Rural Retreat, Va. – Wythe County’s Rural Retreat Lake Campground Park will be hosting “Kids Fish Day,” this Saturday, May 17th.

The annual event is made possible by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (DGIF), in an effort to provide unique fishing opportunities for young anglers and park visitors.

Registration for the free event is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. at the lake’s trout pond, with youth fishing lasting from 9 a.m. and until 1 p.m. During this time, only children 15 and under will be permitted to participate in fishing at the lake’s trout pond; located on the south side of Lake Rd. Adult supervision will be required for all participants and snacks will be provided to the children.

In addition to having DGIF wildlife experts on site, providing educational opportunities to the young fishermen, the Wythe County Parks & Recreation Department will be awarding door prizes donated by local businesses.

“Youth Fish Day is a great way to kick off the official opening of the campground and we’re expecting many of the county’s young people to participate in the event,” said Wythe County Parks & Recreation Director Kevin Williams.

Though the lake remains open year round for fishing, boating and hiking, the campground opens to the public on Thursday of this week.

“We’re hoping local families will make a weekend of this event and camp at the lake Friday night, then participate in the youth fishing event Saturday morning,” said Williams.

The trout pond will reopen to the general public after the event has ended. The Rural Retreat Lake will remain open to anglers of all ages throughout the entire day Saturday.

Individuals interested in camping at the Rural Retreat Lake Campground are encouraged to make a reservation by calling 276-686-4331.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – This week, Wytheville and Wythe County announced the first annual “Road Market Sale” along Historic US Route 21.

The event, scheduled for July 25, 26 and 27 is the product of the multistate initiative known as “Take a Break from the Interstate.” This 70 mile long yard sale will span from Wytheville to Jonesville, North Carolina.

“The road market event has the potential to bring an incredible number of additional travelers to the community,” said Wythe County Tourism Director Jeremy Farley.

Citing the level of cooperation needed between the communities along the route, Mary Jo Babbitt, Wytheville’s Tourism Development Coordinator added “when you work together, you succeed.”

Both partners agreed that the three-day event creates exciting opportunities for Wytheville and Wythe County.

Residents along Historic US Route 21 are encouraged to save the date and plan to participate in this 70 mile long road market event.

Citizens wishing to learn more about the event are encouraged to contact Frances Emerson at 223-3426 or drop by the Town of Wytheville’s Department of Museums at 115 W. Spiller St. in Wytheville. The Wytheville Department of Museums is also giving away Historic US Route 21 “Take a Break from the Interstate” yard signs to residents living along the historic route.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – The Wythe County Department of Emergency Management was notified today that a recent grant application to the Wythe-Bland Foundation netted nearly $200,000 in grant funding for the county’s emergency services.

The county’s department of public information & grants submitted the application earlier this year, requesting funding on behalf of the nine non-profit fire and rescue organizations operating within the county.

“The funding provided in this grant will enable the purchase of several items our county’s first responders have badly needed,” stated Wythe County Emergency Manager, Ikey Davidson.

Those items include portable and mobile radios, helmets for firefighters, sets of turnout gear, as well as a thermal imaging camera, which will aid firefighters in navigating areas where zero visibility exists; increasing the odds of being found for individuals trapped inside a burning structure.

The grant was one of many awarded by the Wythe-Bland Foundation for the spring 2014 cycle.

Originally founded in 1991, the foundation was reorganized in 2005 and has since provided millions of dollars to non-profit organizations operating in Wythe and Bland counties.

Wythe County grant coordinator, Jeremy Farley says that local residents owe a debt of gratitude to the foundation, “The level of assistance they provide to our county’s first responders is incredible. Thanks to their generosity, countless lives will be saved in the days to come.”

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Abingdon, VA – Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder, Leigh Beamer, and Valley Grass will perform at the 3rd Annual Crooked Road Youth Music Festival. David Chrisley will also perform with Close Kin – Our Roots Run Deep. The festival takes place on Saturday, May 10th from 11 AM–7 PM at Heartwood in Abingdon.

25 bands from throughout Southwest Virginia will be performing on two stages throughout the day, and an “Old Time Square Dance” will take place inside Heartwood from 5-7 PM. The square dance will feature Shawn Brenneman, caller, and The Lee Highway String Band. All are welcome to participate!

“The festival is an opportunity for people to show support for young tradition bearers.” said Jonathan Romeo, The Crooked Road’s Program Manager. “It gives folks interested in the distinctive musical heritage of Southwest Virginia a way to encourage its future growth.”

Festival performers include Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder, The Blackberries, The Butcher Family, Changing Lanes, Close Kin – Our Roots Run Deep, The Floyd Jammers, The Friendship Boys, Gravel Road, Honaker FFA Bluegrass Band, The Jamming Bobcats from Abingdon Elementary School, Kitty & The Stray Cats, Leigh Beamer, The Loose Strings Band, Mountain Music School String Band, Oh Brother Where Am I?, The Patterson Family, Pike City, Tori Bartfai, Travis Starkey & Cheryl Lunsford, Tyler Hughes, Valley Grass, The Yates Family Band, WiseJAMS–Coeburn, WiseJAMS–Big Stone Gap, and WiseJAMS–Norton.

