Author: Zach Cooley

Big Walker Lookout launches 80th season

June 9, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

When I came to know Ron Kime, I had just begun my career with this column in its infancy. Now, here I am more than two decades later, interviewing the man who, at one point, had a Wythe County amusement park that was the third-largest attraction in the state of Virginia with Dry Gulch Junction in the 1970s. Along with Ron himself, I interviewed Becky Helton, who performed as a singing showgirl in the Western attraction along with her sister, Caroline. It wasn’t until recent years that I found out Becky and I were actually cousins. She orchestrates the annual Cooley Reunion for my descendants every August at our family’s resting place in Galax, the Coal Creek Community Cemetery. Dave Vaught became a nationally touring magician after his work at Dry Gulch Junction and became a professional mentor to Eddie Armbrister, a Wytheville native who became a nationally touring magician himself. David Monaghan was the original marshal of Dry Gulch Junction and remains a friend of mine to this day. These four interviews were some of the first major columns I ever completed. Since then, I have completed the first draft of a Western novel based on Dry Gulch Junction. Other than my wife, Ron is the only person to have read the novel from cover to cover as it exists today. Although it needs a great deal of work before it can be released, my friend couldn’t have been kinder about the story that is dedicated to him. “It is awesome,” he stated. “You’ve put quite a twist on it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.” Of course, Dry Gulch Junction would never have happened without the genius and forethought of his father, Stuart Kime, who built the original Big Walker Lookout Tower and Big Walker Country Store eight decades ago. At 85, Ron still admired his father like no one else. “He left us early,” he lamented. “But he did more in his lifetime than most people who live a lot longer than he did.” Through a love of trains, Stuart Kime found a Shay locomotive that would be equipped to travel through the mountains. He purchased the legendary train and intended to build a theme park around it. Unfortunately, just as construction was nearing completion, Stuart Kime passed away at the age of 64 in 1972. Dry Gulch Junction would open the following fall. Ron met a man in Pocahontas who was tearing down genuine old storefronts. He convinced him to dismantle the buildings in a nonconventional way that left the fronts intact. “We were both too poor to do the job right,” Ron recalled. “I loaned him my truck to haul the lumber off and leave me with the storefronts here in Wytheville, and then I would buy the lumber from him.” That exchange was how Dry Gulch Junction was built. “It worked really well,” he remembered. “We had a good partnership going for a long time.” Though the monumental success of Dry Gulch Junction was eventually overpowered by tragedy, Ron says the attraction’s success was more the realization of a long-term goal than a surprise. “We put all our hopes and dreams into that place, and we were very happy that it turned out well,” he stated. “Today, however, we would never be able to afford country and western entertainers of the caliber that we had at Dry Gulch Junction in the 1970s.” Jim “Ed” Brown, Helen Cornelius and Dottie West drew as many as 3,500 people every weekend to the Wytheville tourist attraction until 1981, when every weekend was met with torrential downpours. It was a financial blow from which the park could never recover. Dry Gulch Junction closed permanently in 1982. It was reopened as Virginia City in 1999 when Jeanne Davis and Michael Hill, a couple from Greensboro, North Carolina, invested millions of dollars into renovating the vandalized buildings and saving the park. After 10 years and millions of dollars spent, Michael died following an ATV accident, forcing the property to be sold and the buildings to be permanently demolished. Despite that tragedy, along with many others throughout the course of Dry Gulch Junction’s history, Big Walker Lookout has remained the oldest scenic attraction in the state of Virginia and one of its most successful, operating continuously for 80 years as a family-owned business. Ron Kime happily operated the business himself until he officially retired at age 75 a decade ago. His daughter, Heather, oversees the current operations of the business, while his son, Michael, manages the construction and maintenance of the Big Walker properties. The first week of May kicked off the current season at Big Walker Lookout, which hosts artisans of all types and a series of old-time musicians every weekend through October. Big Walker Lookout has achieved notable status as a Crooked Road music venue and is recognized by the Virginia Is for Lovers state tourism program. “I have lived and worked in the greatest place and with the greatest people that I could have ever encountered in my life,” he stated. “I could not feel more blessed or be prouder of the work that has been done over the decades here.” Despite being born in Dallas, Texas, while his father was in the military, Stuart and Abigail Kime moved their family to the Wythe-Bland county line when Ron was just 5 years old. After eight decades, he has never looked back. “I am a Virginian,” he stated proudly. “I am a native of both Wythe and Bland County.” Looking back, Ron sums up his life with his most famous catchphrase: “Wonderful and marvelous.”

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Wife memorializes father, grandfather with historic heirloom

