Bryan Hay in action against Patrick County. Michele Ball
Bryan Hay in action against Patrick County. Michele Ball
Rabbits were a popular attraction at the Petting Zoo at Critterville in Richlands. The event was part of the library's summer program.
Rabbits were a popular attraction at the Petting Zoo at Critterville in Richlands. The event was part of the library's summer program.
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Lights and bleachers heading to Graham football field
Graham High School will soon have bleachers and lights for its football field.
At its June 8 meeting the Tazewell County School board approved purchasing the bleachers currently at Grundy High School and relocating them to GHS. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Chris Stacy said the school system offered to sell the bleachers for $190,000. The grandstand bleachers were purchased for $120,000 and the bleachers from the visitor’s side of the stadium were purchased at $70,000.
Stacy said the Buchanan County School Board valued the bleachers at more than $6 million.  Grundy High School closed at the end of the present school year and the football team ended its last season in November of 2025.
Later in the meeting Stacy presented a quote of $448,756 from Musco lighting for lights for the football and soccer field at Graham. Both motions were approved unanimously.
[In other action the board;]
*Authorized the incoming deputy superintendent, Tom Brewster, to sign documents in Stacy’s absence beginning July 1.
*Honored retiring Deputy Superintendent Deidra Hill for her years of service. The softball field at Tazewell High School will bear the names of Hill and Larry Poskas.
*Approved the first reading of the May 2026 Virginia School Board Association policy updates,
*Approved the quote of $42,000 for first floor roof at Graham High from Dunford roofing.
*Approved the quote of $22,200 for lower roof at Graham from Dunford Roofing.
*Approved the bid of $45,600 from Dunford roofing for the band room at Tazewell High.
*Approved the bid of $2,182,500 for restroom renovations at all three high schools from Swope Construction.
*Approved the bid of $44,029 for THS science lab roof from Abingdon roofing.
*Approved the $168,000 bid for a roof at Tazewell primary from Dunford Roofing.
*Approved the bid of $358,000 from Dunford Roofing for roof at Graham Middle School.
*Approved a bid of $115,000 for a roof at the B wing at Tazewell County Career Center.
*Approved the bid of $48,977 from Abingdon Roofing for C Wing at the career and technical center.
*Approved submission of federal and state grant applications.
*Approved a bid of $2,254,550 for a wall at Tazewell High.
*Approved a resolution honoring Susan Maupin for 57 years of service to the school system and naming Dec. 17, 2026, as Susan Maupin Day and asking the town of Bluefield to change the name of Keister Street to Maupin Lane.
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Richlands' Paytlyn Barnett tags a King William runner before she gets to third base safe during the VHSL Class 2 State Semifinals.
Richlands' Paytlyn Barnett tags a King William runner before she gets to third base safe during the VHSL Class 2 State Semifinals.
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Public meeting outlines goals of generator purchase for town
Will the new generator planned for Richlands reduce the cost of electricity and when will it be ready to go online?
Richlands Interim Town Manager Don Marr attempted to answer those questions as well as provide details about the planned gas generator during a public information session last week.Â
“You are an island in a sea of big energy," he said. "Of 14 power companies in the state Richlands is the smallest."
He explained that the cost of producing power is spread over fewer customers. He said despite Census decline, Richlands is not seeing power use decline.Â
"The use of electricity is so much higher now. Think of all the devices we carry," he said.
The five-megawatt natural gas generator was designed to bring gas into town as another energy option, as well as saving on the cost of electricity. The generator is to be located on a former mine site at Westfork, just outside the town’s limits.
The site is close to a natural gas pipeline, which would reduce the transmission cost.
Marr said the goal is to supplement rather than replace the power the town is buying.
“Five megawatts will not run this town at peak time," he said.
He said the town will be in a situation like commodity trading because they will have to decide on a regular basis whether to use power from the contracted source or to use the generator based on which is the lowest cost.
He said the town could add a second generator in the future if it becomes feasible. Council member Jordan Bales said the generator would also give the town access to power in times of disaster.
Marr said the generator will enable the town to cut its cost of producing electricity by reducing its use at peak times. He said the generator will require the town to add two jobs, one person to maintain it and another to forecast when it should be used.
“Whether it is this one or not I don’t know, but it is the right discussion to have, to have a behind the meter project. There is solar, battery storage and generated power. Generating power, behind the meter and reducing transmission and capacity costs were the right topics of discussion. Your financials prove it."
The town will have access to multiple companies to purchase gas from to run the generator. The town currently has a contract with CNX through 2029 but there is no minimum amount it is required to purchase.
He said the town had certain limits set by the funding agencies to ensure it is following a plan. Purchasing and getting the generator delivered were two milestones as well as obtaining the permits.
The project has been in the works since 2023 and is currently scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of next year.
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Richlands council approves rate hikes
While the utility rates are increasing, Richlands residents will get a reprieve on a tax hike.
During its June 9 meeting town council voted to increase the minimum rate for water to $8.41 per 1,000 gallons up from $7.50. The minimum rate will remain $13.29.
The minimum rate for sewer remains $22.01 but the cost per 1,000 gallons will rise from $8 to $11.42. The minimum rate for residential electricity increases from $14.90 to $16.
The new rate structure for electricity increased the minimum rate for all customers by $1.10. In addition to residential the town offers rates for small, medium and large general accounts as well as for churches.
Council voted 4-1, with Gary Jackson absent, to approve those rates to take effect July 1. Council Member Laura Mollo cast the lone dissenting vote. While they left the real property rate at $0.18 per $100, they did approve a $1 increase on the monthly rate for garbage pickup from $15 to $16.
Council voted at its May meeting to approve the budget for fiscal year 2027 but delayed the vote on the rates until the June meeting.
