Month: October 2016

Wythe County Program Collected 2,854 Tires Over Weekend

by wytheCommunity

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – As part of the county’s dedication to reducing litter and highlighting the natural beauty of Southwest Virginia, Wythe County’s Solid Waste Department held a tire collection event last Saturday; program leaders say the free event was an overwhelming success.

In recent years, the locality has begun taking a tough stance when it comes to illegal dumping and county officials say the collection event provides an alternative to illegally disposing of tires.

“In total, we collected 2,854 tires from local citizens.  Thanks to this program, that’s nearly 3,000 tires that were legally disposed of free of charge – they won’t be dumped over mountain banks or along the side of the roads,” said Billy Bowers, Wythe County Solid Waste Director.

2016 marked the fifth consecutive year the county has hosted such an event and local leaders are crediting its tire collection drives for helping to reduce the number of illegal dumping – an action that can result in felony charges.

“The natural beauty of our community is incredible, programs like this help us keep it that way,” said Bowers.

After being collected, the tires were sent to a recycling center in North Carolina, where they will be turned into a variety of rubber based products, including playground mulch, landfill covers, floor mats and a countless number of other items.

In addition to the county hosted tire collection event, the local Farm Bureau also accepted commercial tires from Farm Bureau members.

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Wythe County Social Service to Host Jingle Bell 5K

by wytheCommunity

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The Wythe County Department of Social Services will be hosting a 5K run / walk in order to raise funds for the department’s Santa Shop. Each year, these funds are used to purchase toys for less fortunate children in Wythe and Bland Counties.

“When we think of Christmas we think of smiling happy children’s faces opening their gifts – that’s why it is our goal to provide for as many children and families as possible,” said Santa Shop Coordinator Laura Heldreth, adding, “Last year we were able to help 959 children and 445 families. We hope to provide for even more this year.”

The 5K is scheduled for December 3, 2016, and will be held at a certified course at the Wytheville Community College.

Registration and packet pickup will be at 9:00 am, with the 5K beginning at 10:00 am.

Pre-registration for the professionally timed event is $25.00 and all pre-registrants will be guaranteed a t-shirt. Registration the day of the event is $30.00 and t-shirts will only be provided until supply runs out.

Jingle bells will be provided to wear on entrants’ tennis shoes in order to provide an extra holiday spirit while running or walking.

Prizes will be awarded to fastest runners.

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MAX MEADOWS RD. RAILROAD CROSSING TO BE CLOSED MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

by wytheCommunity

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The Wythe County Administrator’s Office has been informed that Norfolk-Southern Railroad will be closing Max Meadows Road, Monday, October 17, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to perform maintenance at the crossing.  The road will be closed at the crossing only.

Park Street, roughly 180 yards west of Max Meadows Rd. is normally a one-way street, however, VDOT crews will allow it to become a two-way traffic route while crews are working on the Max Meadows Rd. crossing.  This should come as a relief to parents and school officials at both the Max Meadows Elementary School as well as the neighboring Head Start Center.

Wythe County officials are working to notify the factories at Progress Park in an effort to make drivers aware of the fact that Park Street is not suitable for tractor-trailers.

Signs will be placed at Exit 80 in Fort Chiswell, as well as at the north exit of Progress Park advising drivers of the truck detour (trucks with trailers are not to drive on Park St.).

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Lisa McCauley, project coordinator of RoadSafe Rail & Utilities.  Her phone number is 304-964-0683.

Wythe County residents are encouraged to share this information with their friends and neighbors.

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WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The Wythe County Administrator’s Office has been informed that Norfolk-Southern Railroad will be closing Max Meadows Road, Monday, October 17, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to perform maintenance at the crossing.  The road will be closed at the crossing only.

Park Street, roughly 180 yards west of Max Meadows Rd. is normally a one-way street, however, VDOT crews will allow it to become a two-way traffic route while crews are working on the Max Meadows Rd. crossing.  This should come as a relief to parents and school officials at both the Max Meadows Elementary School as well as the neighboring Head Start Center.

Wythe County officials are working to notify the factories at Progress Park in an effort to make drivers aware of the fact that Park Street is not suitable for tractor-trailers.

Signs will be placed at Exit 80 in Fort Chiswell, as well as at the north exit of Progress Park advising drivers of the truck detour (trucks with trailers are not to drive on Park St.).

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Lisa McCauley, project coordinator of RoadSafe Rail & Utilities.  Her phone number is 304-964-0683.

Wythe County residents are encouraged to share this information with their friends and neighbors.

