WYTHEVILLE, Va. – The green flag is ready to drop on the Indoor Motocross Winter Series Finale this weekend at the APEX Center.

“We have a total of 36 classes,” Victory Sports President Sam Gammon said. “Three of the classes are ATV’s and the rest of the classes are motorcycles. This is our 27th annual season for the FMF Indoor Motocross winter season.”

Hundreds of riders from across the East Coast will be at the APEX Center this weekend. The Pro class will be racing for a $10,000 purse.

“This is the first time we’ve come to Southwest Virginia,” Gammon said. “We’re excited to come to the new APEX Center. This is the finale for the whole series.”

There will be classes for all ages at this event. Pee Wee, Youth, Beginner, Amateur, Intermediate, Veterans, and Pro classes will provide a racing opportunity to riders of all skill levels. Beginner classes are available for all size bikes: 50cc, 65cc, 85cc, 250cc, thru 450cc.

Spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 4 to 11. Children under four years of age are free. Tickets are available at the door only. The main event starts at 6:30 p.m. both days.

The APEX Center is the Commonwealth’s premier civic center west of Roanoke. It provides a venue for events ranging from MMA to Monster Trucks as well as concerts, rodeos and dozens of other regional and national events. Motocross Racing and Titans of the Cage MMA are just a few of the items on the agenda during the next several weeks.

Virginia Indoor Motocross will take place from March 8 thru March 9. The Titans of the Cage MMA event is being held at the APEX Center on April 13.

The APEX Center is located at Exit 77 off of I-81 in Wytheville. The arena is located approximately 1/4 of a mile from the interstate.

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Wythe County officials, please call Blake Stowers at 276-223-4522 or email Blake at [email protected]

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Racing’s future stars recently competed on a track inside the APEX Center with big results.

Cale Yarborough’s grandson, Austin Yarborough, won four races to snag a $20,000 purse during the Appalachian Indoor Showdown.

Millbridge Speedway Promoter Jeremy Burnett said Yarborough is 20 years old. Burnett said it is rare for a driver to win four races during one night of racing.

“He raced in all four flat kart classes,” Burnett said. “It does not happen very often. It is pretty hard to win four classes especially with the level of competition that was at this race.”

Dale Earnhardt’s Granddaughter, Karsyn Elledge, was also among the racing legacies at the APEX Center. Elledge, 18, raced in the open division during the Appalachian Indoor Showdown.

The Appalachian Indoor Showdown featured eight classes of kart racing. The highlight of the night was the Open Division Outlaw Karts. There were also Intermediate, Beginner Box Stock, Box Stock, Clone Heavy, Clone Heavy Pro, Predator 375, and Predator 400 classes at the event.

“The racing action went great,” Burnett said. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with how everything went. We want to thank everyone for their support, and we look forward to doing it again in the near future.”

The APEX Center is the Commonwealth’s premier civic center west of Roanoke. It provides a venue for events ranging from MMA to Monster Trucks as well as concerts, rodeos and dozens of other regional and national events. Motocross Racing and Titans of the Cage MMA are just a few of the items on the agenda during the next several weeks.

Virginia Indoor Motocross will take place from March 8 thru March 9. The Titans of the Cage MMA event is being held at the APEX Center on April 13.

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – A car crushing, gear jamming indoor demolition derby will take place at the Appalachian Regional Exposition Center on February 16.

Carolina Derby Promotions Owner Billy Monroe said drivers will take the green flag at 6 p.m. and the event will last until 10 p.m.

“We’ll have three big classes that night,” Monroe said. “We’ll have 80 drivers from around North and South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Tennessee. It’s going to be a good show. Most of the classes are filling up. It should be a good event.”

There are several different classes of vehicles that will take to the arena on February 16. The Full Size Class will be fighting for a $2,000 purse. The front wheel drive Compact Class will be battling for a $1,000 prize. There will also be a Mini Van/Mini Truck/SUV Class that will be brawling for a $500 prize.

Monroe said there will also be a Power Wheels Derby for kids ages 4 to 8.

“They pop balloons with their Power Wheels cars,” Monroe said. “If you’re interested in that you can check out Carolina Derby Promotions on Facebook.”

Tickets can be purchased online at eventbrite.com:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blue-ridge-bash-demolition-derby-tickets-54233144796 

Facebook page link:

https://www.facebook.com/CarolinaDerbyPromotions/posts/902053186660700?__tn__=K-R 

The APEX Center is the Commonwealth’s premier civic center west of Roanoke. It provides a venue for events ranging from MMA to Monster Trucks as well as concerts, rodeos and dozens of other regional and national events. Outlaw Kart racing, Motocross Racing and Titans of the Cage MMA are just a few of the items on the agenda during the next several weeks.