The Crooked Road Youth Music Festival is sponsored by Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau, Abingdon Olive Oil Company, First Bank & Trust Company, Heartwood, Highlands Union Bank, the National Endowment for the Arts, Pepsi Beverages Company, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Wayne C. Henderson Scholarship Program, and Wordsprint.

Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway is located off I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon, VA, and features food, music, and craft of Southwest Virginia. Admission to the festival is $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children 6-12, and kids 5 and under are free.

For more information call (276) 492-2409 or email: [email protected].

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – The Wythe County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting the sixteenth annual Cliff Dicker Memorial Scholarship Golf Classic on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Wytheville Golf Club.

The proceeds of the event will be used to fund the Cliff Dicker Memorial Scholarship Fund, a long running scholarship that provides $4,500 annually to two graduating high school students from each of the county’s three public high schools.

Individuals or teams interested in participating in the four-person team captain’s choice tournament are encouraged to call the county’s sheriff’s office at 276-223-6011.

The golf classic, which will be held during National Police Week, will honor Wythe County’s only deputy to be killed in the line of duty. Deputy Dicker was brutally murdered in a line of duty shooting on December 6, 1994.

Graduating seniors wishing to make application to the scholarship fund must have their applications submitted to the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office no later than 4 p.m. on May 2, 2014; winners will be announced on May 9, 2014. Applications can be picked up at local schools or at the sheriff’s office. Interested students may contact the sheriff’s office for more information.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Wythe County and the Town of Wytheville’s department of parks and recreation have teamed together to create a youth basketball league for sixth and seventh grade school children.

The league is comprised of seven boys teams and four girls teams, representing county schools and the Town of Wytheville.

The season is slated to begin Monday, January 27, 2014, at Max Meadows Elementary School, and will conclude with the championship games, which are scheduled for Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the Wytheville Community Center.

“We’re excited to have the Town of Wytheville’s two teams joining our league, as the addition will lead to greater competition. We truly appreciate the many men and women who have committed to volunteering their time to make this year’s basketball season possible,” said Wythe County’s Parks & Recreation specialist Scotty Vaught.

Vaught, a sixteen-year-veteran of the department, went on to express his desire to see this year’s season prove to be a valuable learning experience for participants.

“Our goal is to provide children opportunities to learn values essential in life and society, such as sportsmanship, winning and losing, and team work.”

The county’s 4th and 5th grade basketball season was completed prior to the Christmas break.

This year’s 6th and 7th grade boys teams and coaches are Rural Retreat Indians, Charlie Wilson; Max Meadows Pioneers, Stephen Delp; Jackson Eagles, Brian Rider; Sheffey Wildcats – White, Wesley Rowe; Sheffey Wildcats – Blue, Jason King; Wytheville Heat, Stacey Jenkins; and Wytheville Lakers, David Devine.

The four 6th and 7th grade girls basketball teams competing in this year’s season are Sheffey Lady Wildcats, Eddie King; Max Meadows Lady Pioneers, Ann Morgan; Wytheville UNC, Brent Varney; and Wytheville Duke, H.S. Ingo.

Click here to download the 2014 youth basketball 2014 schedule

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – The Wythe County Public Library has been closed indefinitely, due to overhead pipes freezing and then bursting.

 The bursting pipes are responsible for flooding the building’s children’s section, as well as offices and bathrooms, with an estimated 300-350 gallons of water.

 The problems began yesterday afternoon, when the heat pump froze due to the extreme temperatures, forcing the device to enter into defrost mode.

 With no working heater, the building’s overhead PVC pipes quickly froze and then burst.

 Throughout the afternoon the busted pipes inundated the library with water, until the flooding was discovered around 6 p.m.

 Billy Bowers, Wythe County’s buildings and grounds maintenance supervisor, says that county employees are working to vacuum the ground water, as well as to repair other portions of the building that were damaged.

 Anita Wood, branch manager of the Wythe County Public Library, says that the library has suffered major damages in the carpet and ceiling.  Several books were also destroyed in the incident.

 Bowers said he hopes to see the building reopen by the end of the week.

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MAX MEADOWS, Va. — Wythe County’s Parks & Recreation Department has announced the tournament schedule for the youth basketball boys and girls JV leagues.  The two-day single elimination tournament will be hosted at Max Meadows Elementary School.

Tournament schedule for Saturday, December 14:

9:00 a.m. – GIRLS JV – Game #1 – Sheffey Lady Wildcats vs. MM Lady Pioneers Gold

10:00 a.m. – GIRLS JV – Game #2 – RR Lady Indians vs. MM Lady Pioneers Black

11:00 a.m. – BOYS JV – Game #1 – MM Pioneers Black vs. MM Pioneers White

12:00 p.m.  – BOYS JV – Game #2 – RR Indians Orange vs. RR Indians Black

1:00 p.m. – BOYS JV – Game #3 – Jackson Eagles vs. Game #1 winner

Championship schedule for Monday, December 16:

6:00 p.m.  – GIRLS JV – Championship – Game #1 winner vs. Game #2 winner

7:00 p.m.  – BOYS JV – Championship – Game #2 winner vs. Game #3 winner

Wythe County youth sports coordinator Scotty Vaught said the season was a great success.

“This year, we had a great group of coaches and it was a lot of fun working with them, as well as the booster clubs and parents,” stated Vaught.

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