Riner Community News

09/30/2026

For all kids under age 5!

09/26/2026

Bake sale today!! We'll be at Riner Food Center from 9 am-2 pm selling baked goods made by our amazing students! Come by and see us! 😎

09/24/2026

AHS students could make good use of your old canning jars if you are no longer using them.

Mason Jars Needed!

We will be making apple butter in a few short weeks If you have an overabundance of mason jars, we would love to give them a purpose! Quarts and pints are appreciated!

Send us a message to arrange pickup or drop them in the main office at Auburn High School! THANK YOU! Every jar helps!

09/18/2026

A belated but very sincere thank you to Randy and Kelly for getting the "Welcome to Riner" sign cleaned up this June, and another thanks to Randy for keeping the grass mowed! A continued thanks to the Altizer family for hosting it on their property.

09/17/2026

The AHS Theater Students need some support. Funds help them pay to license scripts, travel to competitions, build sets, etc. Let's chip in and get their school year off to a good start!

Support Auburn High School Drama 2026-2027 and help us raise $5000

07/27/2026

📚 How can local history transform the way we teach American history?

Join Christiansburg Institute, Inc. for Schools That Built Us: Desegregation and the Legacy of Rural Black Education, a free professional development workshop designed for K–12 educators, instructional coaches, museum professionals, preservice teachers, and anyone passionate about preserving and teaching local history.

Through primary sources, place based learning, and meaningful conversations, we'll explore the history of the Christiansburg Industrial Institute and the broader story of rural Black education, school desegregation, and community legacy in Southwest Virginia. Participants will leave with classroom ready resources, practical teaching strategies, and a deeper understanding of how local stories can enrich student learning.

Your registration includes:
📖 An interactive professional development workshop
🏫 A guided tour of the Christiansburg Institute Museum & Archives and Historic Hill School
🍽️ Complimentary lunch provided by Bricks 1819
📜 Professional development certificate
📚 Classroom ready resources and primary source materials
📅 Saturday, August 8, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM
📍 Hill School Community Center | Christiansburg, Virginia

Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckYbBhHgn9kg0hgS7Mcao9-5y_C_0sLUzJkF6CGlg2zHl5XA/viewform?usp=header

This workshop is offered at no cost, but registration is required and space is limited.

Please consider sharing this post with educators, school divisions, museums, libraries, community organizations, and anyone interested in African American history, local history, or innovative approaches to teaching with primary sources.

Every share helps us reach more educators and helps bring these important stories into classrooms across Virginia and beyond.

We hope you'll join us for a day of learning, reflection, and community!

Christiansburg Institute, Inc.

07/25/2026

Missing the Riner Community Cannery . . .

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The Wythe County Cannery will reopen for canning operations on Monday, July 27, after crews successfully installed a new boiler, restoring full service at the community facility just in time for the busy harvest season.

The reopening completes a project approved by the Board of Supervisors earlier this year to replace the cannery’s failed boiler and get operations back up and running ahead of the late summer and fall harvest.

Canning operations were suspended in October 2025 after the previous boiler failed beyond repair, though the facility remained open for meat processing while replacement efforts were underway. In February, the Wythe County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase and installation of a new boiler with support from a $50,000 Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Infrastructure Grant awarded through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"The reopening of the Wythe County Cannery is welcome news for the many families, farmers, and community organizations who rely on this valuable resource each year," said James D. Smith, chairman of the Wythe County Board of Supervisors. "We appreciate the partnership at the state and local level that made this project possible and are pleased to restore this important service to our community in time for the harvest season."

The cannery will operate by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 276-228-3421. If staff are unavailable, callers may leave a voicemail, and calls will be returned as soon as possible.

During July, the cannery will be open:
• Mondays: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

From August through November, operating days will expand to:
• Mondays: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Tuesdays: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Fridays: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Appointment times, pickup times, operating days, and hours remain subject to change based on seasonal demand.

"The cannery has been an important part of Wythe County's agricultural heritage for generations," said Dr. Russell Street, Wythe County Public Schools superintendent. "We're excited to welcome the community back and remain committed to ensuring the facility continues serving local families and producers while we evaluate long-term opportunities for its future."

For additional information about the Wythe County Cannery, visit https://wctc.wythe.k12.va.us/

07/06/2026

06/25/2026

05/29/2026

Additional items are now accepted in single-stream recycling at County consolidated sites and Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority:

- Clam shell containers #1, #2, #5
- #5 PP containers
- Gable-top cartons
- Aseptic cartons

Learn more at montva.com/recycle or mrswa.com. ♻️