Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410270088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
It is one of six labs in Virginia, and serves localities from Blacksburg to the western end of the state.
State Agriculture and Consumer Services Secretary J. Carlton Courter III and state Veterinarian William M. Sims Jr. addressed nearly 80 people gathered for the dedication ceremony.
The 11,600-square-foot building replaced its 4,000-square-foot predecessor, built in the 1950s.
Most of the $1.7 million for the construction and demolition work and the renovation of existing buildings at the complex for office space came from the Virginia Public Building Authority's sale of bonds. The 1993 General Assembly provided $17,000 of the cost.
Del. Tom Jackson, D-Hillsville, recalled that the Wilder administration once considered closing the laboratory to save money, but supporters of the facility prevailed.
Sims said the Wytheville lab processed 50,000 samples last year, doing tests to prevent, diagnose, eradicate and control livestock and poultry diseases. Its nine-member staff also does testing required by other countries receiving agricultural exports from Southwest Virginia.
The new state-of-the-art building has a separate air-handling system to contain infectious materials, buffer walls to take the brunt of an explosion in case of an accident, safety features for hazardous materials and a monorail with a 2-ton hoist to move large carcasses to a walk-in cooler, examination room and incinerator.
It was designed to be able to meet the current needs of the farming community, as well as those needs in 20 years. Its modular design will allow the basic facility to be adapted to animal health labs elsewhere in the state.
by CNB