WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The Barren Springs Fire Department will be hosting their annual fish fry this coming Sunday, September 10, 2017.

The fundraising event will be held at the Barren Springs Volunteer Fire Department and begin at 11 a.m.

In addition to providing a meal that will include a choice of ham or fish, plus three sides, plus a dessert and drink, raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each.

The 1st place raffle winner will receive a Savage Lightweight Hunter 6.5 Creedmore with a $250 gift certificate to New River Sports donated by Hilly Haven Market. 2nd place will receive a CVA APEX .50 Muzzleloader and 3rd place winner will be given a $100 Visa Gift Card.

All proceeds will benefit the Barren Springs Volunteer Fire Department.

For more information, contact Chief Josh Stitt, 540-239-8464.

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WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – Dr. Brian Pettit and his wife Stacey moved to Southwest Virginia in 2013 and soon afterward launched a dental practice in the heart of Wytheville.

It was during this same time that the couple visited the local dog shelter and adopted a boxer named Ember.

“Rescuing Ember opened our eyes to the way dogs should be treated,” said Stacey Pettit, adding, “Ember quickly became a very important member of our family.”

It was because of the couple’s newfound love for their boxer that Stacey began volunteering at the Wythe County Animal Shelter.

Pettit, along with several others, arrive at the shelter at 8:30 in the morning and walk the dogs being housed, as well as give them “love and treats.”

“We just want to make for sure that the dogs have an opportunity to get out. There is a core group of about six volunteers who are faithful.”

Pettit said that while volunteering at the shelter she noticed a need.

“The shelter has a heater, but as it got hotter, we realized there is no air conditioner.”

In order to meet this need, this past Wednesday Stacey presented the Wythe County Animal Shelter with a check, on behalf of the offices of Dr. Jeffrey B. Pettit, DDS, PC, in the amount of $1,280.84 – the amount necessary to purchase air conditioning units at the shelter. The Wythe County Buildings & Grounds Department will install the units thanks to Envision Environmental donating the necessary equipment and tools to perform the installation.

“We are really appreciative not only of this donation, but also of the faithful volunteer work Stacey and so many others do for the dogs being housed in our shelter on a daily basis,” said Wythe County Code Enforcement Officer A.B. Dunford.

This past month, the Wythe County Dog Shelter underwent a state inspection and passed without a single violation.

“There has been a steady push in making our dog shelter the very best possible and this donation will go a long way helping this to become a reality,” concluded Dunford.

Individuals wishing to volunteer at the dog shelter are encouraged to contact Dunford by calling the dog shelter at 276-228-6003.

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The 2017 Wythe County Kid’s Fish Day, which was originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been postponed due to inclement weather.

The event, which gives children ages 15 and under the first opportunity to fish in newly stocked waters, has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 20, 2017, and will be held between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

2017 Wythe County Kid’s Fish Day will be held at Cripple Creek’s Collin’s Cove / Cole Branch section (roughly midway between the communities of Cripple Creek and Ivanhoe, off Pope Rd.).

Wythe County Kids Fish Day is a joint partnership between the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and Wythe County Parks & Recreation.

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WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – Wythe County’s Parks & Recreation Department is teaming up with the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (DGIF) to host a “Kids Fish Day” on Saturday, May 13, 2017.

The event is just one of dozens of activities DGIF will be hosting throughout the Commonwealth this year aimed at giving children 15 and under the first opportunity to fish in freshly stocked waters.

The 2017 Wythe County Kid’s Fish Day will be held at Cripple Creek’s Collin’s Cove / Cole Branch section (roughly midway between the communities of Cripple Creek and Ivanhoe, off Pope Rd.).

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to partner with DGIF to help promote this great activity for the young anglers of our community,” said Kevin Williams, director of Wythe County’s Parks & Recreation.

According to Williams, the event is slated to begin at 9 a.m. and last until 1 p.m.

Participants are encouraged to register (once at the event), as prizes will be awarded throughout the day.

