ROANOKE, Va. – Earlier today, members of Wythe County’s emergency management team participated in a railway safety program sponsored by Norfolk Southern. The program is part of a national effort known as “Operation Lifesaver” and is aimed at decreasing annual railway fatalities.

Representing Wythe County were the county’s emergency manager, information officer, emergency communications director and sheriff.

As part of the educational seminar, participants traveled by rail from Radford to the railway yard in Roanoke. Along the route, safety officials from Norfolk Southern spoke to local representatives about activities localities can do in order to encourage railway safety.

“I was shocked to learn that in 2013, 251 people were killed by trains,” said Jeremy Farley, Wythe County’s public information officer.

Farley added, “In the coming days, we will be doing our part to ensure county residents are reminded of just how dangerous train crossings can be.”

James Copeland, who serves as Wythe County’s director of emergency communications, said the training event allowed a great opportunity for county officials to form closer working relationships with Norfolk Southern safety officers.

According to Norfolk Southern, the safety train that hosted Thursday’s seminar has been in service all week, hosting similar events throughout the Appalachian region. The train left Cleveland, Tennessee, Monday morning and is set to reach its final destination in Lynchburg, Friday afternoon.

Operation Lifesaver’s mission is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on rail property. Their efforts have been attributed to playing a primary role in reducing the number of railway fatalities from 728 in 1981, to 251 in 2013.

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The Commonwealth is asking state residents for their input, as part of the process to develop Virginia’s 2014 energy plan.

Wythe County residents will have three primary ways to provide input, suggestions, and recommendations to be considered as part of the Energy Plan.

1. Public Listening Sessions – Six public listening sessions will be held throughout Virginia during June and early July.  Southwestern Virginia’s will be held on June 24, 2014, at the Highlands Community College Student Center (100 VHCC Drive, Abingdon, VA), from 6 – 8 p.m.
2. Online Submission – A web page has been created to allow input to be submitted online at any time.  The web page address is http://commerce.virginia.gov/2014-va-energy-plan/ . This page also has the listening session dates and locations listed.  There is no limit on submissions, but each submission is limited to three attachments. 
3. Direct outreach – Residents may directly contact Hayes Framme, advisor for Infrastructure and Development in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, and/or Al Christopher, Director of the Division of Energy with the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.  Hayes would be happy to meet with any stakeholders who would like to provide in-person feedback about the Energy Plan.  Hayes and Al’s contact information is below.

B. Hayes Framme

Advisor for Infrastructure and Development

Secretary of Commerce and Trade

1111 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219

P: (804) 225-4517 C: (804) 201-6971

[email protected]

 

Al Christopher

Director, Division of Energy

Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy

1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor

Richmond VA 23219

804-692-3216 office

[email protected]

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SPEEDWELL, Va. – A group of spelunkers entered a cave just south of the community of Speedwell, Tuesday morning. The cavers were part of a summer camp from North Carolina, taking part in a training exercise inside the popular cave.

Sometime that afternoon, a nineteen year old female found herself wedged in a narrow crevice inside the cave. Members of the group initially attempted to pull her free, but were unsuccessful in their efforts.

At 3:32 p.m. the Wythe County E-911 Center received a call from members of the group, requesting emergency assistance in rescuing one of the cavers pinned between the crevices of two rocks.

Members of the Speedwell Volunteer Fire Department and Wythe County Rescue were first on the scene, followed by Wythe County Emergency Management and Rural Retreat Emergency Services & Volunteer Fire Department.

Serving as commander inside the cave, Wythe County Rescue’s Mike Davis led a group to the trapped caver shortly upon arriving at the scene.

“It was very tight and damp inside. The patient was really calm and cooperative throughout the duration of the rescue; anything we asked her to do, she did it without any complaint,” said Davis.

According to Davis, the operation – which involved at least ten different agencies – was one of the better coordinated operations in which he had ever been a participant.

Ikey Davidson, Director of Wythe County Emergency Management and incident commander, agreed, echoing Davis’ sentiments.

“We had so many departments and agencies cooperating together. It was great to see all the people working toward the common goal of freeing this woman. We’re just glad that it ended well.”

Later that evening, members from Black Diamond Search & Rescue, a Virginia Department of Emergency Management rescue team arrived on the scene.

Members from Black Diamond Search & Rescue, along with local first responders, were finally successful in freeing the trapped woman around 7:30 p.m.

Though the nineteen year old female showed no signs of critical injuries, she was airlifted to Bristol as a precaution.

The underground network of caves south of the Cripple Creek stream has multiple entrances. Over the past several years, local emergency responders have been called to the cave on several occasions to rescue trapped or lost spelunkers.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Over the past two decades, Wythe County has invested over $40 million in the development of Progress Park; an investment that has netted a return of 750 jobs and millions of dollars in additional tax revenue.

