WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – On November 3, 2015, Virginia voters will be going to the polls to cast their ballots in a number of different races that will have local and statewide consequences.

Elections in Wythe County will include school board, board of supervisors, constitutional officers, Virginia Senate, Virginia House of Delegates and Soil & Water Conservation Director.

Due to the fact that Wythe County is divided between two separate Virginia senatorial districts, as well as the various local school board and board of supervisors districts, voters in the county will see one of six different ballots. Those ballots may be viewed by Clicking Here (precinct listed on bottom right corner of ballot).

Elections officials are reminding citizens that under Virginia law, voters must present one of the following forms of identification when voting: Valid Virginia driver’s license, DMV-issued photo identification card, valid United States Passport, valid employee photo identification card, other government—issued photo identification card or a valid college or university student photo identification card (issuer must be an institution of higher education located in Virginia).

The photo identification rules are intended to minimize the risk of election fraud and ensure honest elections for Virginia’s more than 8.3—million residents.

Ballots in the Fort Chiswell District (Max Meadows and Fort Chiswell precincts) will also include a blank write-in slot for “Member School Board District 4.”  This is because no candidate was successful in presenting the required number of acceptable signatures to be placed on the ballot.

Registrar Carolyn King wishes to remind voters that in order for their write—in vote to count, voters must fill in the bubble, in addition to writing the candidate’s name into the blank.

Residents with specific questions regarding elections should contact the county registrar’s office by calling (276) 223-6038 or by email: [email protected].

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WYTHEVILLE – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Schaffner MTC Transformers, a developer and manufacturer of standard and custom components and high-performance transformers, will invest $3.1 million to expand its operation in the Town of Wytheville in Wythe County. Virginia successfully competed against Ohio for the project, which is expected to create in the coming years 79 new jobs paying above the average prevailing wage in the region.

Speaking about today’s announcement at an event in Wytheville, Governor McAuliffe said, “Helping advanced manufacturing companies like Schaffner MTC Transformers expand and create jobs in communities that need them is a key component of my administration’s efforts to build a new Virginia economy. Schaffner MTC Transformers has been a pillar of the Wytheville region’s business community for 30 years, and this expansion should send a message to companies all over the world about the clear benefits of locating and growing in Southwest Virginia.”

“Helping the Commonwealth’s existing manufacturing businesses expand is a key strategy for growing and diversifying Virginia’s economy,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “Schaffner MTC Transformers has experienced the benefits of our outstanding workforce, infrastructure and business climate, and today they are making a commitment to continued growth in Virginia. We congratulate the company and Wythe County on this exciting news.”

Schaffner MTC Transformers was founded in 1985 in Wytheville. The company began manufacturing and repairing small dry-type transformers for various industrial, utility, and OEM customers and became known for strong technical capability, flexible product offerings, and responsive customer service. In 2011, the company was acquired by Schaffner Holding AG.

Schaffner Holding AG, based in Switzerland, is a global leader in providing solutions that ensure the efficient and reliable operation of power electronic systems by shaping electrical power. The Company’s portfolio includes EMI filters, power magnetic components and power quality filters with related services. Schaffner components are deployed in electronic motor controls, in wind power and photovoltaic systems, rail technology applications, machine tools and robotics, and electrical infrastructure, as well as in power supplies for a wide range of electronic devices in sectors such as medical technology. For the automobile industry, Schaffner develops and manufactures components for convenience and safety features in cars and filter solutions for electric vehicles as well as their charging infrastructure.

“Since the acquisition of MTC Transformers’ dry-type operations in September of 2011, I have experienced the great commitment of our Wytheville staff,” said Schaffner Group CEO Alexander Hagemann. “We are making major investments in our people and the plant to turn this site into our U.S. center of excellence for engineering and manufacturing. This marks our determination to accelerate Schaffner’s growth in North America in line with our recently announced Strategy 2020. I am grateful for the support that we receive on the state, county and town levels to make this project possible. That support has played an important role in making Wytheville the location of choice for our Group’s U.S. center of excellence.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Wythe County, the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County and the Town of Wytheville to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $175,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Wythe County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $260,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Additional funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, administered by VEDP.

“Wythe County is proud that Schaffner MTC Transformers is locating additional manufacturing here in Wythe County,” said Timothy A Reeves, Chairman, Wythe County Board of Supervisors. “It is a testament to the workforce and pro-business stance that we proudly offer here.”

“Schaffner MTC Transformers has been an important part of our manufacturing base for over 30 years,” said Trenton G. Crewe, Wytheville Mayor. “The Town of Wytheville is proud that they have chosen to expand their operation here and we are committed to their continued success.”

