Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 1, 2007 issue
FEATURE PHOTO
Newland Elementary
In Avery County, school children with relatives in Iraq are a little comforted by seeing pictures of brothers and sisters and other family members on the wall every day at Newland Elementary. Fifth grade teacher Donna Thompson created the Our Heroes board when the war began. “The students who first contributed are now graduated from Avery High, but the contributions continue to come in. Initially it was just my students but has expanded to other grades, parents and other family members and friends who bring me pictures to display,” Thompson said. In this photo, Nikki McKinzie points to her brother, U.S. Marine Jacob McKinzie. Nikki has another brother, Nathan, and a sister, Misty, who are also Marines. Alexandria Bare points to her brother-in-law Nathan McKinzie, and Cindy Malgadey, a teacher at Newland Elementary, points to her son Alan Malgadey, Jr. Photo courtesy of Edwina Tatum