90 YEARS AGO
August, 1930
August 17;
C&O Makes Cut In Clifton Forge
A cut of fifty-eight employees, effective tomorrow and affecting the Clifton Forge, Ronceverte and Staunton shops, was announced by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway several days ago.
The cut is for an indefinite period.
Clifton Forge is the heaviest sufferer.
The cut there will take fifty-three of the fifty-eight men cut and will include twelve machinists, one machinist inspector, five machinist’s helpers, one machinist’s apprentice, seven laborers, five boilermakers, one boilermaker welder, one boilermaker apprentice, six boilermaker’s helpers, one boiler washer, two blacksmiths, two blacksmith’s helpers, three pipefitters, two pipefitter’s helpers, two freight car repairers, one electrician and one ready track foreman.
Ronceverte will lose one machinist, one machinist’s helper, one boilermaker and one boilermaker’s helper.
Staunton will lose only one engine watchman.
Little Girl Dies In C&O Hospital
Mary Scruggs, 9-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Scruggs, died in the C&O Hospital, Clifton Forge, at 11 o’clock last night as a result of a chest injury sustained in an automobile accident near Nimrod Hall yesterday afternoon.
The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 from the Horel Baptist Church.
Cars Collide
About 5:45 yesterday afternoon, two cars collided at the intersection of Dickey and Maple streets, one a small Ford sedan owned by Miss Gladys Levisay and the other a Buick sedan from West Virginia.
Miss Levisay was coming down the hill and the other car was starting up when the accident occurred.
There was not much damage to either car, although there was quite a bit of glass broken from the small car.
August 18;
Stage Benefit Play Tonight
Friends of two fine organizations in our county — Boy’s Home and Camp Shawanogi — should remember the very charming and entertaining play that will be given at the Jeter Auditorium tonight.
At 7:30, the curtain will rise on “Between the Acts,” which the camp boys and their leaders are most generously giving as a benefit for Boy’s Home, where the camp is endeavoring to support at least one poor boy.
The object is most worthy and the play itself will undoubtedly well repay all who see it.
75 YEARS AGO
August, 1945
August 17;
A Prayer By The 116th Infantry Post, VFW
Almighty Commander, our Heavenly Father, we bow in humble thanksgiving to Thee.
With the ending of the War with Japan, we have another blessing to add to the manifold ones Thou dos’t bestow upon us.
We humbly beseech Thee to give us Grace that we may deserve such blessings from Thee.
Keep in the hearts of all men, all nations, the desire to strive earnestly for a lasting Peace upon the Earth.
We remember lovingly before Thee our departed Comrades, who gave their all in their nation’s cause; also their loved ones who mourn their passing.
Grant that we may renew our pledge to those Comrades that they did not die in vain.
With Thy help, may we strive to make this just such a World, they so nobly fought and died for, a Godly world.
Bless also we ask Thee all the men and women, who in the near future will return to their homes and civilian life.
Keep them safe, keep them strong and close to Thee.
In Jesus’ name and for his sake.
Amen
116th Infantry Post No. 1033
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Covington
August 18;
Seaman Hanks Assigned To Helena
Lowell A. Hank, 18, seaman first class, USNR, of RFD1, Covington, now in advanced training at Newport, R.I., has been assigned duty in the communication division of the USS?Helena, soon to be commissioned.
One of the Navy’s new heavy cruisers, the Helena is the third ship to be named for the city of Helena, Mont.
The original USS Helena, a gunboat completed in 1896, was taken out of commission in 1932.
Seaman Hank, son of Z.M. Hank, has two brothers serving in the Army overseas.
They are Pfc. Paul, in England, and 1st Lt. Calvin, in the Philippines.
The young seaman entered the Navy in August, 1944, and reported to Newport in May, upon completion of “boot” training at Bainbridge, Md.
He attended Covington High School and was employed at the Rayon Plant prior to entering the service.
Second Largest Attendance At Swimming Pool
The attendance at the Municipal Pool this year has been the second largest since the pool opened in 1936.
The largest attendance was in 1943 when 13,916 people went swimming, even after waiting until June 10th to open.
The attendance this year has been 11,607.
The July attendance of %,478 this year broke the all-time July record.
