Zach and Bella Cooley pose with Aladdin and Jasmine at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida on June 6.
Zach and Bella Cooley pose with Aladdin and Jasmine at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida on June 6.
Another town mural complete
Work on a new Wytheville mural has been completed
Boone, North Carolina, artist Josh Johnston finished up a mural in Elizabeth Brown Park, adorning a blank wall with a colorful piece filled with flowers, birds, a guitar and a banjo.
Johnston, who specializes in murals, has a portfolio that boasts more than 30 pieces of art, including this latest piece in Wytheville. One of the Appalachian State grad’s most notable pieces features the hellbender on Howard Street in Boone.
Cannery re-opens for business
Crews have installed a new boiler at the Wythe County Cannery, restoring the facility to full service on Monday.
In February, Supervisors approved the work to get the cannery operating in time for summer and fall harvests.
The new boiler was purchased with the help of a $50,000 Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Infrastructure Grant awarded through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
"The reopening of the Wythe County Cannery is welcome news for the many families, farmers, and community organizations who rely on this valuable resource each year," said James D. Smith, chairman of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors. "We appreciate the partnership at the state and local level that made this project possible and are pleased to restore this important service to our community in time for the harvest season."
The cannery will operate by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 276-228-3421. If staff are unavailable, callers may leave a voicemail. From August through November, the cannery will be open Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"The cannery has been an important part of Wythe County's agricultural heritage for generations," said Dr. Russell Street, Wythe County Public Schools superintendent. "We're excited to welcome the community back and remain committed to ensuring the facility continues serving local families and producers while we evaluate long-term opportunities for its future."
The cannery had been out of commission since October 2025, when a boiler failed and couldn’t be repaired. The facility remained open for meat processing.
Dr. Dean Sprinkle, WCC president, recognizes Alicia Roberts, WCC Associate Professor of Nursing/Simulation Coordinator.
Dr. Dean Sprinkle, WCC president, recognizes Alicia Roberts, WCC Associate Professor of Nursing/Simulation Coordinator.
Manley tapped to head Tobacco Commission
The former director of the Joint Industrial Development Authority has taken on a new, regional role.
David Manley, who guided the JIDA through a time that saw the organization bring in more than $2 billion in economic investment, was recently appointed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger to serve as executive director of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission.
"Virginia's Tobacco Region is 400 miles across, and no single solution fits every corner of it,” said Manley. “The strongest partnerships start by understanding community priorities and capacity. The Commission has been a valuable partner to this region for decades, and I'm committed to making sure it remains effective, community by community. It's an honor to serve the Commonwealth and the people of Southern and Southwest Virginia."
A native of Wythe County, Manley established and operated West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery for over a dozen years before entering economic development. In 2020, Manley served as 40th president of the Virginia Economic Developers Association.
Manley was also founding chair of the nonprofit board that restored the historic Millwald Theatre.
“Virginians who live and work in Southern and Southwest Virginia face unique challenges and will be served well by an expert who knows the region, who is focused on delivering for these communities, and who is committed to executing a vision to deliver for economies across the region,” said Spanberger. “David Manley understands what these communities need to build a stronger future. He has vast experience in guiding impactful projects, and I am certain that his expertise will be an immense asset as we work together to create good jobs and opportunity in every corner of the Commonwealth.”
“The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission has the responsibility and opportunity to grow and diversify the economy of 40 distinct localities of the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery. “I am delighted to work alongside and fully support David Manley as he leads this organization to advance the next strategic chapter of Southern and Southwest Virginia’s story. As a native of and accomplished professional within the region, David brings his dedication to economic, community, and business development together in this role. Through strong collaborations, he will advance Governor Spanberger’s clear vision to grow an economy that delivers for every Virginian.”
“As the Commission continues its third decade of working with our partners from across the footprint to bring jobs, investment, and resources to Southern and Southwest Virginia it is critical that we have excellent leadership on staff to guide our efforts,” said TRRC Chairman, Delegate Will Morefield. “I am excited to work with David in the years ahead and extend my thanks to Governor Spanberger and her team for selecting an excellent leader and native of Southwest Virginia to serve as the Commission’s Executive Director.”
“Investing in our communities and ensuring they have the resources and support needed to thrive is at the heart of the Commission’s mission. David Manley’s appointment by Governor Spanberger is proof of our commitment to continue advancing opportunities across Southern and Southwest Virginia,” said TRRC Vice-Chair Senator Lashrecse Aird. “David has a proven track record of delivering results and building strong partnerships that strengthen Virginia’s communities. I also want to thank Deputy Director Stephen Versen for his outstanding leadership over the past six months. With David’s leadership and the strong foundation Stephen has helped maintain, I am confident the Commission will continue delivering meaningful investments and lasting impact for the communities we serve across Southern and Southwest Virginia.”
The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission is a 28-member body created by the 1999 General Assembly. Its mission is the promotion of economic growth and development in Southern and Southwest Virginia communities, using proceeds of the national tobacco settlement. To date, the Commission has awarded more than 2,000 grants totaling more than $1.1 billion across its Southern and Southwest Virginia footprint and has provided $309 million in indemnification payments to tobacco growers and quota holders.
What you need to know about the latest round of primaries
It’s primary season again in Virginia as we get ready for the general election this November. Primaries are a way for the public to choose candidates to run in the general election. In our part of the state, there will be two primaries held on August 4th, one Republican and one Democratic.
First, the Republican primary. This fall, the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mark Warner (D) will be on the ballot. Warner has held this Senate seat since 2009, and the Republican primary will determine who will face off against Warner in November. The three Republican candidates running in that primary are Bert Mizusawa, Kim Farington, and David E. Williams. There are not any Democratic candidates running against Warner, so there is no Democratic primary for the Senate seat.
The Democratic primary will choose a candidate to run against Morgan Griffith (R) for the 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 9th District stretches from Bedford County in the east all the way to the western Virginia border. Griffith has served the 9th district since 2010. The three democrats vying to run against him are Adam Murphy, Joy Powers, and Douglas Crockett. No Republican is challenging Griffith, so there is no Republican primary for this seat.
Interested citizens, which should be all of you, can find information about each of the candidates in the Cardinal News Voters Guide (https://cardinalnews.org/virginia-voter-guide/) or The Virginia Department of Elections website (https://www.elections.virginia.gov), or Ballotpedia.org. Cardinal News in particular does a nice job of covering what Virginians in the southside and southwest parts of the state will be voting for and when.
Virginia conducts open primaries, which means that a Virginian does not have to be registered with a political party to vote in that party’s primary. Virginians can therefore vote in either primary, regardless of party affiliation. However, Virginians can only vote in one of the primaries. That means you could vote in the Republican primary for the Senate seat candidates, but you cannot then vote in the Democratic primary. Or you can choose to vote in the Democratic primary to determine who will run for the U.S. House of Representatives 9th District seat, but you cannot also vote in the Republican primary.
One criticism of primaries is that while they were started to give the public more involvement in determining candidates, usually only very politically active and ideologically engaged people vote in primary elections. That sends candidates to the general election who might not best represent the needs of the general public. You can have an impact by deciding to participate in the primaries and choosing the candidates that best meet your needs. Go vote this summer!
Early in person voting for both primaries started on June 19 and will end on August 1. You can also vote in person on August 4, Election Day, at your typical voting location. For information about absentee ballots and other election issues, please contact the Wythe County Registrar’s office at 276-223-6038 or govote@wytheco.org. Their website is http://www.wytheco.org/index.php/departments/voter-registration.
