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Town’s trash schedules adjusted for holidays
The Town of Wytheville has announced adjusted schedules for trash collection and the Town Recycling Center in observance of the upcoming Election Day and Veterans Day holidays. Residents are advised of the following service changes:
Election Day Holiday Schedule
Trash Collection: Due to the Election Day holiday, the refuse collection in the Town of Wytheville for Tuesday, November 3, will be held on Wednesday, November 4. The normal collection scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, will be held on that day.
Recycling Center: The Town of Wytheville’s Recycling Center located at 1025 South Third Street will not have an attendant on duty on Tuesday, November 3, due to the Election Day holiday. The attendant will return to assist citizens on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Please note that when an attendant is not on duty, the Recycling Center's gates are closed, and items cannot be dropped off.
Veterans Day Holiday Schedule
Trash Collection: Due to the Veterans Day holiday, the refuse collection in the Town of Wytheville for Wednesday, November 11, will be held on Thursday, November 12. The normal collection scheduled for Thursday, November 12, will be held on that day.
Recycling Center: The Town of Wytheville’s Recycling Center located at 1025 South Third Street will not have an attendant on duty on Wednesday, November 11, due to the Veterans Day holiday. The attendant will return to assist citizens on Thursday, November 12. Please note that when an attendant is not on duty, the Recycling Center's gates are closed, and items cannot be dropped off.
Residents are asked to have their refuse containers placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on their rescheduled collection day.
For additional information or questions regarding refuse and recycling schedules, please contact the Town of Wytheville Public Works Department or visit the town website.
News
Warner: AI is the challenge of our time (copy)
DAVE RESS
Richmond Times-Dispatch
WILLIAMSBURG — Artificial intelligence is the biggest piece of unfinished business for Congress and the nation, both for its potential and for its threats, Sen. Mark Warner said Thursday.
In a wide-ranging look ahead at critical issues for the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce, he said he wanted to see a fix to what he called a broken healthcare system and urged what he said was a simple notion to boost Social Security’s solvency.
“I think the issue of our time is going to be how to grapple with artificial intelligence. I think it is bigger than wireless,” Warner said, referring to the business where he made his fortune before getting into politics.
“It's bigger than the internet. It's bigger than cloud computing, and there are enormous innovations in common ... but there is also huge fear,” Warner said.
He said the nation needs federal guidelines on data center locations, energy use, and water consumption, and that Congress needs to rethink the bonus depreciation rules that let data centers reduce their tax bills.
“We're going to protect our kids if we've got social media screwing up our kids, when your kid comes home and says their boyfriend or girlfriend is a chatbot,” he said.
There are big issues of who’s liable if an AI agent’s actions harm people or businesses, Warner said.
“One area that I think we will move on, I think even maybe even in the lame duck session, is basic safety,” Warner said.
“I'm not a doomer. I'm pro AI. But if you go into the details of what happened with OpenAI and Hugging Face," Warner said, referring to an incident earlier this year when 700 AI agents hacked the Hugging Face platform.
"I think it is a much greater than 50% chance that we will have an incident in the six to nine months where an AI agent takes over a household system, or a bank, or a water system,” he said.
Healthcare and Social Security
Warner said Congress needs to fix the healthcare system so that everyone has access to coverage, while also pushing for ways to lower healthcare costs.
“I'm open for business on how we get there,” he said.
A fix for Social Security is easier, he said.
“Social Security is mostly just math,” and the issue is how long people pay into the system before they can draw the benefit they’ve earned, he said.
“So here's my, I think, very simple plan on Social Security for people under 35. So they got still a 30-year time frame before they hit Social Security. You're going to have to raise the age a couple of years, and you raise it a month every year,” he said.
The Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) has agency firefighters in place across Virginia in preparation for fall fire season, which runs now through Nov. 30. DOF firefighters remain in close coordination with our state and federal agency partners as well as local fire departments in all counties.
The Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as fire agencies across much of the Southeast, recognize two fire seasons in the spring and fall. These seasons are intended to raise awareness and preparation for wildfires, which are more common due to dry conditions, lower humidity and fuels on the ground.
The leading cause of wildfires in Virginia is fire escapes due to careless outdoor burning. Nine out of 10 wildfires are started by people, with escaped fire debris the main concern. An unattended yard debris fire or bonfire can quickly spread to dry grass, leaves, limbs, felled trees or even the woods. These dry materials, known as “fuels,” are plentiful in the fall.
“Wildfires are extremely unpredictable and can start and intensify in an instant,” said State Forester Terry Lasher. “Protect your home and community by preparing for wildfires and reporting any wildfire activity by calling 911. Our firefighters remain plugged in with state and local emergency responders to coordinate on response operations and resource needs.”
The weather is also an important factor when it comes to fire activity. Due to prolonged below-average precipitation, Virginia is experiencing drought conditions across many areas. Within the last week, some improvements occurred in portions of southwest Virginia. However, while recent impacts from Hurricane Isaias brought beneficial rain to Virginia, this will not eliminate drought conditions overall.
“It only takes a few days of dry, windy conditions combined with these extra fuels on the ground for an escaped fire to turn into a significant wildfire,” said Chief of Fire and Emergency Response John Miller. “Protect your family and neighbors by staying informed and following the guidance of your local officials on the latest fire conditions in your area.”
DOF will share updates and news on wildfire activity throughout fall fire season. Follow DOF’s social media platforms and visit the DOF website for more information.
Blood drive planned for Bolling Wilson Hotel
The American Red Cross, in partnership with the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum, invites eligible donors to help save lives by donating blood at the Edith Bolling Wilson Community Blood Drive on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Bolling Wilson Hotel, located at 170 East Main Street in Wytheville.
As patients depend on blood transfusions every day for trauma care, cancer treatments, surgeries, and chronic illnesses, the need for blood donations remains constant. A single blood donation can help save more than one life, making every appointment an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the community.
"The generosity of local blood donors helps ensure that hospitals have the blood products they need for patients facing emergencies and ongoing medical treatments," said Sandy Myers, Account Manager for Donor Recruitment with the American Red Cross. "We are grateful to the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum and the Bolling Wilson Hotel for partnering with us to host this lifesaving event."
Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and searching by sponsor code BWH or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Walk-ins are welcome as appointment availability permits.
Donors are asked to bring a photo ID, eat a healthy meal before donating, and drink plenty of water before their appointment.
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