Opponents of the proposed micro brewery on Thomas Farm Road near the Blue Ridge Parkway have appealed a decision by a veteran Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) officer who approved the brewery’s application for an off-premises license.

The full ABC board will hear the case in Richmond on Thursday. The fight between Shooting Creek Farm Brewery and some of the residents who live nearby is basically a neighborhood dispute on steroids, fueled by a minister with an agenda and a neighbor with a grudge.

Paul Lacoste, the neighbor who lives closest to the proposed brewery, isn’t saying if the opposition has anything new to say when the board hears the case next week. One resident of Thomas Farm Road told me in an email that the mantra will be "more of the same," meaning the previously-nullified claim that the brewery will turn the rural road into a danger zone of speeding drunks tear-assing up and down the road, the destruction of rural paradise and more posturing about the evils of alcohol.

In a recent piece about the compromises of rural living, I make the following observation:

Need a prescription filled on Sunday? Gotta find a chain store in Roanoke, Christiansburg or Hillsville.

Not so, says George Fetko, the pharmacist and owner of Floyd Pharmacy. He has an special phone number for emergency prescriptions and will come down and open the store on Sundays and evenings to fill one. The emergency number, which is also listed in his Yellow Pages ad, is 745-2297.

George handles all our prescriptions and we’ve found him to be the best pharmacist to work with after living in three states and dealing with a lot of pharmacies. His prices are almost always lower than the chain drug stores and he is always on the lookout for generic drugs to substitute for the ones the doctor prescribes. Often, he has called one of our doctors to recommend a less-expensive generic drug.

My apologies to George and The Floyd Pharmacy for overlooking their emergency service. My bad.

I knew as soon as Amy came down with the first set of sniffles that her germs would find their way to me. My wife is a magnet for any germs that venture within 100 miles and she always finds a way to share.

So when I came down with the cold that had hobbled me for the past several days, I knew what had to be done: Amy must die.

I plotted her demise in many ways during bouts with fever, nausea and a constantly dripping nose. I would chop her up in little pieces, bury most in various places on the property and leave a few pieces out for the bears, coyotes and bobcats.  The woods are thick around the house. No one would ever find her.

I’ve watched CSI, Criminal Minds and Bones. Any of these shows provide adequate education on how to kill, mutilate and destroy a loved one.  I concocted a couple of good cover stories: She went back to Illinois to live with an uncle or maybe she ran off with one of the guys who keeps hitting on her at bingo. People are always telling me they can’t understand why she stays with me. They will believe she left.

But she brought sushi home last night and the wasabi helped clear my sinuses.

So I will let her live.

For a little while longer.

Maybe.

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.