A survey of Floyd County residents a few years ago showed more than 60 percent do not have any form of health insurance.

That's not surprising in a county where, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the per capita annual income is $16,345. Basic health insurance for two people through Anthem Blue Cross costs more than $12,000 a year. That doesn't leave much for basics like food or rent.

Even those with health insurance find themselves strapped to pay for the things that aren't covered. We've contributed to two fundraisers in recent months for a county employee battling colon cancer.

Carilion Health Care Systems, the "non-profit" company that holds a virtual monopoly on the area's medical providers, banked more than $100 million in profits in 2007. Yet the costs of medical care provided by Carilion far exceeds that of independent operations in Roanoke and other parts of Southwestern Virginia.

The situation gets worse for Seniors Some 15.7 percent of Floyd County's 14,789 residents are 65 or older -- many living on fixed incomes.

Which means too many residents of our county simply can't afford to get sick.

AN ADDITIONAL MEDICAL NOTE: Floyd County framer and blogger David St. Lawrence suffered a heart attack recently and is in the Cardiac Care Unit of Roanoke Memorial Hospital.  He's keeping us updated on his condition through his blog -- Ripples. Our best wishes to David for a speedy recovery.

Statement, young area bluegrass musicians, performs "A Man of Constant Sorrow" at The Friday Night Jamboree. Recorded on December 19, 2008.

This is part of an ongoing project to update the original documentary we shot on the Jamboree in 2002 and 2003. This segment was shot primarily with a Sony V1U camcorder using both on camera sound and wireless microphones.  Supplemental footage was shot with a Canon 5D MKII DSLR that also records 1080p high-definition video.

A friend who -- for purposes of this discussion will and should remain nameless -- walked into Cafe del Sol Friday and opened the discussion with a sneering "what's with the flag waving?" He referred to that morning's article on this web site that suggested we put partisan differences aside and approach the problems that face this nation as Americans.

The comment pissed me off. I decided to leave the coffee shop rather than say what was on my mind. I get angry when comments are made that, in my opinion, question my love of my country.

I am called many things: a gadfly, a cynic, a curmudgeon and  a troublemaker among other names. I am all of those things and more. But the only label that I wear with pride is being called an American. As an American, I believe it is my right -- and in many cases my duty -- to question the leaders of my town, my county, my state and my country when I feel they are wrong but doing so does not mean I ever question my country or those who serve it by putting on a uniform and placing their lives on the line. I do not question the patriotism or love of country of those who hold different points of view and I expect to be shown the same respect for my beliefs.

I tried to open the New Year with a positive commentary that draws on American resolve and hope for the future.  We -- as a community and a nation -- face serious challenges in the weeks and months ahead and we cannot begin to solve the problems with partisanship or a strident belief that our beliefs are superior to others.

We have become a society with contempt towards others with differing points of view and an intolerance towards ideas, philosophies, attitudes or lifestyles we don't embrace or understand.

I've been as guilty as anyone in the past of being judgmental, dismissive and contemptuous of others.  I realize now that the problems that threaten our way of life can be better resolved through cooperation, not confrontation.

We face a tough year ahead -- perhaps several tough years. But we cannot overcome those problems if we insist that only Republicans or Democrats can succeed. We cannot succeed if we believe that only liberals or conservatives have the answers. We will fail if we believe that only the right or the left is the way to proceed.

Partisans cannot save this nation. Americans can.

As a nation, we enter 2009 with a seemingly-conflicting mixture of crisis and hope.

That conundrum prompted me to write the following for a national news web site:

As Americans, we enter 2009 riding a tidal wave of crisis: a plummeting economy, multiple wars and a nation torn apart by bitter partisanship.

Yet we ride that wave on a surfboard of hope driven by a new President, a promise of change and a commitment to approach our many problems by building coalitions and crossing the angry battle lines of partisanship.

It's no longer a question of "can we do it?" It becomes a mandate of "we must do it."

Americans cannot, and must not, rely on the bitter, partisan crutches of the past. The many challenges facing this nation cannot be overcome by Democrats or Republicans. We must face them as Americans: United in purpose, driven by faith and marching in unison.

Americans have always found a way to muster up the courage and conviction to face monumental challenges ranging from the revolution that founded this nation, a civil war that threatened to rip it apart, the Great Depression, two world wars and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The question we face is "can we do it yet again?"

I think we can. This democratic republic of ours have lasted far longer than others.

