WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Wythe County’s emergency communications team say they will be testing the county’s new mass notification system Thursday afternoon at approximately two o’clock.

The test is one of the final steps in having the program fully implemented and will give local officials one of their first views of the system in operation.

“Residents and businesses will receive a call on their landlines, informing them of the system test,” said Wythe County Emergency Communications Director, James Copeland.

Copeland added, “Residents who have registered their mobile devices will receive a phone call, text message or email, depending upon their registration preferences.”

The mass notification system was funded by a grant from the Wythe-Bland Foundation and is part of a cooperative effort between the towns of Rural Retreat, Wytheville and Wythe County.

Local leaders are encouraging citizens to register their mobile phones in order to receive special notifications from emergency officials regarding extreme weather and other dangers. Residents who wish to sign up their mobile devices can do so by clicking here or by filling out a form at the county administrator’s office.

“We hope to never have to use this program in a true emergency situation, but it just makes sense to be prepared,” said Ikey Davidson, Wythe County Emergency Manager.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – As part of a larger effort designed at beautify the county, the Wythe County Solid Waste Department will be hosting its tire collection day Saturday, July 19, 2014. The event will be held at the Kents Lane Collection Center, located at 261 Kents Lane in Wytheville.

Residents will be permitted to discard up to 100 tires per household at the event.

County citizens will need to call 223-6119 to make an appointment for their tire removal or use the open time from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The open time will be first-come, first-served and will end at 2 p.m. or when the trailers are filled.

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 that will be accepting commercial tires, as well as farm tires from Farm Bureau members.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Wythe County planning officials are in the process of forming the county’s five-year comprehensive plan and are asking for the public’s input in formulating the details of the document.

Virginia law requires localities to publish a comprehensive plan every five years, which serves to provide direction for county officials in decision making and setting the county’s long-term policies.

The 20-question survey covers a variety of issues, including order of importance regarding certain county services, quality of life and residents’ opinions pertaining to best practices at spurring economic development.

“The survey is one of the most important components of this year’s five-year plan, as it will give local citizens a substantial voice in shaping future county policy,” said Michelle Cassell of the Wythe County Planning Department.

The Mount Rogers Planning District Commission, a Virginia organization that promotes regional cooperation and planning, is assisting the county in completing the document.

Citizens interested in participating in the countywide survey can CLICK HERE to be taken to the online questionnaire.  Residents who do not have access to a personal computer are encouraged to use the free computers provided at the Wythe-Grayson Libraries in Rural Retreat and Wytheville. A limited number of paper copies will also be available at the county administrator’s office.

In addition to urging residents to complete the 20-question county survey, local leaders will also be hosting three separate town halls throughout the county, in an effort to log the specific ideas of citizens.  The community input meetings will be held inside the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room in Wytheville on Monday, July 14; Rural Retreat Town Hall, Monday, July 21; and Max Meadows Ruritan Building, Monday, July 28.  All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

Local residents with additional questions regarding the survey are asked to contact the Wythe County Planning Department at 276-223-4508.

Local officials say they plan to have the project published by early next year.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Wythe County officials are just days away from implementing a citizen notification system that will enable the county’s communications team to instantly alert citizens via landline, cell phone and email of severe emergencies.

The software for the system is being provided by Everbridge, a California based company that specializes in sending mass notification alerts. In addition to being used around the globe, Everbridge’s emergency alert system has been credited for playing a vital role in the days following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.

Though emergency communications staff members say they only expect to use the software on “a very limited basis,” they do acknowledge that the program has the potential to save many lives in the days to come.

“The software will give us the ability to instantly send a mass notification to the entire county – on their landlines, emails and mobile devices – in the event of an impending storm, such as a hurricane or severe snow,” said James Copeland, director of emergency communications.

“We’ll also be able to target a specific neighborhood or even road and send alerts that way. Something that might be very helpful should we face specific localized threats, such as a HAZMAT incident or tornado,” Copeland added.

Though the Wythe County Consolidated E-911 Center will already have access to all landlines registered in the county, local officials are encouraging residents who wish to receive emergency alerts on their mobile devices or via email to sign-up for the program either online (a link is provided at www.WytheCo.org) or by filling out a form at the county administrator’s office. The system is slated to go live July 1, 2014.

Another benefit of opting in to receive emergency notifications on one’s mobile device will be the option to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service.

Citizens who have questions concerning implementation of the new program are encouraged to contact James Copeland, 276-223-4533.

The citizen notification is made possible by grant funding provided by the Wythe-Bland Foundation and is a cooperative effort between Wythe County and the towns of Wytheville and Rural Retreat.

Click HERE to sign-up to receive emergency alerts.

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ROANOKE, Va. – Earlier today, members of Wythe County’s emergency management team participated in a railway safety program sponsored by Norfolk Southern. The program is part of a national effort known as “Operation Lifesaver” and is aimed at decreasing annual railway fatalities.

Representing Wythe County were the county’s emergency manager, information officer, emergency communications director and sheriff.

As part of the educational seminar, participants traveled by rail from Radford to the railway yard in Roanoke. Along the route, safety officials from Norfolk Southern spoke to local representatives about activities localities can do in order to encourage railway safety.

“I was shocked to learn that in 2013, 251 people were killed by trains,” said Jeremy Farley, Wythe County’s public information officer.

Farley added, “In the coming days, we will be doing our part to ensure county residents are reminded of just how dangerous train crossings can be.”

James Copeland, who serves as Wythe County’s director of emergency communications, said the training event allowed a great opportunity for county officials to form closer working relationships with Norfolk Southern safety officers.

According to Norfolk Southern, the safety train that hosted Thursday’s seminar has been in service all week, hosting similar events throughout the Appalachian region. The train left Cleveland, Tennessee, Monday morning and is set to reach its final destination in Lynchburg, Friday afternoon.

Operation Lifesaver’s mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on rail property. Their efforts have been attributed to playing a primary role in reducing the number of railway fatalities from 728 in 1981, to 251 in 2013.

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The Commonwealth is asking state residents for their input, as part of the process to develop Virginia’s 2014 energy plan.

Wythe County residents will have three primary ways to provide input, suggestions, and recommendations to be considered as part of the Energy Plan.

1. Public Listening Sessions – Six public listening sessions will be held throughout Virginia during June and early July.  Southwestern Virginia’s will be held on June 24, 2014, at the Highlands Community College Student Center (100 VHCC Drive, Abingdon, VA), from 6 – 8 p.m.
2. Online Submission – A web page has been created to allow input to be submitted online at any time.  The web page address is http://commerce.virginia.gov/2014-va-energy-plan/ . This page also has the listening session dates and locations listed.  There is no limit on submissions, but each submission is limited to three attachments. 
3. Direct outreach – Residents may directly contact Hayes Framme, advisor for Infrastructure and Development in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, and/or Al Christopher, Director of the Division of Energy with the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.  Hayes would be happy to meet with any stakeholders who would like to provide in-person feedback about the Energy Plan.  Hayes and Al’s contact information is below.

B. Hayes Framme

Advisor for Infrastructure and Development

Secretary of Commerce and Trade

1111 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219

P: (804) 225-4517 C: (804) 201-6971

[email protected]

 

Al Christopher

Director, Division of Energy

Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy

1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor

Richmond VA 23219

804-692-3216 office

[email protected]

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