This week, Wythe County Parks & Recreation announced that the department would be offering open gym for basketball and walking at Sheffey Community Gym beginning on Saturday, January 21st and then throughout February and into the spring. The gymnasium will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon.
In addition to open gym hours, the county’s Parks & Recreation Department will also be offering two separate fitness classes for the community:
Fusion Fit Classes will be held at 6 p.m. every Monday and Thursday starting on Thursday, January 19th and are slated to end in early-March. The one-hour session will utilize light weights, which will be provided, and cardio.
Functionally Fit Classwill be held at 5 p.m. every Thursday starting on Thursday, January 19th and is also slated to end in early-March. This class is aimed at specifically helping adults 50-years-old and older stay in shape and maintain a health, active lifestyle.
Because space is limited for both classes, individuals wishing to participate are encouraged to register by contacting Kevin Williams (276-223-4519 or [email protected]). Cost to participate in this program is only $10 per session.
“During the winter months, people often get discouraged and become less active. Our goal for this program is to help the people of the local community stay active and assist them in making healthy lifestyle choices through the early months of the year,” said Kevin Williams, director of the county’s Parks & Recreation Department.
Additional information concerning activities at the Sheffey Community Gym, including a calendar of events, will be available to the public on the official Facebook page of the Sheffey Community Gym: Facebook.com/SheffeyGym
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The National Weather Service is warning that light freezing rain, perhaps starting as light sleet, will develop in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Friday evening and will spread northeast,
primarily east of I-77, during Saturday’s pre-dawn hours.
“Precipitation amounts will be very light, with only a couple of hundredths of an inch of precipitation expected,” stated Phil Hysell of the National Weather Service.
Though this morning’s forecast is predicting lower precipitation amounts and warmer temperatures than was earlier believed, the county’s emergency management team wishes to remind residents that any precipitation falling on cold surfaces will result in spotty icing, especially on elevated surfaces like bridges and overpasses, if untreated.
It is for these reasons that the county’s citizens are encouraged to remain cautious if traveling Friday and Saturday, allowing for additional travel time to their destinations.
Fortunately, the National Weather Service is forecasting for the light precipitation to change to light rain or end by mid to late morning Saturday as temperatures climb well into the 40s and lower 50s.
Alison Krauss performing “When You Say Nothing at All” Photo Courtesy: Josh Rhinehart
This Saturday evening, award-winning Nashville songwriters Paul Overstreet and Brett James will be hosting a unique performance at the George Wythe High School.
The duo have written dozens of iconic, chart-topping country hits over the past three decades and this weekend, they’ll not only be performing the songs they’ve written, but also sharing the fascinating stories surrounding each song’s creation.
The pair’s songs include hits by Kenny Chesney (She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy and Out Last Night), as well as Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, George Jones, Blake Shelton and Randy Travis (On the Other Hand, Diggin up Bones, and Forever and Ever, Amen).
Overstreet, who was once married to Dolly Parton’s sister, began his career in the early 1980s and has written or co-written 27 Top Ten songs. During this time, he has won two Grammy Awards and also ACM and CMA Song of the Year Awards (1987 and 1988). He is perhaps best known for writing Forever and Ever, Amen and On the Other Hand, both of which were number one songs for Randy Travis.
The Mississippi native also co-wrote When You Say Nothing at All, which was a number one hit at the end of 1988 for Keith Whitley and later propelled newcomer Alison Krauss to stardom.
Overstreet and Don Schlitz came up with When You Say Nothing at All at the end of an otherwise unproductive day. Strumming a guitar, trying to write their next song, they were coming up empty. “As we tried to find another way to say nothing, we came up with the song,” Overstreet later told author Ace Collins. They thought the song was okay, but nothing special. “But when Keith Whitley heard it, he loved it, and was not going to let it get away.”
Whitley had already passed on a previous Overstreet-Schlitz composition that became a No. 1 hit for another artist – Randy Travis’ On the Other Hand. Whitley did not plan to let “When You Say Nothing at All” meet the same fate.
Sadly, Whitley died in 1989, the year following the release of When You Say Nothing at All.