As Americans, we have been down many times but we have never been counted out. We may be battered by an economic crisis, two wars and widespread lack of confidence in our leaders but we can struggle to our feet one more time and make it to the bell.

Enough of the metaphors.  Happy New Year from all of us to all of you.

Crime, normally not a hot topic in Floyd County, became a hot issue locally in 2008 with the first murder in many years, a fatal shooting of a neighbor by the county's animal control officer, a massive, multi-state manhunt by a local fugitive and criminal charges filed against a former Commonwealth's Attorney.

But the year brought good news as well with the Floyd County High School girls' varsity basketball team, led by the high-scoring Britney Avancina (right) capturing a state championship and the varsity football team coming ever so close.

So, from a purely subjective point of view, here is what we saw as the top stories in Floyd County over the past year:

1. Murder and drugs: Joshua Hairston, an 18-year-old Collinsville resident, told police he went to the Check home of Sean Michael Neumann on June 5 to buy drugs but said Neumann threatened him with a knife and he emptied his 357 Magnum at the man. The 39-year-old Neumann died from four gunshot wounds. A Floyd County grand jury indicted Hairston on capital murder charges and the young man faces trial early next year.
2. Anger and death. A month before the death of Neumann, Animal Control Officer Garland "Bucky" Nester found one of his cows had wandered off the property and tried to coax the recalcitrant animal back on his land. When that failed, an angry Nester reportedly pulled out his county-issued service weapon and fired at the cow. One of the bullets struck neighbor Paul Belcher, who was coming to help Nester with the cow. Belcher died from the gunshot wound and a Floyd County grand jury later indicted Nester on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless use of a firearms. The county fired Nester after reviewing a State Police report of the incident and the former animal control officer, who once taught firearms safety to county residents, faces a jury trial in February.
3. A former prosecutor on the wrong side of the law: Former Commonwealth's Attorney Gordon E. Hannett Jr. stirred a lot of controversy during his one elected term as county prosecutor. He took Circuit Judge Ray W. Grubbs to court for appointing a replacement prosecutor when Hannett was called to active duty in Iraq with his Army reserve unit but the State Supreme Court rejected his complaint and backed the judge. He came under fire for plea bargains which let drug dealers and sexual offenders avoid jail time. He lost every jury trial as a prosecutor and then lost his bid for re-election in the GOP primary. Now Hannett faces six criminal charges for petty larceny and computer crimes for what State Police investigators say was removal of equipment, programs and data from county-owned computers before he left office. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 15.
4. On the run: Steven Dale Branscome, grandson of former county sheriff George Branscome, became Virginia's most-wanted fugitive in March and April after he shot a State Trooper following a chase into West Virginia. More than 400 police officers from around the Commonwealth descended on Floyd County to help in the chase, setting up roadblocks, speeding down winding country roads in armored personnel carriers and patrolling the steets of Floyd with assault weapons and full battle attire. Locals knew Branscome was long gone but the cops kept the heat on in Floyd County until Branscome was captured just outside Texarkana, Texas. He was on his way to Mexico.
5. Third time was a charm: The lady Buffs varsity basketball team traveled to Richmond for the third straight year in March to try and win the state championship. They lost out the previous year in the final and the year before in the semi-finals. But the third time was a charm as the team overpowered Lancaster 64-50 to take the crown.

That's the top 5. Other major stories of the year included the boys' varsity football team's 13-1 season to make it to the state final; the changing face of Floyd, which saw the closing of Lemon's Jewelry, the retirement of longtime furniture retailer Vernon Baker and the efforts to revitalize the downtown area. Floyd County residents bucked the national trend and voted mostly for Republican presidential nominee John McCain while Democratic winner Barack Obama carried Virginia and the country.  The economic woes that gripped the nation came home as well with an increasing number of Floyd Countians facing a future without paychecks or economic stability.

Our best wishes for a Happy New Year as we head into 2009.

A short video from last Friday night's Jamboree at the Floyd Country Store. What makes this video special is that it was filmed not with a standard video camera but with Canon's remarkable 5D Mark II digital SLR that combines a 21.1 megapixel sensor for still photography with high definition video.

Both the video and sound were captured with the 5DII and edited on Final Cut Pro. Photographers like Vincent Laforet have already turned out broadcast quality short films with this amazing camera and I'm looking foward to putting it through its paces in the coming weeks.

(NOTE: Click here for a high-definition version of the video (requires a fast connection speed). Details on the video shoot can be found on my photography blog.)

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.