The APEX Center provides approximately 2,000 permanent seats and has a total capacity of over 5,000. The arena alone is the size of a football field. The total size of the facility is 90,000 square feet. The facility sits on the south side of I-81 at Exit 77 in Wythe County, Va.

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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Wythe County officials, please call Blake Stowers at 276-223-4522 or email Blake at [email protected]

JUNIOR APPALACHIAN MUSICIANS GROUP STARTS UP 

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – The sounds of banjos, fiddles, guitars and a host of students filled the Fourth Street Civic Center recently as the Junior Appalachian Musicians held their second class.

The Junior Appalachian Musician program or the aptly titled JAM program, for short, focuses on preserving traditional music and investing in local students.

JAM Regional Director Jim Lloyd is excited to be working with students in Wythe County.

“It’s great,” Lloyd said. “This is the best start-up class I have ever had. They do an hour of enrichment and an hour of study with us. We want to thank the community for all the support.”

Lloyd said learning about enrichment means studying about the history behind the instruments and music.

Sixty-four Wythe County students from grades fourth through eighth are learning the banjo, fiddle, upright bass and guitar through the JAM program.

Sheffey Elementary fifth-grader Dietrich Walker was ready to learn more about the guitar at the second Wythe County JAM session. Walker said he has been learning guitar for about a month. “I think it’s pretty cool, because my mom plays the guitar too,” Walker said. “I’ve got to make a lot of new friends.”

Rural Retreat Middle School sixth-grader Ginny Grace Hale said she has been learning the bass for about a month. “I have learned a few cords so far,” Hale said. “It’s a really good opportunity to learn about Appalachian culture and Appalachian instruments.”

Lloyd said JAM was founded about 18 years ago by Helen White, who started the program in Sparta, North Carolina. Lloyd said officials added seven JAM programs to the itinerary in Tennessee and one in Wythe County this year.

The Wythe County Board of Supervisors recently awarded $2,000 to the Junior Appalachian Musicians program to help with its expansion into Wythe County, Va.

The program will take place from January 31, 2019 to April 4, 2019. It is taught by master musicians from throughout the region.

“It’s really great to see 60 plus kids learning about the area’s musical heritage,” JAM Wythe County Site Coordinator Sarah Nucci said.

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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Wythe County officials, please call Blake Stowers at 276-223-4522 or email Blake at [email protected]

 

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER

One full time School Resource Officer position.

Salary $31,009.00 plus benefits.

Duties shall consist of, but are not limited to serving as a SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER under the COPS in Schools Initiative. Foster a relationship of trust, mutual respect and understanding to promote a safe school community. Serve as a positive role model in and out of the school environment. Effectively utilize timely communication coordination. Required to use crime prevention strategies such as providing information about student conflicts, crime trends, and situations that may cause disorder in school environment or community. General responsibilities necessary for the safety and good order of school and community. Knowledge of school and community support resources available to students. Also serve as a liaison between available support services. Responsible for identifying criminal offenders and criminal activity. When appropriate, will participate in any subsequent court proceedings.

• A current certification in Law Enforcement from the Department of Criminal Justice Services preferred.

• Must be able to successfully perform department physical assessment.

• Must be able to pass an extensive background investigation and drug screening.

• Must have high school diploma or GED.

• Must have valid Virginia Operators License.

The Wythe County Sheriff’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applications are available on the Wythe County website and can also be requested at the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office, Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Application deadline is February 15, 2019, at 4:00 p.m.

 

We are excited to start events at the new Appalachian Regional Exposition Center. As events begin at the APEX Center in the coming weeks, officials appreciate the public’s patience while some outside grading and landscape work is being completed. We appreciate your patience as we complete the final details of the project.

The first event scheduled is the Virginia Indoor Motocross Championships on January 18 and 19:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1155030187993498/ 

For more upcoming events at the APEX Center, please see below:

http://appalachianexpo.org/upcoming-events/ 

 

 

 

January 10, 2019

To the Citizens of Wythe County

Wythe County could experience another winter weather event this coming weekend. At this time, predictions are still varying on the impact to our area.

Wythe County wants you to be prepared. Please make sure you have supplies in case the roads become dangerous or if power outages occur. Be prepared by having a food supply, water supply, batteries, warm clothes and blankets, an alternate source of power or heat, and/or a place to be with a generator. When the accumulation begins and the roads become difficult to travel on, please only travel if necessary. Colder temperatures will also be another issue. Please stay warm and check on your neighbors to make sure everyone stays warm. Additionally, please plan for pets that are outside in the colder temperatures.

Please keep yourself informed of any changes that are occurring due to the weather. Watch or listen to local stations and watch the Wythe County Facebook page and homepage for updates. We will keep you informed as things change. Watch local media for closures and cancellations that might occur due to the weather. If you have any questions please visit wytheco.org for further information. Let’s stay safe and informed.

Curtis W. Crawford

Emergency Services Coordinator