Sports to return to community center

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Wytheville Community College’s athletic programs are moving to the first floor of the old Wytheville Community Center. They include basketball and volleyball practice and intercollegiate games.
While continuing negotiations with WCC on costs, Wytheville Town Council unanimously approved a recommendation by the budget and finance committee Monday evening to lease the upper level of the building. It also agreed to allow the community college to use the building while negotiations proceed.
Vice Mayor Jackie King noted the arrangement will not affect the use of the lower level by the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She said the lease will be for one year with a 90-day termination clause and renewable.
“The town has been great to work with,” WCC President Dr. Charlie White stated Tuesday morning. “It will be good to get to use the building. We’re going to be a good neighbor with them.”
According to him, the WCC boys’ basketball team will practice at the new location and play its games there. A girls’ volleyball team is forming and will practice and play there, too.
White said a girls’ basketball team might form during the spring semester. If that happens, he stated, the team will use the community center.
“We’ll teach our physical education classes there, too,” White remarked. “We will use it for any student activity. We have no place on campus for orientation for new students.”
Some improvements to the gymnasium, he said, will be done by the community college before it uses the building. Refinishing the floors, installing a shot clock and scoreboard, and marking a three-point line will be included, White stated.
In other action Monday, town council:
 Approved a request from the Wytheville Fire Department to hold its annual Fire Prevention Parade on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.
 Waived the fee for the use of Withers Park by the March of Dimes’ local chapter to hold its annual Walk for Babies on Saturday, Oct. 11, beginning at 9 a.m.
 Re-appointed Charles G. Crockett to the Southwest Regional Enterprise Center Small Business Incubator Board for a one-year term.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .