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Bland Fair marking 100 years
Staff reports
Bland County Fair is marking its 100th year this
August.
Jsimmons / File photo
The Bland County Fair is celebrating its 100th year this month, marking the milestone with free admission during the run of the fair.
Opening day, Wednesday, Aug. 19, is always free, but sponsors have stepped up to provide free entrance on the remaining days. Hitachi Energy, First Sentinel Bank and VENCO, along with the Bland Fair have teamed to make the rest of the days free admission as well.
The fair runs Aug. 19 to 22, featuring 14 midway rides and five game stations.
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, rides run from 6 to 10 p.m., and the official 100th year kicks off with a 6:30 p.m. parade. Laser tag will be from 7 to 9 p.m., with APW Pro Wrestling providing entertainment at 7:30 p.m. The first night of the fair concludes with 9:30 p.m. fireworks.
On Thursday, Aug. 20, gates open at 5 p.m., with midway rides running through 11 p.m. Events include bingo from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and a garden tractor pull from 7 to 10 p.m. Entertainment for the night will be Dealers Choice Band playing from 7 to 9 p.m.
On Friday, Aug. 21, gates open at 5 p.m., with rides running till 11 p.m. Bingo returns from 5:30 to 9 p.m. A ranch rodeo is set for the arena from 7 to 11 p.m. with Heart On Fire providing entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m.
The fair concludes Saturday with a full day of events. Livestock weigh-ins are 8 to 11 a.m., with showing starting at 11 a.m. There will be gospel singing from 10:30 to noon. Miidway rides open at noon and run till 11 p.m., and bingo will be available from noon to 9 p.m. At 1 p.m., there will be a painting class with Debbie Weeks Gouge. A ranch rodeo is planned for the arena from 7 to 11 p.m. The Sideshow will provide entertainment from 7 to 10 p.m.
Unlimited rides for the midway are $20 on Wednesday and Thursday and $25 on Friday and Saturday.
SPorter
Norman Borlaug
Page A1
SPorter
Norman Borlaug
Submitted photo
Trutta Environmental Solutions has been selected to conduct a
stream study of the Clinch River.
Page A1
Submitted photo
Trutta Environmental Solutions has been selected to conduct a
stream study of the Clinch River.
Fellows graduate from Appalachian Leadership Institute (copy)
Staff reports
Jen Otey of Wytheville was among 40 fellows to graduate from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Appalachian Leadership Institute.
Otey is an Outdoor Recreation Development Manager at Friends of Southwest Virginia. She previously spent 10 years in public education, where she developed and instructed STEM curricula for middle school students. Before transitioning to teaching, she was an architectural project manager for 15 years. Additionally, Otey has been a small business owner for 25 years, producing and selling artwork and offering classes to individuals of all ages. In 2023, she co-founded a nonprofit organization, Forge Appalachia, dedicated to preserving traditional craft and providing accessible classes and events led by regional makers, regardless of participants’ financial means.
The training program equips the region’s public, private and nonprofit leaders to use economic development as a tool to drive positive change. Members of the class of 2026, along with their families and friends, attended the graduation ceremony in Charleston, West Virginia.
“Congratulations to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Class of 2026! The dedication these fellows have demonstrated by actively participating in the institute will no doubt lead to stronger communities and a stronger Appalachian economy as a whole,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I look forward to seeing these graduates draw from their experiences at ALI as they continue to drive positive change in our region.”
Throughout the eight months prior to graduation, fellows traveled to six Appalachian communities around the region for skill-building seminars, which incorporated case study analysis, peer-to-peer learning, and field visits to observe ARC-funded projects in action.
These Appalachian leaders will apply the skills and knowledge from the ALI curriculum to continue serving their communities through business and workforce development, healthcare, tourism, and a variety of other public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Additionally, graduates of ALI gain access to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni Network, with more than 250 leaders who help facilitate continued learning and idea exchange to strengthen economic development across Appalachia’s 13 states and 423 counties.
Others from Virginia graduating include Jenny Bolte and Chelsey Hodge.
Bolte serves as executive director of the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board.
With nearly 30 years in workforce development, she has built strong partnerships and led award-winning initiatives that expand opportunity across the region. A proud Radford University alum with both a BS and MA in English, Bolte also writes Southern fiction and dreams of publication. Now empty-nesters, she and her husband enjoy a lively household of pets—from dogs and ducks to a potbelly pig and a Russian tortoise named Gaylord—while celebrating life with their four grown children.
Roanoke’s Hodge is an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow with the International Economic Development Council, advancing rural economic development across Southwest and Western Virginia. She partners with communities to strengthen local economies and quality of life through initiatives such as small business development, childcare needs assessments, lodging studies, and tourism projects. She is also the Owner of Ascend with Purpose LLC, a small business dedicated to supporting rural communities through tailored development efforts. Hodge holds an MS in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University and enjoys hiking, camping, and kayaking with friends and family.
Grant to help overhaul ambulance
Staff reports
Town Council on July 27 accepted a $67,000 grant to overhaul a Wytheville Fire and Rescue ambulance.
The funds, coming from the Virginia Department of Health, will be used to replace the 2017 ambulance’s chassis, drivetrain and cab and refurbishing the patient care area.
Officials noted that the re-chassis will improve reliability, reduce maintenance costs and extend the life of the vehicle.
Council also agreed to be ready to review and discuss a proposed amendment that would establish an employee certification incentive program at the upcoming Aug. 10 meeting.
The program hoes to encourage professional development of town employees, helping with recruitment, retention and more.
In other news, the town approved a street closure for Oct. 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. for the George Wythe High School homecoming parade.
Council also gave an OK for Wythe Arts Council to use Main Street sidewalks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Art at the Crossroads event on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Lucas Mabry was re-appointed as youth member of the Wytheville Recreation Commission for a one-year term expiring on Aug. 1, 2027.
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