The Shadow
At the Clifton Forge Town Council Meeting on February 13, 2024, the first order of business was to ceremonially swear in the new police Chief, Barry “Scott” Balser. Prior to being sworn in, Clifton Forge Town Manager Chuck Unroe read a small excerpt from our own “Echoes of the Past” section that was printed on February 13, 2018. In that particular issue, the Virginian Review acknowledged the 25th anniversary of the swearing in of former police chief, Scott Balser’s father, Barry G. Balser, on February 13, 1993.
Immediately following the swearing in ceremony of the new police chief, “Livy’s Closet” store owner and business supporter of Clifton Forge Main Street, Jenny Oeltjen, presented two plaques on behalf of Clifton Forge Main Street. The first was to honor Sandra McHenry as “Volunteer of the Year” for her service to the community and willingness to go door-to-door, month-by-month at each business in downtown Clifton Forge to judge their windows for “Storefront of the Year.”
McHenry had a checklist consisting of certain criteria and numbers in which to judge each storefront and selflessly stepped up to fill this much-needed role. Oeltjen read, “Volunteer is the act of contributing free labor to conduct community service or support in non profit organization. It is the principle of donating time and energy towards the greater cause. Volunteers help change the lives of those in the community as a social responsibility rather than receiving financial award.” Sandra McHenry has been a longtime volunteer, contributing her time and energy in many other projects to help her community.
The next plaque was given to Ashley Bennett, owner and operator of “Mountainfield Market” on 525 Main Street for “Storefront of the year. Bennett’s store is known for selling fresh goods, all natural meats, farm-fresh produce, pepperoni rolls, an assortment of breads, and many baked goods, though it was joked during the meeting how often Bennett claims not to be a baker. Those familiar with her store would likely disagree with Bennett’s declaration.
The next order of business was opened by Mayor Jeff Irvine who read a request on the docket from Clifton Forge Main Street (CFMS) which stated, “Clifton Forge Main Street requests a parade permit Sunday, March 17th for the ‘ Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.’ This includes the closure of Church Street down between Clifton Forge School of the Arts (CFSOTA) and the back parking lot of Historic Masonic Theatre (HMT) from 4:30 p.m. until approximately 5:15 p.m.”
The parade is expected to be led by a parade marshall and bagpipes, with lineup beginning at 4:30 p.m. and the parade itself starting at 5:00 p.m. Expected attendance is approximately 50-100 people with additional festivities being held in the Historic Masonic Underground. Council voted unanimously to approve the parade.
Clifton Forge Town Council also unanimously approved the Easter Bonnet/Hat Parade on Saturday, March 30th beginning at 11 a.m. This event will include the road closure of the 400 block of E. Ridgeway to the end of the former PrimisBank Plaza.
After a few other orders of business, Town Manager Chuck Unroe then conducted a presentation discussing the letter sent out to residents regarding the water violation. The Virginian Review had an opportunity to sit down and discuss that letter in detail in an article that was published on January 30th, 2024 titled, “Town Manager Chuck Unroe Responds to Recent Letter Sent Out to Residents.” The article can also be found on our website: www.virginianreview.com.
Unroe also said he’d heard complaints from residents about their water bill, stating it is actually a utility bill. The water portion of the bill, which is approximately half of the sewer bill, Unroe explained, is for the clean water coming into the home. The larger part of the bill covers the “water that leaves your house after you have used it,” Unroe said. “…The highest percentage of that is your waste water for the same 5,000 gallons. It costs more to treat water after you’ve used it to release it back into the environment to make it clean for us to use in the first place.”
Finally, Bill Atherholt gave a brief presentation about the veteran’s banners in Covington and Clifton Forge and how they would like to get more to honor more veterans. Anyone who served is eligible. The price for the banners are $180 and Mr. Atherholt would need the payment as well as a photo of the veteran in uniform. Atherholt can be contacted at 540-521-6671 for more information or to make a purchase of a veteran banner to be hung in the area. Veterans do not have to be from the area to have a banner.
Atherholt also discussed a big event expected to happen in the first week of October when a replica of the Vietnam Wall currently cemented in Washington will be erected at the Jackson River Sports Complex from October 3-6. Volunteers are needed for the event and positions are open for all ages. The details of the event are still being finalized and the Virginian Review will have more information as it becomes available.
Other business included:
— Vote to approve minutes for January 9, 2024. Result: Approved by all members of council.
— Vote to approve department reports including code enforcement, police department, public works, library, water plant, and fire department. Result: Approved by all members of council as submitted and written.
— Vote to approve Clifton Forge Main Street’s request to “close the block of Church Street between Jefferson and Commercial on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to help facilitate the finish line for the triathlon at the Ampitheatre.” Result: Approved and submitted by all members of council.
— Vote to approve Eastern Alleghany Christian Ministerial Association’s request to “close the street at Church Street, the First Baptist going down to B Street and making a left on Main Street, then making a right on Main Street going to Central United Methodist church on Commercial from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on GoodFriday, March 29th.” Result: Approved and submitted by all members of council.
— Vote to approve Developmental Service Awareness Festival’s request to “close Church Street from Jefferson Street to Commercial Street on March 23rd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.” Result: The time was amended to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., then approved and submitted by all members of council.
