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Outdoors

  • Grant will let Grayson add more trails

    INDEPENDENCE – Grayson County will use federal funding to make significant enhancements to its recreational park after supervisors unanimously approved a resolution authorizing application for grant money last week.

    At the July 10 meeting, County Administrator Jonathan Sweet presented the board with a resolution authorizing the county to seek assistance from the Recreational Trails Programs of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation for the construction of recreational trails and trail related facilities.

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  • Zipline attraction planned for Whitetop

    WHITETOP — The Grayson County Planning Commission approved a special use permit following a public hearing on March 18 for the operation of a zip line ride in the Whitetop area.
    Developer Lenny Cottom attended the meeting to answer questions about the proposed project that will be on property owned by John Doyle Hensley, near the Virginia Creeper Trail.

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  • State parks visitation hit record high in 2013

    RICHMOND – Virginia State Parks once again set a new attendance record with 8.87 million visitors in 2013, 6 percent higher than 2012’s record attendance of 8.37 million.
    The 36 award-winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

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  • A bolder kind of exercise

    MOUTH OF WILSON ― Park officials, volunteers and outdoor enthusiasts gathered at Grayson Highlands State Park on Saturday to introduce the Split Rock Trail, a new 1.3-mile loop trail that offers both hiking and climbing opportunities to the public.

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  • Fries to host 'Catch the Fun' fishing tournament

    The Town of Fries will host the “Catch the Fun Festival” fishing tournament on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., sponsored by the Fires Fire Department and the Fries Recreation Center.

    Pre-register at Fries Volunteer Fire Department, Fries Town Hall or the Fries Recreation Center

    Prizes will be awarded by length:

    • 1st — $100

    • 2nd — $50

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  • Study: trail plan won't infringe on property rights

    By SHAINA STOCKTON, Staff
    The Crooked Road, Virginia’s heritage music trail, has proposed that its coverage region of 19 counties and four cities in Southwest Virginia be designated as a National Heritage Area, “based on the region’s unique musical heritage and its significant role in the formation of American music,” according to a press release provided by the organization.

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  • New River Trail had 1 million visitors in 2012

    New River Trail State Park attracted more than one million visitors and had nearly 6 percent more attendance than in 2011.
    The trail that passes through Carroll and Grayson counties and Galax followed the trend that allowed Virginia State Parks to set a new attendance record in 2012.
    State parks attracted 8.366 million visitors, an increase of 7 percent. The new record is a 4 percent increase over the previous attendance record of 8.065 million visitors, set in 2010.

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  • Fries reeling in idea for fishing tournament

    FRIES — Fries resident Terry Akers and Fries Town Council have held lengthy discussions at each of the town’s last three meetings about the possibility of hosting a fishing tournament and festival in June.
    Akers originally introduced his idea during the town’s September 2012 meeting, and since that time he has been working with the town to put together all the pieces and build on the idea.

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  • Fries 50K is first course in Virginia to be USATF certified

    FRIES — On Saturday, the Town of Fries will welcome more than 150 visitors who are set to participate in the 5th Annual Fries 50K on a course recently certified by USA Track and Field.
    The New River Trail course is the first and only USATF-certified 50K course in Virginia.
    This year, for the first time, runners’ finish times will be recorded as official 50K finish times, and they will also receive a 26.2 marathon split time that can be used to qualify for larger races such as the Boston Marathon.

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  • Virginia free fishing days are June 1-3

    Gather the kids and grab your fishin’ poles: free fishing days are here again.
    This year, anyone in the Commonwealth can fish without a license June 1-3.
    The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), the agency that regulates freshwater fishing, encourages Virginians to take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to fish for free while spending some quality time with friends and family, according to a press release.

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