In an effort to remain proactive in the ever changing business climate, Wythe leaders say they will begin marketing the county’s premier industrial site in-house.

The idea was first proposed earlier this year, prior to the retirement of longtime Joint Industrial Development Authority (JIDA) director, Dr. Alan Hawthorne.

In a March 2014 letter issued to the chairperson of the JIDA, Wythe County Administrator Cellell Dalton stated, “Wythe County offers to provide the day-to-day oversight of the JIDA activities and staff in order to provide the continuity we feel is essential to the success of the park and other economic centers.”

County leaders say they never received a response from JIDA officials, prompting them to move forward with their plans to market of the county’s industrial development in-house.

According to local officials, marketing the county’s vacant industrial sites at Progress Park will allow the opportunity for the county to best utilize its resources, as well as take the appropriate actions to keep the site at the forefront of potential industries.

The county has already begun taking actions to increase the industrial park’s exposure.

Yesterday, members of the board of supervisors, accompanied by leaders from the Town of Wytheville, met with Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam at Progress Park. The county says it will unveil a new website dedicated to exclusively showcasing the top tier industrial park to potential buyers within the next two weeks, as well as launch a new advertising campaign aimed at blitzing high profile industry leaders with all the benefits that accompany doing business in Wythe County.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – A capacity class of twenty-eight individuals – all wishing to become emergency responders – participated in a state sanctioned emergency vehicle operator’s course [EVOC] this past weekend at Wytheville Community College.

Completion of the two day training program is a requirement for any person interested in becoming a first responder, including law enforcement officers, fire and rescue personnel, as well as those seeking a career in emergency management.

Participants sat through eight hours of classroom presentation on Saturday, as Ikey Davidson, Wythe County Emergency Services Coordinator, lectured the class on the subject of state laws pertaining to emergency vehicles and provided students with safe driving instructions.

The following day, Davidson was joined by Virginia Department of Emergency Management personnel as the class was taken outside, where a temporary road course had been constructed on the campus’ upper parking lot.

Students weaved and raced through the cones in a wide range of vehicles, including fire trucks, ambulances and heavy duty vehicles.

The training course was made possible thanks to a grant secured from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

Instructor Ikey Davidson said the class was an overwhelming success, noting that dozens of people had to be turned away due to reaching capacity.

“We had people from as far away as Newport News calling, wanting to know if there was space available in the class,” said Davidson, adding, “Interest in the class was so impressive, we’re looking at trying to host a similar class next month.”

Persons interested in registering for future EVOC classes are encouraged to call Davidson at the following number: 276-223-4521.

According to Davidson, the class could not have been possible without the generous support of community leaders and organizations, including Wytheville Community College, as well as the several
Wythe County rescue and fire departments who both promoted the event and donated their vehicles to be used in the training session.

The Wythe County Department of Emergency Management is urging residents to take precautions, as a slow moving storm front moves through the region today and into tonight, bringing scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms.

The primary threat will be localized flooding, beginning on Thursday. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for Wythe County through late tonight. Residents should expect an average of 1.5 to 3 inches of rain, with even greater amounts in some areas.

Flash flooding of small creeks, streams and urban areas will be possible. Flooding of larger river basins may occur tonight and into Friday.

Motorists approaching roadway flooding are advised to turn around and seek alternative routes. Residents living in areas prone to flooding are warned to closely monitor water levels and take appropriate action.
Wythe County emergency officials will continue to monitor the situation closely and advise the public accordingly.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has designated the entire month of May as “Electrical Safety Month.” The designation comes on the heels of an estimated 25,900 residential electrical fires across the nation, last year.

Electrical fires are responsible for over 275 nationwide deaths annually and lead to more than $1.1 billion in total property loss.

In an effort to combat this alarming trend, Chip Dunford, Wythe County building official, has released a series of tips for local residents to follow in order to adhere to electrical safe practices.

Among the tips Dunford listed are encouraging residents to talk to their children about the dangers of playing around power lines and poles.

Other instructions included encouraging residents to inspect extension cords for nicks and cuts, as well as replacing the batteries in smoke detectors on a routine bases.

Dunford says the dangers presented by electricity are very real and warrant everyone’s concern.

“Each year, thousands of electrical accidents occur across the nation. We’re encouraging local residents to take a proactive approach in recognizing the dangers and make appropriate precautions,” stated the veteran building official.

The International Association of Electrical Inspectors, a leading organization in electrical training, also urges homeowners to check the wattage of light bulbs in all light fixtures: “All light fixtures have a label with the maximum rated size wattage bulb required for that light. This also includes table lamps, but especially light fixtures with covers – they hold the heat in.”

