WYTHEVILLE, Va. – The Wythe County Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a Christmas Crafts Class on Saturday, December 13, at the Rural Retreat Community Center.

According to Kevin Williams, director of the county’s Parks & Recreation programs, the two-hour event will last from 10 a.m. to noon and will feature three separate crafts: Music Paper Christmas Tree, Snowman Luminaries and a Winter Mini-Wreath.

The class will be led by instructor Ava Creger, owner of The Paper Nest Studio.

Local residents interested in participating are encouraged to register immediately, as space is limited and the deadline for registering has been set for Friday, December 5.

Participation in the class is open to all residents 13 or older.

To register for this event, please call 276-223-4519 or e-mail [email protected].

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – With football season now complete, Wythe County Parks & Recreation leaders turn their attention to youth basketball for fourth and fifth grade boys and girls.

The youth basketball season is set to begin this coming Monday, with games played inside the newly constructed gymnasium at Sheffey Elementary School.

Teams for this year’s JV-boys’ basketball league include the Max Meadows Pioneers, Rural Retreat Indians – Orange, Rural Retreat Indians – Black and Sheffey Wildcats.

The JV-girls’ league will include teams from the Max Meadows Elementary School, Sheffey Elementary School and the Rural Retreat Elementary School, as well as two teams from the Town of Wytheville’s Parks & Recreation Department.

The youth season for both boys and girls will conclude with a single elimination tournament held in mid-December.

The youth basketball season for local students in the sixth and seventh grades will begin in January.

Signups for sixth and seventh graders are ongoing and interested participants are encouraged to contact their local booster club or the Wythe County Parks & Recreation Office at 276-223-4518.

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This past Saturday, Wythe County’s Department of Parks & Recreation completed the 2014 youth football season for its varsity and junior varsity leagues.

In total, sixteen teams from Wythe and Bland counties competed in the ten week season, which culminated in Saturday’s Super Bowl XIX games.

Held at the Rural Retreat High School, Super Bowl XIX’s junior varsity championship game pitted the Rural Retreat Indians (WHITE) against the Wytheville Maroons (SILVER).  The Indians (WHITE) won that game by a score of 7-0, thanks to a 52 yard touchdown run by Brock Smelser.  Elijah Blevins earned the PAT on a 2 yard run into the end zone.

Later that afternoon, the Wytheville Maroons competed against the Max Meadows Pioneers in the 32-minute varsity game.  The Maroons won the varsity championship game by a score of 12-0, posting a pair of red zone touchdowns by Nick Martin and Malik Taylor.  Both PATs failed, thanks to the efforts of the Pioneers’ defensive line.

The championship teams — from both divisions — will have their names added to the matching set of Kirk D. Heldreth Memorial Trophies and enjoy the honor of displaying the trophy in their school over the next year.

“We’ve had a great season and we certainly have a lot of people to thank.  It takes an entire army of people working together in order to have a successful youth football and youth cheerleading season,” said Kevin Williams, director of Wythe County’s Parks & Recreation Department.  Williams added, “The booster clubs, volunteers, officials, parents, staff and so many others have dedicated countless hours to make this season happen.  Their work is greatly appreciated.”   In addition to Saturday’s championship games, the annual multicounty event provided local youth cheerleaders with an opportunity to showcase their talents.

Performing inside the Rural Retreat High School gymnasium, each cheerleading squad displayed routines including a chant, cheer and dance, in the yearly cheerleading presentation dubbed “Cheermania.”

Echoing Williams’ sentiments, Scotty Vaught, Wythe County’s youth sports coordinator said many of the lessons picked up over the past ten weeks will accompany the young athletes for life.  “They all – cheerleaders and football players – were able to learn the value of hard work and commitment; skills needed in the real world,” Vaught went on to state, “It’s great watching the players and teams mature over the course of just a few months.”

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WYTHEVILLE — The Wythe County Department of Parks & Recreation has announced a region-wide youth basketball clinic, scheduled to be held Saturday, November 1 at the Fort Chiswell High School.

