1function GetPreview31(){document.write(`<div class="col-12"> 2<div class="cus-default-menu-bar py-2" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted#dedede;"> 3<div class="text-uppercase fw-bold px-0 cus-130-label "> 4<span class="cus-default-menu "><a href="index31.htm" class="text-dark text-center">Bland County News</a></span> 5</div> 6</div> 7<div class="row pb-2" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted #dedede;"> 8 9<div class="col-lg-5 col-sm-12 col-md-5"> 10<div class="col-12 mt-2"> 11<a href="new-k-joins-bland-county-sheriffs-office-ranks-p18310-31.htm"> 12<div class="ratio-3-2 rounded"> 13<div class="img-content"> 14<img class="img-fluid lazy loaded my-4 rounded " src="/articles-2026-09-24-16-18-20-297.jpg" data-src="/articles-2026-09-24-16-18-20-297.jpg" alt="New K9 joins Bland County Sheriffâs Office ranks" data-was-processed="true"> 15</div> 16</div> 17</a> 18</div> 19<div class="col-12 col-8 mt-2"> 20<h3 class="col-12 h6 line-2 text-dark line-2 "> 21<a href="new-k-joins-bland-county-sheriffs-office-ranks-p18310-31.htm" class=" text-dark fs-5 fw-bold text-red-hover">New K9 joins Bland County Sheriffâs Office ranks</a> 22</h3> 23<time class="col-12 fs-6 "><i class="fa fa-calendar me-2 " aria-hidden="true"></i>September 24, 2026, 10:30 AM</time> 24<div class="fs-6 line-5 mb-3 mt-1">The newest member of the Bland County Sheriff’s Office is French, has four legs, fur and a nose for police work. On Wednesday, the public was introduced to Hitachi, a 19-month-old Dutch shepherd imported from France. Makor K9 in West Virginia trained Hitachi and his handler, Tyler Stuart. Hitachi is named after and sponsored by Hitachi Energy. The sponsorship helped provide new, safer and lightweight tactical vests, replacing outdated and heavier equipment. <script type="text/javascript">AdGroup16();</script></div> 25</div> 26</div> 27<div class="col-lg-7 col-sm-12 col-md-7 pb-2" style="border-left: 2px dotted #dedede;"> 28 29<div class="row" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted #dedede;"> 30<div class="col-4 mt-2"> 31<a href="bland-county-festival-of-leaves-returns-oct-p18305-31.htm"> 32<div class="ratio-3-2 rounded"> 33<div class="img-content"> 34<img class="img-fluid lazy loaded my-4 rounded " src="/articles-2026-09-23-15-09-03-389.jpg" data-src="/articles-2026-09-23-15-09-03-389.jpg" alt="Bland County Festival of Leaves returns Oct. 10-11" data-was-processed="true"> 35</div> 36</div> 37</a> 38</div> 39<div class="col-8 col-8 mt-2"> 40<h3 class="col-12 h6 line-2 text-dark line-2 "> 41<a href="bland-county-festival-of-leaves-returns-oct-p18305-31.htm" class=" text-dark fs-5 fw-bold text-red-hover ">Bland County Festival of Leaves returns Oct. 10-11</a> 42</h3> 43<time class="col-12 fs-6 "><i class="fa fa-calendar me-2 " aria-hidden="true"></i>September 24, 2026, 10:30 AM</time> 44<div class="fs-6 line-2 mb-3 mt-1">The Bland County Festival of Leaves will return Oct. 10-11 with two days of music, food, crafts and family activities, organizers said. Food, craft and flea market vendors will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The festival also features student displays, children's activities, games and recreational attractions including duck runs and hayrides. Each day opens with a patriotic ceremony by the American Legion at 9:45 a.m. on the pavilion's main stage, followed by Bland County Festival Honors at 10:50 a.m. <script type="text/javascript">AdGroup16();</script> Saturday's music begins at 10 a.m. with the Bland County Band, followed by Faith & Family at noon, the Appalachian Hoedowners at 1 p.m., Chad Cox at 2 p.m. and 21 Blackbirds at 4 p.m. Sunday's lineup starts at 10 a.m. with the Hollybrook Church of Christ, followed by a worship service led by Sheriff Jason Ramsey at 11 a.m., New Grass Addition at 1 p.m. and the Central Pickers at 3 p.m. The festival closes with 50/50 and door prize drawings at 5 p.m. Student displays will be open in a large display building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Duck runs are scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Free hayrides will run Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 and 3 p.m., and Sunday at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Tickets cost \$4 and are available at the information booth; seating is limited. Children's programming is based mainly at the Kid's Korner, with