June 9, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

On February 11, my wife lost her father. Within four months, my daughter lost both of her grandfathers. Both were servants of their country. My father-in-law served in the Navy, just as his father had done. As a World War II veteran, my wife’s grandfather left behind a rare piece of history. The one item my wife wanted from her father’s belongings was a copy of the diary her grandfather left behind. Thanks to the generosity of John Long of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, we have it. Bear in mind that keeping a diary was prohibited during wartime, making this artifact a true historical gem. Paul William Krug’s World War II diary offers a deeply personal look at the daily life of an American serviceman during wartime. Written in brief but vivid entries, the diary follows Krug as he leaves home, travels by train to military staging areas, and eventually boards a convoy bound for the Atlantic Theater in 1944. Rather than focusing on grand military events, the diary captures the uncertainty, routine, and quiet determination that defined life for so many young soldiers. As the journey unfolds, Krug records the long days aboard ship, rough seas, changing weather, and the constant movement from one assignment to another. He writes about crowded conditions, meals, conversations with fellow servicemen, and the endless waiting that often accompanied military operations. At times, the entries reflect fatigue and homesickness, but they also reveal humor and resilience as the men adjusted to life far from home. The diary also documents his arrival overseas, where unfamiliar landscapes and historic surroundings contrasted sharply with the realities of war. Krug notes seeing castles, coastal towns, and military camps while continuing through training and preparation. Though many entries are simple observations about weather, work details, and daily routines, together they create a powerful portrait of a young American experiencing extraordinary events in real time. In the days leading up to D-Day, Paul W. Krug and his crew prepared relentlessly for the invasion of Normandy. They loaded rockets, ammunition, ambulances, jeeps, and other supplies aboard their ship while learning they would land on the northern coast of France near Colleville. Rough seas and stormy weather added to the tension as Allied forces assembled for the assault. Early on June 6, 1944, Krug and his crew approached Omaha Beach under heavy bombardment from Allied warships and aircraft. Their mission was to support amphibious tanks by firing rockets at German positions near the shore. Enemy fire was intense, and rough water caused several tanks to sink before reaching land. Krug helped rescue survivors from the water while German 88s shelled their position. In the days that followed, Krug witnessed the enormous difficulties of securing the beachhead, including mines, damaged vessels, and constant shelling inland. Despite the danger and exhaustion, he and his crew continued their duties before finally returning to Portland on June 10 to clean equipment and rest. Like his father, David Paul Krug served in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1974. My father-in-law was a corpsman. When he passed away, my wife was not afforded an opportunity to eulogize her dad. So, I wanted to give her that opportunity in this column. Of the few happy memories Emily could extract from her childhood, most involve her father. She recalled him setting up her Little People Town buildings, ready for her to play with after church. He played Santa Claus at Rose’s Department Store in Pulaski, where Emily proudly served as his elf. “I felt so special,” she said. “He loved Christmas.” Another time Emily felt special was when he sat her on a table, carefully combed her long blonde hair, and took her picture. It was one of the few times in her life that she felt truly beautiful. She recalls playing school in church classrooms while her dad prepared his sermons and going to McDonald’s for Happy Meals. By the time Emily became a teenager, he introduced her to the music of the ’60s, including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Johnny Cash, all of whom became lifelong favorites. In particular, they shared a lifelong love of The Beatles. “Their music served as a tonic for my frequent depressive episodes,” Emily reflected. “We would take rides and jam out to these incredible artists while talking about whatever popped into our heads.” Their bond continued into Emily’s adulthood, when she would visit him frequently to discuss movies and music over coffee and dessert. “I still haven’t accepted his death,” she admits. “I still want to call and check on him and discuss the latest Beatle solo efforts.” In summary, Emily wants her father to be remembered as a loving, kind, smart, and funny man. “He was and will remain my first love,” she says. “I know he is with me in ways he couldn’t be on this Earth.” Just after his passing, Emily came across Firefall’s “Just Remember I Love You” and believes her dad sent the song to her from beyond. She says the sentiments expressed in its lyrics are the same ones she returns to him with undying devotion. “Just remember I love you and it’ll be alright,” they state. “Just remember I love you more than words can say.”

