ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 6, 1997 TAG: 9704070018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Wytheville Chautauqua seeks backers
WYTHEVILLE - Preparations are under way for the 13th annual Wytheville Chautauqua Festival, including fund-raising projects to support its activities.
Individuals who donate $65 or more will get an invitation from the Wythe Arts Council, which sponsors the festival, to the Patrons' Party scheduled for June 14. The party is held to celebrate the start of the festival.
The festival parade is set for 7:30 p.m. June 17 with a surprise performance to follow in the Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park.
Most of the performances during festival week are in the park, but other activities - ranging from hot-air balloon flights to art displays and crafts demonstrations - are held at other spots in Wytheville.
Further information is available by writing to Wythe Arts Council Ltd., P.O. Box 911, Wytheville, Va. 24382.
Springtime in Appalachia Events set
BLACKSBURG - Springtime in Appalachia at Virginia Tech is presenting several programs this month.
"Stubborn Memories," an original one-woman show, will be performed by Angelyn DeBord on April 10 at 8 p.m. at the Wesley Foundation. The show is free and open to the public.
The Appalachian Way Student Organization and the Appalachian Studies Program also will offer a square dance and workshop. Time and date for the dance will be announced.
The workshop, "Improving Campus Climate for Appalachian Students," will explore possible discrimination against Appalachian students. To participate in the workshop, call 231-9526.
For more information, call 231-9593.
New management group acquires area franchise
WYTHEVILLE - Shelton Management Group has acquired the Western Staff Services franchise with offices in Wytheville, Marion, Independence and Dublin.
The services agency was owned by Faye Sutherland of Wytheville, who will stay on as a public relations and sales consultant. "I am pleased that Faye and the current staff will continue to work with me as we operate and grow the business," said Wytheville native Randy Shelton, president of the management group.
The agency will provide long-term and short-term staffing for industrial, clerical and technical positions, on-site management and a variety of assessment and training services.
Development continues in eastern Wythe
WYTHEVILLE - Nearly half of the work is complete on the Fort Chiswell wastewater project in eastern Wythe County.
County Administrator Cellell Dalton reported 45 percent of the construction completed at last week's quarterly joint meeting of the county Board of Supervisors and Town Councils of Wytheville and Rural Retreat.
The county's Big Survey water project is 89 percent complete, he said, and should be finished in a little more than a month. The $1 million Grahams Forge water project, also in eastern Wythe, will probably be started in June, he said.
Dalton said the county's contract with a North Carolina landfill, where it has been shipping its solid waste, expires in May 1998. He said the county is looking at other landfills for the least expensive disposal contract.
Wytheville Mayor Trent Crewe reported the town, county and Joint Industrial Development Authority have decided that a proposed industrial park on the Ratliffe-Suthers property would best be served by county sewage service and town water.
Wytheville Town Council has authorized an application for loan or grant funds or both from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development for water. The county is making similar applications for sewage facilities and purchase of the property.
Since the project is outside the boundaries of Wytheville, some kind of agreement will be necessary between the town and county for the county's mandatory connection policy to become effective. The water lines would pass some homes along Peppers Ferry Road before reaching the park.
Rural Retreat Mayor R.D. Humphrey said ground was broken March 21 on a $1.2 million water filtration project.
He said work continues on renovating the former Premiere Bankshares Building, which was donated to the town, into a new town hall. Some additional construction will probably be necessary because the floor space is actually less than the town's present quarters, but the new building will offer better accessibility to the public, more parking, and the convenience of a drive-by window for paying town bills.
Water tank to get artistic treatment
WYTHEVILLE - An elevated Wytheville water tank that resembles a giant green golf ball on a tee will be painted to look like one of the colorful hot-air balloons seen flying over town during the summer Chautauqua Festival.
Wytheville Mayor Trent Crewe said that, weather permitting, the painting should be completed by July. The tank is visible from Interstate 81-77 and should catch the eyes of passing drivers and passengers.
Cost for the painting is coming from donations solicited by the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce. Crewe said the town appreciates those who donated and believes the graphics will create a landmark for the traveling public.
The painting will be the most visible part of recent town water improvements, but are actually a small part of the overall project. The total work has included two new 1.75 million-gallon storage tanks and renovations and structural repairs to the elevated tank on Cove Road prior to its being painted.
Archers to shoot 3-D animal targets
WYTHEVILLE - Wythe Bowhunters will sponsor a 3-D tournament today with lineup time, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., open to the public.
A 3-D tournament uses replicas of deer, elk, bear and other animals at unmarked distances as targets. Door prizes will be awarded. The tournament will be at the Wythe Bowhunters' range about six miles north of Wytheville on U.S. 52. Further information is available by calling 228-7093.
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