Trey Ward, Rural Retreat
Trey Ward, Rural Retreat
Virginia Dental Association Foundation plans free dental clinic (copy)
Patients receive free dental work during the 25th annual Mission of Mercy dental clinic at the UVA-Wise’s Convocation Center in 2024. A similar clinic will be held for the first time in Wytheville, June 26-27.
The Virginia Dental Association Foundation’s Mission of Mercy program will host its first major free dental care event in Wytheville this summer. The event will take place at the Wytheville Meeting Center at 333 Community Blvd. on June 26-27. Organized by the Virginia Dental Association Foundation and the Bland Ministry Center, the event provides free preventative, restorative and surgical dental care to people living in and near Southwest Virginia.
The Mission of Mercy clinic will operate on Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Patients are encouraged to arrive early. Optional pre-registration is available at the Big Walker Clinic on June 17. Call 276-228-4711 to schedule an appointment for advance pre-registration. Optional on-site pre-registration will begin on Thursday, June 25, at noon at the Wytheville Meeting Center.
Organizers recommend attendees wear comfortable clothes and bring food and drink for the day. No overnight parking at the Wytheville Meeting Center is allowed.
“We look forward to bringing this Mission of Mercy dental event to serve Wytheville and surrounding communities,” said VDAF Executive Director Tara Quinn. “If you haven’t been to the dentist in more than six months or are experiencing oral pain, we hope you’ll join us next month. We’re grateful for our incredible volunteer dental teams who will provide compassionate care to everyone who joins us.”
Care will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. People can access free dental services, including cleanings, fillings, limited oral surgery, denture screenings, and x-rays at the two-day event. 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the VDAF. All are welcome.
The VDAF expects approximately 300 dentists, dental professionals and support volunteers from the Virginia Dental Association, VCU School of Dentistry and community partners to participate in this Wytheville Mission of Mercy event.
Over the past 27 years, Mission of Mercy has served nearly 74,000 patients and provided over $52.4 million in free dental care.
Mission of Mercy is made possible through partnerships with the Town of Wytheville, Wythe County, Wytheville Community College, VCU School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene, the Virginia Department of Health, United Concordia Dental, Sun Life/DentaQuest, Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation, and other sponsors. The VDAF estimates it costs nearly $60,000 to put on the MOM event. The organization must fundraise to cover all expenses of the program. Individuals are asked to consider making a donation to support the MOM program here: www.vdaf.org/donors.
Over the years, Southwest Virginia MOM events have helped shed light on the region’s shortage of dental providers. Recent programs and clinics, such as those at the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center and in Wise, have helped increase access to care.
MOM projects seek not only to alleviate the current pain and hardship caused by oral health issues, but to serve as a catalyst to create the infrastructure for local and lasting dental care. Virginia communities that have utilized MOM projects to build momentum and eventually launch permanent community dental clinics include Martinsville, Orange, Gloucester, and Wise.
David Paul Krug, who passed away February 11, gives his daughter Emily away on her wedding day, July 10, 2010.
David Paul Krug, who passed away February 11, gives his daughter Emily away on her wedding day, July 10, 2010.
Juneteenth celebration planned
The Wytheville Training School Cultural Center will host its annual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 19, at 4 p.m.
The Wytheville Training School Cultural Center will host its annual Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 19, at 4 p.m. at the historic school site at 410 E. Franklin Street. The event commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom.
The celebration will open with African drumming by The Drumbeats, led by the Rev. Elston McLain of Pulask. The procession will gather families and friends on the Training School lawn, echoing how enslaved people in Galveston once assembled to hear news of liberation. The crowd will then witness a re-enactment of General Order No. 3, the proclamation declaring enslaved people in Texas free.
“Juneteenth is not just a holiday. It is a celebration of freedom and a reminder of our responsibility to preserve the stories that shaped us,” said Patricia Austin, board president of the Wytheville Training School Cultural Center. “This historic site stands because generations before us fought for education, dignity, and opportunity. On Juneteenth, we honor their courage and renew our commitment to protecting their legacy.”
The program will continue with live cultural and musical performances, including gospel and spirituals; a Juneteenth culinary tasting “A Taste of SOUL;” historical reflections on African American life in Wythe County; community recognition moments honoring local families and cultural stewards; and tours of the Cultural Center and exhibits, including the Black church history exhibit
Originally built in 1882 to educate African American children during segregation, the Wytheville Training School Cultural Center now serves as a vital center for preservation, education and community engagement. Its annual Juneteenth celebration has become a valued tradition across Southwest Virginia.
As the nation reflects on the 250-year commemorative celebration of America’ birthday, let us embrace the meaning of freedom, the Cultural Center urges the community to support historical preservation, educational equit, and unity.
Austin offers a call to action during this momentous event. Juneteenth is not only a day of remembrance, but also a call to learn from the past, invest in future generations and strengthen community bonds.
“Freedom is a shared responsibility,” Austin added. “We invite everyone to join us, learn, celebrate and help ensure these stories of resilience and triumph continue to inspire future generations.”
Trail upkeep planned in Speedwell
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest invites the public to participate in a series of trail and campsite upkeep events to celebrate National Trails Day.
These events are being coordinated by partner organizations in cooperation with the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, including the Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards.
“Our trails and recreation sites are some of the best places to experience the outdoors in Virginia, and we’re very grateful to all our partners and volunteers who help us keep them that way,” said Forest Supervisor Joby Timm. “National Trails Day gives us an opportunity to both take advantage of these great recreational resources and also leave our trails better than we found them.”
National Trails Day was established by the American Hiking Society in 1993 and occurs annually on the first Saturday in June. It brings together federal land managers, partners, and volunteers to celebrate trails and accomplish trail stewardship projects to ensure they are safe, well-maintained, easy-to-follow and accessible.
Additionally, the Forest Service has designated June 6, 2026, as an additional recreation Fee-Free Day to the 2026 calendar to celebrate National Trails Day, meaning all standard amenity recreation sites on Forest Service lands will be at no cost to the public. For all 2026 Fee-Free Days on National Forest System lands and information, please visit our website. Fee Free Days applies only to standard amenity recreation fees and does not waive expanded amenity fees, concessionaire charges, reservation fees, special recreation permit fees, or third-party costs unless separately authorized.
There is a National Trails Day event on each of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest’s seven Ranger Districts and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.
Planned events include Little Dry Run Trail Maintenance at Little Dry Run Trailhead, 7448 Grayson Turnpike, Speedwell. Participants will be brushing and crosscutting and, possibly, redefining the upper end of the trail if we have enough volunteers. Bring lunch, water and snacks. SAWS will provide personal protective equipment and post-event beverages.
The Forest Service-managed trail system, at more than 165,000 miles, is the largest public trails system in the United States. In 2025, volunteers and partners accounted for more than 60% of all trail maintenance accomplishments (nearly 26,000 miles).