Strictly Observing

SNL veteran plays Wytheville

May 25, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

Saturday Night Live veteran Tim Meadows finally made it to Wytheville to entertain a sold-out crowd at the Millwald Theatre on Saturday, May 23, after rescheduling from last August to film the one and only season of the sitcom DMV. The 65-year-old Detroit native entertained the audience for 49 of the 90 minutes the three-act show offered the crowd of 500. The rest of the show was filled by Charlotte comedienne Carol Tyner and Louisville comic Mandee McKelvey, both of whom delivered 20-minute sets. If the material offered by the openers was considered for mature audiences, the headliner topped them all in terms of both laughs and vulgarity. You really feel like “Parent of the Year” when you are warned by two members of the theater staff, as you sit next to your 12-year-old daughter, that the evening’s comedy is for mature audiences. At that point, the ticket had already been purchased, and nothing could be done. Bella insisted on seeing the show, with high hopes of meeting Principal DuVall from 2004’s Mean Girls and its 2024 sequel. While Meadows offered no formal meet-and-greets, my daughter insisted on checking the back alley on our way out. Lo and behold, she and my wife, Emily, found him and asked for a picture. He agreed, as long as they made it quick. I had planned to stay out of the way, but the 10-year SNL veteran insisted on taking the photo with me as well. My friend from West Virginia, Andrew Church, a lifelong SNL fan, snapped the photo for us. Bella’s night was made, at the risk of us being reported. It is a sad commentary to learn that the words heard within the halls of her middle school were not much milder. We were all honored to meet our second comedy legend this month and appreciate his graciousness toward us. While still very funny, Meadows was clearly not happy to have landed in Charlotte and made the rainy two-hour commute to Wytheville, but being a divorced dad required him to make the date. “I remember telling my mom when I was a kid that I wanted to be a comedian, travel the world, and play Wytheville,” he led off. “If I had Will Ferrell’s career, I would be flying over you to an airport in the same state as the gig I’m playing.” Nevertheless, he expressed gratitude to the audience for coming to his show. “I realize you had many other entertainment options tonight,” he quipped. “You could have gone to Big Lots.” Meadows also mentioned the difficulties of being divorced. “You all didn’t know it was child-support night here at the Millwald,” he joked. “I appreciate your help.” The Ladies Man star spoke of his most recent—albeit brief—tryst since ending his marriage. “That’s my only Lindsay Lohan story,” he said at the end, which drew roars from the audience. “I actually made a Netflix movie with her called Our Little Secret.” According to Meadows, the real secret of the film was a bad script and a desire to pay the bills. “There were misspellings in the script,” he revealed. “I love money.” He explained how Black celebrities always support one another. “We even looked at O.J. Simpson as that crazy uncle who might have killed a couple of people,” he said. “If you don’t believe me, explain how Tyler Perry is a billionaire and not one of those dollars came from anyone in this audience tonight.” Yet, no matter how bad a Perry movie might be, Meadows says his African American peers will see it. “Tyler will have a boom mic so far in the shot, you wonder if the sound man had a stroke,” he jested. “Yet, we will go watch Madea’s Star Wars.” Meadows also took some hilarious jabs at Donald Trump, with which he closed the show. Speaking of the 2020 debate between him and Joe Biden, Meadows compared the current president’s “they’re eating the cats and dogs” rant to a bad Bill Cosby impersonation. “You had the one who could barely speak versus the one who spoke too much,” Meadows assessed. “When you see Trump talk, he’s either doing an impersonation of Regis Philbin, Christopher Walken, or Rodney Dangerfield.” As for his openers, Tyner also couldn’t resist indirectly jumping on the Trump bandwagon. As a never-married, childless 35-year-old woman with a Chinese boyfriend, she noted that living in the South is difficult. “While people are telling me not to worry about it with their mouths,” Tyner stated, “they are looking at me like a grocery store that just lost power.” “This administration should love my IUD,” the North Carolinian said. “It keeps millions of Asians out every day. It’s the ultimate border patrol.” McKelvey was too up in arms with the middle-aged woes of womanhood to be bothered with politics. “No one told me that, after 40, I would become homicidal for no reason,” she lamented. “I dream of killing just to see the life drain out of something.” She also added that, no matter how smart she may be, everyone will always presume she is stupid because of her thick Kentucky drawl. “You don’t know what it’s like being born with a mullet stuck in your throat,” she said. “I could be up here in a white lab coat giving a TED Talk, but all you’re ever going to hear is NASCAR.”

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Bella turns 12

May 17, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

There are moments in life that redefine who we are forever. For me, that moment came on a stormy Tuesday night — May 27, 2014, at 9:04 p.m. — when my daughter Bella entered this world. Today, the joy of my life turns 12 years old. Becoming a father was never something I truly expected, but the moment Bella arrived, it became my purpose. I could not be prouder of the young woman she is becoming. She inherited her mother’s beauty and kind heart, but she also carries a healthy dose of my no-nonsense personality. Thankfully, she inherited my love for live entertainment as well, and that shared passion has given us some unforgettable memories. This past year has been especially memorable for us. We traveled to Charlotte to see the touring Broadway production of Wicked and even met members of the cast afterward. Earlier this month, we attended Vicki Lawrence’s “Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two Woman Show” and had the opportunity to meet her afterward as well. Then, just days before Bella’s birthday, we saw comedian Tim Meadows perform at the Millwald Theatre here in Wytheville. I know Meadows from his legendary years on Saturday Night Live. Bella knows him from Mean Girls. It was one of those perfect father-daughter moments where two generations met in the middle. Of course, nothing tops Disney World for either of us. Thanks to my mother — Bella’s grandmother — whose magical powers may rival Disney itself, our family will once again head to the Most Magical Place on Earth during the first week of June. We are already counting down the days. Bella’s first concert was Genesis, our favorite band. Over the years, she has joined me in seeing legendary artists like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Bonnie Raitt, and our late friend, the incomparable comedian James Gregory. But as she has grown older, her musical tastes have naturally shifted toward the artists of her own generation. These days, she is completely captivated by One Direction and the solo careers of its members. Now it is my turn to take her to the concerts she wants to see. Harry Styles ticket prices may require a second mortgage, so that dream may have to wait. Zayn Malik recently canceled tour dates due to health issues. But we already have tickets to see Louis Tomlinson at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center, the same venue where she saw Genesis in 2021. We are also headed back there to see a rising artist named Sombr, who I must admit is exceptionally talented. If all goes according to plan, we may even catch Niall Horan when he tours through Raleigh next spring. People say a father earns a special badge of honor when he takes his daughter to a boy band concert. By next year, I believe I will have earned mine several times over. As wonderful as this year has been, it has also been one of the hardest Bella has ever faced. Within roughly 14 months, she lost both of her grandfathers, her dog, and her cat. My father passed away on October 26, 2025, the day after his 83rd birthday. Living in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, he did not get nearly as much time with Bella as I wish he could have had. Still, I remain grateful for the memories they shared. Bella often reminds me not to worry because she has wonderful memories with “Pop.” I still remember sitting beside my father shortly after Bella was born as we watched her sleep in amazement. He looked at me and quietly said, “She’s going to do something very special with her life.” I believe he was right. Then, on February 11, 2026, Bella lost her maternal grandfather as well. She spent countless hours with her Pawpaw at his home in Elizabethton, Tennessee, often hanging out in “Dave’s Cave,” watching movies, listening to The Beatles, and talking about everything under the sun. They shared a special bond built on music, humor, and simple time together. She also continues to miss her beloved dog, Sophie, who had been by her side virtually every day of her life until Sophie had to be put down on March 14, 2025, just two months after Bella lost her cat, Sketch. For a child who loves animals as deeply as Bella does, those losses were heartbreaking. When a dog sleeps beside you every night of your childhood and suddenly is not there anymore, the silence is enormous. Yet through all of it, Bella has handled life with remarkable strength, positivity, and perseverance. One of the most important things I ever wanted to do as a father was to never crush her imagination or enthusiasm. Ironically, she has become the one encouraging me not to give up on my own dreams. Without her encouragement, I never would have landed the biggest interview of my career with Vicki Lawrence or shared that experience with my family. Bella has also never allowed my being in a wheelchair to define what we can do together. Whenever I worry about limitations, she immediately reminds me: “Are you kidding? We do more together than any father and daughter I know.” As I write these words through tears, I hope she always knows how much those words mean to me. Years ago, a counselor asked me to create a dream board filled with goals for my life. On that board, I placed a picture of infant Bella dressed in a Minnie Mouse outfit beside a simple phrase: “Take Bella everywhere she wants to go.” At the top of that list was Disney World. By the end of this June, we will have gone three times together. Along the way, we have attended concerts, met celebrities, traveled, laughed, cried, and made memories I would not trade for anything in this world. Most people never get to meet their heroes. Mine calls me Daddy. Happy 12th birthday to my Bubzie — the greatest joy of my life.