“On behalf of the Virginia Tobacco Commission, I want to congratulate Schaffner MTC Transformers on their decision to bring 79 new jobs to the Town of Wytheville,” said Senator Charles W. Carrico, member of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. “It’s great to see that they are growing the type of high-tech design and manufacturing jobs that are so important to our region’s future. In addition to the $260,000 from the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund, this announcement is highlighted by Schaffner’s capital investment of over $3.1 million, which demonstrates their commitment to Wytheville and the region.”

“I am pleased to learn of the decision of Schaffner MTC Transformers to expand its facility here in Wythe County,” said Delegate Jeffrey L. Campbell. “Schaffner MTC has been a critical part of the manufacturing cornerstone here for many years, and this is a testament to the sound management of the company, the dedication and quality of its workforce, and the hospitality and favorable business climate of both the Commonwealth of Virginia, in general, and Wythe County, in particular. We look forward to the company’s continued success for many years to come.

Since the beginning of the McAuliffe administration, 473 economic development deals have been closed in Virginia with more than $7.84 billion in capital investment, more than any previous governor in his first 20 months in office.

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EMERGENCY NOTICE: Jeremy Farley, Wythe County Public Information Officer

As has previously been reported,  Virginia is under a state of emergency as the Commonwealth braces for the impacts of Hurricane Joaquin.

In Southwest Virginia, Wythe County officials are also warning residents to be taking necessary precautions as the potential for widespread flooding is high.

This weather event is entirely separate from Hurricane Joaquin and is the result of a saturated ground and forecasts of additional significant rainfall.

Wythe County residents are encouraged to review and follow the below listed safety tips, courtesy of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management:

 

What People Should Do:

• Take this weather event seriously and prepare in advance. These storms could have a significant impact to Virginia and power outages could last several weeks.
• Do not drive through high water. Get to where you need to go before severe weather arrives.

• Know the weather terms and what you should do:
• Flood Watch or Flash Flood Watch: There is an increased possibility of flooding or a flash flood in your area.
• Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will likely occur very soon. If emergency officials advise you to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Flash Flood Warning: Flash flooding is occurring. Seek higher ground immediately – do not wait for official instructions.
• Be prepared to evacuate. If evacuated, do not return to your home until local officials say it is safe.  After floodwaters recede, roads could be weakened and could collapse. Buildings might be unstable, and drinking water could be contaminated.
• If water is rising quickly or you see a moving wall of mud or debris, immediately move to higher ground.
• Do not walk through moving water. What might seem like a small amount of moving water can easily knock you down.
• If you depend on electricity for medical equipment or a mobility device, ensure all batteries are fully charged each day and be prepared to evacuate with extra batteries and any charging equipment you will need.
• If you will need to use paratransit, be sure to consider the amount of extra time you may need should evacuation be recommended. Find out now whether you will need to schedule a ride 24 hours in advance, how many personal items you are allowed to evacuate with, and whether your pets will be allowed on the paratransit vehicle.
• If you use durable medical equipment, need medical supplies, or take critical medications, ensure you have enough on hand for 5–7 days and include these items in your go-bag in case evacuation is recommended.
• Notify your support network now and start planning ahead for any disability-related or medical needs.
• Obtain cash in advance in case ATMs are down due to power outages.
• If you plan to use a generator, buy fuel now.
• Store water in big pans and the bathtub for personal use before the storm in case of a power outage.
• Stay away from downed power lines, trees touching lines, and anything else that is touching a power line.
• The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries cautions outdoor enthusiasts to exercise good judgment before venturing outdoors through the weekend. Go to the DGIF’s Facebook page for alerts and possible closure of facilities and to www.dgif.virginia.gov/alerts/.

 

Get Ready:

• Decide how and where everyone will meet up with each other if separated.
• Choose an out-of-town emergency contact for your family and give that person’s phone number to each family member.
• Sign up for text alerts/weather warnings that may be offered by your locality.
• Pre-pack a hurricane supply kit with a minimum three-day supply of essential items, such as water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, extra batteries and prescribed medications.
• Secure garbage cans, lawn furniture or anything that could become airborne and cause damage.

 

Drive safely:

• Know the road conditions before you travel. Go to www.511Virginia.org or dial 511 from any phone for real-time traffic information and road condition reports.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If your vehicle becomes surrounded by rising water, get out quickly and move to higher ground, if possible.
• Flood water might cut off access to roads. Be prepared to stay where you are until floodwaters recede.
• Determine in advance the safest route from your home to a safe place that can protect you from high winds or flooding. If there is a flood, you may have only minutes to get to safety.

