See some of the works of Dr. Kamran Tavakol at the Appalachian Spirit Gallery's Second Friday ArtWalk.
See some of the works of Dr. Kamran Tavakol at the Appalachian Spirit Gallery's Second Friday ArtWalk.
Hygiene blessing box unveiled
The Rotary Club of Wytheville, partnering with Mount Rogers Community Services has installed a new type of blessing box in Wytheville.
As part of Mount Rogers’ One Day at a Time Resource Boxes, the blessing box located at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Main Street features soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, feminine hygiene products and brushes.
The box was made possible with Rotary District Grant and volunteers. Though the box will be restocked weekly, organizers invite everyone to add hygiene items as they are able.
Twenty-one high school students from across southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia were recognized Thursday during the Graduation and Pinning Ceremony for the 2026 West Virginia Junior Nurse Academy at Bluefield State University's Medical Education Center.
Twenty-one high school students from across southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia were recognized Thursday during the Graduation and Pinning Ceremony for the 2026 West Virginia Junior Nurse Academy at Bluefield State University's Medical Education Center.
Council holds off on manager advertisement
Town Council on June 22 voted to hold off on advertising for a permanent town manager hire until after the November elections.
Currently Christopher Slemp is serving as interim town manager in addition to his role as chief of fire and rescue. He has said in the past and reiterated on June 22 that he doesn’t see himself as the permanent, full-time town manager. However, he said he would be happy to serve until January if that is the council’s decision.
“I have a love for the town, and I want to see the town flourish,” Slemp said.
The vote on the advertising timeline passed on a 3-2 vote with Vice Mayor Candice Johnson and Council member Holly Atkins opposed. Johnson said she didn’t want Slemp to feel held hostage in a position he doesn’t see himself in, and Atkins said she would like to see the position advertised, noting that getting applications in and interviewing will take some time.
Cathy Pattison, who made the motion to hold off on advertising the position, said that after the November election there would be a new mayor and possibly two new council members. She called waiting until after Jan. 15, 2027, to begin the search common sense leadership, as it would allow the new mayor and any new council members to be part of the process.
Pattison also argued that the town would benefit from Slemp’s leadership in the role on a continued interim basis, and that the town would save money while working on a package to make the position more attractive.
The narrow vote wasn’t the only divided decision at the meeting.
The town voted, after a 15-minute discussion about minutes, to hold off on publishing the minutes from the June 8 meeting so that more context could be added to the discussion on the town manager. That measure passed on a 3-2 vote with Mayor Dr. Beth Taylor and Council member Joseph Hand voting against it.
The minutes in question focused on an amended contract agreement for Slemp in his role as interim manager, extending the role, possibly through at least Jan. 15, 2027.
Hand said he felt it was unfair to ask an already busy town staff to go back and type in extra paragraphs to the minutes, calling it a waste of time. Atkins, who made the motion, said she wanted to the minutes to more clearly reflect discussion about the town manager.
Wytheville woman dies in I-77 crash
A 37-year-old Wytheville woman died Sunday, June 28, in an early morning crash on Interstate 77 in Carroll County.
According to the Virginia State Police, the crash occurred at 4:30 a.m. at the 11 mile marker on southbound I-77.
A Ford F150 was traveling south on the interstate, when it struck a deer, disabling the truck. With the truck in the left travel lane, the F-150 occupants exited the vehicle and moved to the median, police said.
As a Toyota Sienna, also traveling southbound, approached the stopped F-150, its driver lost control and drove into the median, striking two people.
Candace M. Keith of Wytheville died at the scene. Jonathan Cudo, 36, of Wirtz, Virginia, suffered serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital, police said.
The driver of the Sienna, Lee E. Gaddies, 60, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Gaddies has been charged with reckless driving.
