Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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Pulaski County launches anti-litter campaign
Pulaski County is launching what it calls a “zero tolerance” policy on litter.
The Board of Supervisors said in a news release that the Sheriff’s Office will be giving “special attention” to “uncovered hauling and unsecured loads, acts of illegal dumping, and motorists or pedestrians improperly tossing out litter, including cigarette butts.”
As part of the anti-litter campaign, the county sponsoring a trash pick-up event. The “One Bag Challenge” will run from March 1 through June 30.
The county noted that it’s difficult to obtain enough inmate labor to pick up trash, so it’s turning to the county’s residents to help.
“We challenge each citizen in Pulaski County to pick up a minimum of one bag of trash,” the county said in a news release. “In addition to individuals, we are challenging departments, businesses, clubs, organizations, and nonprofits, to support our efforts by picking up litter throughout the county.”
Participants are asked to take a photo along with their bag(s) and send it with the number of bags, location picked up, and contact information to Laura Walters, Chair, Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, at lwalters@pulaskicounty.org or text to (540) 230-6272. These photos will be posted on the County’s Clean Community Council website and social media platforms to recognize those who are setting a great example by displaying their Pulaski County pride in their community through helping keep roadsides clean. Bags and trash collected in the county may be left on the roadside for VDOT pick up (bags must be orange), taken to county drop sites (with proper customer authorization), or one or two may be put out with your garbage for collection.
Participants could win a $100 VISA gift card for their photo submissions. For each full bag of trash collected, the participant’s name will be entered into a monthly drawing. The board of supervisors and school board will draw three names at their monthly March, April, May, and June meetings.
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors and the School Board are pleased to announce a jointly sponsored $1,000 scholarship for the winning essay or social media project. Rules for participation are available from the board of supervisors or the school board offices or online at the boards’ websites and social media pages.
Middle and high school students are encouraged to participate in an essay contest on the topic of.: “Littering is Harmful: Why Your Community is Your Responsibility Too,” or in a social media contest to create and promote a social media challenge (e.g., #OneBagChallenge #PickItUpPulaski) to encourage their peers and community members to pick up litter and share their efforts online (utilizing Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and/or X. For fourth and fifth grade students, there will be a poster contest for artwork depicting the theme of: “Pick It Up Pulaski.” For K-third grade elementary students, there will be a coloring contest. Winners in both of these categories will receive a gift basket. This artwork will be displayed by the Fine Arts Center at the Pulaski County Innovation Center in April and May culminating with a reception (date TBA) to honor the winners. At this event, the scholarship winner and winners of the poster and coloring contests will be announced. In addition, Pulaski and Dublin Libraries will provide additional educational displays and activities to educate citizens about littering, recycling and the environmental effects of litter.
Participants can pick up reflective safety vests, gloves, trash pickers, and trash bags at the County Administration Building, located at 143 Third Street N.W., in Pulaski. You may also contact your respective board of supervisors member to get supplies.
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Artist selected for Melrose Plaza mural in Roanoke
Roanoke native Bryce Cobbs has been picked to paint the mural at Melrose Plaza. His work has been featured in major outlets, including The New York Times, NPR and CNN.
A release from Goodwill Industries of the Valley said “the mural will celebrate Northwest Roanoke’s legacy while embracing the neighborhood’s bright future. Drawing inspiration from the Sankofa bird — a symbol representing the importance of learning from the past — the artwork will highlight Melrose Plaza’s role in community revitalization while focusing on aspirational, forward-thinking themes.”
Residents can participate in upcoming community meetings to share input on the mural’s themes and follow the project’s progress on Facebook and Instagram.
Work on the mural will begin in April 2025, with completion targeted for summer. The project builds on Melrose Plaza’s mission to restore vital services and cultural richness to Northwest Roanoke through its comprehensive offerings of food access, healthcare, education and financial services.
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Wytheville Community College to host dental hygiene career fair
Wytheville Community College will host a Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting Career Fair, connecting current or potential dental hygiene students to WCC staff and dental healthcare professionals, to explore career opportunities in the dental field.
The event will take place on April 4 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., in Johnson Lobby in Grayson Hall at the Wytheville campus.
This event offers students the chance to meet with instructors, potential employers, and to learn about advancements in dental hygiene. The fair will feature various dental practices, dental supply companies, and other industry professionals actively seeking graduates.
To register for the Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting Career Fair, or to find out more, contact Amber Shuler, at (276) 223-4831, or ashuler@wcc.vccs.edu. Applications for WCC Selective Admissions Healthcare Programs including Dental Hygiene, Nursing, and Physical Therapist Assistant, are currently being accepted for the upcoming academic year. For information about how to apply, contact Hunter Jackson, Health Professions Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist, at (276) 223-4741, or hjackson@wcc.vccs.edu. The deadline for applying is March 17, 2025.
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Mountain Gateway Community College extends scholarship application deadline for 2025 Academic Year
Due to recent school closings over the past two months, Mountain Gateway Community College has extended the application deadline for the 2025 Educational Foundation Scholarships to March 7 at 5 p.m. The scholarships are open to all incoming and current students.
Each year, the Foundation awards more than $140,000 in scholarships, with amounts ranging from $100 to $5,000. Scholarships are available to both incoming and current students, including high school seniors and adult students wishing to continue their education, providing crucial financial support for academic pursuits.
To apply for a scholarship, applicants must complete the online application, accessible using their MGCC login credentials. Required materials include one letter of recommendation (preferably from a current or former instructor for high school seniors), a personal essay, a resume detailing extracurricular activities, community involvement, and/or work experience, as well as an official transcript for graduating high school seniors or an unofficial transcript for current MGCC students. Additionally, applicants must have completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year and submitted all requested documents to the Financial Aid Office by the scholarship deadline.
All materials must be submitted by March 7, 2025, at 5 p.m.
For more details or help with the application process, please contact the MGCC Educational Foundation Office at 540-863-2934 or visit www.mgcc.edu/scholarships.