In the past 10 years, the Municipal Pool’s attendance has been 105,000 without the loss of a life.
50 YEARS AGO
August, 1970
August 17;
Clowns Play Here Tonight
The Indianapolis Clowns will play tonight at Casey Field as a preliminary to the Covington Astros-Kingsport Royals Appalachian League encounter.
The Clowns, who are celebrating their 41st birthday, are the oldest and only remaining barn-storming team.
They play over 150 daily games a season and combine serious ball with a comedy show.
The Clowns will play a team comprised of City-County All-Stars who have voted to give the “jokers of baseball” a rough and tough contest.
Proof of the top caliber players with the Clowns is attested by former players now in the major leagues, including Hank Aaron and Hal King of the Atlanta Braves and Paul Cassanove, of the Washington Senators.
August 18;
Covington Firemen Bring Home Prizes
The Covington Fire Department has returned from the annual convention of the Virginia State Firemen’s Association with a first place trophy and two second place awards, won in contests of firefighting skill and precision marching.
The local firemen took top honors in the motor-hose contest and second place in the one-man hose competition.
It was also judged the second best appearing unit without a band in the convention parade.
A special trophy was given the department for having traveled the greatest distance, which was held this year at Chincoteague.
The Clifton Forge Fire Department also won a first place award for being the best appearing unit in the 5,000 to 10,000 population category.
25 YEARS AGO
August, 1995
August 17;
Board Takes Aim At Curbing Cruisers
Alleghany County may enact a cruising ordinance to curb nighttime traffic problems at Mallow Mall.
The ordinance was brought to the table Tuesday night by the mall’s ownership during a meeting of the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors.
The mall is a popular gathering spot for teens and young adults on weekends.
Over 300 persons sometimes gather on the parking lot on Friday and Saturday nights, and with the crowds come vehicles that cruise the plaza.
Some of the vehicles travel at high speeds and jeopardize pedestrian safety, according to merchants at the mall.
Rose Gives Up Chair
Cletus Nicely was appointed chairman of the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Nicely’s appointment came after the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of L.J. Rose Jr. as chairman.
Rose will continue to represent the Boiling Springs District, however.
Nicely had served as the board’s vice chairman since January 1994.
He represents the county’s Clifton District and is unopposed for re-election in?November.
August 18;
CSX Yard A Key To Boosting Clifton Forge Economy
A plan entitled “The Rail Yard Conversion Project” sums up Glynn Loope’s vision for invigorating Clifton Forge’s economy.
Loope, the director of the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Authority, reviewed the plan with Clifton Forge City Council earlier this month.
Loope’s strategies for dormant CSX Transportation property call for developing designated tracts for industrial, commercial and tourism uses.
The Authority would market the property to heavy rail users such as plastics and furniture manufacturers and at least 1 million square feet would be reserved for warehouse and railside distribution developments.
10 YEARS AGO
August, 2010
August 17;
Supervisors OK $500,000 For E-911 Unit
The Alleghany County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday night to proceed with using $500,000 in grant money to purchase a mobile E-911 communications unit.
The mobile unit will enhance communications for law enforcement and emergency services personnel in the Highlands, as well as provide back-up to E-911 centers in Alleghany County, Covington and Clifton Forge.
The $500,000 in grant money is part of $600,000 that was awarded to the localities three years ago to help purchase equipment for a regional E-911 communications center to be used by all three localities.
Plans for the regional center are on hold while local officials await the outcome of a feasibility study on a Pine Street location in Covington for the facility.
August 18;
Supervisors Updated On Consolidation Agreement
Alleghany County received a brief overview Tuesday night of the proposed plan to consolidate the governments of Alleghany County and Covington.
Joe Carpenter, co-chairman of the Citizens’ Committee to Perfect a Consolidation Agreement, made brief remarks before supervisors concerning the proposal to create the city of Alleghany Highlands.
The court-appointed committee met 25 times before completing its work July 13.
The plan could go up for a vote in Alleghany County and Clifton Forge in November 2011, if it clears regulatory hurdles before the Virginia Commission on Local Government and a panel of three judges.
If approved by voters in both jurisdictions, the two governments would consolidate January 1, 2013.
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