Photo courtesy of Teri Hagy

Wordsprint Christiansburg Printing is now at 225 Industrial Drive.

Wordsprint Christiansburg Printing has moved to 225 Industrial Drive, in the Christiansburg Industrial Park.

The new location is still in the Threshold Center, but is at the opposite end of the building.

Wordsprint Christiansburg Printing specializes in graphic design, printing and direct mail for area businesses, colleges, and nonprofit organizations.

In business since 1957, Christiansburg Printing merged in June 2007 with Wordsprint, a graphic design and printing service, to offer digital printing and variable data marketing to its list of services.

-- Amy Matzke-Fawcett

Pulaski County Chamber developing caricature map

Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce is developing a caricature-style driving map of the area for visitors to the Boy Scout Aquatics base  and two other camps located in the county.

One business may have the top advertising slot for each category on the front page of the map. The second page will include a classified listing, with names, addresses and telphone numbers of businesses that choose to be included. Only Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce members and major attractions can appear on the first page of the map; the classified page is open to all businesses desiring to participate.

The map will be available for download from the Boy Scout Web site and printable. Contact the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce at 674-1991 or pcchamber2@swva.net no later than May 1 for pricing details.

-- Amy Matzke-Fawcett

National Bankshares increases earnings

National Bankshares announced its earnings for the first quarter ended March 31. The company had net income of nearly $3.4 million, up 6.5 percent over the $3.18 million reported for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. This translates to basic net income per share of 49 cents, as compared with 46 cents per share last year.

Net loans at the end of the first quarter were at $568.6 million, an 8.9 percent increase over the $522.3 million on March 31 of last year. National Bankshares ended the first quarter with total assets of nearly $979.8 million, a 7.5 percent increase over the total a year ago.

-- Amy Matzke-Fawcett

Floyd County music store to close its retail portion

Floyd's Pickin' Porch will close its retail store May 2.

The Pickin' Porch has been for sale for the past year, so owner Scott Perry can focus more fully on touring, family, farming and giving music lessons. After the retail section is closed, the Pickin' Porch will remain an instruction studio.

"I hoped to sell the store and dedicate more time and energy to my guitar students, family, farm chores and performance career. Several potential buyers inquired about purchasing it and two sought to relocate it to downtown Floyd. However, a tightening credit market and downtown politics conspired against the sale. Selling in this environment is unlikely, yet I need to move forward," Perry said in a news release.

Perry said he will continue to teach guitar, mandolin and ukulele at the store, and later this month students will record the first Pickin' Porch student CD. About 50 students will perform at a student recital June 7 and 14, and Perry is recording an instructional DVD and will write an instructional book on beginning guitar.

The release went on to say "The Pickin' Porch will continue its mission: 'Celebrating and Cultivating Floyd's Music Making Tradition' and will offer student instruments and supplies and maintain dealerships and warranties."

Most of the store's inventory will be placed on clearance. Inventory will be 25 percent off through Thursday and 50 percent off retail price Friday through May 2. Consigned instruments or CDs and any outstanding payments should be picked up by May 2. Instruments, instructional books, DVDs and supplies will be sold online.

-- Amy Matzke-Fawcett

Administrative staff invited to seminar

A networking seminar and luncheon geared toward administrative professionals will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.

The cost is $69 for Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce members and $99 for nonmembers. The cost for the luncheon only is $25.

To register contact 552-2636 or along@montgomerycc.org or visit montgomerychamber. chambermaster.com/directory/jsp/events/EventPage.jsp?ccid=278&eventid=1007

-- Amy Matzke-Fawcett