From Crime Scenes to Deer Stands: Two Bath County Clubs Team Up

From Crime Scenes to Deer Stands: Two Bath County Clubs Team Up

By Danny Cardwell · Allegheny Mountain Radio

Clubs at Bath County High School matter more than people might think. They help kids find their interests. They give students a springboard to figure out what’s for them and, just as important, what’s not. On Saturday, November 14, two of those clubs are joining forces, and they’re asking the community to come out hungry.

The Bath County Forensics Club and the Bath County Sportsman Club will hold a joint fundraiser 11/14/26 at 11 a.m. at the Home Oil parking lot in Mitchelltown. It’s a free-will donation meal, and the money goes straight back into the clubs: activities, field trips, club days, and community service.

In February of 2024, Laura and her husband, Thomas, came in to tell me about the brand-new club they started at the high school. Thomas, now about 15 years in with the Bath County Sheriff’s Office, was serving as the school resource officer at the time. I learned a few things that day. Forensic testing takes a lot longer than it does on your favorite TV show. Bugs can actually help solve crimes, a field called forensic entomology.

The club came together faster than Laura expected.

“The kids almost had their first crime to solve when Thomas came home and told me we were doing this,” she said back then. “I thought I had a year to help implement it, but no, they wanted it as soon as possible. She admitted that they winged part of it until they got more support, but noted that the kids had fun and were interested.

By that fall, it had grown into one of the most popular clubs at Bath County High School. In October of 2024, two members, Sierra Gardner and Laci Ryder, came in to tell me what made it work. Both have since graduated from BCHS. Sierra said the club taught her more than she expected, and she gave a lot of the credit to the man running it.

“I didn’t think I’d learn as much about forensics,” Sierra said. “I think it’s just a good club, because Thomas is also a good person. He’s a kind person, so everyone wants to be in that club, and everything that he does for the school.”

For Laci, it came down to the people.

“Since there are so many people in it, all my friends are in it,” she said. “It’s just a good place to mingle and hang out and learn about something interesting.”

Two years later, Laura says the club is still going strong.

“That club is doing awesome,” she said. “And we are excited to help Sportsman’s Club take off and do just as well.”

The kids have had plenty to keep them busy.

“We have had the Virginia State Police crime scene investigation van come up, and they did demonstrations,” Laura said. “We gave the kids a tour of the van. They got to go visit the state forensics lab in Roanoke. That was an awesome field trip. They do things like murder mysteries. They’ve had some people come into the club days and talk about what it’s like to be a medical examiner, and they’ve had the canine come and visit. So they have learned lots.”

The Sportsman Club is newer, and Cheyenne says it’s finding its footing fast. Last year the club held an event at the high school where students brought in their deer mounts and all kinds of other mounts. It was a big hit, and it raised money for the club. Since then, the kids have taken fishing trips and a squirrel hunting trip to Hidden Valley. Camping trips and cookouts are next.

Cheyenne gave a lot of the credit to the club’s leaders, Joey and Matthew Altizer.

“They’re great leadership for the kids that are interested in that,” she said. “It really gives them an avenue with good leadership to do that on a school basis, and learn the right way to do things.”

She’s seen it up close. Cheyenne went along on the Hidden Valley trip and took pictures.

“It’s a good time,” she said. “It’s a great group of kids.”

What the Sportsman Club wants to do next takes resources. A camping trip is on the calendar for sure, and the club hopes to organize a deer hunting trip this year.

“It takes a lot of work behind it,” Cheyenne said. “A lot of money. A lot of people.”

The fundraiser isn’t only about trips, though. Cheyenne said it’s also about teaching the kids to give something back.

“The biggest thing also is, we’re wanting to team up and do a lot of community service with the kids,” she said. She wants to show them, “especially if they want to stay in our community, that the community takes so much effort on everyone’s part to give back.”

“The community gives us, and we give back to the community, as far as showing up to things,” she said. “And I think that’s what it’s all about.”

When I asked about the menu, Cheyenne was the first to chime in.

“The meal is gonna be great,” she said.

Joey Altizer is smoking the brisket. Chrissy Harmon is making homemade macaroni and cheese. Cheyenne’s mom is making homemade coleslaw. When the question came up of who was handling the baked beans, Laura had the answer.

“I think the culinary class,” she said.

Homemade rolls round out the plate, with hot dogs and hamburgers for anyone who’d rather have those. Baked goods will be for sale too. The flyer says all hunters are welcome, and Cheyenne had a special word for anyone heading to the woods that morning.

“We hope that they get a big deer and come out,” she said.

Laura said both clubs want this to be a big day, and they’ll be getting the word out.

“Follow us on Facebook, on the Bath County Forensics Club, and look for advertisements throughout the stores,” she said. “We want it to be a big event, so that we can give back to the community.”

The Bath County Forensics Club and Bath County Sportsman Club fundraiser is Saturday, November 14, at 11 a.m., at the Home Oil parking lot in Mitchelltown. The free-will donation meal includes brisket, homemade macaroni and cheese, homemade rolls, coleslaw, and baked beans. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and baked goods will also be available. Come on out, enjoy a hot meal, and help these kids keep learning.

Listen to oure full interview below: