The Shadow
Welcome back, Shadowers! Did you hear it? The startling thunderclap smashup between summer’s end of fun & sun, and the tidal wave of “Do I have to go back to school” moans from your built-in peanut gallery? Ahhh… the sound of impending freedom, heralding the sweet moment parents can finally un-velcro themselves from their three-month indentured servitude and money pit.
Did I hear a bus? I’m drooling already.
As part of our family’s summer activities, we usually enjoy the country music concerts over at the WV State Fair. This year, while traveling on I-64 to see the legendary Travis Tritt, we passed a guy walking on the Interstate, dangerously close to the lane we were traveling in. Any distracted driver could have turned him into easy flat-cat roadkill without a doubt. But, if you’re like me, unless it’s a major emergency, calling 911 for anything that doesn’t involve blood, broken bones, or a poor kitty stuck in a tree always gives me pause. “Maybe the guy’s walking back to his broken-down car?” my brain blurted out. Nope – no car in sight for miles. And like magic, just as my mind started its usual trickster circular argument with itself, “Should I call or should I not…”, the peanut gallery in the back of the car chimed in, ”Dad you should text 911 about that guy. He could get hurt!”
Wait, you can text 911?
“Siri, send a text to 911…Pedestrian walking West Bound on I-64 at such and such mile marker.” Lo and behold, immediately the Cloud parted and a reply message was received from the digital heavens… “Thank you, can you please describe the individual? We have dispatched an officer to investigate.”
Mind blown. And I’ll spare you the details of the eye-rolling whipping I got from the digital know-it-all Lords pompously sitting on their thrones in the back.
Anyways, on with the show. All musicians are known to have some sort of message, and lately, some of them have amped up their political lyrics. Like independent country singer Oliver Anthony, who went viral last year for his song, “Rich Men North of Richmond.” His show at the WV Fair was fantastic, full of wit, amazing energy, and inspired by a political, patriotic message that, depending upon which ear you listened through, could be heard as divisively conservative or liberal. He stirred the audience into a frenzy ready for red meat.
Or in the end, just more beer.
The iconic country singer Travis Tritt on the other hand, who’s a huge, long-time supporter and ambassador for veterans, had a different take on the state of God and Country. He felt the color of your skin, the god you prayed to, or the political flag you flew, didn’t matter in the big scheme of things. He saw America as “inclusive” with plenty of room for everyone. Why? We are united by the sacrifices and shared struggles we’ve endured together for the past 248 years.
Hooah, Oorah, Hooyah, and Amen.
Election season has just begun in earnest in the Alleghany Highlands, kicking off with the Clifton Forge council candidate forum on Aug 15, 2024. Incumbents Jeff Irvine, Shorty Wolfe, and challenger Mike Foster were on hand to share their views on how to make Clifton Forge a better place. Seems most candidates were able to articulate the issues and problems faced by the town, but were a little weak on how to fix it.
I got a good Monkey Wrench if it helps?
I heard The Virginian Review has reached out to all council candidates from Covington, Clifton Forge and Iron Gate, and has started publishing candidate platforms and stories. So far they’ve done Covington Council challengers District 4 candidate Susan Wolfe and District 5 candidate Susan Crowder, with others on the way. The Virginian Review will also be hosting a live political debate of all Cov, CF and IG council candidates at the Masonic Theatre on Thursday, Oct 3, 2024, at 6pm, and will livestream the event just in case you can’t make it in person. Save the date, more details soon.
Speaking of livestreaming, seems Clifton Forge is gearing up their livestreaming capabilities for their council meetings, while the City of Covington apparently wants their mushroom citizens to only grow in the dark, so they’ve shut down their livestream. In response to the mighty mushroom outcry, the Virginian Review did a test livestream at last week’s council meeting, which has garnered over 8,000 views over the last few days. Sounds like the Virginian Review will be also recording the meetings and posting them unedited for archival purposes, and working on the other towns too.
While we’re on the streaming theme, whispers in the wind have brought alleged rumblings of the closure of the Alleghany County side of the Gathright damn at Lake Moomaw. If true, this would potentially mean Coles Point Beach and Morris Hill campground will be forever closed. The VR is looking into these allegations.
The Shadow Facebook Group celebrated its 5,000th member last week, Robin Tucker won the T-shirt and mug giveaway. Thanks to all the Shadowers and your wonderful news, tips, and opinions. The group is definitely the place now to find out about EVERYTHING going on above and below the radar in the Alleghany Highlands.
In the junk drawer of the unsolved, unfixed and forgotten, Columbia Gas is riling up the town with its roadwork, firing up the parents trying to take their kiddies to school. City Manager Allen Dressler seemed to be perplexed by the situation and could only respond with a disheartening, “It is what it is…I’ll call them again.” And looks like the outrage from a distressed young woman over being harassed publicly by an alleged drunken AHPS board member was quietly swept under the rug and forgotten. Carry on. Oh, and here’s the sparkly little thing called lying to keep your city business texts from appearing in public. Or the old vehicles and equipment that have allegedly and mysteriously disappeared out the back of AHPS maintenance, replaced by shiny new ones? And Covington City is still struggling to find the “Original Survey” that defines the road division between Wrightway Motors and Dewey Perkins. So far, a repeated FOIA request has only gotten surveys back to 2011. Where’s the survey with the A&P building? Must have conveniently fallen through the crack in the back of the drawer.
There’s a lot more junk in this drawer, but if we don’t close it now, my OCD is going to take over and we’ll be here for hours sorting and organizing.
Finally, Friendly Fork and Ray’s Sweet Shoppe had their ribbon cuttings recently. It’s fantastic to see these very brave business owners officially joining the others on Main Street. Now it’s up to us to show them our love, support, and our wallets. Make sure you say the Shadow sent you and says Hello!
I’m out of time, and out of coffee, but in the words of County Singer Travis Tritt, “People look at you, and they’ve got just the perfect little box for you, the perfect category. Call you a redneck. Call you a hillbilly. Like those were insults.”
