Month: November 2013

UPDATE: WYTHE COUNTY FOREST FIRE

by wytheGovernment

SPEEDWELL, Va. – According to the United States Forest Service, the forest fire atop Horse Heaven Mountain, south of Speedwell, has expanded to more than 200 acres and is expected to grow considerably prior to being extinguished. The fire is located entirely on national forest property and is not anticipated to become a threat to private property or county residents.

Approximately 68 federal and state firefighters are working the scene, including one hotshot crew, two dozers, two engines and a helicopter.

Despite the steep and rugged terrain of Horse Heaven Mountain, fire crews are digging containment lines and cutting trenches.

The Speedwell Volunteer Fire Department is on standby and has allowed their firehouse to serve as a base of operations for fire crews battling the blaze.

Wythe County’s Department of Emergency Management is working closely with state and federal fire crews, taking a primary role in monitoring private property.

“The fire is positioned entirely on national forest property and is not expected to pose a threat to private property,” stated Wythe County Emergency Manager Ikey Davidson.

Davidson continued, “We are carefully monitoring the fire’s smoke and stand ready to assist in any way possible. Should the situation change, we are prepared to take additional action – as our primary concern is safeguarding the lives and property of local residents.”

According to Forest Service officials, the blaze will continue into the weekend.

The Henley Hollow Trail and a section of the Virginia Highland Horse Trail, located along the top of Horse Heaven Mountain are closed. Fire crews are also warning hunters that it is unlawful to hunt adjacent to forest fires.

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40-ACRE FOREST FIRE SOUTH OF SPEEDWELL

by wytheGovernment

Last night, at approximately 10:04 p.m., the Wythe County E-911 dispatch center received a call from Jerry Porter Chief of the Speedwell Volunteer Fire Department. Porter stated that he had received reports from area residents of a forest fire roughly one-mile south of the community of Speedwell.

Dispatchers immediately notified the US Forestry Service (USFS) of the fire.

At 10:30 a.m., USFS told county officials that the fire’s size was approximately 40-acres. The forestry service also stated that firefighters were working to erect a containment line.

USFS says that approximately 20 firefighters are expected to be on the scene by noon.

Additionally, two dozers and a helicopter have been ordered to the area.

“The county has been in contact with the US Forestry Service and we will continue to monitor the situation very closely,” said Wythe County spokesman Jeremy Farley.

Farley added, “It is important to note that the fire is entirely located in the National Forest and that Wythe County residents and their property are in no significant danger. Should anything change, we will notify the public immediately. ”

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REORGANIZED LEAD MINES RESCUE SQUAD NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW MEMBERS

by wytheCommunity

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – The newly appointed directors of the Lead Mines Rescue Squad held their first meeting Thursday, November 7, 2013.

In addition to adopting a new set of bylaws, directors elected to begin accepting applications for paid and volunteer members.
The reorganization comes just three months following the Wythe County Board of Supervisors’ unanimous decision to dissolve the historic squad.

From the start, county officials vowed to place the safety of area residents as its highest priority and pledged that no action would be taken until a reliable and sustainable plan was implemented.

In the interim, local emergency calls for the Lead Mines area were managed by the Wythe County Rescue Squad. Emergency communications records reveal that response times were immediately improved once this change was initiated.

“The professional volunteers and staff members of the Wythe County Rescue Squad served the eastern portion of the county exceptionally well. We are very grateful for their assistance in making this transition possible,” said county spokesman Jeremy Farley.

Membership applications may be obtained at the County Administration Building, located at 340 South Sixth Street, Wytheville, Virginia, or downloaded from the county’s official website, www.WytheCo.org.

In compliance with the Virginia EMS Policy and Procedures, Lead Mines Rescue Squad will conduct a background check on all persons applying for membership into the organization.

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Wythe County Parks and Recreation Department Youth Basketball – 2013 – Junior Varsity – Boys/Girls Schedules

by wytheCommunity

Monday, November 18th @ JES

6:00pm – BOYS – Max Meadows Pioneers Black vs. Rural Retreat Indians Black

7:00pm – BOYS – Jackson Eagles vs. Sheffey Wildcats

8:00pm – GIRLS – Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Gold vs. Sheffey Lady Wildcats

 

Tuesday, November 19th @ RRES

6:00pm – BOYS – Rural Retreat Indians Orange vs. Rural Retreat Indians Black

7:00pm – GIRLS – Rural Retreat Lady Indians vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Black

 

Thursday, November 21st @ MMES

6:00pm – BOYS – Max Meadows Pioneers White vs. Rural Retreat Indians Black

7:00pm – GIRLS – Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Gold vs. Rural Retreat Lady Indians

