Latest news with #RichlandsElementarySchool
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Students excel at Tom Colley Reading Bee
tazewell, va. — Spelling, vocabulary and reading comprehension were tested Thursday when fourth-grade and fifth-grade teams from Tazewell County schools competed and excelled at the 23rd Annual Tom Colley Reading Bee. Formerly known as the Tazewell County Reading Bee, the competition was renamed the Annual Tom Colley Reading Bee in honor of the late executive editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Colley, who was chairman of the Literacy Committee of what is now the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias, created the reading bee concept as a way to help children develop a love of reading. Ten teams representing the fourth and fifth grades at five of Tazewell County's schools competed at this year's reading bee. These schools included Abbs Valley Boissevain Elementary School, Cedar Bluff Elementary, Graham Intermediate School, Richlands Elementary School and Tazewell Intermediate School. These teams competed in categories including vocabulary, spelling, comprehension, editing and impromptu, which is a skit that's performed without rehearsal. After the judges watched the teams compete and made their decisions, the fourth grade overall winner was Cedar Bluff Elementary. Cedar Bluff Elementary's Fourth Grade Team included coach Dana Smith with students Jordan Hylton, Lanh Pham, Avery Martin and Paisley Richardson. The fourth grade overall winner was Cedar Bluff Elementary School. Cedar Bluff Elementary's Fourth Grade Team included coach Dana Smith with students Jordan Hylton, Lanh Pham, Avery Martin and Paisley Richardson. The fourth grade runner up was Graham Intermediate School. Graham Intermediate School's Fourth Grade Team included coach Sarah Jones with students Neveah Shrader, Laney Holman, Harper Mitchem and Kylie Sparks. The fifth grade overall winner was Richlands Elementary School. Richlands Elementary School's Fifth Grade Team included coach Kiffani Dales with students Caelyn Arms, Kai Rohrer, Aubree Gilbert and Ella-Rae Patton. The fifth grade runner up was Tazewell Intermediate School. Tazewell Intermediate School's Fifth Grade included coach Courtney Mullins with students Scarlet Brittain, Payton Bowman, Madison Montaigne and Harper Crone. Supporters of the 23rd Annual Tom Colley Ready Bee included the following: Bluefield Daily Telegraph; Craft Memorial Library; Rotary Club Princeton WV; Peter R. Romano/Ameriprise; Financial Services LLC; Mrs. Charles (Dafney K.) Peters; Rotary Club Bluefield WV; George M. Cruise Foundation; First Community Bank; Rotary Club Bluefield, Va.; Frank Smoot Charitable Trust; Venture Printing; the Family of Eugenia Hancock; Anytime Fitness; WVVA; City National Bank; and Lawrence Brothers, Inc. Organizers also thanked the Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc.,which supported the reading bee through the Unrestricted Fund of the Foundation and The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Literacy Fund. Organizers also acknowledged Lindsey Mullins Woodard, Tazewell County Schools director of public relations; Communities In Schools of the Appalachian Highlands; the Tazewell County School Board; the Mercer County Board of Education; Debbie Maynard and Cassie Evans with the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Woman charged after allegedly taping special needs child to desk at Richlands Elementary School
RICHLANDS, WV (WVNS) — A Tazewell County woman is facing multiple charges after allegations of child abuse were investigated at Richlands Elementary School. According to the Richlands Police Department, on Monday, February 10, 2025, allegations of child abuse happening at Richlands Elementary School were reported to members of the Richlands Police Department. The allegations were specific to a special needs classroom. Social Services had received the report from school employees on February 7, 2025. Multiple witnesses and Tazewell County School employees were interviewed by investigators with the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office and Richlands Police Department across February 10 and 11, 2025. The investigation revealed that Jessica McCoy, 41, of Richlands, had allegedly assaulted and 'committed acts of abduction' in relation to her treatment of a five-year-old boy. McCoy was allegedly witnessed taping the little boy to a desk for an extended amount of time, according to multiple witness statements throughout the week of February 4, 2025, to February 7, 2025. Jessica McCoy was arrested and charged with two counts of Abduction VA Code 18.2-47, and two counts of Cruelty to a Child VA Code 40.1-103. She is currently being held without bond. Tazewell County Schools posted the following statement to their Facebook: Tazewell County Public Schools places the safety of our children above all other concerns. Therefore, we immediately reported this incident to Child Protective Services. All employees involved in this incident have been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation by CPS. We can not comment further on personnel matters. Tazewell County Public Schools | Facebook Richlands Chief of Police, Ronald Holt II, provided the following statement: As the husband of an educator, I know just how much most teachers care for their students. They understand the weight of their duties and the trust that we place in them to care for our children. Jessica McCoy violated that trust. This child deserved better. His family deserved better. While we cannot undue the harm that befell him, we can do everything in our power to assure that justice is delivered in this case. I would like to thank the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office, and Commonwealth Attorney, Chris Plaster, for personally helping with the investigation. Ronald D. Holt II | Chief of Police, Richlands Police DepartmentCopyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