 

Stay informed:

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio and your local media to know when flood watches and warnings are issued.
• More flood preparedness information is available at www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/stayinformed/floods.

 

Other Resources:

• If you need help, information or resources during or after the storm, call 211. Those with hearing impairments can call 711 to connect to the Virginia Relay Center for assistance with the call. Videophone users may dial 1-800-230-6977.
• www.vaemergency.gov – go online or on your smart phone for statewide storm updates
• @vdem – Twitter feed for storm updates from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management-
• VAemergency – Facebook page for VDEM
• @ListoVirginia twitter feed in Spanish and www.facebook.com/listovirginia1 on Facebook.

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – Wythe County’s emergency management team is urging Southwest Virginia residents to prepare for flash flooding and wind damage over the next several days.

The concern comes on the heels of nearly a week of daily rainfall that is being coupled with additional National Weather Service forecasts calling for “widespread heavy rain across the region from early Friday morning through Saturday night.”

These forecasts are separate from Hurricane Joaquin, which is expected to brush the Virginia coastline early Monday morning.

According to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Joaquin strengthened to a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds early Thursday. State officials are preparing as if this could be comparable to Hurricane Isabel, which affected all of Virginia in 2003.

“The ground is saturated across our region and the creeks and rivers are already high from this week’s rain,” said Wythe County Emergency Coordinator Jason Kinser.

State officials say that rainfall forecasts are predicting as much as 12 inches over the next 7 days.

County emergency officials say their biggest concern is flash flooding, especially problematic along Wythe County’s hundreds of miles of creeks, streams and river frontage – Wythe County serves as the watershed boundaries for the Kanawha and Tennessee Rivers.

Earlier this morning, in compliance with the county’s Flood Plain Management Ordinance, Wythe County Building Inspector Tim Spraker issued a notice requiring all recreational vehicles located within flood plains to be moved by 5:00 pm Friday.

“We are requiring campers and trailers parked in flood plain areas to be moved immediately,” said the building inspector, adding, “Once water levels rise, the likelihood of these vehicles being swept away is heightened – at that point they are no longer recreation vehicles but are instead four-ton wrecking balls plowing through anything in its path downstream.”

In a release sent this morning, Appalachian Power officials stated, “Based on the forecast, at Appalachian Power we will have our own crews and contract crews on standby… We do anticipate some outages due to rain from this event falling on already-saturated ground in our Virginia service territory.”

Wythe County officials are urging residents not to be caught off guard by the potentially hazardous weather.

“People should take this weather event seriously and prepare in advance,” said Wythe County public information officer Jeremy Farley, stating, “Exercising good judgment and taking a few minutes to prepare may save a lot of people future heartache.”

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has issued several survival tips to residents in preparation of the weather event. Below are just a few, the complete list is accessible by visiting www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia/stayinformed/floods.

• Do not drive through high water. Stay at home as severe weather arrives.

• Know the weather terms and what you should do:
o Flood Watch or Flash Flood Watch: There is an increased possibility of flooding or a flash flood in your area.
o Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will likely occur very soon. If emergency officials advise you to evacuate, do so immediately.
o Flash Flood Warning: Flash flooding is occurring. Seek higher ground immediately – do not wait for official instructions.

• Be prepared to evacuate. If evacuated, do not return to your home until local officials say it is safe. After floodwaters recede, roads could be weakened and could collapse. Buildings might be unstable, and drinking water could be contaminated.

• Do not walk through moving water. What might seem like a small amount of moving water can easily knock you down.

• If you depend on electricity for medical equipment or a mobility device, ensure all batteries are fully charged each day and be prepared to evacuate with extra batteries and any charging equipment you will need.

• Obtain cash in advance in case ATMs are down due to power outages.

• If you plan to use a generator, buy fuel now.

• Store water in big pans and the bathtub for personal use before the storm in case of a power outage.

• Stay away from downed power lines, trees touching lines, and anything else that is touching a power line.

• Flood water might cut off access to roads. Be prepared to stay where you are until floodwaters recede.

• Determine in advance the safest route from your home to a safe place that can protect you from high winds or flooding. If there is a flood, you may have only minutes to get to safety.

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WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – This past week, Wythe County unveiled plans to move forward with a new accounting software which local officials say will play an instrumental role in creating greater accountability, efficiency and transparency in government finances.

The software, Munis Financial, is a product of Tyler Technologies and is used widely throughout the Commonwealth and the nation.

Once fully integrated, the new system will modernize the method with which data is entered – eliminating hundreds of man-hours for numerous county agencies and departments.