8:00pm – GIRLS – Sheffey Lady Wildcats vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Black

 

Saturday, November 23rd @ Fort Chiswell High School

  9:00am – BOYS – Max Meadows Pioneers White vs. Max Meadows Pioneers Black – GYM A

10:00am – BOYS – Sheffey Wildcats vs. Rural Retreat Indians Orange – GYM A

11:00am – BOYS – Jackson Eagles vs. Rural Retreat Indians Black – GYM A

  9:00am – GIRLS – Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Gold vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Black – GYM B

10:00am – GIRLS – Sheffey Lady Wildcats vs. Rural Retreat Lady Indians – GYM B

 

Monday, November 25th @ JES

6:00pm – GIRLS – Sheffey Lady Wildcats vs. Rural Retreat Lady Indians

7:00pm – BOYS – Jackson Eagles vs. Rural Retreat Indians Orange

8:00pm – BOYS – Sheffey Wildcats vs. Max Meadows Pioneers Black

 

Tuesday, November 26th @ RRES

6:00pm – Girls – Rural Retreat Lady Indians vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Gold

7:00pm – BOYS – Rural Retreat Indians Orange vs. Max Meadows Pioneers White

 

Monday, December 2nd @ RRES

6:00pm – GIRLS – Rural Retreat Lady Indians vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Black

7:00pm – BOYS – Rural Retreat Indians Black vs. Rural Retreat Indians Orange

 

Tuesday, December 3rd @ MMES

6:00pm – BOYS – Rural Retreat Indians Orange vs. Max Meadows Pioneers Black

7:00pm – BOYS – Max Meadows Pioneers White vs. Jackson Eagles

8:00pm – GIRLS – Sheffey Lady Wildcats vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Gold

 

 

 

Thursday, December 5th @ JES

6:00pm – GIRLS – Rural Retreat Lady Indians vs. Sheffey Lady Wildcats

7:00pm – BOYS – Sheffey Wildcats vs. Rural Retreat Indians Black

8:00pm – BOYS – Jackson Eagles vs. Max Meadows Pioneers Black

 

Monday, December 9th @ MMES

6:00pm – BOYS – Max Meadows Pioneers White vs. Jackson Eagles

7:00pm – GIRLS – Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Gold vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Black

 

Tuesday, December 10th @ RRES

6:00pm – BOYS – Max Meadows Pioneers Black vs. Rural Retreat Indians Black

7:00pm – BOYS – Sheffey Wildcats vs. Rural Retreat Indians Orange

 

Wednesday, December 11th @ MMES

6:00pm – GIRLS – Sheffey Lady Wildcats vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Black

7:00pm – BOYS – Max Meadows Pioneers White vs. Sheffey Wildcats

 

Thursday, December 12th @ MMES

6:00pm – GIRLS – Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Gold vs. Max Meadows Lady Pioneers Black

7:00pm – BOYS – Jackson Eagles vs. Sheffey Wildcats

8:00pm – BOYS – Max Meadows Pioneers Black vs. Max Meadows Pioneers White

 

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:

 

Saturday, December 14th @ MMES

  9:00am – GIRLS – Game #1 – #1 SEED vs. #4 SEED

10:00am – GIRLS – Game #2 – #2 SEED vs. #3 SEED

11:00am – BOYS – Game – #1 – #4 SEED vs. #5 SEED

12:00pm – BOYS – Game – #2 – #3 SEED vs. #6 SEED

 

Monday, December 16th @ MMES

6:00pm – BOYS – Game #3 – #1 SEED vs. Game #1 winner

7:00pm – BOYS – Game #4 – #2 SEED vs. Game #2 winner

 

Tuesday, December 17th @ JES

6:00pm – GIRLS – Championship – Game #1 winner vs. Game #2 winner

7:00pm – BOYS – Championship – Game #3 winner vs. Game #4 winner

 

*** Cancellation Line: 276-223-4520***

Wythe County Employee Retires

by wytheGovernment

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Wythe County officials recently awarded retiring heavy equipment operator Marvin Fowler with a plaque, commemorating his service to the county.

Fowler served in the county’s building & grounds department for over eleven years and was previously employed in the county’s solid waste department.

Much of Fowler’s work consisted of bush hogging, as well as operating other pieces of heavy-equipment for the county.

Billy Bowers, building & grounds director, remembered Fowler as “passionate about everything he did.”

Co-worker Daniel Dunagan, agreed, “He’s a great friend. I’ve worked with him for many years; he’s just a great guy. I hate to see him go.”

Fowler, who is an avid outdoorsman, is looking forward to spending more time with his family, as well as enjoying more time to hunt and fish.