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Vicki Lawrence show, meeting provide lifetime family thrill

May 10, 2026May 11, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

Saturday, May 9, was one of those rare, life-defining blessings that carries you through the difficult days that inevitably follow. Meeting Vicki Lawrence — the Emmy-winning star of The Carol Burnett Show and Mama’s Family — before her live comedy performance at the Newton Performing Arts Center is something my family and I will treasure for the rest of our lives. I have adored Vicki Lawrence for as long as I can remember. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to her publicist, Sandy Brokaw, and to her son, Garrett Schultz, who directs her touring shows for making us Vicki’s personal guests. Because the performance was sold out, she provided seats for us along the side of the auditorium. Thrilled to be in the building, all of us being able to hug her and tell her what her work meant nearly brought me to tears. She graciously signed my copy of her autobiography along with my treasured 1973 album of The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. Before the show began, I could hear Vicki warming up backstage by singing that famous song and rehearsing one of the evening’s funniest stories, recounting a backstage exchange between herself and Carol Burnett just before they performed their very first “Family” sketch together. The two women were in the ladies’ room when Carol suddenly called out in her now-famous Southern drawl, “Mama!” “What is it, Eunice?” Vicki shouted back in character. “Well, I was wonderin’ if you had any toilet paper over there.” “Well, I’m busy right now, but when I get done doing what I’m doing, I’ll get you your toilet paper!” “Fine,” they scream back and forth at each other several times. A woman in high heels hurried nervously into the restroom, only to immediately retreat in horror as the shouting continued. Unbeknownst to Vicki, Tim Conway had apparently been standing behind Carol as Vicki finished recounting the story. Conway dryly responded, “I bet that was Harvey.” The evening itself was beautifully structured. Vicki divides the performance into two approximately 40-minute segments, one as herself and one as her legendary alter ego, Thelma “Mama” Harper. The show opens with classic video clips featuring some of her greatest moments on The Carol Burnett Show along with bloopers from Mama’s Family to introduce Mama. As herself, Vicki told the remarkable story of how she first met Carol Burnett. While attending high school in Inglewood, California, she entered the local “Miss Fireball” contest sponsored by the fire department to crown the town’s most beautiful redhead. A newspaper article covering the event described her as the “spitting image” of Carol Burnett. Vicki’s mother suggested she mail the clipping to Carol along with a fan letter. Burnett was so impressed that she attended the pageant in person. As fate would have it, Carol was preparing a new variety series and searching for someone to play her younger sister. The rest, as they say, is television history. Another wonderful surprise during Vicki’s portion of the show was hearing her sing “Bless My Happy Home,” the heartfelt lyrics she personally wrote for the theme song to Mama’s Family that the network refused to use. Discussing modern wellness trends, she joked, “I read an article not too long ago that said Tyra Banks uses a coffee enema. I tried it, and I don’t think they’re ever going to allow me in Starbucks again.” Thelma Harper shuffled onto the stage full of glorious irritation, utterly disgusted with modern society. One target was the Kardashian family. “Even I can’t get my butt that big,” Mama grumbled. “That thing was so big and round Neil Armstrong tried to walk on it.” She also tackled contemporary culture topics like Caitlyn Jenner. “Why would anybody want to become a woman just in time for menopause?” she asked in bewilderment before pivoting to marriage equality. “If two men want to be as miserable as I was with my husband, let ‘em go right ahead. The only problem is if you’ve got two men in the same car on a road trip, now you’ve got two idiots driving around for three hours without asking for directions.” At another point, Mama explained her confusion after accidentally ordering an adult movie in a hotel room. “That wasn’t cable he was laying,” she declared. “And just so you know, the Spice Channel has nothing to do with oregano.” Her observations about technology were equally hilarious. “I haven’t bought any kind of pads since menopause,” she said when discussing iPads. “And I got no reason to start now.” The audience roared throughout the entire set. After Mama exited the stage, the legendary blooper in which Tim Conway’s famous elephant story was obliterated by Vicki’s one-liner as Mama that laid Conway flat. To close the evening, Vicki returned to the stage as herself and delivered a moving rendition of “For All We Know.” Family photographs and images of her famous friends appeared on the screen behind her, including touching pictures of her beloved husband, Al, who passed away two years ago after 50 years of marriage. It was a surprisingly emotional ending to an extraordinarily funny evening. If I could describe Vicki Lawrence in one word, it would be “lovely.” I was entirely unprepared for how radiant she would look in person. At 77, she remains absolutely stunning. More importantly, she could not have been kinder to my family. I will always be grateful for her warmth and for allowing me the privilege of calling her my friend.

