Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511270009
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
WYTHEVILLE - Licensed practical nurses living in the service areas of Wytheville and New River Community colleges will have a chance to compete for advanced standing in the nursing curriculum of Wytheville Community College's Nursing Department.
All prospective candidates must be licensed as LPNs in Virginia.
The challenge will start with registration at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 19 with testing lasting until about 3 p.m. in Galax Hall. The test fee will be about $40. Testing will include the National League for Nursing Mobility Profile Test among others.
Further information is available from the Nursing Department by calling 223-4842 or toll-free 1-800-468-1195, extension 4842.
Sharyn McCrumb tries a new genre
SHAWSVILLE - Award-winning New River Valley author Sharyn McCrumb has written a comic book, or a third of one.
She wrote the text for the opening story of the first issue of "The Book of Ballads and Sagas," a planned six-issue series illustrated by Charles Vess of Bristol.
McCrumb's story is "Thomas the Rhymer," based on the Celtic legend of a mortal who falls in love with the Queen of Elfland and is given the gift of wisdom.
The other stories in the 32-page magazine are "The False Knight of the Road" by Neil Gaiman and "Skade" by Robert Walton, all illustrated by Vess, whose experience at drawing comic books dates back to 1976.
The first issue is available in some book stores for $2.95, or by mail for $3.95 from Vess' Green Man Press, 10518 Rich Valley Road, Bristol, Va. 24202. A subscription for all six issues is $20.
World Wide Web address corrected
WYTHEVILLE - The correct address for the World Wide Web site of the Joint Industrial Development of Wythe County, Wytheville and Rural Retreat is: http://www.bnt.com/wytheco/.
An address listed earlier this month contained an incorrect letter.
WCC offers course in team-building
WYTHEVILLE - A new course in team-building for business and industry will be offered at Wytheville Community College from 6 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. Thursdays from Jan. 11 to April 25.
The 15-week, three-credit course will cost $144.45 per person, plus course materials. The registration deadline is Dec. 18.
The course will cover the basics of the team-building process, team-building theories, interpersonal communication skills, conflict management skills and alternative problem-solving methods.
Further information is available by calling the college's Office of Continuing Education at 223-4712 or toll-free 1-800-468-1195.
Wythe County Cemetery sold
RURAL RETREAT - A Knoxville, Tenn., group has bought a financially troubled Wythe County cemetery and pledged to care for its existing and future graves in a professional manner.
The Loeren Group was one of two bidders for Sunset Memory Gardens earlier this month and purchased it for $17,100. It had been acquired by Wythe County for more than $20,000 in unpaid back taxes.
Sprint/United Telephone upgrade equipment
BRISTOL - Sprint/United Telephone, which serves Wythe, Bland and Carroll counties and the rest of the region west to Bristol, now has digital switching equipment to serve all its Virginia customers.
The conversion cost more than $35.8 million but, said Warren Sanders, regional public affairs manager, "Sprint/United has put a superior infrastructure in place so any business or company with intense communication needs can thrive in the region."
The change will increase custom calling features available to customers. Unlike the previous analog and electromechanical switches, digital switches have no moving parts to wear out and can be updated or reprogrammed to handle new innovations.
"The stage is now set to deliver the latest technological advancements to our Virginia customers," Sanders said.
Wythe County hospital names iterim CEO
WYTHEVILLE - Stephen A. Purvos, chief operating officer of Roanoke Memorial Hospitals, has been named as the interim chief executive officer for Wythe County Community Hospital.
The hospital's executive committee is seeking a new CEO to succeed Howard N. Ainsley, who will step down from the post Friday to pursue new opportunities within the Carilion Health System. Carilion has a management contract with the private hospital, and both Ainsley and Purvos are employed by the health system.
Ainsley has been at the Wytheville hospital for eight years, first as assistant administrator and since 1992 as CEO. Under his leadership, the hospital developed a home health department, helped provide mobile mammogram services, helped establish the C. Brock Hughes Free Clinic, and experienced its best financial status in its 22-year history.
Pulaski continues education study
PULASKI - The work of a 40-member Pulaski County task force, which made school facilities recommendations in 1994 after studying the needs for several months, may not be over.
An official with the Moseley McClintok Group of Richmond, hired this month by the School Board for $65,000 to survey existing schools and recommend a building plan, said that task force should provide a nucleus for a steering committee which would be part of the study.
James Copeland, vice president of the architectural and engineering firm, said community participation is vital to the success of a project like this. Educators and engineers must also be involved, he said.
Existing buildings will be visited over the next few months, and up to a dozen options for facilities improvements will be offered early next year along with the advantages and drawbacks for each one. Public comment will then be taken on the options before any one is chosen.
Twelve firms sought the contract to make the study.
by CNB