The first of several balconies for the apartments at Village Square went up last week with workmen installing the black fixture to the norh side of the building on Locust Street in downtown Floyd.

Afterwards, developer Woody Crenshaw (right) inspected the installation and delcared the effort a success as storms moved into the Floyd area from the West.

When completed, the Village Square, located directly across the street from the Floyd County Store, will include retail, residential and, hopefully, a restaurant.

Crenshaw is hoping for an opening of the development sometime in late Spring or early Summer, completing another part of the rennovation and revitalization of downtown.

A solitary dancer enjoys the music during the Sunday afternoon jam session at the Floyd Country Store. Musicians gather and jam each Sunday from 2 – 5 p.m.

A Floyd County High School Buffaloes fan gets into the music between the the junior varsity and varsity boys’ basketball game this week.

Lord Botetourt High School handed the Floyd County Lady Buffs their first loss of the season with a one-point win last week in Daleville so the team was looking for revenge Monday night when the Cavaliers came to town.

But it took overtime for the Floyd girls’ to beat the pesky team from LB 65-61.

With three minutes to go in regulation, Floyd trailed 54-50 after leading by as much as 10 points in the third quarter. Floyd came back to tie it 54 all as time ran out. With time running out in OT, the Cavaliers were down by just Carmen Bolt stole an LB pass and took it downcourt for a layup to put the game out of reach.

A close call for a Floyd team that is expected to make a fourth straight appearance in the state finals in Richmond next year.

The boys’ Varsity and JV basketball teams play their last home games of the year Wednesday night and next week on the 22nd.

Be sure to come out support our school’s athletic teams.  They always provide exciting games.

Scenes from Saturday’s State Final Championship game between Floyd County and Gretna.  Photos by Doug Thompson

Floyd County High School’s girls varsity basketball team is off to a strong start with three home victories this week.

Led by powerhouse Britney Avancini (right), the Lady Buffs destroyed Magna Vista 85-46, following up on a 57-33 stomping of Patrick County on Thursday and a 63-50 win over Pulaski County on Tuesday.

The strong start should put the team on track for a fourth-straight trip to the state finals in Richmond, where they won the state championship earlier this year.

A year ago, the Lady Buffs started the season 0-2 and some wondered if the team could rebound. They did, losing only one other game in a march to the championship.

With the varsity football team vying for the state title in Salem Saturday afternoon, Floyd County High School continues to churn out championship caliber athletic teams.

Quite an accomplishment for a rural school from the mountains of Southwestern Virginia.

(Photo from the state championship finals in Richmond.)

Idalina Walker delivers a blistering return Tuesday night at the Lady Buffs Volleyball team opened the Three Rivers District tournament with a 3-1 win over EastMont at Floyd County High School.

After an opening loss, the Lady Buffs roared back to take the next three games.

UPDATE: On Wednesday, FCHS ran into a juggernaut named Auburn and lost 3-0.

Floyd County High School’s varsity football team continued their unbeaten season Monday night with a 35-21 pasting of Giles County and those who braved the cold weather saw an incredible performance from quarterback Luke Harris (above) who scored three rushing touchdowns and threw for a fourth in the first half.  Harris rushed for more than 150 yards in the first half.

I’ve watched a lot of football players at high school, college and pro levels over the years. This kid is incredible.

UPDATE: FCHS whipped Auburn on Friday, Oct. 31 and wraps up the regular season this coming Friday with a home game against Radford. Win or lose, the Buffaloes are in the district playoffs.

A church choir, local entertainers and friends gathered at Floyd County High School Saturday to raise money for medical expenses for county Tourism and Economic Development Director Lydeanna Martin, who is fighting colon cancer.

Attendees purchased food supplied by county residents and organizations, invested in door prize tickets and listened to music in the high school auditorium.

Doctors found the cancer in 38-year-old Martin earlier this year and she is still fighting the deadly disease after surgery as well as chemo and radiation therapy.

Organizers said the benefit raised more than $11,000.

Yes, that really is a giant banjo that Floyd Country Store owner Woody Crenshaw is hoisting and he and a work crew get ready to mount the huge instrument on the front of the store

Fabricated in the workshop of Crenshaw Lighting, the banjo is the latest addition to the facade of the site of Floyd’s famous Friday Night Jamboree.  Crenshaw says the two-sided instrument was part of the original plant for the facade renovation of the store and they mounted the thing Thursday night — just in time for the weekly jamboree the next night.

It wasn’t easy. With electrical wires hovering too close, Crenwshaw and his crew carefully maneuvered the banjo into place and on to three pegs.  It took a number of tries and false starts and they broke a tuning stem in the process but put it back into place with a drill and glue.

The only thing that remained to be seen was how many people would notice it the next day and during the Friday Night Jamboree.

Many did and most declared it a welcome addition to Floyd’s music culture.