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Jan 17, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
Accused of driving a stolen town of Pulaski water truck while intoxicated, a Wytheville man who’s on felony probation in four counties was arrested again on Jan. 15. Mark Anthony Carter, 40, was arraigned Thursday on charges of driving while intoxicated-third or subsequent offense, felony drug possession, misdemeanor eluding police, driving on a suspended or revoked license, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Jan 16, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
They wanted to know why but had to settle for what. Speaking for Ronnie Lee Akers family members, nephew Daniel Jones asked Calvin Junior Duncan II directly what caused him to kill Akers and burn his body in January 2023. “Ronnie was a kind and humble person,” Jones testified during Duncan’s Thursday morning Wythe County Circuit Court sentencing hearing. “…Calvin, we ask that you speak up and give us some kind of closure...
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
Winter transforms Bland County's Wolf Creek into a frozen frieze on Sunday morning. In addition to ice bells forming on logs and rocks, the cold weather sent ice sheets adrift downstream.
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
Three Wythe County residences were damaged and a pet was killed in residential fires on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The first blaze happened in Wytheville on Friday afternoon. According to the Speedwell Fire Department, the blaze damaged a two-story structure. On Saturday at 6:03 p.m., the Rural Retreat Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to a Murphyville Road fire. Chief Dave Evans said crews found a garage and two cars engulfed in flames with the fire extending to a single-wide trailer.
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Jan 9, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
While dangerous and daunting, snow and ice can also be glamorous and glistening as evidenced by these recent scenes in Bland and Wythe counties. All were taken on Tuesday and Wednesday following a weekend winter storm.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
Apprehended following a Wednesday morning police standoff, a Wytheville man is being held without bond after being accused of stabbing his son, and assaulting his wife and a dog. Edward Loran Meadows, 69, was charged with domestic assault (two counts), malicious wounding and misdemeanor animal cruelty after the Wytheville Police Department went to an approximately 9 a.m. domestic disturbance call at 125 W.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
A Wythe County felon awaiting trial on gun and drug charges was arrested on more gun and drug charges this week after deputies went to his Austinville residence for a warrant service. Larry Ray Cline Jr., 46, was arraigned Tuesday on Jan. 6 charges of drug distribution-third or subsequent offense, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a felon, drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed weapon and obstruction of justice.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
Welcome to winter. Beginning on Sunday afternoon and continuing into Monday, a winter storm dumped snow and ice on the vehicles, driveways, streets and roads of Wythe and Bland counties. The storm closed schools and government offices, knocked out power to some and caused multiple highway crashes. According to the Virginia State Police, troopers responded to five crashes, none with reported injuries, between midnight and 4 a.m. in the Fourth Division, which covers the two counties.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
Two Wythe County men, one on probation and the other awaiting trial, are facing malicious wounding charges in separate incidents. Allen Ray Melton, 23, of Max Meadows and Junmall James Boyd, 54, of Wytheville were both arrested on Jan. 2. In a criminal complaint, Katyln Melton accused Allen Melton of hitting her in the face when she tried to leave on Christmas Eve. “I believe I lost consciousness as I didn’t remember anything until the next day,” she wrote.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
swvatoday.com | Jeff Simmons
A Bland County man was charged with multiple drug felonies on Jan. 1 after police saw him passed out in his vehicle. James Corey Slone, 33, of Bland has a March 12 court date set on charges of possessing drugs with the intent to distribute, possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute, possessing drugs (four counts), possessing drug paraphernalia, possessing an illegal weapon and public intoxication.
