Pulaski Parks and Rec find plan to host summer activities after pool fire
Pulaski summer camp kids will have another place to enjoy other activities after a major pool house burned. Leaders say they will work Claytor Lake State Park to make sure kids have water recreational activities.
![New River Valley health director says return to a โnormalโ summer is near](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/7aFOybLZMVTsGoV_D6ctWEBoOm0=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/06-01-2021/t_b85ab78cf578487fbbf4504f8b43cce1_name_image.jpg)
New River Valley health director says return to a โnormalโ summer is near
With coronavirus transmission and case numbers low in the New River Valley, residents are on track to a more promising return to a normal summer, according to the health director.
![Hundreds come to Claytor Lake as beach reopens after coronavirus closure](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/gfo7eel_ay_nvq5ZzEmTWJ32LxA=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/06-12-2020/t_b976d6fa640f490984382b6e473b1214_name_image.jpg)
Hundreds come to Claytor Lake as beach reopens after coronavirus closure
CLAYTOR LAKE, Va. โ If you have been waiting to cool off from the summer heat in a lake, your wait is over. Virginiaโs state parks, including Claytor Lake and Smith Mountain Lake, reopened their swimming areas Friday morning after COVID-19 delayed the season. Hundreds of people made the trip to Claytor Lakeโs swimming area on its first day of operation. โWe were stuck in the house and we wanted to have fun, so we came out here,โ said Abi Lineberoy. Havens believes the park will continue to draw summer crowds, and that the park has adequately prepared for the rush.
![Claytor Lake State Park experiences small Memorial Day Weekend crowd due to social distancing](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/lHQr7qMAeMWvEjoEGz9hEAlFPNY=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/05-24-2020/t_950471530ae04280a69dcf4ba4059b4f_name_image.jpg)
Claytor Lake State Park experiences small Memorial Day Weekend crowd due to social distancing
CLAYTOR LAKE, Va. โ Claytor Lake State Park usually experiences a Memorial Day Weekend rush of people longing for their first taste of summer. Some people decided to make the trek to Claytor Lake, despite social distancing. โWe do typically come down to the lake on Memorial Day Weekend," Williams said. They expected the typical Memorial Day Weekend crowd, but were proven wrong when they arrived. Cicadas have started to emerge at the park, and torrential rain from the week filled Claytor Lake with murky water and driftwood.
![Christmas tree recycling underway at Claytor Lake State Park](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/lQ71IAjZjg3ikKhj8pP91joN4Ps=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/12-27-2019/t_cdde674cc8834b9d8014bb673930a3e6_name_image.jpg)
Christmas tree recycling underway at Claytor Lake State Park
โAnything in that 7-10 ft. range, and of course smaller, is what weโre looking for,โ said Claytor Lake State Park assistant park manager Brody havens. Live Christmas trees dropped off at the Claytor Lake State Park marina through Jan. 23 will be sunk in designated areas on the lake to create habitats for fish. "When we sink the Christmas trees, the limbs will stay on and the needles will stay on for quite a while. He likes fishing at Claytor Lake as it is, but the trees definitely help make the pastime more enjoyable. The city of Danville offers curbside tree collection for residents or you can drop off your tree at the cityโs mulch collection site.
![Simulated boat crash helps Pulaski County first responders train for emergencies](https://media.wsls.com/photo/2019/07/15/First_responders_practice_lifesaving_techniques_in_boat_crash_simulation___1563229119560_22105901_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Simulated boat crash helps Pulaski County first responders train for emergencies
PULASKI COUNTY, Va. - About 10 minutes after a call for help from Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services Monday afternoon, a medical helicopter landed at Claytor Lake State Park to help triage and transport a simulated victim of a two-boat crash on the lake. After landing, he and flight nurse Laura Whitlow rushed to the water to help, where triage was already underway by Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services. For us, thats always important because we need to learn, (if) we have multiple people, our triage process," Whitlow said. Pulaski County EMS EMT Scott Proctor said learning the triage process was something he appreciates, too. Claytor Lake State Park Police and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries also participated in the training.