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Vicki Lawrence interview sparks new career apex

May 10, 2026May 10, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

On Saturday, May 9, an Emmy-winning television legend will perform her famous Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show at the Newton Performing Arts Center in Newton, North Carolina. Both the matinee at 3:00 p.m. and the 7:00 p.m. evening performances are nearly sold out. The Newton stop has become an annual destination for the Mama’s Family and Carol Burnett Show star. “The Carolinas are truly beautiful,” Lawrence said during a May 1 telephone interview. “They really are a world of their own.” And Mama fits into that world as everyone’s favorite grandmother. So, how does a native Californian develop the epitome of a Southern senior? “I had a Southern mother-in-law for a minute when I was very young,” she noted. “Plus, I used to travel the country doing summer stock. I thought those Texans were kidding me with those accents.” Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two-Woman Show was created in 2001 after the unprecedented ratings of a Carol Burnett Show reunion special went through the roof. The live production is directed by her son, Garrett Schultz. He and sister Courtney are Lawrence’s two children from her 50-year marriage to CBS makeup artist Al Schultz, who passed away in 2024. Lawrence’s show, which has toured the nation for the last quarter-century, features a pair of 45- to 60-minute acts. First, the 77-year-old lifelong Californian delivers the story of her amazing life and career in a stand-up comedy-style format, where she tells the infamous story of connecting with Carol Burnett via a fan letter and look-alike photo. “These are great old show-business stories,” offered the comedy legend. “The further away I get from these stories, the more I realize they would never happen again.” Fans will also get to hear her sing her 1972 No. 1 hit, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” as well as the original lyrics to the Mama’s Family theme song. Lawrence actually wrote the lyrics to “Bless My Happy Home,” but only an instrumental theme was used on the show, with The Carol Burnett Show orchestra leader Peter Matz receiving sole credit. Lawrence’s uncanny resemblance to Carol Burnett landed her a role on the iconic variety show as Burnett’s younger sister in the “Carol and Sis” sketches. “The Family” sketches would eventually give her the alter ego of Thelma “Mama” Harper, the character she has played for more than a half-century. Originally, the part of Mama was written for Burnett. However, it was the character of Eunice that the now-93-year-old star wanted to play. She asked producers to give Lawrence the role that would define her career. Lawrence won an Emmy for her work on The Carol Burnett Show in 1976, was nominated for an Emmy for playing Mama in the TV movie Eunice, and starred in Mama’s Family from 1983 to 1985 on NBC, then in syndication from 1986 to 1990. “I used to think Mama was around 69 or 70, but the older I get, the more I think she is much older than that,” she said with a laugh. “I love bawdy women like Lucille Ball and Betty White, probably because I am one of them. Mama certainly is, too.” The second half of the show is all Mama. It is evident that both she and Vicki are ageless in their own way. “The older I get, the more I agree with her,” Lawrence said with a laugh. “I think that if you live to a certain age, you’ve earned the right to say what you think, and that’s what Mama does.” Lawrence knew she couldn’t do a live show without Mama, who is adored the world over. However, that presented the comedienne with the challenge of bringing the beloved character into the 21st century and all its modern-day problems. As a result, Mama’s half of the show is ever-changing. “She has to deal with all this stuff that’s going on now,” she explained. “It’s fun to keep her on top of these things she’s having trouble dealing with.” Mama’s half of the show will also include a rap, answers to pre-written questions from the audience and, of course, plenty of side-splitting laughter. Tickets are selling fast, but to grab one of the remaining seats, please visit https://ncauditorium.com/vickilawrence. Interviewing Emmy winner Vicki Lawrence represented a new career pinnacle for me. I have adored her since I was 3 years old. I still remember seeing her burst onto the set of Win, Lose or Draw with that glorious red hair and unmistakable energy. From there, I watched her faithfully on the daily parade of syndicated game shows, from the various incarnations of Pyramid to the Password franchise, always rooting for her team to win. One of my favorite things was watching her banter back and forth with her good friend Dick Clark. “I loved those games, and I did a lot of them,” Lawrence told me during our May 2 phone interview. “He was a very good friend, and I learned to dance from watching his American Bandstand show.” It was on American Bandstand that Lawrence, in 1972, received her one and only gold record for her No. 1 single, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.” Though there is an infamous clip of Carol Burnett presenting her with the award, Lawrence quickly clarified that it was Clark who first handed her the honor. “I remember they wouldn’t let me sing the song on the show until it became a hit,” she recalled. “It would have helped the record to go ahead and sing it.” Her daytime talk show, Vicki!, which debuted years before Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres found enormous success with a similar happy, celebrity-oriented style. In my opinion, Lawrence pioneered that format, yet history often forgets her role in it. It was difficult for me to imagine that she could experience that oversight without bitterness. “I did go through a period of that,” she admitted candidly. “It was a very depressing period of my life, but I…

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Whose Line troop brings classic improv to Virginia Tech