The clinic, which is completely free of charge, will be open to all local boys and girls in grades 4-7.

Slated to last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the clinic will be led by members of Wytheville Community College’s Wildcat basketball team, under the supervision of head coach Tyler Cannoy.

“The one day clinic will place an emphasis on fine tuning the young players’ fundamental skills, including ball handling, as well as defensive and offensive skills,” said Wythe County’s youth sports coordinator Scotty Vaught.

Vaught stated that in addition to gaining valuable basketball expertise, youth athletes will be given a unique opportunity to develop local role models.

“He [Coach Cannoy] has them on the right track on and off the court and it’s great to have positive influences for our young people right here in Wythe County,” stated the veteran youth worker.

County parks and recreation workers say students need only to show up at Fort Chiswell High School gymnasium next Saturday morning to participate, as there will be no formal registration process leading up to the event.

The junior-varsity basketball season begins in Wythe County in early December for grades 4-5, while the varsity season (grades 6-7) is scheduled to begin after he new year.

Parents with any questions may contact Scotty Vaught at 276-223-4518

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(PICTURE: Painting by Debbie Johnson Cassell, student at last week’s Bob Ross painting class.)

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Over the past few years, Wythe County’s Department of Parks & Recreation has been offering a once-a-year, afternoon Bob Ross painting class for local citizens to attend.

Held inside the Max Meadows Ruritan Building, the classes have continued to grow in popularity, attracting attendees from across the region.

This past week, county residents were again provided with the unique opportunity to paint a duplicate of one of the legendary artist, Bob Ross’ masterpieces – a snowy barn scene which appeared on Episode 12 of the thirty-first season of his long running television show, The Joy of Painting.

Led by certified Bob Ross instructor, Judy Moore-Gist, participants were instructed on how to use the “wet-on-wet” painting technique used by Ross.

Among this year’s first-time students, was longtime Wythe County resident Debbie Cassell.

Sharing her picture, Cassell stated, “It was a really great class.”

Cassell was not alone in her assessment of the Bob Ross painting class, Wythe County Parks & Recreation director, Kevin Williams, said the response was so great following this year’s class, that his department will offer two additional painting classes this spring – another one in Max Meadows and one in Rural Retreat.

The Max Meadows spring class is scheduled for March 2015 and will be held inside the Max Meadows Ruritan Building, while a class will be held the following month inside the Rural Retreat Community Center.

Kevin Williams said that registration for the spring classes are already filling up and is encouraging local residents who may be interested in attending these classes to register early.

Though no final price has yet to be set for spring painting program, registration for the four-hour class is generally about $65 and includes all the necessary tools needed to paint.

Residents desiring additional registration information are encouraged to contact the Parks & Recreation Department via phone (276) 223-4519 or email [email protected]. The class is open to the general public ages 15 & up.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – This weekend, county officials from Wythe and Bland will be hosting a household hazardous waste collection event, at the Kents Lane Transfer Station, just east of the Wytheville town limits (169 Kents Lane, Wytheville, VA).

The annual hazardous waste day event will provide local citizens with an opportunity to dispose of chemicals and other items deemed hazardous in a safe and environmentally friendly way – completely free of charge.

The event, which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, between 8 a.m. and noon, is sponsored by the Joint Public Service Authority of Wythe and Bland Counties.

Ikey Davidson, who serves as Wythe County’s hazardous material coordinator, said that the annual event is an important component of the county’s overall environmental policy.

“This event allows local residents the opportunity to dispose of items they’ve collected throughout the year that are not accepted at the county’s convenience centers.”

Davidson said that acceptable waste items include pool chemicals, automotive fluids, mercury products and other common household chemicals. A complete listing of all acceptable and non-acceptable items may be found on the county’s official website, www.WytheCo.org.

The event is open to residents of Wythe and Bland counties only. Refuse from businesses, including home-based businesses will not be accepted.

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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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