Jaxson Short shows his stuff on the tennis courts.
Jaxson Short shows his stuff on the tennis courts.
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CART and library collaborate to promote public art
A self-guided art tour is now available in Tazewell County.
The tour features more than 25 pieces of art in various locations in the county and there is a brochure giving the location, hours available and history of each piece. Southwest Virginia Community College has four pieces that can be viewed during school hours.
Painted Mountain, Mother Earth, and the Jack Tales wall are brick work by Johnny Hagerman and other designers and masons. Ellen Elmes designed and painted four canvases depicting the history of the coal industry.
Elmes is also the artist and designer of a three-panel acrylic depicting the history of medicine. That is located at the clinic at Claypool Hill and can be viewed during business hours.
The POW/MIA memorial in Cedar Bluff and the Eagle and Appalachian Quilt work at the arts and events center are also on the tour. The Coal Miners Memorial and the Centennial mural at First Methodist church are among the stops in Richlands.
Richlands also has murals at Teen Venture, on Railroad Avenue, Cranwell Drive, Second Street, Norfolk Avenue and Appalachian Millworks. Wal-Mart has a mural “Welcome to Pounding Mill which was unveiled July 4 of 2025.
 Appalachian Traditions may be viewed at Crab Orchard Museum and “Leroy’ the giant dragon stands guard at the Back of the Dragon Center. Main Street has three murals. Billy Wagner Park is scheduled for completion in October of this year.
“Tazewell as seen through the eyes and words of Louise Leslie’ is at the train station in North Tazewell. Bluefield is featured with a mural at the Sanders House and the Post Office and sculptures at Bluefield University.
Pocahontas is featured with a coal mining mural and the murals on the ceilings of St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church. The back of the brochure has a map of the trail from SWCC to each of the other locations.
The brochure was a collaborative effort of between CART and the Tazewell County Library Foundation to identify public art throughout Tazewell County. For a copy of the brochure visit any of the Tazewell County Public Libraries
Program leaders at the announcement.
Program leaders at the announcement.
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County seeking to stop scavenging
Tazewell Va. – Taking other people’s trash may get you in trouble in Tazewell County.
At its March meeting the board of supervisors passed an ordinance making scavenging in containers or receptacles a class I misdemeanor. The action came after a public hearing at which several citizens spoke.
 County Attorney Aaron Gillespie stated that several citizens made the Board aware of issues with people getting inside dumpsters and other trash receptacles, which could pose safety concerns to the people digging through the trash as well as first responders.
Sheriff Brian Hieatt spoke in favor of the ordinance. He said 911 had received a lot of calls about scavengers and there had been times when they refused to get out of the dumpsters when employees were there to empty the receptacles.
Russell Stowers said he hit a woman with a bag of trash because he did not see her in the dumpster. During the board’s discussion of the issue, Supervisor John Rhudy, who works in litter control for the sheriff’s office said scavenging accounts for a large part of littering in the county.
He said the trash ended up being scattered around the lot and roadway. Supervisor Shanna Plaster cast the only dissenting vote on the ordinance saying she did not feel someone should be charged because they may be down on their luck.
A class I misdemeanor carries a potential fine of up to $2,500 and/or 12 months in jail upon conviction.
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Festival of the Arts kicks off April 9
Cedar Bluff VA. – “Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary’ is the theme of this year’s Festival of the Arts hosted by Southwest Virginia College.
The festival tips off April 9 and runs thru April 19 with performances at locations in Russell and Tazewell Counties. Â It will feature new works from current Southwest students as well as returning favorites such as Eagle Con, Piano x Three, and Camerata Virtuosi New York.
The festival opens with Art Alive at the Manor at Breckenridge in Lebanon April 9 from six to eight. The next three performances are musical events highlighting jazz, Americana and the SWVA Community Chorus.
Three events at this year’s festival, Art Alive, Cultural Walk Dinner and the Empty Bowl luncheon require tickets. Venues for this year’s events are King Community Center and the Quad on the SWCC campus.
Other performances will be at the Appalachian Arts Center in Cedar Bluff, Tazewell Baptist Church, First United Methodist in Bluefield and Lebanon Memorial United Methodist Church. Eagle Con is an all-day event and will be held in the gym at SWCC.
The festival has been held yearly since 1995 and its goal is to is to provide an in-depth exploration of the cultural riches of countries and cultures around the world, fostering a better understanding of those nations and cultures.Â
For more information on the festival, the schedule of events or to get tickets visit sw.edu/festivalofthearts/
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