Students produce television channel

Alleghany County's educational television station is up and running and looking to expand.

Originating at the Alleghany High School cybercampus, cable channel 50 is giving some students a chance to try their hand as television producers, news anchors, interviewers and technicians.

Alleghany Cablevision and cybercampus officials are preparing to make an announcement about the direction of the station's future programming, which may include telecasts of local government meetings and other community events.

Meanwhile, local cable TV viewers can already tune in to about 40 minutes of local programming each week, some of which is produced by students in Lewis Wagoner's marketing, media and technology class.

Pat Murphy, cybercampus technology specialist, said channel 50 features a variety of items produced at the school. "Anything we do at the cybercampus, we could put on channel 50," he said.

Offerings recently televised by the station include an eight-minute video describing the Alleghany school system, a video in which schools Superintendent Duane Davis outlines the schools' accountability policy, and taped performances by JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) participants.