Zach Cooley (left) poses with comedian Lucas Bohn after his Feb. 7 Millwald Theatre performance.
Zach Cooley (left) poses with comedian Lucas Bohn after his Feb. 7 Millwald Theatre performance.
Relay For Life of Wythe County Set for May 16
Luminarias are always a touching part of Relay For Life.
Wythe County’s Relay For Life of Wythe County will take place on May 16 at Withers Park, with opening ceremonies beginning at 5 p.m.
Community members are invited to come together for an evening of celebration, remembrance and hope, uniting in the fight against cancer.
Relay For Life raises life-saving funds for cancer research, patient services, advocacy and prevention programs through the American Cancer Society. The event honors cancer survivors, remembers loved ones lost and supports those currently battling the disease.
Relay is currently welcoming committee members, sponsors, teams, participants and survivors to join us in making this year’s event meaningful and successful. Anyone interested in being part of the planning committee is invited to attend a Feb. 23 meeting at First Christian Church in Wytheville.
The American Cancer Society is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at 1-800-227-2345 to assist anyone facing a cancer diagnosis. Patients and caregivers can receive information about treatment options, clinical trials, wigs, lodging assistance, and many other support services.
Revitalization surveys complete
Downtown Wytheville Inc. and Virginia Tech will be working on a green space area just off Main Street.
Friends of Southwest Virginia, in partnership with Place + Main Advisors, has completed a nine-month Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy supporting economic development and downtown revitalization in ten Southwest Virginia and neighboring communities. Supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the initiative delivered market intelligence, practical implementation tools, and customized guidance that will help local leaders strengthen downtown districts and diversify economies historically shaped by extractive industries.
Selected through the Virginia Main Street Program, the participating communities include Wytheville, Galax, Pulaski, Martinsville, Marion, Covington, Buena Vista, St. Paul, Bristol, and Tazewell. Each locality received an individualized report outlining priority opportunities, redevelopment pathways, and clear next steps tailored to its assets, market conditions, and leadership capacity.
“After spending the past nine months working alongside ten communities across Southwest Virginia, helping them identify their potential and chart a clear path forward, we are excited by the momentum and hopeful for the future of the region,” said Joe Borgstrom, Principal at Place + Main Advisors.
Regional partners and local leaders in each community participated in a collaborative planning process designed to strengthen downtown economies across the region.
The project paired detailed data analysis with hands-on fieldwork, including third-party market research, downtown and property tours, Business Opportunities on Main Street inventories, walking vision sessions, and facilitated meetings with local officials, property owners, and economic development partners. By aligning state, regional, and local perspectives, the process ensured that recommendations are realistic, financeable, and ready for action.
Friends of Southwest Virginia served as the regional convener and implementation partner, coordinating stakeholders, aligning the work with broader tourism and community development strategies, and ensuring that results can translate into future investment across multiple funding programs. The effort reflects Friends’ expanding leadership role in providing communities with the tools, partnerships, and technical expertise necessary to compete for redevelopment resources and position their downtowns for long-term success.
“This initiative puts real numbers, real opportunities, and real strategies in the hands of the people doing the work on Main Street every day,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “By combining local vision with expert analysis and regional coordination, our communities are prepared to recruit businesses, bring vacant properties back into productive use, and build downtown economies that serve residents while attracting new visitors and private investment.”
A public recap report summarizing key findings, shared challenges, and recommendations for supporting additional Virginia communities is now available: Downtown Inventory and Real Estate Redevelopment Strategy Recap Report.
Rural Retreat's Gradyn Gibson and Eastside's Braylan Rose wrestled for first place in the 132 Region 1D finals.
Rural Retreat's Gradyn Gibson and Eastside's Braylan Rose wrestled for first place in the 132 Region 1D finals.
Town council approves tax office permit
Wytheville Town Council on Feb. 9 approved a special-use permit for an accounting and tax office at 525 North Fourth St.
The approved permit for Leonard's Tax Service Inc. was amended to remove a requirement for an Americans with Disabilities Act space with paved access at the front of the building and clarified that the rear parking area must replace approximately 650 square feet of sod with gravel or pavers, allowing for customers to turn around.
Donna Leonard, who moved into the new space just after Labor Day, requested a timeline for the work to be done, saying that she would prefer not to even start looking for workers until after April 15. The town agreed to a one year timeline for requirements to be completed.
In other news, Town Treasurer Angela Pennington update the board on financial matters.
As of December, Pennington said the town’s revenue was $1.44 million ahead of the previous year’s. Expenditures were $1.27 million higher.
Despite higher expenditures, Pennington said the town was $140,000 ahead compared to last year but remained $740,000 in the red for the current fiscal year.
Meals, lodging and sales tax revenues were down by $186,000, influenced by the previous year’s hurricane impacts.
The treasurer noted the continued influx of new businesses as a positive sign for future revenue.
Free tax help is available for eligible adults in Bland, Smyth, Wythe (copy)
Wytheville’s Open Door Cafe.
Low- to moderate-income residents of Bland, Smyth, and Wythe counties can once again receive free income tax preparation through Open Door Community Action.
The service was previously provided by Mountain Community Action Program/Mountain CAP, but, in 2024, that organization became a subsidiary and partner of the regional Open Door Resources nonprofit based in Wytheville.
Under the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, people are now being assisted with federal and state taxes.
The site locations and their contact information are:
∙ Open Door Community Action - Wytheville Office, 680 West Main Street, Wytheville, 276-228-6280.
∙ Open Door Community Action - Wytheville Community College, Main Campus, Carroll Hall Room 225, 1000 East Main Street, Wytheville, 276-228-6280.
∙ Open Door Community Action - Marion Office (New location - This office used to be at 602 South Iron Street, Marion), 520 North Main Street, Marion, VA 24354, 276-783-7337.
Those interested in this free service can call the Wytheville or Marion office or go to the website, https://ouropendoor.org/resources/free-tax-prep/ to book an appointment.