April 19, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

The hilariously brilliant team from Whose Live Anyway?—based on the hit show Whose Line Is It Anyway?—entertained more than 2,500 people over two sold-out performances at the Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech. I was lucky enough to attend the second of these outstanding shows with my dear friends Jeremy Miller, Jenny Baker, and Angie Jackson in the beautiful Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre. Greg Proops was ill on the second night, and we felt a bit disappointed that he couldn’t join us. However, Gary Anthony Williams—who would typically serve more as the show’s emcee—stepped in and delivered plenty of hilarious comic relief in Proops’s absence. I’ve also enjoyed watching Williams in the reboot of another favorite show of mine, Night Court, which was canceled last year after three seasons. Jeff B. Davis, a fan-favorite guest improviser from the original American Whose Line Is It Anyway?, was on hand to provide his signature comedic flair, along with some impressively talented improvisational singing. Comedian Joel Murray also appeared, best known for his roles in TV shows like Mad Men, Dharma & Greg, and Still Standing. The main star of the show, Whose Line Is It Anyway? legend Ryan Stiles—the 66-year-old Canadian standing at an imposing 6’6″—surprisingly had the least to do during the 80-minute performance, which opened with a game called “Freeze Tag.” Audience members suggested that Murray begin the scene with Davis in a crab position, while Davis started in a downward dog pose. Whenever Williams called out “freeze,” he and Stiles would swap in and continue the scene from those same positions. The result was a wildly absurd progression—from Jeff Davis “giving birth” to a large man dancing to “Me and My Shadow,” to a visit with a Hokie bird in the wild. Stiles’s take on the Virginia Tech mascot drew big laughs from the audience of 1,274, made up largely of students and faculty. In the game “New Choice,” Jeff Davis corrected any line he felt needed improvement while Ryan Stiles and Joel Murray acted out a scene about doing the dishes. Some of the lines are best left unrepeated, but suffice it to say that when a husband behaves inappropriately with his wife’s sister, it tends to derail the evening—hilarity ensued. Things escalated when a secretary named Rachel with multiple piercings and tattoos was invited on stage to be serenaded by Jeff Davis and Gary Anthony Williams, with accompaniment from original Whose Line Is It Anyway? musical director Laura Hall, whom I recognized immediately from the ABC version of the show. They improvised a song about her dream of traveling to the Caribbean with her husband, Jonathan—whom she first noticed when he walked across a Food Lion in a way that won her over. Her most tropical destination so far? North Carolina. “Boo” and “Hubband,” their affectionate nicknames for each other, became running jokes throughout the night. Juliet and Courtney were then invited on stage to play the classic game “Moving People,” in which Jeff and Joel could only move when physically repositioned by the audience volunteers. The improvisers gamely attempted the Hokey Pokey while being awkwardly adjusted, resulting in a cascade of comedic mishaps and what turned into a keg party gone wrong. Next, all four performers participated in a Jeopardy!-style sketch. For the category of exotic foods, one audience member suggested “shakshouka.” Responses included “What is not a biscuit?” and “What is an exotic dish I convinced my wife was from North Carolina?” The winning answer: “What is how you pronounce Chewbacca when you’re really high?” A married couple—Matt and Mary, former Virginia Tech students who had been married for 32 or 33 years (they couldn’t quite agree)—joined the stage next. Their first date at Top of the Stairs involved Matt, a member of a ska band called Boy, Oh Boy, and Mary, a Catholic schoolgirl. As the performers reenacted their date, the couple signaled accuracy with a “ding ding” and inaccuracies with a “wah wah.” When “Mary” said, “I just come to church for the wine and the boys,” the real Mary gave a “ding.” When drug use was implied, she quickly responded with a “wah.” In another segment, audience-written lines were randomly inserted into a scene. During a fairy tale titled Secrets of the Prima Ballerina, Stiles played the ballerina while Davis portrayed a passionate French suitor. At one point, the suitor dramatically quoted Ezekiel 25:17—famously used in Pulp Fiction—with a hilariously mangled delivery. For the “Sound Effects” game, the audience suggested the year 2009 as the setting, with sound effects provided by two brothers. At one point, a suit with snaps and buttons sounded less like clothing and more like a squirrel scurrying down his pants. In yet another sketch, Ryan Stiles portrayed a deceased Gordon Lightfoot, while Joel Murray played Dan Aykroyd, selling a compilation album of the neuroscientist’s greatest hits. Highlights included sea shanty “EKG,” folk-rock anthem “Frontal Loading,” and jazz standard “It’s All in Your Head.” The show closed with a Blacksburg-themed hoedown. As Joel Murray sang, “I wish we could stay for the game—once you’ve seen ‘Enter Sandman’ in person, your life is never the same.” A live Whose Line Is It Anyway? experience is something few people ever get to enjoy. I’m grateful they made a stop in Southwest Virginia, and I hope this won’t be the last time we see such a hilarious and talented group perform here.

