Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510160004
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WYTHEVILLE - The Wythe County Board of Supervisors agreed last week to reduce the machinery and tools tax to help create new jobs in the county.
The reduction from $1.25 to 95 cents per $100 assessed value will not become effective until 1997, but it will take about that long for the jobs to materialize, too.
Klockner Pentaplast officials had asked for the reduction before deciding whether to start a $6 million expansion at its Rural Retreat plant, which will mean 100 new jobs.
The expansion will add $20 million in new machinery and equipment and increase the plant payroll to $3.5 million annually.
Pulaski artist featured
CHILHOWIE - Art work by Pulaski County artist and art teacher Martha Ireson Preston will be displayed at The Art Place in Chilhowie during a noon luncheon Thursday.
Cost is $6 and reservations can be made by calling 646-8489 or 646-3282.
Preston's work has been exhibited at Abingdon's Virginia Highlands Festival, at the Fine Arts Center of the New River Valley and at Radford University, among other places. Further information is available from Edna Love in Pulaski at 980-6982.
Speedwall fall carnival
SPEEDWELL - Speedwell Elementary School in Wythe County will hold its fall carnival from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Hot dogs, barbecue and other treats are on the menu; activities include games, bingo, door prizes, a haunted house and fortune-telling.
Pipeline begun
ABINGDON - Virginia Gas Co. based in Abingdon is starting an 80-mile natural gas pipeline between Saltville and Radford roughly paralleling an existing line owned and operated by East Tennessee Natural Gas Co.
The East Tennessee line, built in the 1960s, is at capacity. Virginia Gas has entered into an agreement with United Cities Gas Co. to provide service to United from the new pipeline for United customers in Marion, Wytheville, Pulaski, Dublin and Radford.
This will allow United Cities to offer additional gas supplies to new and existing customers whose needs cannot be satisfied from the East Tennessee line. The estimated cost of the new line is $12.5 million.
Construction is to start next year, with the line in service all the way to Radford by 1997.
Acreage to be acquired
WYTHEVILLE - The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Department of Historic Resources have agreed to support the acquisition of Neuhoff Farms property for New River Trail State Park in Wythe County.
Some 128 acres would be acquired, expanding the park from 599 acres to 727 acres. The land to be acquired is abandoned Norfolk Southern railroad right-of-way, including two miles of riverfront property.
NS donated the right-of-way for the linear park going through several counties, but Neuhoff Farms objected and claimed that the rail right-of-way should revert to its original owners once NS abandoned it.
The property includes 14 existing structures, a 340-foot well and several drain fields associated with septic systems. Its further development would include boat and canoe access points, picnic areas, camping facilities and parking space.
The Wythe County Board of Supervisors has asked that existing historical and archaeological sites on the property be restored and a living history park be developed.
Festival of Leaves
BLAND - Bland County will wind up its two-day Festival of Leaves celebration today with a variety of free activities starting at 10:45 a.m.
They include a flag-raising at the fairgrounds, a song service and, at 11:15 a.m., a community worship service with the Rev. Ben Burnette as speaker.
An arts and crafts show and sale will be held from 12:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Bland County Courthouse lawn. Gospel music will be presented on the Courthouse Square Stage starting at 12:45 p.m.
Other activities throughout the community include the Adult & Children Art & Photo Exhibit at the fairgrounds; dolls, bears and antique toys at the Bland Masonic Hall; a quilt show at Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church; an antique farm machinery display at the fairgrounds; and Bland County Historical Society exhibits and Wolfe Creek Indian Village and Museum exhibits in the courthouse.
A Dixie League All-Star baseball game will start at 1 p.m. at the fairgrounds.
Hay rides will leave the Bland Library every 30 minutes from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Face-painting will be provided by senior 4-H Club members in the Old Post Mercantile Lot from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Bland County Community Choir will perform at the Bland Methodist Church at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
by CNB