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Wythe launches new CAD system
Wythe County is celebrating the successful launch of a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system on April 15 in partnership with Southern Software, marking a major advancement in emergency communications and public safety operations.
The launch coincided with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, as Wythe County recognized the dedicated dispatchers who serve as the first point of contact during emergencies. Dispatchers at the Wythe County Consolidated E911 Center, which serves Wythe County and the towns of Wytheville and Rural Retreat, were celebrated throughout the week for their critical role in coordinating emergency response and supporting first responders across the region.
The CAD upgrade was made possible through $793,853 in grant funding secured by Wythe County through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Regional Enhancement Grant Program. The funding supports regional CAD standardization and CAD-to-CAD service upgrades. Wythe County is serving as the lead agency, administering the grant on behalf of regional partners, including Bland, Giles, Pulaski, Smyth and Tazewell counties, Twin County Emergency Communications and the city of Radford.
The new system lays the groundwork for CAD-to-CAD functionality, which will come online in the coming months as standardization continues across participating agencies. Once implemented, it will enable real-time data sharing between 911 centers, reduce manual call transfers and streamline multi-agency responses — helping responders reach those in need more quickly.
“This investment supports the people who keep our community safe every day,” said Matt Hankins, deputy county administrator for Wythe County. “During Telecommunicators Week, it is especially meaningful to recognize our dispatchers while also delivering tools that help them do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.”
The launch of the new CAD system reflects Wythe County’s continued commitment to strengthening emergency services, supporting regional partnerships, and ensuring reliable, modern infrastructure for residents and visitors alike.
For more information about Wythe County, visit wytheco.org.
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3 juveniles face charges following Smyth, Wythe pursuit on I-81 (copy)
SPorter
Adrian Gaskins
SPorter / SWVA Regional Jail
On Sunday, three teenagers were taken into custody following a pursuit that began in Marion and ended in Wythe County. At times, the vehicle being pursued reached speeds exceeding 100 mph. According to police, the vehicle was being driven by a 14-year-old.
According to Marion Police Chief Kevin Testerman, on Sunday, April 19, at about 4:20 p.m., the MPD was notified to look for a stolen 2022 black Chevrolet Tahoe out of Winchester. An officer located it on North Main Street and attempted to make a traffic stop.
At that time, Testerman said, “the driver fled, leading officers on a pursuit onto Interstate 81.”
“During the pursuit,” he said, “the vehicle reached speeds exceeding 100 mph and caused damage to a Marion Police Department vehicle due to roadway debris.”
The pursuit continued into Wythe County, Testerman said, where the suspect vehicle evaded spike strips before the pursuit concluded near the 78-mile marker on I-81.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office and Wythe County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the pursuit.
The three occupants of the vehicle, including two juveniles, were taken into custody.
The 14-year-old driver faces multiple charges, including Grand Larceny, Felony Eluding, Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile, and Driving Without a License. A 15-year-old male passenger was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Juvenile. An 18-year-old male, Adrian Gaskins, of Purcellville, was charged with Grand Larceny and two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
Wythe Physician Practices
Cathie Harrington.
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Wythe Physician Practices
Cathie Harrington.
New ideas shaping Wytheville future
The sights and sounds of springtime are a welcome sign of new beginnings. Just as new growth emerges in the landscape, new ideas for the future of Wytheville are evolving out of a year-long effort to rewrite the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
The Code of Virginia mandates that each locality in Virginia develop a Comprehensive Plan. Every decade the plan is re-evaluated and updated to reflect current conditions, future trends, and new objectives to create a shared vision for the future. One Wytheville 2040 is the town’s latest initiative to transform the current 2013 Comprehensive Plan into a new shared vision that will inform future policy around transportation, land use, infrastructure investment, and public services.
In partnership with Kimley-Horn, the consultant for the project, the town is hosting a public website at https://engagekh.mysocialpinpoint.com/one-wytheville to keep residents informed of the process, while providing a path for public input.
The town invites residents, visitors, and business owners to visit the online site and to actively become a part of the planning process. A public input survey is available at the site and is open from now until May 15th. The survey responses will provide key input variables that will guide the planning process and set the stage for continued civic engagement throughout this planning year.
A stakeholder “Summit on the Future” planning event will be held at the end of April for invited community members to provide focused input. Additional planning events will be scheduled and individuals who are interested in future opportunities can sign up at the online website referenced above to receive updates on future events.
In addition to the development of a new Comprehensive Plan, the Wytheville Parks and Recreation Department is undertaking the development of a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. While both projects are currently under development, once they are complete, the Comprehensive Plan will reference the Parks and Recreation Master Plan as a keystone plan and will utilize the goals, objectives and vision identified in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to guide future decision making related to town parks, recreational elements, and recreation programs for the town. The master plan project has a public input survey available at https://engagenrv.org/wytheville-parks-and-recreation-masterplan and individuals who are specifically interested in parks and recreation programs are highly encouraged to provide input at this website.
It is vitally important that the members of this community share input and participate in the planning process by completing these online surveys and by attending planning events. Individuals who do not have access to computers or digital content may contact the Director of Planning at 276-223-3352 who can assist with survey submission and answer any questions or concerns related to the One Wytheville 2040 project.
Over the course of the year, regular updates will be available at the project websites in addition to the town’s home page https://www.wytheville.org/index
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