Profile for Debra Mccown
Reporter at Bristol Herald Courier
Debra McCown began reporting for the Bristol Herald Courier in July 2006. She covers news in Abingdon, Washington County and Southwest Virginia, and has won multiple awards for her writing. A 2005 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who did her summer internship at the Washington Times, she spent five months in Mongolia and a year working at USA Today before coming here. After a year in the land of crime and traffic, she was faced with a dilemma: continue life in flat suburbia, beside neighbors who never said hello, or return to someplace normal. Torn between the draw of fame in the big city and a quality of life like that in her native foothills just west of the Blue Ridge, she sent her resume to small cities with mountains. She chose Bristol because she believes convergence - the melding of print, television and online journalism - is the future - and because Washington County feels like home. Whenever she's not out reporting the news (and, occasionally, even when she is out reporting the news), Debra is working at her second job: being Mommy. Every day she watches with amazement as her little girl, Maggie, discovers the world around her. She counts each day a blessing with the opportunity to chase Maggie around the house and through the great outdoors.
Recent Content
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Washington Co., Va., property tax increase could exceed 10 percent
Mark Seamon, the county’s finance director, said fully funding the school system and fire department requests – an additional $4.9 million – would bring the property tax rate up to 75 cents per $100 of assessed value.
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Playhouse raffle to benefit Washington County Public Library
It’s a house in miniature -- walls, insulation, electric lighting, a shingled roof and a little front porch with a tiny door.
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Washington County, Va., school officials fear they won't be able to fund teacher raises
School system officials in Washington County say they hope the county will reconsider their request for enough new funding to raise employee salaries.
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Washington County, Va. Board of Supervisors to review budget Feb. 21
The Washington County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to be presented with the recommended 2012-13 budget in a 6:30 p.m. recessed meeting Tuesday.
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EQT disputes officials' claims
In a letter to the Bristol Herald Courier, EQT Corp. has issued a response to the newspaper’s Feb. 5 story on the potentially devastating impact of lawsuits EQT filed against two Southwest Virginia counties.
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Teachers in black protest legislative changes
Dressed in a black Virginia High sweatshirt Friday, Tracey Mercier might have looked like she was demonstrating her school spirit. The school’s colors are black and orange.
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Allen stumps in Southwest Virginia
Former Gov. George Allen stressed his ties to the region during a stop here Friday along his U.S. Senate campaign trail.
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Former Governor Allen makes a stop in Abingdon on US Senate campaign trail
Former Gov. George Allen hit all the usual talking points Friday during a stop along his U.S. Senate campaign.
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Special election for Price seat set for Nov. 6
The date has been set for a special election to fill a vacancy on the Washington County Board of Supervisors.
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Date set for special election to fill Washington County, Va. Board of Supervisors vacancy
The date has been set for the special election to fill a vacancy on the Washington County Board of Supervisors.
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Washington County, Va., officials anticipate revenue increase
“I don’t think we’re going to be able to give the schools 100 percent of what they requested,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Joe Straten, “but I do think we’re going to be able to keep the tax rate lower than what the calculated figure would say it has to be.”
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Jewell Smokeless Coal recognizes longtime employees, safety
When Carl Blankenship started working underground at the age of 19 in 1972, he was given a shovel and told to get to work, he said.
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County revenue projections to be presented
Washington County Board of Supervisors meets tonight.
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Local company shows its love with Valentine bonuses
In an effort to let everyone know they're hiring and competitive, Jewell Smokeless Coal held a press conference Tuesday to give out big bonus checks to longtime employees.
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Emerging Power Series: Dickenson County School Superintendent Haydee Robinson
Haydee Robinson arrived in the United States at the age of 7, a Cuban refugee who had no money and spoke no English.
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Fathers and daughters share a Valentine's Day dance
Next year, he said, 11-year-old Faith will be in middle school – where after-school dances are held for the students.
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Tax increase may be coming to Washington County, Va.
In the face of more state funding cuts for schools and a desire to raise teacher salaries for the first time in several years, the Washington County School Board is asking for $6.6 million in additional local revenue.
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Officials say CavitroniX has huge growth potential
CavitroniX, whose technology improves the efficiency of oil-fired boilers, is the second company brought to Washington County by the Southwest Virginia Clean Energy R&D Center, one of five energy centers developed under a Tobacco Commission initiative launched three years ago to build technology and manufacturing in the region.
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United Way tops goals, looks ahead
United Way of Russell and Washington Counties on Tuesday celebrated a record fundraising year with awards and applause at the organization’s annual luncheon.
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Abingdon council discusses sports complex in vague terms
In very ambiguous terms, Abingdon town leaders discussed the possibility Monday night that a long-awaited sports complex project could be nearing reality.
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