WYTHEVILLE -- Roads in Wythe and Bland counties leading to artisans and tourism attractions have been nominated to be on the 2007 National Geographic Society Driving Trails Map.

The map, a partnership between National Geographic and the Appalachian Regional Commission, will feature two driving trails from each of the 13 states in the Appalachian region. Each state submitted up to five trails for consideration.

The Wythe-Bland Artisans Trails grew out of a commission planning grant awarded to the Wytheville Department of Museums in 2005.

'Round the Mountain: Southwest Virginia's Artisan Network has chosen the trails project as the prototype for development of its own regional trails. 'Round the Mountain serves the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe, and the cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton and Radford.

The map will be sold at National Geographic stores and Web site and other retail outlets starting in June. More information about the Wythe/Bland Artisans Trails project is available by calling (276) 223-3330 or e-mailing marcellat@wytheville.org.

-- Paul Dellinger

Scholarship established for acting president

WYTHEVILLE -- Ed Barnes, acting president at Wytheville Community College for 17 months, and his wife, Shirley, have established the Barnes Family Scholarship Endowment at the college.

This is in addition to the Dr. Edwin L. Barnes Scholarship Endowment established by people who were impressed with Barnes' work at the college and donated more than $7,000.

Both endowments will provide scholarships to Wytheville Community College students, said Rhonda Catron-Wood, college development director.

Barnes had retired as president of New River Community College in Dublin. He agreed to serve as vice president during the tenure of WCC president Ann Alexander and became acting president after she left and before Charlie White was hired.

-- Paul Dellinger

Bluegrass jamboree scheduled for Saturday

WYTHEVILLE -- A free bluegrass jamboree will be sponsored by Wytheville Community College from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at George Wythe High School.

This fifth jamboree will feature the bluegrass group John Viers & Friends and the old-time band Zephyr Lightning Bolts.

Viers, from Pulaski County, started playing banjo at age 7. He teamed up with Olen Smythers when they were about 10. Viers won the first Pulaski County Fiddler's Convention and has since won at fiddler's conventions in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. In 1970, he won a national banjo competition. He has performed for President Jimmy Carter, two Virginia governors and on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

The Zephyr Lightning Bolts hail from Zephyr, N.C. The band plays for square dances and street festivals, and has placed several years running at the annual Galax Fiddler's Convention.

Each band will play two 45-minute sets.

Seating on a first-come basis will start at 6 p.m. Donations will be accepted to help with the bands' travel costs.

-- Paul Dellinger

Newsweek editor will speak at Emory & Henry

The managing editor of Newsweek magazine will be the main speaker during the annual Winter Forum at Emory & Henry College Feb. 19-20.

Jon Meacham was named to the editor position eight years ago, at the age of 29. He is also the author of a number of books dealing with politics and religion.

The forum, involving a discussion of current issues, has featured such past speakers as Martin Luther King III, Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This year, it will concentrate on facets of religion in America.

Meacham will speak at 8 p.m. Feb. 19 in the college's Memorial Chapel on "God and Politics: From George Washington to George. W. Bush." The forum will continue Feb. 20 with discussion sessions across campus.

At Newsweek, Meacham oversees coverage of politics, international affairs and breaking news.

He has written cover stories on the controversy over Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion," the sexual abuse scandals of the Roman Catholic Church and a retrospective on Ronald Reagan. His latest book, "American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, The Making of a Nation," is a New York Times best-seller.

-- Paul Dellinger