Five years following Whitley’s death, 23-year-old bluegrass fiddler and vocalist, Alison Krauss, recorded the song for a tribute album to Whitley.
After Krauss’s cover began to receive unsolicited airplay, BNA Records, the label that had released the album, issued Krauss’ version to radio in January 1995.
Its success, as well as that of the album, caught Krauss by surprise. “It’s a freak thing,” she told a Los Angeles Times reporter in March 1995. “It’s kinda ticklin’ us all. We haven’t had anything really chart before. At all. Isn’t it funny though? We don’t know what’s goin’ on….The office said, ‘Hey, it’s charting,’ and we’re like, ‘Huh?'”
Also performing at this weekend’s concert will be Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Brett James.
In 2009, James achieved the Music Row “Triple Play,” an award for three #1 songs in a single chart year, not once, but twice! His six number one hits included It’s America, Rodney Atkins; Out Last Night, Kenny Chesney; Cowboy Cassanova, Carrie Underwood; Summer Nights, Rascal Flatts; The Truth, Jason Aldean; and The Man I Want To Be, Chris Young.
James’ other hits include Jesus Take the Wheel, Who I am, and Martina McBride’s Blessed.
The concert, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, will be held at George Wythe High School’s auditorium and will serve as a fundraiser for the APEX Center, a +2,000 seat arena that will be constructed near Fort Chiswell.
“This weekend’s show will provide only a small taste of the type of events the APEX Center will be hosting on a regular basis,” said Matthew Miller, chairman of the Appalachian Expo (APEX) Authority.
Advance tickets are available for purchase ($20 each) at several area locations, including, Guynn Furniture, Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce, GWHS FFA, WYVE, Farm Bureau, S&W Fertilizer, Farm Credit, Town of Wytheville Office, Farmers Milling, First Bank & Trust, RRHS FFA, Dutch Pantry, FCHS Senior Class and FM94.
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. — Wythe County’s Emergency Management team has learned that a tractor-trailer accident on Interstate 77 near mile marker 41 will result in all I-77 southbound traffic being detoured at Exit 41 (Peppers Ferry Rd.) around 4 p.m.
Officials estimate that the detour will remain in effect for 1 – 1.5 hours.
The Code of Virginia requires localities to reassess the value of real estate property. Beginning in the fall of last year, Pearson’s Appraisal Services Inc. began reappraising property values throughout the locality on behalf of Wythe County and their results have now been completed.
Reassessment notices have been mailed to Wythe County landowners, informing them of any changes made to their assessed property values.
Additionally, the county has also made these figures available online to the public free of charge.
Individuals wishing to access their property values may do so by completing the following instructions:
2.) Click the “Guest Access” link (on the right) after checking the terms of agreement
3.) Click the “Search” tab at the top of the page, directly under “Wythe County, Virginia”
4.) Search for a property by entering the last name of the landowner
Once an individual has found a property they wish to inspect, they will be able to view the current land card and the proposed land card, as well as see the current breakdown of their land and improvement values as compared to the reassessed values.
The county government believes that by allowing citizens the opportunity to access their current and reassessed tax values online citizens will have a greater understanding of the process and be better equipped to determine if their proposed new tax card is accurate.
Landowners who may have questions or wish to dispute their new assessment are encouraged to contact the board of assessors and schedule an appointment in order to have their new assessment reviewed. The board of assessors will be meeting inside the Wythe County Court House and may be contacted between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following number 276-223-4155.
After the board of assessors has concluded its meetings, landowners who may still have unresolved issues or wish to dispute any decisions made by the board of assessors will have an opportunity to appear before the board of equalization.
The board of equalization will convene early next year.
The new tax assessments will go into effect for the 2017 tax year.
Wythe County’s emergency management team is encouraging local residents to be mindful of two separate potential dangers over the next few days.
The first item county citizens should be mindful of is a fast moving cold front that will bring a variety of weather concerns in its wake this weekend, while the second concern is a high fire danger rating which state forestry officials say have made “conditions ripe for wildfires that will start easily, grow quickly and be very difficult to contain.”
