WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Earlier this week, the Wythe County Department of Parks & Recreation announced that the department will be offering a Bob Ross Painting Class, slated for Sunday, October 12, 2014.

The class, which will be instructed by Judy Moore-Gist, a certified Ross Instructor, will be held at the Max Meadows Ruritan Building and last for five hours — beginning at 2 p.m. and continuing until 7 p.m.

Participants in the class will paint a snow covered landscape scene featuring a wooden structure and trees capped with ice. The painting, “In the Midst of Winter,” is the same painting legendary artist Bob Ross painted on Episode 12 of the thirty-first season of his long running television show, “The Joy of Painting.”

Kevin Williams, Director of the Wythe County Department of Parks & Recreation, said that last year’s class was very well attended and that his department has received excellent feedback from those who attended the event.

“This has been one of the most popular events offered by the county’s parks and recreation department in recent years, which is why we’re seeking to expand this program,” said Williams, adding, “This coming spring, the county hopes to offer two additional Bob Ross painting classes, one in Rural Retreat and another in Max Meadows.”

The charge for attending the afternoon class has been set at $65 per person and will include all materials needed for the day.

Williams says that space is limited for the event and the deadline for registering has been set for October 6.

Individuals wishing to register for October’s class are urged to contact the Wythe County Department of Parks & Recreation as soon as possible (276-223-4519) or email Kevin Williams at [email protected].

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Residents of Wythe County will have a full slate of recreational events to choose from this Saturday, as local organizations bid farewell to summer by offering a full litany of events.

The Max Meadows Heritage Day, sponsored by the Max Meadows Ruritan Club, is set to begin at 10 a.m. at Max Meadows Community Field.

The free-admission event will provide numerous live displays, including antique tractors and tools, black smith demonstrations, soap making and apple butter production, as well as a children’s petting zoo.

Event organizers say in addition to live displays, visitors to the festival will find numerous venders, including food and drink concessions – offering “everything from pinto beans and corn bread to hot dogs and hamburgers.” Games and children’s events have also been scheduled.

“Max Meadows Heritage Day is a great way for people to enjoy a lot of fun activities, free of charge,” said Joe Hale, Fort Chiswell’s representative on the Wythe County Board of Supervisors.

In addition to Max Meadows Heritage Day, Virginia State Parks will be hosting the annual New River Trail Challenge this Saturday. The challenge has a 40-mile bike ride, 12-mile kayak leg and half marathon along southwestern Virginia’s 57-mile-long New River Trail State Park.

At noon, a special event will begin inside the town limits of Wytheville, as motorists from across the region ride into town at the Dickie Boyles Memorial Cruise-In.

The late Dickie Boyles was a longtime employee of the Town of Wytheville Parks and Recreation Department and avid car enthusiast.

“Dickie Boyles was very instrumental in starting cruise-ins on Main Street. Attaching his name to the festival is a great way to honor his memory,” said Teresa King, owner of Petals of Wytheville.

The cruise-in is slated to end at 5 p.m. and will include classic and antique vehicles, food and other concessions, as well as children’s activities. The Beach Nite Band and Whiskey River Band will also be performing in downtown Wytheville.

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RURAL RETREAT, Va. – Campers in southwest Virginia will have one final weekend to enjoy Wythe County’s Rural Retreat Lake Campground, as the campground is scheduled to close for the season this weekend.

Long celebrated as a favorite camping destination for local residents, the park’s crowning attraction is the 90-acre lake, which is home to a variety of large fish, including Muskee, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish. On its western end, the park has a fully stocked trout pond, which plays host to the annual Wythe County youth fishing day event.

Managed by the Wythe County Department of Parks & Recreation, the park boasts of several attractions, including walking and bicycle trails, a nine-hole Frisbee golf course, multiple children’s playgrounds, picnic shelters, horseshoe pits, volleyball court, junior Olympic sized swimming pool and adjoining kiddy pool.

The park’s campground offers a plethora of wooded campsites ranging from primitive sites to locations with full R.V. hookups.

The 2014 season was an especially busy one for the park, earlier in the season county officials unveiled a new website for the park, www.RuralRetreatLake.com.

Additionally, the county pool featured three dive-in movies, courtesy of local sponsors. Wythe County Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Williams said he would like to see the dive-in movies continued next year.

Lake officials wish to remind the public that although the campground will be closing this weekend, the shelters will remain open throughout the month and the lake is open to anglers year-round.

Camping at Rural Retreat Lake will re-open to the public next year.

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RURAL RETREAT, Va. – The Rural Retreat Lake Pool will be hosting its final pool party of the summer, Saturday, Aug. 30, showing the popular Disney movie, Frozen.

Gates at the pool will reopen at 8 p.m. and thirty minutes later the movie will be presented inside the pool area.

“This year’s communitywide pool parties have been a great success and we’re pleased to be capping the series off with the movie Frozen,” said Kevin Williams, Wythe County’s Director of Parks & Recreation.

Williams said that despite showing the movie “Frozen,” which features Elsa, the princess of Arendelle, who possesses cryokinetic powers to produce ice, frost, and snow at will, the pool will actually be very warm — thanks to the efforts of parks and recreation staff this week.

Children ages two and under will be allowed into the event free of charge, however, there is a $4 admission price for everyone else. The charges will help offset the costs associated with purchasing the rights to publicly display the movie, as well as compensate the park staff required to work the event.

The Wythe County Department of Parks & Recreation will be giving away free popcorn, while vending machines will be available for drinks and other snacks. Visitors to the pool are allowed to bring their own refreshments; however, glass containers are prohibited.

“The dive-in parties have been a great low-cost activity for families to enjoy throughout the summer,” said Williams.

Park officials say that chairs will be limited and encourage visitors to consider bringing lawn chairs from home.

Sponsors for next weekend’s movie are Depot Designs of Rural Retreat and Duke’s Printing.

Dale Yontz, who serves as vice mayor of Rural Retreat and co-owner of Depot Designs and general manager of Duke’s Printing says that he is excited to have a part in this event.

“Anything we can do to attract people to the lake and give back to the community is a good thing. We’re honored to help make this exciting event possible,” said Yontz.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Wythe County will be hosting a free concussion education workshop for parents of youth football players next week, part of the county’s ongoing efforts aimed at making youth sports as safe as possible.

The informational seminar, which will be held at Wytheville Community College (Grayson Hall – Room 219), is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 25.

Kevin Williams, Wythe County’s director of parks & recreation, says the free event is part of a greater countywide initiative intended to minimize concussions and their consequences.

“Earlier this summer, the county held two separate concussion workshops for coaches and referees. At these events, local health officials discussed best practices in preventing concussions, as well as what to do in the event of a player showing warning signs of brain injury,” said Williams.

Scotty Vaught, who serves as Wythe County’s youth sports coordinator, has watched two generations pass through the county’s rec-league.

“Once concussions became a major topic on the national level, local sports officials began learning more about the long-term effects of head injuries,” stated Vaught, adding, “One result of our studies was to share the information we gathered with parents.”

The youth football league provided each child and parent with concussion literature at the time of registration this year, requiring each parent to read the publication with their child.

“Knowledge is power when it comes to preventing tragedy. By getting this information out there to as many people as possible, we believe that we’re doing our job in keeping kids safe,” said Vaught.

Monday’s concussion workshop will be taught by Traci Roberts, regional director of operations for Heartland Rehabilitation Services and is open free of charge to parents of youth football players in Wythe and Bland counties. Individuals desiring more information about the event are encouraged to call: (276) 223-4519.

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