WISE — Fund-raising efforts for the High Knob Observation Tower have topped $108,000, a representative of the High Knob Enhancement Corp. told the Wise County Board of Supervisors on Thursday.

Wise County Chamber of Commerce representative Rita McReynolds, a member of the High Knob group formed with the assistance of U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, said a number of grant applications are pending in an ongoing fund-raising effort well on its way to meeting a projected $560,000 price tag to rebuild the tower.

The Wise County and regional landmark was destroyed by arson on Oct. 31, 2007. This week a federal judge sentenced two 24-year-old Coeburn men to prison terms for burning down the tower as well as a restroom facility at a separate Jefferson National Forest recreation area in Scott County.

Nicholas Owens pleaded guilty on Jan. 20 and was sentenced to five years in prison, and Christopher Hyatt was sentenced to just over three years in prison. Both men were also ordered to pay $523,851 in restitution, something the tower reconstruction organizers aren’t counting on any time soon.

McReynolds asked the Wise County Board of Supervisors for $15,000 on Thursday, to be included in the county’s 2009-10 fiscal year budget. The county gave that amount during the current fiscal year. McReynolds said she intends to ask Scott County for $15,000 and Norton for $5,000. Both jurisdictions also supplied those amounts during the current fiscal year.

Supervisors Chairman Robbie Robbins said some people have the impression the tower reconstruction project is “stalled” but advised the public on Thursday the effort is as vibrant as ever and moving forward at as fast a pace as fund raising and bureaucratic paperwork will allow.

Robbins, who also serves on the High Knob Enhancement Corp. board, said federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service have procedures to follow, and the agency has been impressed by how the grass-roots effort has pushed the project.

He said the agency was initially skeptical the project would happen at all. McReynolds said $60,000 has already been committed for architects and engineers, who are working on designs now for the new tower that will, when built, be handicapped accessible.

Boucher formed a task force soon after the tower was burned to organize fund raising for the reconstruction project. That task force evolved into the High Knob Enhancement Corp., a nonprofit legal entity to handle donations and guide the rebuilding project. Board members include a cast of individuals from Wise and Scott counties and Norton.