Wythe County officials are maintaining close communications with both the National Weather Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry in order to keep county residents informed of any new developments.
Weather Conditions in Wythe County —
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg is tracking a fast moving cold front that will bring a variety of weather concerns in its wake this weekend. The front itself is expected to push through our area Saturday.
By Saturday evening and into the night winds will increase to levels that may result in some scattered downed trees or power lines. Winds may possibly be more widespread along the tops of mountain ridges.
In addition to the strong and damaging winds, as very cold temperatures come in behind the front, upslope snow showers may result in a dusting of snow.
The wind and cold temperatures will result in wind chills into the single digits by early Sunday morning and some high elevation locations may see wind chill readings close to zero degrees. These very cold wind chills could occur again Sunday night as the winds continue.
Given this is the first real cold blast of air this season, and coming on the heels of mild weather, many residents may not be prepared for the frigid temperatures and wind chill readings. County residents are encouraged to check on their neighbors — especially the elderly and those with special needs.
High Fire Danger —
In addition to the frigid temperatures expected through the weekend, conditions in Wythe County remain ripe for wildfires.
Southwest Virginia remains under a wildfire warning and residents are encouraged to be extra vigilant throughout the weekend as the existing drought conditions make conditions ripe for wildfires that will start easily, grow quickly and be very difficult to contain.
The Virginia Dept. of Forestry has moved a dozen personnel and equipment resources out of central and eastern Virginia today in order to assist with ongoing wildfire activity in far Southwest Virginia.
As of this morning, there were no uncontrolled wildfires in our area, but potential for additional wildfires remain extremely high.
Burn bans remain in place in all of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and Wythe County’s emergency team is asking local residents to abstain from burning throughout the duration of our present drought — especially when winds are high.
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The deadline to pay Wythe County’s personal property and real estate taxes is Monday, December 5, 2016.
Lori Guynn, Treasurer of Wythe County, stated that her office will be doing a number of things to make paying one’s local taxes easier than ever.
For starters, the treasurer’s office (located inside the Wythe County Court House building) will operate on extended hours in the days leading up to December 5.
Though the treasurer’s office’s normal hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Guynn said that her office will be open until 6 p.m. on the following dates: November 30, December 1, 2 and 5.
Additionally, the county treasurer’s office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, December 3, 2016.
“We realize that for many residents getting to the court house can be quite an inconvenience, so we’re trying to do as much as possible to make paying one’s taxes easier,” stated the county treasurer.
The county will also be providing an opportunity for individuals to pay their taxes online through a third party vendor known as WebFeePay. Individuals wishing to take advantage of the online tax payment system may log on to the following web address: secure.webfeepay.com
Once on the site, users should click the “Make a Payment” button in the middle of the page and will then be guided through the process of paying their taxes online.
Users of the online tax payment portal will be subjected to a convenience fee charged by the third-party provider. This fee will be a flat rate of $3 for E-check payments, while credit/debit payments will be charged a convenience fee of 2.75%.
Real estate and personal property tax bills must be paid separately via the online portal and the account number from the tax bills will be required.
“The online portal will simply serve as an added method for residents to pay their local taxes,” concluded Treasurer Guynn.
Wythe County officials wish to make it clear to local citizens that the online tax payment is only for taxes and not for other county service bills such as water and sewer.
Residents and Wythe County property owners are reminded that even if they have not received a tax bill from the locality, they are still responsible for ensuring their taxes are current; therefore, the treasurer’s office wishes to encourage individuals to contact them should they have any questions regarding the status of their taxes.
The treasurer’s office may be contacted by phone at 276-223-6070.
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – Several Wythe County residents have noticed hazy skies throughout the locality this week and have questioned if there were any wildfires burning in the county.
Though local fire crews have been called out to contain several brush fires over the past few weeks, the smoky skies are actually the result of out of control forest fires burning more than 100 miles to the west of us along the Kentucky-Tennessee border.
Out of control wildfires began over a week ago in Eastern Kentucky and have since rapidly moved eastward – eventually spreading into Virginia’s Wise County.
In addition to forest fires blazing to the west of Wythe County, this morning, local media began reporting additional wildfires at Roanoke County’s McAfee Knob.
