Mountain Top Media
Dickenson County residents asked to help preserve the region’s history
by RODERICK MULLINS
[email protected]
CLINTWOOD, Va. — The Dickenson County Department of Economic Development and Tourism is turning to local residents to help preserve the region’s history, one story at a time.
Officials will record oral histories and personal memories from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, on Chase Street in Clintwood during the annual Pioneer Days celebration. The department is seeking stories about the people, places, businesses and traditions that have shaped the county over generations.
Dana Cronkhite, the county’s director of economic development and tourism, said the project aims to capture everyday history before it fades.
“We know there are so many stories about Dickenson County that live only in the memories of the people who experienced them or heard them passed down through their families,” Cronkhite said. “We want to capture those stories before they are lost.”
The effort does not require formal historical knowledge, Cronkhite noted. Residents are encouraged to share memories about local schools, churches, family traditions, former businesses and neighborhood life.
The audio and video collected during Pioneer Days will support a broader effort to document local heritage. The material could appear in future marketing campaigns, digital storytelling initiatives and historical features for the county’s tourism branch, Visit Dickenson County.
“Our people are one of the greatest parts of Dickenson County’s story,” Cronkhite said. “When we talk about tourism and sharing Dickenson County with visitors, we don’t just want to tell them where to go. We want to tell them who we are, where we came from, and why this place is special.”
Residents interested in participating can visit the Visit Dickenson County booth on Chase Street throughout the day on Sept. 5.
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MIT professor leads simulation to tackle the choices of modern energy development
by RODERICK MULLINS
[email protected]
CLINTWOOD, Va. — Local residents and stakeholders recently gathered for a morning-long simulation designed to tackle the complex choices surrounding modern energy development in rural communities.
The exercise was led by Janelle Knox-Hayes, a professor of economic geography and planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Participants were divided into small groups to chart the energy future of Volt Valley, Pennsylvania — a fictional community designed to mirror the economic, environmental and geographic conditions of Dickenson County. Acting in assigned roles as either energy developers or community members, participants debated project placement, job quality and longevity, impacts on soil and water, and local land values.
“The simulation serves as an educational tool that can familiarize a diverse group of participants with the complexities of energy planning decisions,” Knox-Hayes said. “The simulation can help communities, developers and regulators begin to consider and negotiate mutually beneficial solutions for specific energy projects.”
Organizers said the scenario demonstrated that no single policy can address energy transitions in isolation, requiring solutions that balance economic, cultural and environmental needs. A guided discussion following the simulation shifted focus from the fictional town back to real-world energy choices facing Dickenson County and the surrounding region.
The workshop reflects broader efforts by county leadership to establish long-term strategies for energy projects rather than evaluating proposals on a case-by-case basis.
In December, Dickenson County adopted a solar revenue-sharing ordinance, allowing local governments to assess up to $1,400 per megawatt on solar developments. County supervisors also appointed members in July to a newly formed Energy Opportunity Committee to oversee future development planning.
The committee originated through the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT) program, a collaborative initiative involving the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech, with local funding supported by the UVA Environmental Institute.
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