Additional information concerning electrical safety may be found at www.iaeivirginia.com.

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WYTHE BUILDING OFFICIALS ENCOURAGING ELECTRICAL SAFETY

County issues precautionary tips, as dangerous storms move through southeast

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Over the past 48 hours a string of violent storms have torn through the southeast, causing numerous fatalities in multiple states.

This afternoon, tornado warnings were issued for a handful of Virginia counties west of Wythe and as the evening progresses the threat of additional storms will increase for the County of Wythe.

As a precaution, the Wythe County departments of public information and emergency management are seeking to remind local residents of important safety tips to follow in the event of a tornado.

Know the signs:
• Strong, persistent rotation in the base of a cloud
• Whirling dust or debris on the ground under a cloud base – tornadoes sometimes have no visible funnel
• Hail or heavy rain followed by dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift. Many tornadoes, especially in Virginia, are wrapped in heavy precipitation and can’t be seen.
• Loud, continuous roar or rumble, which doesn’t fade in a few seconds like thunder does
• If it’s night, look for small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level (as opposed to silvery lightning up in the clouds). These lights are power lines being snapped by very strong wind, perhaps a tornado.
• Persistent lowering of the cloud base

Know the definitions:
Tornado Watch: a tornado is possible in your area. You should monitor weather-alert radios and local radio and TV stations for information.

Tornado Warning: a tornado has been sighted in the area or has been indicated by National Weather Service Doppler radar. When a warning is issued, take cover immediately.

Know what to do:
Stay informed: Pay attention to weather announcements during severe thunderstorms. Listen to weather-alert radios to stay informed of tornado watches and warnings. Also monitor commercial radio, television and the Internet.

If at home: If you’re at home and a tornado WARNING is issued for your area, move quickly to your basement and take cover under a stairway or sturdy furniture. If you don’t have a basement, take shelter inside a first floor room near the center of your home and stay away from windows or glass doors.

If in a vehicle or mobile home: The most dangerous place to be during a tornado is inside a car or mobile home. Tornadoes can easily lift a car or mobile home off the ground. When a tornado WARNING is issued for your area, immediately take shelter inside a nearby sturdy building. There are no tornado shelters in Wythe County.

If outside: If there’s no time to get indoors, or there are no buildings nearby, lie in a ditch or low area away from your vehicle. Bridges and overpasses won’t protect you because flying debris can get blown under them.

If at work or school: Tornadoes often occur when we’re at work or school. If a tornado WARNING is issued for your area, go to the basement, stairwell or inside hallway at the lowest level you can safely reach. Stay away from windows. Get under sturdy furniture such as a heavy table or desk. If you’re outdoors and a tornado is approaching, get inside a sturdy building right away or lie in a ditch or low area and cover you head.

For more on tornado safety, visit vaemergency.com or ReadyVirginia.gov.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – Last summer, Wythe County’s combined emergency communications center began taking calls for the first time. The project was a join effort between the county and towns of Rural Retreat and Wytheville, made possible by hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding.

Consolidating the emergency dispatch centers from all three jurisdictions gave local leaders an unprecedented opportunity to implement more advanced tools; while at the same time splitting the high costs associated with manning a 24-7 emergency call center.

Nearly a year into the transitioning process, county officials are praising the move and celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week.

James Copeland, Wythe County’s Emergency Communications Director, says this week provides an opportunity to showcase the incredible work dispatchers do each day.

“A call to 911 is a call for help – no one ever wakes up in the morning expecting to call 911 that day – and our staff answers dozens of these calls each day,” said Copeland, adding “This week gives the public an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for the wonderful job they do.”

Amanda Shelton – who is responsible for training new dispatchers – agreed, saying “New hires are often shocked to discover all that takes place in handling a single 911 call.”

In addition to receiving a certificate of recognition from Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, thanking dispatchers for their hard work, the county is also encouraging followers on its social media pages to leave thank you messages to dispatchers.

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WYTHEVILLE, Va. – In 2012, the Wythe County Board of Supervisors voted to eliminate the county’s windshield decal beginning January 1, 2014.  The decals were replaced with a license fee that is now added to resident’s personal property tax bill.  Many local residents, however, have chosen not to remove their old county stickers; which expired in December.

Over the weekend, an erroneous rumor began on Facebook, alleging that county residents were being fined for not removing these decals.

County officials reached out to Doug King, Wythe County’s Sheriff, as well as leaders from within the Virginia State Police who have all stated that their officers have not and will not be issuing any citations to motorists displaying the 2013 Wythe County decal.

The Code of Virginia may require this sticker to be removed in order to be given a passing inspection; however, law enforcement officers insist they will not be issuing tickets to individuals driving with their expired county decal.

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