ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607220013
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-15 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Wythe receives $1.1 million for water
FORT CHISWELL - A total of more than $1.1 million in grant and loan funds will help build more than 20,000 feet of 10-inch line and a new pump station for a water project in eastern Wythe County.
Rural Utility Service, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approved an $855,000 grant and a $310,900 low-interest loan for the project. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, made the announcement in a ceremony last week at Carter's Wayside Memorial Park.
The project will make a new water source available to the Grahams Forge and West Piney areas and tie into the county's Fort Chiswell-Max Meadows-Ivanhoe water system.
The Grahams Forge system is now served by two wells, one cited by health officials as being contaminated with bacteria and the other incapable of producing enough water for residential needs, much less commercial ones.
Once the project is completed, the area will have the capacity for industrial and commercial growth, Boucher said. Bids on the project will be sought soon, said Charles Dix, chairman of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors.
Boucher said the project will add 75 new water customers to the county and improve the reliability of service for more than 1,000 others on the existing system.
"The project will solve the water source problems for current and future users of the Grahams Forge area and will promote both residential and commercial development in the immediate region," he said.
"It positions you for the future," said Dayton Watkins, administrator of rural business with the Agriculture Department. "As you attract businesses, you're also going to attract new residents."
The funding is part of $70 million being invested in rural water projects nationally to bring safe drinking water to some 2.5 million people living outside metropolitan areas.
The Grahams Forge project was the first of these to be announced, by Agriculture Department Rural Development State Director Lloyd Jones at last week's ceremony.
"In an age when the great majority of Americans take safe and clean running water for granted, many very livable rural towns are working hard to achieve the basics for sound public health and real economic opportunity," Jones said. "We are targeting rural communities where tap water is still undrinkable, fire hydrants non-existent, and business development is halted due to non-existent or substandard public water service."
Wythe School Board re-elects White
WYTHEVILLE - Walter White has been re-elected chairman of the Wythe County School Board but a vice chairperson may not be named until August.
The board deadlocked 3-3 this month over whether to choose Betty Irvin or Carl Ayers for the post. A seventh member, William Pendleton, was not at the July meeting and probably will break the tie.
Mike Neal was named assistant principal at Rural Retreat High School. For Fort Chiswell High School, the board approved Cathy Durham as assistant girls' basketball coach, Mike Stafford as assistant girls' softball and basketball coach, Tad Phipps as golf coach and Marion Haga as assistant boys' basketball coach.
The board will continue to hold its regular meetings at 9 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month except for once during the year when the meeting will be at night.
Three more chances to see 'Nunsense'
WYTHEVILLE - Three more performances of the musical comedy "Nunsense" will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a preperformance buffet offered at 6:30 p.m. before the Saturday show.
Linda St. John, Carol Conley, Angie Johnson, Janice Scudder and Marsha Turpin make up the cast, with Scudder doubling as director. Vickie Shelor from Floyd County, an organist and choral director for Carroll County High School, is musical director and accompanist.
"'Nunsense' is definitely aimed at an adult audience with open minds and the ability to laugh at themselves," Scudder said. "I chose this show because I couldn't stop laughing the first time I saw it. ... And I knew we had some talented women in Wytheville who would enjoy doing it as much as I hope the audiences will enjoy seeing it."
Tickets for both the buffet and show are $13 ($11.50 for senior citizens and children up to age 12) and must be reserved by Thursday by calling 223-4795. Regular tickets are $5 ($3.50 for senior citizens and children) and can be reserved or bought at the door in Grayson Hall.
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