Bland County, VA

BLAND COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — After several weeks of extremely dry and windy weather conditions, Bland County officials say the area has received enough rain to lift the ban on open-air burning. Due to concerns of extreme fire danger and the number of forest fires reported across Bland County...

The Local Emergency: open-air burn ban in the County of Bland ended effective Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. Prior to this weekend, Bland County had experience extremely windy and dry weather conditions for several weeks. Due to concerns of extreme fire danger and the number of forest fires being experienced across Bland County since the first of May, local officials declared a local emergency banning open air burning on Thursday, May 12th at 12:00 p.m. Bland County has received significant rain since that declaration,with more rain predicted in the coming days. Therefore, the decision has been made to lift the open-air burn ban. County officials continue to stress the need for everyone to be cautious with any burning.

The Bland County Service Authority will hold a public hearing at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at the Bland County Courthouse in the main Courtroom located at 612 Main Street for the purpose of soliciting public comment on the Authority’s newly proposed water rate structure. Any new rates will become effective July 1, 2022. An outline of the newly proposed water and sewer rate structure is as follows:

BLAND COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Bland County authorities have declared a local emergency to ban open-air burning due to “the extreme fire danger” amid the current weather conditions. According to the Bland County Sheriff’s Office, there have been multiple forest fires and brush fires in the county...

After several days of dry weather, the pattern is changing as several days of wet weather enter the forecast. As we head into Thursday night, cloudy skies will be overhead with showers developing across the area as the low-pressure system that affected our weather late last week and spent several days meandering off the coast will be moving back inland to our south into the upcoming weekend.

(Bland County, Virginia) – Local Emergency: open-air burning banned in Bland County effective Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. (noon). Bland County, has experience multiple forest / brush fires recently due to dry and windy weather conditions. Because of the extreme fire danger, a local emergency has been declared, banning open-air burning effective 12:00 p.m. (noon), Thursday, May 12, 2022 until further notice. Bland County is expected receive rainfall in the coming days, at which time notice will be provided to lift the ban if conditions are improved.

BLAND COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Following a weeks-long process, the Bland County School Board has finished its search for a new superintendent. According to Bland County Public Schools, Laura Radford — a county native with 29 years of experience working for the district — has been selected as the school system’s new leader.

In the coming months, the rubble of a demolished furniture factory on a roughly 70-acre property in Chilhowie will be hauled away to make room for an industrial park. Smyth County is teaming up with Bland and Washington counties, forming the Pathway Regional Industrial Facilities Authority to create Pathway Park, which will feature rail service and access to Interstate 81.

(Bastian, Virginia) – A new dining establishment was celebrated Tuesday, April 19th as various officials, supporters, and patrons gathered for the celebration of a new business in Bland County. DownShift Diner, located at 46 Indian Village Trail in Bastian, officially marked its grand opening with a ribbon cutting event. Members of the Board of Supervisors, Economic Development Authority, the Wytheville, Wythe, Bland Chamber of Commerce, the Mt. Rogers Regional Partnership, representatives from Sen. Hackworth’s office, and a host of family, friends, and supporters were on hand to join in the celebration.

BLAND COUNTY, Va. – A 40-year-old man lost his life after crashing on Route 42 in Bland County, according to Virginia State Police. Investigators have confirmed that the crash happened Saturday at 5:47 p.m. and involved Terence A. Sayles, of Bland County. State Police says Sayles was driving in...

BLAND COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - A Bland County man was killed in a single-vehicle crash in the county Saturday, according to Virginia State Police. Police say the crash occurred on Route 42, a mile east of Route 667 in Bland County. Terence Sayles, 40, of Bland, was driving a Chevy...