Though neither of the two wildfires pose any threat to property in Wythe County, the locality’s emergency management team wishes to take the opportunity to remind residents to exercise extreme caution with regards to fire.
With the fall wildfire season running from mid-October to the end of November, Virginia Forestry officials stress that the main objective should be preventing a wildfire from ever starting in the first place.
“Approximately 96% of all wildfires in Virginia are caused by human activity, if people are careful and pay attention to weather conditions, they can keep themselves and their property safe by not letting a wildfire start,” stated Wythe County’s emergency coordinator Jason Busick.
Despite the fact that there are no official fire bans in place, local officials urge citizens to consider alternatives to lighting outdoor fires during this time of year, as November’s ever-changing conditions can prove disastrous for individuals overseeing a fire.
According to the Code of Virginia, if a fire does escape a person’s control or is left unattended, that person is financially liable for the cost of suppressing the wildfire as well as any damage that occurs as a result. Depending on the size and complexity of the wildfire, suppression costs alone could range from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Add to that the cost of burning down your neighbor’s home or barn, and state officials say those found guilty could be looking at millions of dollars in liabilities.
For instances where burning is a must, the Virginia Department of Forestry has provided several tips for fire safety. These tips include:
• Contacting your local fire department or Virginia Department of Forestry office
• Being aware of power lines, trees and structures
• Clearing all flammable materials, such as dry leaves and dry grass, from around the fire
• Having water and hand tools, such as a shovel and/or rake, available
• Having communication available or have someone nearby who can call for help in case of an emergency
• Burning when the humidity is high and the wind is calm
• Burning between 4:00 p.m. and midnight.
• Stay with the fire until it is completely out.
Virginia’s 4 p.m. burning law is only in effect February 15 through April 30, however, Wythe County officials wish to urge citizens to exercise grave caution and to remember that they are responsible for any blazes that become out of control.
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The Wythe County Administrator’s Office is seeking applicants for several positions, both part-time and full-time.
Specifically, the county is seeking to fulfill the following vacancies:
Part-time Custodian / Receptionist at Animal Shelter
This individual will work up to 28 hours per week at the Wythe County Animal Shelter. The successful candidate must be in good physical condition and have experience working with animals. Candidate must have experience in dealing with the public, computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and photography.
Part-time Recreation Specialist for Sheffey
This individual will work in the Wythe County Parks and Recreation Department and will serve as a part time recreation assistant to manage recreational programs at Sheffey Community Gym. All candidates must possess a positive friendly demeanor, work well with the public and be willing to work weekdays and weekends. Employees should be able to lift 50lbs or less without assistance and have reliable transportation to and from the job site. A typical work week will be Sunday afternoon, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings and the occasional Saturday (averaging 15-20 hours per week).
Successful applicants will be 21 years or older and have experience planning and facilitating recreational programs or special events. For any additional questions contact Kevin Williams at 276-223-4519 or [email protected]
Full-time Communications Officer
This individual will work inside the county’s consolidated 911 emergency dispatch center. Applicants must be willing to work nights and weekends.
In addition to the above mentioned position, the county is also seeking to employ a full-time custodian for the Buildings & Grounds Department.
Applications for all positions may be obtained from the employment section of the county’s official website, www.WytheCo.org or at the county administration office located at 340 S. Sixth St. in Wytheville.
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – On November 8, 2016, our nation will select a President for the 58th time in its history. Along with more than 120 million other Americans across the land, the residents of Wythe County will have an opportunity to participate in this exciting and critical process.
With that being said, it is important for voters in Wythe County to be aware of the many voting laws in place, designed to safeguard the election, as well as to be aware of the other items that will appear on the ballot.
County residents will be faced with four separate decisions 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.
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…”
Additional information concerning the proposed amendments may be found at the following link: http://elections.virginia.gov/election-law/proposed-constitutional-amendment-2016/index.html
Polls will be open on Election Day (November 8) from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Individuals uncertain of where their local polling place is located 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 (deadline to register for absentee voting via US Mail has passed) 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 November 5th between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