additional activities near the firetruck and at the 4-H Cafe. On Saturday, face painting with Rachel begins at 11 a.m. at the Kid's Korner, followed by Bastian Union Church at noon, the Fire Department Bucket Brigade near the firetruck at 1 p.m., Beta Buddies at 1 p.m. at the Kid's Korner, Mechanicsburg Christian Church at 2 p.m., free 4-H tattoos at the 4-H Cafe at 3 p.m. and a second Bucket Brigade at 3:30 p.m. Sunday's children's schedule includes Bastian Church of God at 1 p.m. at the Kid's Korner, Beta Buddies at 2 p.m., Wilderness Creek Church of God at 3 p.m. and free 4-H tattoos at the 4-H Cafe at 3 p.m. Several churches and community groups are taking part in the musical lineup and children's programs, organizers said. </div> 45</div> 46</div> 47 48<div class="row" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted #dedede;"> 49<div class="col-4 mt-2"> 50<a href="princeton-community-hospital-expands-surgical-technology-with-da-vinci-system-p18247-31.htm"> 51<div class="ratio-3-2 rounded"> 52<div class="img-content">
53<img class="img-fluid lazy loaded my-4 rounded " src="/articles-2026-09-18-12-20-40-027.jpg" data-src="/articles-2026-09-18-12-20-40-027.jpg" alt="Princeton Community Hospital expands surgical technology with da Vinci 5 system" data-was-processed="true"> 54</div> 55</div> 56</a> 57</div> 58<div class="col-8 col-8 mt-2"> 59<h3 class="col-12 h6 line-2 text-dark line-2 "> 60<a href="princeton-community-hospital-expands-surgical-technology-with-da-vinci-system-p18247-31.htm" class=" text-dark fs-5 fw-bold text-red-hover ">Princeton Community Hospital expands surgical technology with da Vinci 5 system</a> 61</h3> 62<time class="col-12 fs-6 "><i class="fa fa-calendar me-2 " aria-hidden="true"></i>September 20, 2026, 10:30 AM</time> 63<div class="fs-6 line-2 mb-3 mt-1"> WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital’s surgeons have successfully complete robotic surgery using most advanced surgical system from Intuitive. The Intuitive da Vinci 5 surgical system allows surgeons to work with small incisions offering patients potential benefits such as less plan, reduced scarring, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times. The da Vinci 5 surgical system is the newest addition to PCH’s growing robotic surgery program. The hospital now operates four robotic surgical systems, including two da Vinci systems and two Stryker Mako robots. <script type="text/javascript">AdGroup16();</script> The da Vinci 5 robot is Intuitive’s most advanced and integrated robotic surgical system to date. Designed to enhance minimally invasive surgery, the system features more than 150 innovations focused on improving visualization, precision, efficiency, and surgical insights. PCH is among the WVU Medicine facilities utilizing the new da Vinci 5 technology as part of the health system’s robotic surgery program. Across the health system, WVU Medicine now operates with 41 da Vinci robotic surgical systems. </div> 64</div> 65</div> 66 67<div class="row" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted #dedede;"> 68<div class="col-4 mt-2"> 69<a href="community-action-group-awarded-grant-funding-p18219-31.htm"> 70<div class="ratio-3-2 rounded"> 71<div class="img-content"> 72<img class="img-fluid lazy loaded my-4 rounded " src="/articles-2026-09-16-15-19-11-606.jpg" data-src="/articles-2026-09-16-15-19-11-606.jpg" alt="Community action group awarded grant funding" data-was-processed="true"> 73</div> 74</div> 75</a> 76</div> 77<div class="col-8 col-8 mt-2"> 78<h3 class="col-12 h6 line-2 text-dark line-2 "> 79<a href="community-action-group-awarded-grant-funding-p18219-31.htm" class=" text-dark fs-5 fw-bold text-red-hover ">Community action group awarded grant funding</a> 80</h3> 81<time class="col-12 fs-6 "><i class="fa fa-calendar me-2 " aria-hidden="true"></i>September 17, 2026, 10:30 AM</time> 82<div class="fs-6 line-2 mb-3 mt-1"> The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Clinch Valley Community Action, Inc., based in North Tazewell, a \$45,552 grant. The funding supports the organization’s Head Start program. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: “ Clinch Valley Community Action is a provider of Head Start services in Southwest Virginia. This grant for more than \$45,000 helps Clinch Valley Community Action address regional challenges through Head Start services." According to its website, the Clinch Valley Community Action Head Start program operates eight classrooms in Tazewell County that serve 157 children. Outside of Tazewell County, Clinch Valley Community Action offers Head Start programs to Bland, Smyth and Wythe counties. <script type="text/javascript">AdGroup16();</script></div> 83</div> 84</div> 85 86<div class="row" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted #dedede;"> 87<div class="col-4 mt-2"> 88<a href="school-funding-flows-into-the-region-p18162-31.htm"> 89<div class="ratio-3-2 rounded"> 90<div class="img-content"> 91<img class="img-fluid lazy loaded my-4 rounded " src="/articles-2026-09-11-13-50-01-034.jpg" data-src="/articles-2026-09-11-13-50-01-034.jpg" alt="School funding flows into the region" data-was-processed="true"> 92</div> 93</div> 94</a> 95</div> 96<div class="col-8 col-8 mt-2"> 97<h3 class="col-12 h6 line-2 text-dark line-2 "> 98<a href="school-funding-flows-into-the-region-p18162-31.htm" class=" text-dark fs-5 fw-bold text-red-hover ">School funding flows into the region</a> 99</h3> 100<time class="col-12 fs-6 "><i class="fa fa-calendar me-2 " aria-hidden="true"></i>September 13, 2026, 10:30 AM</time> 101<div class="fs-6 line-2 mb-3 mt-1">Bland County led the Southwest Virginia contingent in recent state school security funding, garnering \$204,000 from the 2026-27 School Security Equipment Grant program. The funding was announced by the Virginia Department of Education in collaboration with the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Offered annually since 2013, this grant program provides Virginia localities with critical funds to purchase school security equipment, and update buildings to include security vestibules and other features. The Bland money will go to Bland County Elementary and High schools. Carroll County also received a big pot of funding, \$191,013, for Fancy Gap, Gladeville, Hillsvile and St. Paul Elementary schools. In Washington County, E.B. Stanley and Wallace Middle schools, along with Meadowview and Valley Institute Elementary schools received \$115,532. Jackson Memorial and Speedwell Elementary schools in Wythe County received \$105,988. In Smyth County, \$91,006 will go to Atkins, Chilhowie, Marion and Rich Valley Elementary schools and Chilhowie, Marion and Northwood Middle schools. Independence Middle School in Grayson County is in line for \$76,080. Virginia Primary, Intermediate and Middle Schools in Bristol, Virginia, was awarded \$30,280. <script type="text/javascript">AdGroup16();</script> “ School security is always top of mind for every superintendent, principal and parent across the Commonwealth, and last week demonstrated the importance of secure buildings. We’re pleased to provide them with the resources they need to keep their staff and students safe,”
101 said Jenna Conway, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “These grants represent a shared investment in Virginia’s schools.” “ Every student deserves to learn in a school where they feel safe, supported and ready to succeed,” said Secretary of Education, Dr. Jeffery Smith. “These investments give our local school divisions the resources to strengthen school security based on the needs of their individual communities. We are grateful for the partnership of school leaders across the Commonwealth who work every day to create safe and welcoming environments for Virginia’s students and educators.” These awards are granted as part of the School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013, and has provided schools with \$126 million in investments since then. This year, grants totaled \$12.0 million from the Virginia Public School Authority. Eligible school divisions could submit applications for the 2026-2027 school year between July 1, 2026, and August 1, 2026. School divisions were eligible to receive up to \$250,000, and awarded schools must remain open for at least five more years. The VDOE received applications from seven regional centers, the Virginia School of the Deaf and Blind, and 770 schools from 124 of Virginia’s 132 divisions. Grant applications were reviewed and awarded on a competitive basis to 399 qualifying schools from 91 school divisions. Local winners and a description of their grant application are listed below.</div> 102</div> 103</div> 104 105</div> 106</div> 107</div>`);}
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