The Shadow
Welcome back, Shadowers! I hope everyone started their summer with a relaxing Memorial Day weekend, taking the time to honor and remember those who died in military service. Our freedoms are owed directly to the sacrifices they made.
Last week The Shadow received a ton of new information and several updates to some ongoing stories.
The Shadow recently reported on the 3 violations the City of Covington’s Water plant has received over the past year. It turns out it has gotten worse. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues a monthly list of public water systems with violations that rise to a level of significant noncompliance by focusing on those systems with health-based violations and those that show a history of violations across multiple rules.
Covington’s Water Plant was listed as #7 on the EPA’s Serious Violators Enforcement Targeting list for April 2024, with 13 unresolved violations.
Seriously? 13 violations issued by a Federal agency? What could possibly go wrong?
The list notes a concern about the amount of lead found in our water. Other residents have also noted a high amount of lead in the water from independent tests and home tests performed. The Shadow team is currently researching exactly how the City is proceeding on its “Path to Compliance” and will provide more updates as we receive them.
The Shadow also reported on the local Alleghany-Covington Department of Social Services and their building being allegedly condemned. In our search for more official answers, it now appears that it has not been condemned by a Fire Marshal after all. However, when trying to find the local Fire Official, it turns out that the City of Covington and Alleghany County do not actually have a local Fire Marshal.
The Virginian Review reached out to City of Covington volunteer Fire Chief Andrew Baker to better understand the situation. According to Chief Baker, he believes the City and County have not had a local Fire Marshal since around 2007. “The Fire Marshal’s duties are covered through the state Fire Marshal’s office in Roanoke. We are in division 6. We have always fallen under their umbrella,” states Chief Baker.
This could explain why there have seemingly been no fire safety inspections conducted on the 410 Main St building. It remains unclear who is responsible for initiating the call to the State Fire Marshal for required fire inspections on a building under construction. Is it the responsibility of the City’s building officials or the building owner? Regardless, it is very concerning that we have a building being opened to the public without any records or evidence of being approved for public use by the City’s uncertified Building Official or the State Fire Marshal.
The Dewey/Wright saga continues with the property boundary dispute. Traffic cones have appeared on the road in question and blocked traffic going into Dewey’s property but not Wright’s property. The Virginian Review reached out to both Dewey and Wright for comments.
Dewey Perkins was unsure who put the traffic cones out. He only knows they were there “bright and early” the day after the Council meeting. His understanding is they are apparently giving the paved section to Wright Way. Perkins stated, “Technically, they get half the right of way and we get half the right of way, but only half of the right of way is good. The other half of the right of way is completely unusable. It’s got gas lines running under it and you can’t build a road on top of gas lines, that I’m aware of.”
Perkins doesn’t believe he can widen the right of way because of a fire hydrant. The only good part is the paved portion. “What a lot of people are not seeing on the video is that “the proof in the pudding” is where this was a done deal before I even walked through the door (at the Council meeting). Perkins stated. “I turned around and I was getting escorted out by police officers.”
Typically, council meetings have one officer at the meeting, however, there were three officers at the meeting when the vote was taken.
When asked whether the division of property was being enforced, Perkins responded that “I’m appealing it and I’ve got a lawyer. The papers to change land ownership has not been signed so as far as I’m concerned, and that’s still a road. And, if I have to use it, I intend on using it.”
Perkins explained that he was made aware of what was going on from whispers from “big people that are close to the happenings around the city and city council.” They said, “The car wash is going to be traded for that road.” Perkins believes “the timing of the car wash is awfully convenient to the thing with this road.”
“If I hadn’t been made aware I probably wouldn’t have known this road was going to be shut down before it was too late.” My calls to Allen Dressler were met with “denials”, Perkins added in conclusion.
Brandon Wright was out of the office, but Richie Boguess, Internet Sales, agreed to talk to the Virginian Review. According to Boguess, the cones were put in place by Wright Way to stop the thru traffic. “Where the cones sit are on this business’ property,” said Boguess. “To my knowledge, these blue lines are what marks the division of property between Dewey’s and Wright Way’s.
“As far as the old road stuff goes, I don’t know, people say that that road was pretty narrow.” “Essentially what happens is that people go through the red light and come through here speeding,” added Boguess. I”ve been working for him (Brandon Wright) for over six years and I went to school with him, I would not be here six years if he (Brandon Wright) was ill-gotten or a shady crook,” said Boguess.
The Virginian Review also received a comment from Orlando “Buddha” Clark, who was at the Council meeting. He is retired from Alleghany Motors, which was on the lot where Wright Way now sits. Clark believes “it’s no reason to close that road.” He believes there was more foot traffic with the high school being there because most middle schoolers are picked up in cars. With all of the high school foot traffic, there were never any problems. He doesn’t believe it was closed for the “safety of the children.”
Over in Clifton Forge, snakes are still riling up the town. Public Works went to the residents’ house the day after it was posted on the Shadow. The resident was told that Public Works would figure something out and get back to him. That is the last he has heard from Public Works and the issue remains unresolved. The Shadow has noticed the number of reports of venomous snakes is increasing this year, so if you’re out in the garden or woodshed, please take care. If you get bitten, immediately call 911.
In the Turned Away and Rejected section: a citizen moved to CF about 2 ½ years ago and has been trying to get involved on committees and in organizations without success. She believes the Community Gathering group and Clifton Forge Main Street Members “feel they are the only ones in town with any credible or reasonable opinions on how things should operate in town.” Her concerns sound like a lack of inclusion and fairness of representation on the part of the organizations.
Finally, several reports have alleged 3 individuals overdosed at the Alleghany Regional Jail last Tuesday. The Big question is, with a very expensive machine designed to precisely find and keep contraband from getting into the jail, how did these individuals get drugs to overdose on? The Virginian Review placed a call to Sheriff Moore’s office but was unable to reach him at the time of publication.
I’m out of time and out of coffee, but always feeling blessed that we have such a dedicated Volunteer Fire Department in Covington with folks willing to risk their lives for our safety. Thank you Chief Baker for your insights and wisdom. We’re behind you 100%.