Zach's At It Again

Harrington scales back after over 30 years as nurse practitioner

March 31, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

Cathie Harrington has cared for my family and me as our nurse practitioner, off and on, for the past two decades. She has treated us like members of her own family and offered the kindest, most knowledgeable medical advice I have ever received. As someone who lives with cerebral palsy on a daily basis, my healthcare requires a specialized sense of understanding. Cathie has been exceptional in every regard. She was the first provider to place me on a medication regimen to address the spasticity associated with my condition at a time when my startle reflex had become so severe that I was embarrassed to go out in public. She was also remarkably kind and gentle during my battles with clinical depression, helping me understand that it was perfectly acceptable to seek medical treatment for such a condition. Cathie has been present for my highest highs as well. She was one of the first people I told when I became engaged, and she was the first medical professional to care for my daughter after she was born in 2014. Now, it is time for Cathie to take a step back and focus more on herself and her family. With three grandchildren under the age of five living in Richmond, she has decided to scale back her practice to Mondays and Tuesdays only at Fort Chiswell Medical Center. Though three other capable providers serve the practice, Cathie is so well loved and highly respected that she could easily run it herself. It has often been difficult to secure an appointment with her, as she is frequently booked months in advance. With her recent reduction in hours at the beginning of this year, demand has only increased. Yet once you finally step into the exam room and she walks through the door, whatever concern brought you there begins to dissipate. Even before she offers treatment, her mere presence brings a sigh of relief — a quiet assurance that everything will be all right. She has been equally wonderful in caring for my daughter Emily, who lives with complex heart and mental health conditions, always pairing deep compassion and reassurance with an extraordinary breadth of medical knowledge. As natural as Cathie seems in her role as a nurse practitioner, it was not her first career aspiration. Growing up in Charlottesville, she initially dreamed of becoming an artist and attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond to pursue that path. When she shared this with me, I recalled her beautiful illustration work for her mother’s children’s book, Wilhemina Under the Stairs, a story about a rat who made its home beneath a family’s staircase after a flood. Her professional journey began at the health department, where she was tasked with notifying individuals that they had tested positive for sexually transmitted infections. “There was a nurse at the health department named Nelle who guided me into nursing,” she recalled. “However, it wasn’t enough for me to see all these patients and become engaged in their care only to have someone else make the ultimate decisions about their health.” Encouraged by a colleague to pursue an emerging field of study, Cathie enrolled in nurse practitioner school. “A lady who worked in the NICU at Roanoke Memorial Hospital told me that a family nurse practitioner program was the one for me,” she said. I found that particularly serendipitous, as I spent the first two months of my life in the NICU at Roanoke Memorial Hospital in March 1985 after being born 15 weeks premature. After graduating as part of the second class of nurse practitioners at East Tennessee State University in 1994, Cathie went straight to work at Wythe Medical Associates when the late Dr. David Moore invited her to join his team. “They hadn’t had nurse practitioners in Wythe County before,” she explained, “and they thought it would be a good fit.” It certainly was. She remained there for 17 years before transitioning to Fort Chiswell Medical Center in 2011, where she continues to practice today. “I love the people of Wythe County and building relationships with them,” she said. “I am the same person in my office as I am if you were to meet me on the street.” That authenticity is one of the qualities patients find most endearing. We know we will receive caring, thoughtful advice and sound medical treatment. Her elegance, grace, and even her speaking voice call to mind Meryl Streep, yet she possesses a warm sense of humor that endears her to children and adults alike. Although she has treated patients from infancy through end-of-life care, pediatrics remains her particular niche. “I have a knack and a soft spot for children,” she added. “Ensuring that our children receive quality healthcare as they grow is one of the most important aspects of family medicine.” For more than 15 years, Cathie has served as administrator for the Vaccines for Children program, making certain her pediatric patients receive the recommended immunizations they need. She acknowledges that parental attitudes toward childhood vaccines have shifted in the age of social media. “Parents need to verify facts about vaccines before making a decision,” she cautioned. “They should always consult a medical professional regarding the care of their children.” My family and I will continue to count ourselves among the fortunate patients of Cathie Harrington for as long as she chooses to practice. We are deeply grateful for her friendship, her wisdom, and her compassionate care. She is, without question, the very best of the best.

Strictly Observing

Bobcats secure historic win

March 29, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

After taking my daughter to a circus at the Appalachian Exposition Center in Fort Chiswell—now the Hitachi Energy Arena—as the pandemic was dawning, I swore I’d never return to that venue. Parking my handicapped van was the worst experience I’d ever had; I was nearly hit twice and spent more than an hour trying to exit. On top of that, my obstructed view ensured I had no desire to come back. A wheelchair-bound friend of mine later had an equally abysmal experience when the Blue Ridge Bobcats first arrived on the Wythe County scene. Since then, several fans and volunteers have urged me to attend a hockey game, assuring me that significant renovations had been made. I remained leery, but finally relented when the team’s director of media relations and play-by-play broadcaster personally invited me to a game. I had followed his posts—delivered with humor and a gregarious personality—and was eager to meet the North Carolina native and Appalachian State University graduate in person. My friend and driver, Jeremy Miller, brought me a little later than the 6:00 p.m. arrival time Wiseman had recommended. That may have been why I was unable to sit at ice level, as Wiseman had intended, and was instead directed to the designated handicapped section in the stands. The view there was significantly better than during my visit six years ago. Still, it was difficult to follow the action on the opposite side of the arena—especially when many of the 2,123 patrons were standing. Parking, however, was much improved. Although we arrived too late to secure one of the prime handicapped spaces near the entrance, we found a suitable spot at the end of a row where my van had ample room to deploy without concern about neighboring vehicles. Anyone traveling in a wheelchair should plan to arrive at least ninety minutes prior to an event at Hitachi Energy Arena to ensure optimal parking, entry, and access to seating. Thanks to Brett Wiseman, I was able to enter through a side entrance, where I watched players go through their pregame stretching and warmups. Hearing his commentary on the team’s YouTube channel the following day was an even greater thrill. Wiseman is a first-rate broadcaster and performer in his own right. As for the Saturday, March 28 game, I picked an especially memorable night to attend. With a 4–0 shutout over the Pee Dee IceCats of Florence, South Carolina, the Blue Ridge Bobcats strengthened their playoff position in their final home game of the 2025–2026 season, notching their seventh consecutive win—a franchise record. The streak included a second straight victory over the IceCats, following a 5–3 win the previous night. The first goal came just over halfway through the opening of three twenty-minute periods, when Filip Hlavac—a Czech Republic native who turns 23 on April 16—found the net. Steven Alvo added the lone goal of the second period, scoring just under two minutes in. Two more goals came in the final frame: the first from Mike Mercurio, a 25-year-old from New Hartford, New York, midway through the period, and the final from Nick Stuckless, who extended his scoring streak to five consecutive games. With less than ninety-five seconds remaining, Stuckless—a 28-year-old from Ontario, Canada—put the finishing touch on the Bobcats’ dominant performance. Thirty-six-year-old Greg Hussey of Medford, Massachusetts earned first-star honors, stopping all 34 shots by the IceCats. The Bobcats traveled to Biloxi for April 3 and 4 matchups at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum against the Biloxi Breakers, before closing out with a faceoff against the Twin City Thunderbirds at another of my favorite venues in North Carolina, the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, before returning home one last time on April 11th for a final game with the Thunderbirds before the undetermined championship game schedule. By the time you read this, fans will already know the outcome of those games. I’d like to extend my thanks, as always to Jeremy for helping me keep my job by being my unpaid chauffeur. I am also very grateful Brett Wiseman for his first-class hospitality, and also recognize two talented friends of mine who are helping support the legacy of both the Blue Ridge Bobcats and Wythe County through their outstanding work, Dr. Josh Stephens of Alpha Therapy and Cory Parker of MountainCAP Media, whose stunning photography and video capture the excitement of the game like no one else.

