JUNIOR APPALACHIAN MUSICIANS PERFORM AT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Preserving traditional music and investing in local students are all a part of the Junior Appalachian Musicians’ legacy. The JAM group from Smyth County recently performed at the Wythe County Board of Supervisors meeting.

JAM Regional Director Jim Lloyd said he’s been instructing music for around 34 years.

“JAM was founded about 18 years ago by a lady named Helen White, who started it in Sparta, North Carolina,” Lloyd said. “First off, our target was to help the kids. Secondly, it helps preserve the music of Appalachia. We really stress traditional music. This year we’re adding on seven in Tennessee and one in Wythe County. This has been an ambition of mine for a long time. This not only helps the kids, but it helps us preserve our music.”

The first song performed by the local JAM music students was entitled “Down Yonder.” The students focus on traditional Appalachian music.

Dustin St. John, 13, from Chilhowie played the bass at the Board of Supervisors Meeting on Dec. 11 alongside Nicholas Wingo, 15, from Rural Retreat and Ashlyn Montgomery, 13, from Chilhowie.

“We started in Smyth County about four years ago,” Lloyd said. “In the first year we had 101 kids sign up. We had three instructors. That was a lot of fun, but we got it done. These students playing tonight are the cream of the crop. They’ve been with the JAM in Smyth County since it started.”

Lloyd said officials plan to start the Wythe County JAM in January.

“We’re starting in Wythe County with the banjo, fiddle, bass and guitar,” Lloyd said. “Frances Emerson and the Department of Museums have agreed to be the parenting organization so we’re going to start here on January 31.”

JAM Director Brett Morris said officials have 45 programs in four states, including the one that is starting in Wythe County.

“Music is a life changer,” Morris said. “It might give them a place to belong if they don’t feel like they fit in.”

Lloyd said this group recently played at the Virginia State Fair.

“I wish you could have seen them at the state fair,” Lloyd said. “I had a ball just watching them. They had me on a stage the size of this podium. And had them on something, that looked like a rock star would be on. There was probably a 1,000 people for that.”

Lloyd said this will be a great opportunity for local kids.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the kids of Wythe County,” Lloyd said. “They will be playing at farmer’s markets and museums.”

Residents can check out the performance at the board meeting by clicking on the following link:

 

 

 

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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]

 

December 11, 2018

 To the Citizens of Wythe County

Winter Storm Diego has passed, but the snow that it has left will stay with us a few more days. As we go through this week, we will have days of melting and mornings of refreezing. These trends can make morning travels treacherous. Please continue to use caution when commuting in the mornings and give yourself additional time to travel.

Wythe County would like to take a moment to thank the citizens for heeding the warnings during the storm. Most citizens stayed home and didn’t attempt to drive the snow-covered roads. Wythe County Emergency crews were able to navigate to emergencies with very few interruptions. VDOT along with county and town crews worked around the clock to clear roads. Thank you for being prepared, helping your neighbors and community, and thank you for staying safe.

Please continue to monitor the weather as we are forecasted to receive rain this weekend. With the rain and melting snow, we could see possible flooding in some areas. Again, thank you for the wonderful job that everyone did to help. Stay Alert and Stay Safe.

Curtis W. Crawford

Emergency Services Coordinator

 

To the Citizens of Wythe County

This coming weekend looks to be the first significant winter event of the season. At this time, predictions are still varying on the impact to our area. The National Weather Service is predicting accumulation and significant impacts to travel beginning on Saturday night. The forecast is predicting accumulation to begin Saturday night and continue through Monday.

Wythe County wants you to be prepared. Please make sure you have supplies in case the roads become dangerous or if power outages occur. Have a food supply, water, batteries, warm clothes and blankets, an alternate source of power or heat, and/or a place to be with a generator. Please make arrangements for all these supplies prior to Saturday evening. When the accumulation begins and the roads become difficult to travel on, please only travel if absolutely necessary. If we can keep the road traffic down, VDOT and emergency crews can work more efficiently. This also helps keep crews safe. If you don’t have to travel then please do not during this weather. 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 during this storm.

Curtis W. Crawford

Emergency Services Coordinator

 

Holiday Cooking Safety

Three Wythe County employees recently graduated from the Leadership Development Program conducted by the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce.

Crystal Holliday, Blake Stowers and Rhonda Vaught were recognized at the 72nd Annual Membership Awards Banquet on Nov. 1, 2018.

 

WYTHE COUNTY PARTICIPATES IN VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY DEDICATION CELEBRATION

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Approximately 80 citizens joined Supervisors Hale, Vaught and Lester beneath the historic Shot Tower in Wythe County recently to  celebrate the dedication of U.S. Highway 52 as Veterans Memorial Highway.

Wythe County Administrative Assistant Rhonda Vaught said it was great to see the event take place. “I was very honored to be there,” Vaught said. “I  remember when Mr. Easter first started working on this project, so it was awesome to see this come to fruition after all these years. It was great to see all the  communities come together for such a good project.”

Wythe County Engineer William Vaughan also attended the ceremony at the Shot Tower.

“We had a good ceremony,” Vaughan said. “Mr. Easter made a special appearance. He’s the one who pulled all this together over the years.”

Clyde Easter has been working to preserve the memory of all veterans within the mountains of southwest Virginia for several years. Easter is from the Fancy Gap area of Carroll County, Va. Easter is a twice wounded veteran of World War II.

For many years, Easter has strived to get U.S. Highway 52 through Carroll, Wythe and Bland Counties designated as Veterans Memorial Highway. Now, his dream is a reality.

In a letter of support for Veterans Memorial Highway, Easter said: “Ladies and gentleman, I urge you to pass this resolution supporting the naming of U.S. Highway 52, Veterans Memorial Highway. I believe that by doing so that it would perpetuate, and preserve the memory of all veterans of all wars, those that survive, and those that gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today.”

U.S. Marine Corps retired Lt. Colonel Tim Maxwell was the keynote speaker for the event in Wythe County. Maxwell was injured in combat when his operating base in Kalsu was mortared by an enemy attack in 2004. He had shrapnel tear through the left side of his body and two pieces embedded in his brain. Maxwell pushed himself through rehabilitation. Out of the situation he saw an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of other Marines. He established a Wounded Warrior barracks at Camp Lejune, NC so that no Marine would go through the recovery process alone.

Tim and his wife, Shannon, run Sempermax Support Fund and Semper Fi Farm in Rural Retreat, Virginia. They are committed to helping wounded, ill, and injured veterans of all service branches and all wars find support and renewed purpose.

Maxwell served 21 years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring in 2009.

Several citizens took part in the event by driving antique cars in the U.S. 52 Veterans Memorial Highway Procession as it traveled from Bland County, Va. to Carroll County, Va. Events were also held in Bland and Carroll counties celebrating the day.

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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]