Cripple Creek News
Happy Birthday wishes to: Stephen Lord on April 11, Terry Bass on April 11, Philip Beaver on April 11, Iris Spraker on April 13, Betty Bear on April 13, Grant Spraker on April 14, April Brightwell on April 14, Noah Johnson on April 14, Allison Dunkley on April 16, Ava Kitts on April 17, Rhonda Bracknell on April 17, Sonny King on April 17.
Happy Anniversary wishes to: Gerald and Molly Johnson on April 15, Robert and Amy Fleming on April 16.
Deepest sympathy is sent to the Jimmy Bass family and the family of Don Orfield.
Asbury Church in Rural Retreat will have a Spring Revival April 13-17th, at 7 p.m. There will be special singing each night and Derek Cowan will be preaching.
Dunkley and Maloskey Auction will have their Spring Equipment and Machinery Consignment Sale on Saturday, April 11th, rain or shine, at the Rural Retreat Fairgrounds. For more information you may contact Jeff at 276-620-4335 or Joe at 276-617-0222.
Wythe County Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, April 21st, for a Special Election. Hope everyone gets out and votes.
Ivanhoe Civic League Presents 2026 Spring Cowboy Trail Challenge on Sunday, April 12th, at 3 p.m. Admission is $5, 6 and under is free and ringside parking is $10. This will be held at the Ivanhoe Jubilee Park/Horse Show Grounds.
There will be a Car Show at Fort Chiswell High School on Saturday, April 11th, 2-6 p.m. Entry fee is $20 per vehicle and each car entry receives a free BBQ Lunch. BBQ Dinners will also be sold for $10 and that includes BBQ pulled pork, beans and slaw. Gilly's Shaved Ice will also be there. Funds go for the Fort Chiswell Softball Team.
There will be a Community Shred Event at the Rural Retreat Town Hall on Saturday, April 18th, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
On Sunday, April 12th, at 7 p.m. the Rural Retreat Depot will have their 2026 Spring Fling with Roan Street Ramblers performing. Admission is $10 and students are free. All proceeds go to Support Music in Our Schools sponsored by MacDowell Music Club.
RRHS Volleyball Clinic will be held at RR Elementary School on April 10th, 15th and 22nd, with 2/3 grades at 3:30-4:45 p.m. and 4/5 grades at 5-6:15 p.m. and the cost is $35.
There will be a Bloodmobile at the Rural Retreat Community Center on Tuesday, April 14th, from noon to 6 p.m. All types of blood is greatly needed.
The Rural Retreat Library will have their Annual Dinner With An Author and Silent Auction on Saturday, April 18th, at 2-4 p.m. at the Rural Retreat Depot and admission is $15. Will try something new this year, no dinner, no auction but will have An Afternoon Tea with Author Stephen Starring Grant: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home. The afternoon will include tea and coffee accompanied by some yummy treats, Q&A, and book signing.
Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce will host Administrative Professional's Day on Wednesday, April 22nd, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre. There will be lunch, door prizes and networking. They will be collecting personal hygiene items for the local schools. For more information you may contact the Chamber of Commerce at wwbchamber.com or call 276-223-3365.
The 2nd Annual Department of Wildlife Resources Wythe County Kids Fishing Day will be held on Saturday, April 25th, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wytheville Community Center Pond. This is a free event for children 15 years old and under. There will be Giveaways, free lunch for the kids and more. For more information you may contact Officer David Peake at 540-315-6131 or Officer Eric Rorabaugh at 276-613-9034.
The Chautauqua Creative Writing Contest entries are due on May 29th. Age groups are: middle school 6-8th grade, high school 9-12th grades, adults (include college students). For more information you may text julia.comiakegmail.com or chautauquacreativewritingcontest.wordpress.com.
The Oasis Garden Center at 4794 West Lee Hwy, is not open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Sunday.
The Open Door Food Pantry is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 650 West Main Street. Starting next week, HOPE Packs Program is expanding to help the food pantry. Each week, families that come that have children will receive an extra pack filled with nutritious, kid-friendly food. You may donate food items to the pantry and every donation, big or small, helps ensure that no child in our community goes hungry.
Join the Step Up to the Plate Volunteer Days as part of an ongoing litter prevention and community improvements efforts. Bring your team, your crew or just yourself. Speedwell Elementary Fields is April 12th, at 2:30 p.m., Ager Park is May 3rd, at 2:30 p.m. and Max Meadows on June 7th, at 2:30 p.m. For information you may call 276-229-4519 or arsides@wytheco.org.
Crab Hill Farm Barrel Race at 154 Fleming Road, Crab Hill Arena, will have Barrel Season kicking off on Friday, May 1st with exhibitions at 5:30 pm. and the show at 8:30 p.m. with 90% payback. There will be a $5 Office Fee Per Entry. Youth, Masters and Adults may roll from the open. PeeWee free/no payback, Open $33+$2 IBRA Fee, Youth $23+$2 IBRA Fee, Adults $18+$2 IBRA Fee.
There will be a Brunch and Paint Party held at Crockett Chapel United Methodist in Cripple Creek on Saturday, May 2nd, at 10 a.m. The cost is $15 to paint a cutting board and this would be a great gift for Mother's Day. This is hosted by Aiden Burkentine.
The Rural Retreat Volunteer Fire Department will have their Spring BBQ Fundraiser on Friday, May 8th, 3:00 p.m. until gone. There will also be lunch orders available. The cost is $8 per plate or donation. The meal includes hand pulled pork BBQ with homemade sauce, coleslaw, baked beans and a dessert. This will be Drive Thru or Carry Out only.
It was a busy weekend last week like I'm sure it was for most of you. We started out on Saturday with Mickey being the Easter Bunny for the Hospital that afternoon and he had a girlfriend. She would not let him out of her sight and she would sit with him for the longest time and give him high 5's and knuckle bumps and she was probably only 3 years old and did not want to leave when mom said it was time to go. She was so precious. Later that afternoon we had the Bass Family Easter at Mary Jo Bass and Scott Hedrick's home with eighteen family members and had an Easter Egg Hunt and of course some great food. On Sunday, we went to church, then to my Mom's for Easter Lunch with fifteen family members. My brother was in Duke Hospital and we sure did miss him and his family. We did an Egg Hunt and of course had some great food again.
Prayer concerns are: Jerry Lowe, Sandra Dutton, Jerry Miller, Rodney Pack, Threasa Jenkins, Danny Jonas, Glenda Lowe, Daphne Rosenbaum, Kenny Sayers, Wanda Hall, Harry and Kay Fleming, Robbie Williams, David Maxey, Bobby Musser, Kathy Testerman, Phyllis Stamper, Sandra Wright, Jerry and Linda Porter, Gus Kincer, Bo Testerman, Randy Mitchell, Walker Jenkins, Clyde King, Sr., Libby King, Rabbit Catron, Martha Norris, Shirley Caudill, Arlene Gilbert, Sandra Reasor, Raymond Matney, Phyllis Eversole, George Williams, Mary Ann Williams, Charlie Ray Preston, Jim Bear, for all the sick and shut-ins, the safety of all churches and schools, our Military Personnel, for the war efforts and especially for the unsaved.
Until next time: if all I ever heard was the chirping of a single robin, if all I ever smelled was the scent of one sprig of lilac, if all I ever tasted was the sweetness of one strawberry, if all I ever touched was the softness of one bunny's ear, if all I ever saw was the vastness of one starry night, I would have had reason enough to fall hopelessly in love with Thee, my Creator God. God bless each of you.