Strictly Observing

Easton sells out Wytheville’s Millwald in enthralling showcase

March 23, 2026March 24, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

Despite turning 67 this month, Scottish pop star Sheena Easton proved she still has what it takes to wow an audience when she brought her nostalgic ’80s dance sound to the Millwald Theatre on Saturday, March 21. Opening with the Lisa Stansfield classic “Around the World,” Easton immediately had the sold-out crowd of 500 on their feet, and the energy never dipped throughout the 85-minute set. She followed with her 1988 hit “Days Like This,” setting the tone for an evening that balanced humor, nostalgia, and vocal strength. “Some of you are here because you know my name,” she joked after sipping from a mug she claimed was “fifty percent likely to have tea in it.” Then, with a grin, she added, “But let’s face it—some of you are here because your mother dragged you.” Before launching into the ballad “Almost Over You,” Easton shared that its tear-jerking lyrics reflected a true story from her own life. The performance was met with warm appreciation from the audience. She followed with a heartfelt rendition of “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette, then delivered the Burt Bacharach classic “Always Something There to Remind Me” in a style closer to Sandie Shaw’s original version than the later ’80s interpretation by Naked Eyes. “That is my trilogy about getting dumped,” she quipped at the end of the sequence. “I would never dump you!” one audience member shouted. “Hi, sugar,” Easton replied in a playful Mae West-style drawl. Later in the evening, a fan called out, “You lost your accent!” “That’s because I stole yours,” she shot back, effortlessly keeping the crowd engaged. Introducing her hit “Strut,” Easton teased, “This next song will remind you of the moment your mother regretted playing you my music—after she came home and found you in her high heels singing the naughty lyrics.” She added with a laugh, “Some of the girls were doing it too.” A highlight of the night came during her tribute to her late friend Prince, whom she credited with boosting her confidence as a songwriter. She performed “The Arms of Orion,” their duet from the Batman soundtrack, alongside “Nothing Compares 2 U”—famously recorded by Sinéad O’Connor. Easton joked that she had been “dead jealous” that O’Connor recorded the song instead of her. Both numbers featured her backup singer and duet partner, Jason Martinez, whose versatility—ranging from country to R&B—added depth throughout the evening. “The Lover in Me” stood out as a high-energy callback to her ’80s peak, while a Prince medley—including “U Got the Look” and “Sugar Walls,” with a nod to Sheila E.’s “The Glamorous Life”—kept the momentum strong. Martinez rejoined Easton for her country hit “We’ve Got Tonight,” originally recorded with Kenny Rogers and written by Bob Seger. Of course, the show would not have been complete without Easton’s talented band. As she noted in a prior interview, she truly brought “the best musicians in Vegas.” Saxophonist Tony Q drove many songs to their peak energy, while guitarist Andrew Weir delivered standout performances—perhaps inspired, as Easton joked, by his wife Ann being in the audience for her birthday. Musical director Brian Triola anchored the sound on keyboards, and drummer Michel Angelo Vattima provided a powerful rhythmic backbone. “Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)” proved to be a major crowd-pleaser, but it was her signature hit “Morning Train (9 to 5)” that brought the audience to its feet before the first note—and kept them standing through the final chord. Easton closed the night with her James Bond theme, “For Your Eyes Only,” ending the show with grace, warmth, and consummate professionalism. As delighted as the Wytheville crowd was to welcome her, one can only hope that this performance marks the beginning of many more artists of Easton’s caliber gracing the stage at the Millwald Theatre. As for Easton herself, the artist could not have been warmer and more gracious. Having been given the honor to meet and interview her was an even greater privilege than watching the double Grammy winner perform. She has lost nothing in talent or showmanship in a half-century of performing. One can only hope she will see fit to return to our humble, but grateful hamlet again soon.

Strictly Observing