The Shadow
Happy New Year, Shadowers! Let’s begin the New Year with some very positive, snowy news. In a recent Facebook Shadow poll, the question was asked—Is 2025 going to be better than 2024, about the same, or worse? A whopping 73% said better, with 21% saying worse, 6% saying about the same.
Shadower Amelia Leach Armentrout added, “I feel like getting a new mayor and vice mayor to lead us will make the City a town to be proud of and to attract businesses in which we desperately need for the taxes they would pay.”
Shadower Bill Godbold said, “I’m hopeful things will start looking up, both locally and nationally. People need to stop thinking that elections will change things and start understanding that true change starts at the very foundation and builds upwards. We the people are the foundation, the elected is the roof. I’ve never seen a roof built first and the foundation last. So I’m hopeful that people will understand this and help build the strongest foundation our country has ever seen. Remember, roofs get replaced every so often, but a strong foundation will be there for generations.”
And right on cue, Shadower Grumpiest Fossil said, “I’m looking forward to coming back to this post at the end of the year.”
Now, those comments instantly bring to mind Spanish Philosopher George Santayana’s famous quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” However, I tend to agree with Winston Churchill’s modified version: “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Over the past year, Highlanders didn’t just sit back with popcorn; they stepped up with their voices and votes, steering the ship of local democracy like pros. For many, it was their first time dipping their toes into the political waters—and what a cannonball they made!
But now comes the million-dollar question: are we, the ever-watchful citizens, going to learn from 2024 and keep holding the reins to stay part of the solution? Or will we go back to assuming our local leaders are capable of “self-governing” and turn the ship into a Titanic sequel? Because let’s be honest—left unchecked, some of our leaders thought “transparency” was a fancy word for “My bad behavior is invisible.”
Shadower James (aka Kathy) Downey summed it up perfectly, capturing the situation with the kind of wisdom that deserves its own engraved plaque:
“Where is the ACCOUNTABILITY!?”
The biggest issue the Highlands faces—is the gaping hole where Enforcement of Accountability should be. Sure, The Shadow and local news outlets can “observe and report” like a bunch of unpaid referees, but let’s be real—they’re not enforcement mechanisms. And as we’ve painfully witnessed over the past year, uncovering unethical and illicit behavior from our public servants is only half the battle. Finding out there’s practically nothing that can be done to hold them accountable when self-governing is manipulated is, well deplorable and unacceptable.
What will we learn, remember and change from 2024 as we head into 2025?
Actually it’s easy. First, our Founding Fathers gave newspapers a seat at the table alongside the three branches of government. They even named it as the “Fourth Pillar of Government.” They knew firsthand the horrors of living under a dictator—where retaliation, corruption and control ruled the day—and they wanted none of it. Newspapers were designed to be the watchdogs, not lapdogs, keeping power in check and citizens informed. Done right, they’re the lifeblood of any community, shining light where others would rather keep things in the dark. Please support your local news agencies by subscribing, or buying an ad to promote your business.
And let’s be honest—it’s no coincidence that the moment the Virginian Review cut ties with its conflicts of interest and finally stepped up to its rightful role as a true independent news source, Pandora’s box was flung wide open. Suddenly, the rats who’d been cozy in the shadows for over a decade were scrambling for cover, exposed for all to see.
Secondly, we already have a low-tech enforcement mechanism that’s been efficiently working for over 240 years. It’s not fancy, it’s not fast, but it’s effective: Upset Citizens armed with facts and our Constitution. Yes, you, me, and all the other fed-up taxpayers wield the real power. We proved this at the ballot box back in November.
Dear Shadowers, what I’m getting at is this: it’s the beautifully chaotic dance between professional news agencies and the community that keeps our little corner of the world spinning. Sure, sometimes it’s less of a dance and more of a three-car pileup on a snowy Monday morning. Other times, it’s a full-blown train wreck with flames, debris, and someone in the back yelling, “I told you this would happen!” But here’s the thing—humans are a clever bunch. We take these wrecks, these disasters, these glorious malfunctions of society, and somehow manage to learn, adapt, and come out stronger, sharper, and (hopefully) with fewer dents. To me, that’s the real meaning of being a Patriot—rolling up your sleeves, embracing the chaos, and working together to build something better.
So while we’re only 7 days into the new year, there’s already talk around town about the plans for 2025 and beyond. Things like doing a deep dive inspections into projects and finances for better transparency and accountability. The resounding cry is for more accountability within our government operations, and more enforcement actions by some various groups and folks looking to fix the well-traveled loopholes of the past. There’s even some speculation about changing Covington’s city charter on how the mayor is elected. Stay tuned.
The Shadow’s brain must have been lost in the froth of his eggnog last week, because he completely left out some Highlands Emmy awards for some very noteworthy performances. Luckily, I have my trusty Shadowers, who are much smarter than me to keep me on the straight and narrow. So, without further ado, here’s Part Two of the Highlands 2024 Emmy Awards!
In a courtroom scene right out of Law & Order, Attorney Jared Jenkins’s fall from grace was an Emmy-worthy performance that had everyone clutching their popcorn. Starting off 2024 with his removal as the Clifton Forge attorney and ending 2024 with his resignation as the Iron Gate Town Attorney and the VA State Bar, Jenkins had a rough year. He gets the “Attorneys Gone Wild” award.
Clifton Forge Mayor Jeff Irvine gets the “Social Galavant” award for his persistent social media posts and long track record of attending just about every meeting or event that he could find.
Clifton Forge Town Manager Chuck Unroe gets the “Johnny On It” Award for his ability to stay out of the Shadow’s bad books. While Unroe might have some past questionable skeletons in his closet, he made substantial efforts in 2024 to clean up and immediately fix anything that the Shadow got wind of.
The owner of the vape shop in Clifton takes home the coveted “I’m Done with This Break-In Nonsense—Who’s Got a Guy for a Metal Door?” award for his resilience and no-nonsense response to repeated burglaries. Here’s hoping Chief Balser and his team can put a stop to the ongoing theft and vandalism circus plaguing the town before we need a new category for “Best hooligans with unstoppable shenanigans.”
The Scrooge award goes to Clifton Forge Main Street for canceling the 2024 Christmas Parade (reportedly without the knowledge of the town council) as town representatives enjoyed hot chocolate at the sensory trail.
And finally, the completely unofficial, completely biased “Shadow’s Foodie Awards:” Best burger goes to The Rail Bar and Grille, Rays Sweet Shoppe and Poutinery gets the best milkshakes award (and of course coupled with a heaping bowl of fabulous Poutine!) 42 Deli takes the cake for impeccable New York style sandwiches and atmosphere. Luca’s Pizza for the best pie in town. This isn’t to discount the many wonderful small town eateries and coffee shops like the Friendly Fork, Kanawaha Cafe, the iconic Jack Mason’s, Cat & the Owl and more! If you haven’t caught on yet, I’m a foodie, so we’ll be covering all the ones I didn’t have space to mention over the next coming months. Feel free to correct me or add to my foodie fav’s list on the Shadow Facebook Page as I’m sure my biased opinions can be swayed.
And so, here we are, standing on the dawning of 2025 together. If 2024 was “The Reckoning,” then 2025 is shaping up to be “The Rebuild Year.” Rest assured, I’ll be here, keeping a sharp eye on the fresh faces of leadership now steering the Highlands, ready to cover every twist, turn, and triumph along the way.
I’m out of time, out of coffee, but I’ll leave you with a quote from Carl Bard, “Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” Let’s make 2025 a banner year in the Highlands.
