Al Bedrosian photo

Al Bedrosian photo

UPDATE:  Roanoke County officials report by 9:02 a.m. Saturday, all the items had been taken by citizens on a first-come, first-served basis.  The Sunday event is cancelled.

From Roanoke County: The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors has created a unique opportunity for citizens to take home surplus County property free of charge. Items are being removed from the former William Byrd High School industrial shop building at 100 Highland Road in Vinton, to make room for future economic development opportunities. The event will be held from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14, rain or shine. Examples of items that will be available include youth school chairs, adult school chairs, tables, student desks, wood cabinets, drafting tables and metal filing cabinets. All items will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis.

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While County staff members will be on-hand to facilitate this event, citizens picking up items are responsible for loading and securing their own vehicles. The public is encouraged to bring their own hand-trucks, gloves and fastening devices to make their time as productive as possible. Established parking areas for the event will be the baseball and football field below the school, just off Washington Avenue. Visitors will need to walk up a set of stairs from the parking area to view the surplus items. Limited handicap parking will be available. Once items are selected, staff will use a numbering system to help citizens with the orderly moving of vehicles to the loading area. This event is the first step in the process of readying the building for commercial or residential development. Items available will include surplus from the industrial shop building only. Additional surplus items within the school will be available to the public at a later date to be announced. Surplus property stored throughout the former William Byrd school complex was transferred to the County several years ago from Roanoke County Public Schools.