VHSL Wrestling Championships: Classes 1 and 4
SALEM, Va. โ Salem Civic Center will be the epicenter of VHSL State wrestling championships for the next 3 days. The Golden Wave advanced 9 wrestlers into Finals matches, resulting in 6 first place wins. Galax had an individual champion in Brender Rojas at the 285 pound weight class. Down in Virginia Beach at the Class 4 championships, Amherst County finished 4th as a team. The Lancers had an individual winner at the 182 weight class in Kaine Morris.
Vehicle fire caused backup on I-81 in Wythe County
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. โ A vehicle fire caused a backup in Wythe County on Tuesday night. The fire, at mile marker 63, about 3 miles north of the Rural Retreat exit, closed the northbound right shoulder. As of 11 p.m., the shoulder was still closed. VDOT said traffic was backed up more than seven miles at one point.
Man killed during shooting at Rural Retreat gas station
Rural Retreat A man is dead after a shooting at a Rural Retreat gas station. According to the Wythe County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to the Spirit Convenience Store at 6862 West Lee Highway just before midnight Sunday. When they arrived, they found 20-year-old Matthew Blake King of Rural Retreat dead in the parking lot from a gunshot wound. There were witnesses on the scene of the shooting. The suspect was found close to the scene.
Rural Retreat, Christiansburg earn state silver at wrestling championships
Salem, Va. โ Southwest Virginiaโs top team contender in the class 1 ranks remains Rural Retreat. The Knights Mason Stewart won the 138-pound crown with a 5-2 decision, to help his fatherโs team to a program best--third place team finish. .I"I feel like most of the people on my team know what to do next year, weโre gonna bring it next year. I think theyโre going to know how to overcome that and get in the finals next year," Mason Stewart explained. The Blue Demons won this head to head battle with the Trojans at 120, when Brandon Crowder racked up a 3-0 decision win.
Southwest Virginia man faces attempted capital murder charge after trying to kill a sheriff's deputy
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. - A 28-year-old Wythe County man faces an attempted capital murder charge after taking a deputy's handgun and shooting him, according to the Wythe County Sheriff's Office. On Saturday, at about 2 p.m., the Sheriff's Office received a call about a stolen vehicle in Rural Retreat. The deputy who responded to the call found that the stolen vehicle had hit a tree. The deputy was hit in the holster as he attempted to take cover behind his patrol vehicle, the Sheriff's Office said. Deputies said they received a call regarding a stolen vehicle in the Rural Retreat area around 2 p.m. Saturday.
Authorities take down local theft ring, recover more than $50,000 in stolen property
GRAYSON COUNTY, Va. - Deputies arrested two men and said they recovered more than $50,000 worth of stolen property over the course of an investigation to take down a theft ring. The investigation into this theft ring will likely continue and more arrests are expected, according to the Grayson County Sheriff's Office. Deputies arrested Michael Phillips, 23, of Sugar Grove, and James Perkins, 42, of Rural Retreat for probation violations. Both were suspects linked to eight break-ins in the Elk Creek and Sugar Grove area. Wythe, Grayson and Smyth county sheriff's offices collaborated on this case.