2016 ELECTION INFORMATION FOR WYTHE COUNTY RESIDENTS

by wytheGovernment

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The 2016 Presidential Election is fewer than four weeks away and Wythe County Registrar Carolyn King wants to ensure the county’s residents are familiar with the Commonwealth’s election laws and procedures.

County residents will see four separate items on their election ballots this year: choices for President & Vice President, US House of Representatives, and two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution.

The first proposed amendment would make Virginia’s present right to work law part of the Commonwealth’s constitution.  Additional information may be found at the following link: http://elections.virginia.gov/election-law/proposed-constitutional-amendment-2016/index.html

The second proposed amendment would provide localities an option “…to exempt from taxation the real property of the surviving spouse of any law-enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel who was killed in the line of duty…”

Election day is scheduled for November 8, 2016, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Individuals uncertain of where their local polling place is may contact the county registrar’s office (276-223-6038) or simply look on their voter ID card.

Under Virginia law, all voters must present one of the following forms of photo ID while at the polling place: valid Virginia driver’s license, DMV-issued photo ID card, valid US passport, valid employee photo identification card, other government-issued photo identification card, valid college or university student photo ID card (issuer must be an institution of higher education located in Virginia). Individuals who do not have an acceptable form of identification may contact Wythe County’s voter registration office (phone number listed in above paragraph) for a free ID.

In addition to overseeing the polls on November 8th, the county’s registrar’s office will also provide opportunities for absentee voting, either via US mail or in person at the county’s registrar’s office (245 S 4th St, Room #101, Wytheville, Virginia); however, under Virginia law, not everyone is permitted to participate in absentee voting – a full list of eligible reasons for absentee voting may be obtained by visiting: elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/absentee-voting/

The county registrar’s office will be open to eligible absentee voters as well as citizens wishing to obtain more information Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday October 29th and November 5th between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

October 17th will mark the final day for individuals to register to vote, transfer registration or change their address. The deadline for voters to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to them is 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2016. These requests must be received by the local registrar by 5 p.m. on November 5, 2016, will serve as the deadline to request an absentee ballot by appearing in-person at the registrar’s office.

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WYTHE COUNTY SCHEDULES FREE TIRE COLLECTION EVENT

by wytheGovernment

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – As part of a larger effort designed to beautify Wythe County, the locality’s Solid Waste Department will be hosting a tire collection day Saturday, October 22, 2016. The event will be held at the Kents Lane Collection Center, located at 261 Kents Lane in Wytheville.

Wythe County residents will be permitted to discard up to 100 tires per household at the event, free of charge; however, residents must schedule an appointment in order to participate in the event.

Appointments may be scheduled between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. by calling (276) 223-6119.

Wythe County’s code enforcement officer, A. B. Dunford says the collection day provides an ideal opportunity for residents to discard large quantities of tires in a legal and proper manner.

“Illegal dumping of any kind is a serious crime and can result in felony charges under certain circumstances,” stated Dunford, adding “Residents who dispose of their tires at the collection day event will be doing the community a great service.”

In addition to the county hosted tire collection day, which is opened to county households only, the local Farm Bureau will have a trailer on site and will be accepting commercial tires, as well as farm tires from Farm Bureau members. Individuals wishing to dispose of commercial tires through Farm Bureau must also schedule an appointment by calling the number the listed above between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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WYTHE COUNTY OFFICIALS MONITORING HURRICANE MATTHEW

by wytheGovernment

Jeremy T.K. Farley — October 4, 2016

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – Thursday afternoon, Wythe County’s Emergency Management Team participated in a conference call with officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service (NWS) in preparation of Hurricane Matthew’s landfall in the continental United States.

Forecasters emphasized that at this time, it is impossible to definitely predict the storm’s path; however, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, National Weather Service models seemed to be showing the category 4 hurricane turning north and brushing the east coast.

Early forecasts show the storm’s eye making landfall at 8 a.m. on Saturday, near the North Carolina – South Carolina coastline.

Though Virginia emergency officials were quick to caution that the storm’s tracking remains “very fluid”, they stated that the area of greatest concern remains localities east of the Blue Ridge.

Jason Busick, Wythe County’s Emergency Manager, said that at this time emergency officials are not expecting Southwest Virginia to experience any significant danger from the storm, but warned that residents need to be prepared in the event that the storm was to shift its path.

“It’s always a good idea for citizens to be prepared and we simply want to take this opportunity to remind residents of the need to have an up to date emergency supply kit,” said Busick.

The Red Cross recommends that every family’s emergency supply include a 3-day supply of water, non-perishable food, flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, first aid kit and a seven-day supply of medication.

Wythe County emergency officials will continue to monitor the storm and will advise the public should any additional information come available.

Citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and to look after neighbors should the county be affected by the hurricane.

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