A smoke detector probably saved the lives of a Peppers Ferry Road family early Monday morning. It alerted Terry Gunner, his wife and 16-year-old daughter of a fire in the basement of their home.

Astonishment, questions of trust, and the need to move on emerged as themes in conversations with Chilhowie residents a day after their former police chief faced new charges.
“It’s a big shock,” Tim Martin said as he sat on his fronts steps Friday morning. 

An alert truck driver spared Interstate 77 from a messy situation Wednesday evening when he immediately pulled off the road following the puncturing of one of his diesel fuel tanks.
A piece of debris struck the driver’s side fuel tank of the southbound tractor-trailer, which was hauling aluminum, at about 10:15 p.m. 

The only things certain in life are death and taxes – except this weekend.
Virginia’s second “State Tax Holiday” began Friday morning and continues until Sunday at midnight.

Fort Chiswell’s West Wind Farm winded up its first year in June, and the family owned winery exceeded its expectations. 

A delegation from the Virginia Community College System had an eye-opening experience on their visit to Turkey in early July.
The group of 11, which included Wytheville Community College President Charlie White, made the trip to advocate for the implementation of a community college system and learn more about the country’s culture. 

An Atlanta minister and entertainer will once again be visiting Wytheville in the hopes of energizing the area for Jesus Christ.

A quick visit at the West Wind Winery

There’s a home in Hillsville known as “The House of a Thousand Headaches.”
It’s a glass house made with lots of bottles. And some of that glass actually includes former wine containers – hence, the “headache” name. Located on private property, “The Bottle House” was once known as an informal tourist attraction. 

Just before noon Saturday in Rural Retreat hundreds of people turned their gaze skyward. Below the canopy of dark clouds two small planes circled the town. Anticipating action, the crowd collectively held its breath and the whine of plane engines was the only sound, but the silence quickly gave way to cries of excitement as figures appeared in the air. Three parachutists were descending to the ground to kick off with grand flair the dedication of a new veterans’ monument.