: 9609130058
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Amy Rush of Christiansburg was crowned a division queen in the Miss American Clogger Pageant held recently at Dollywood in Tennessee.
Thirty-four contestants from around the country competed in the event, which included an interview, an evening gown competition and a talent competition of clogging only. Rush, who is an instructor at Dancer's Dreams studio in Christiansburg, will appear throughout the nation to promote clogging.
Heather Harris of Christiansburg, a student of Rush, placed fourth in her division at the competition.
Two local musicians Allison Meincke and Melissa Sumner studied and performed at the Brevard Music Center this summer. The center presented more than 50 music events featuring several guest artists from the nation's top symphonies and music schools.
Meincke is the daughter of David and Elizabeth Meincke of Blacksburg. She sings soprano and studies voice at Elon College.
Sumner is the daughter of Dan Sumner and his late wife Sandra of Christiansburg. She studies voice at Emory and Henry College.
Cathy Jacobs of Blacksburg has been selected "Sweet Adeline of the Year."
A member of the Wilderness Road Chorus of Sweet Adelines since 1989, Jacobs is Lead Section leader, membership chairperson, vice president of the board of directors, and performance contact person.
She works at Virginia Tech and is a wife and mother of three.
Five residents of the New River Valley completed a 21-mile, three-day hike on the Appalachian Trail this summer as part of their certification for the Girls Camp Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They hiked the rim of Burke's Garden and then returned to their camp on Claytor Lake.
The New River Valley participants were Angela McClure, Katie Meredith, Rebekkah Miller, Judi Richmond, and Stephanie Schwartz.
Ken and Joyce A. Martin have been honored by the Virginia Alpha Gamma chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, the national honorary extension fraternity, for their years of service.
Joyce Martin received an award for Outstanding Achievement in the Virginia Cooperative Extension, and Ken Martin received the State Award of Retiree Service at the annual meeting in Charlottesville. This is the first time a husband and wife team have received special awards in the same year from the Alpha Gamma chapter.
Joyce is unit director and 4-H extension agent for Montgomery County, where she leads one of the most outstanding 4-H county programs in the state. Kennith was personnel office for Virginia Cooperative Extension, retiring in 1994 after 35 years. He continues to provide volunteer counseling to anyone who requests it. A 4-H service Scholarship Endowment Fund, to which more than 300 extension employees retirees and friends have contributed, was established in his honor when he retired.
Margaret K. Bassett of Radford joined 40 volunteers from throughout the Americas for a two-week leadership seminar in Washington, D.C., this summer, sponsored by Partners of the Americas.
Partners of the Americas is a private voluntary group that works for social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Bassett, who is an associate professor of nursing at Radford University, is a board member of the Virginia chapter.
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