Individuals wishing to learn more about the event may contact Kevin Williams at 276-223-4519. Businesses interested in donating door prizes are also encouraged to contact Williams.

For a complete list of 2017 Kids Fishing Days events and schedules throughout Virginia, individuals may visit the following link: www.dgif.virginia.gov/events/kids-fishing-days/

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WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – This past week, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services notified Wythe County that Wythe County Rescue Squad’s grant request of $198,925 had been approved by the Virginia Department of Health.

Despite its name Wythe County Rescue Squad is a private non-profit organization (the name is a geographic place reference only); however, the county agreed to offer assistance to the squad in preparing and submitting the successful grant application.

The money will be used to replace a vehicle that had been in service for over a decade and was beginning to experience major mechanical failures.

“We were very happy and pleased to be the recipient of this grant,” stated Danny Gordon who serves as the chairman of Wythe County Rescue Squad’s Board of Directors.

“With all the problems we’ve been having with our old vehicle, this new ambulance will serve as a vital new replacement to our fleet – helping us better serve the people of Wythe County.”

The most recent Rescue Squad Assistance Fund application is only one of several grants the county has successfully assisted local squads in securing over the past several years.

Last year, the Wythe County Administrator’s Office assisted Wythe County Rescue Squad in securing $25,000 from the Wythe—Bland Foundation in order to outfit the new ambulance and in 2015 the county helped Lead Mines Rescue Squad secure $108,535 in funding to help purchase a new ambulance.

“We are pleased to hear of the successful grant application and appreciate state officials for recognizing the dire need of a new vehicle for Wythe County Rescue Squad,” said Wythe County Board of Supervisors Chairman Tim Reeves.

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The National Weather Service (NWS) in Blacksburg, Virginia, is warning residents of our region that there is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms tonight and into the early morning hours of Thursday.

Even more concerning than the Thunderstorms, however, are the strong winds that are expected to pass through Southwest Virginia in the hours ahead.

At 3:39 p.m., NWS issued an urgent weather message stating, “An area of low pressure will deepen as it tracks from the Ohio Valley into New York on Thursday and Friday. As a result very strong and gusty northwest winds will develop across the Appalachians.”  As a result, a wind advisory will remain in effect from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 p.m. Friday.

The wind advisory has been issued for southeast West Virginia, southwest Virginia and northwest North Carolina, mainly along and on either side of the Blue Ridge, and into the foothills and piedmont of Virginia and North Carolina.

West winds from 15 to 30 mph are expected with gusts up to 50 mph.

“Trees and tree limbs may be blow down. Isolated power outages are possible. High profile vehicles on north-south oriented roads should exercise caution. Motorists along I-81 and I-77 should be prepared for strong cross winds,” stated the Weather Service.

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This week, Wythe County Parks & Recreation announced that the department would be offering open gym for basketball and walking at Sheffey Community Gym beginning on Saturday, January 21st and then throughout February and into the spring.  The gymnasium will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon.

In addition to open gym hours, the county’s Parks & Recreation Department will also be offering two separate fitness classes for the community:

Fusion Fit Classes will be held at 6 p.m. every Monday and Thursday starting on Thursday, January 19th and are slated to end in early-March.  The one-hour session will utilize light weights, which will be provided, and cardio.

Functionally Fit Class will be held at 5 p.m. every Thursday starting on Thursday, January 19th and is also slated to end in early-March.  This class is aimed at specifically helping adults 50-years-old and older stay in shape and maintain a health, active lifestyle.

Because space is limited for both classes, individuals wishing to participate are encouraged to register by contacting Kevin Williams (276-223-4519 or [email protected]).  Cost to participate in this program is only $10 per session.

“During the winter months, people often get discouraged and become less active.  Our goal for this program is to help the people of the local community stay active and assist them in making healthy lifestyle choices through the early months of the year,” said Kevin Williams, director of the county’s Parks & Recreation Department.

Additional information concerning activities at the Sheffey Community Gym, including a calendar of events, will be available to the public on the official Facebook page of the Sheffey Community Gym: Facebook.com/SheffeyGym

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