“Presently, a host of accounting software systems is being used throughout county government. Due to the differences in software, it is not easy for the county finance department to access the financial records of other governmental agencies funded by the Board of Supervisors,” stated Tim Reeves, Chairman of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors, adding, “By getting everyone on the same software system, we will be able to eliminate many of the obstacles that have existed in previous years. We’re really excited to have the Wythe County Public Schools on board for this much needed update and believe that the tax payers will appreciate the added layer of transparency this move will bring to local government.”

In addition to replacing the Wythe County School Board’s accounting software, the new product will touch several other agencies, including the Animal Control Department, Treasurer’s Office, Commissioner of the Revenue, Department of Social Services and the County Administrator’s Office.

According to local officials, many financial systems being used throughout county government date back to the 1980s or even earlier.

“Not only will this new system allow elected officials easy access to viewing the financial records of each agency receiving money from the general fund, but it will also prove to be a useful tool to the individuals responsible for entering financial data,” said Bruce Grant, Wythe County’s Finance Director.

Grant said that a considerable amount of work being done in many departments involves making calculations and handwriting financial data. The new system, he says, will reduce the risk for human error and allow staff to efficiently track expenditures and revenues.

The system will be implemented in phases, beginning with the school board and county administrator’s office and is projected to be fully realized within two years.

Upon completion, the new system will make tasks such as finding specific paper invoices or tracking the individual costs per school accessible within a few clicks of a mouse – local officials say this will create an added transparency and efficiency for the tax payers.

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WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The Joint Public Service Authority of Wythe and Bland Counties will be hosting its annual Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day this month on Saturday, September 26, 2015.

The event, which is open to all Wythe and Bland residents, will be held at the Transfer Station located at 169 Kents Lane in Wytheville from 8 a.m. to noon.

Part of the counties’ initiative to keep Southwest Virginia litter-free, the hazardous waste collection day will provide local residents with an opportunity to dispose of unwanted items that typically are not accepted at local convenience centers – at no cost to the citizen.

Acceptable items include computers and monitors, copiers, TVs, ballasts, fluorescent lights, batteries, paints, poisons and corrosives.

Organizers of the two counties’ household hazardous waste day say the event plays a great role in reducing the risk of environmentally harmful materials being disposed of improperly.

“This event stands as a safeguard to protecting the critical water sources and scenic beauty of our region,” said Jason Kinser, Wythe County’s emergency coordinator and HAZMAT officer.

Officials of the Joint Public Service Authority of Wythe and Bland Counties say that the event will be on a first come, first serve basis (no scheduling or appointments) and that the contractor will have sole discretion over the acceptance or denial of any substance brought to the collection event.

Prohibited items will include all waste from small businesses, commercial or industrial entities (including home-based businesses), as well as explosive, radiological, asbestos or biomedical waste. (Explosives include Dynamite, Nitro Glycerin, Blasting caps, Ammunition, Grenades, Fireworks, etc.)

Residents who have questions concerning the event are encouraged to contact the Joint Public Service Authority at 276-228-4907.

Click here for a complete listing of rules for the event.

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1. The contractor shall have sole discretion over the acceptance or denial of any substance brought to the collection event

2. Waste will not be accepted from company vehicles. NO EXCEPTIONS.

3. No waste will be accepted from small businesses, commercial or industry. This includes businesses run from a residence. NO EXCEPTIONS.

4. Wastes will only be accepted from Wythe and Bland County residents

5. No explosive, radiological, asbestos or biomedical waste will be accepted. NO EXCEPTIONS. Explosives include Dynamite, Nitro Glycerin, Blasting caps, Ammunition, Grenades, Fireworks, etc.

If an explosive is broth to the collection event, the disposal cost will be at the owner’s expense.

6. The collection event will continue until one or both of the following two conditions are met:
A. Time expires for this event. 8 a.m. 12 p.m.
B. The funds allotted are expended.
When a condition is met, collection of waste will cease at that time. Wythe County regrets any in- convenience that may result.

7. Participants shall remain in their vehicles. Trained personnel will remove the chemicals for you. This will help to minimize the risk of an accident involving the participant.

8. Waste will be collected from cars, pickup trucks and mini-vans. No tractor trailers, dump trucks, buses, or pull type trailers will be allowed on the site.

9. No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances will be permitted at the collection event

10. The County of Wythe will not be responsible for any lost or damaged property at this event.

11. The purpose of this event is to safely dispose of as much waste as possible. However, due to time constraints, participant turnout, and funding limits, we regret that all participants may not be able to leave waste as the collection site.