The Shadow
Dear Editor,
This letter is for the voters of Clifton Forge. I am responding to Mayor Jeff Irvine’s letter of Jan 30, 2020.
Mayor Irvine states he has been transparent and fully compliant in filing of reports with the town about finances and activities of the Clifton Forge Armory Committee (AC).
I have examined documents the town presented in response to Ms. Diana Kling Smith’s Freedom of Information Act requests.
For the two-year period of her FOIA request (2018 and 2019), there were many unexplained ATM withdrawals.
Often the deposits included no explanations as to who the payees were as well. The Armory Committee seemed to suddenly begin using checks in May of 2019. Regardless, it filed no financial data at all for September 2019. Financial records for almost all of 2018 and for January through April 2019 provided almost no explanations for financial transactions.
Mr. Irvine stated in his letter “I, as a member of the Armory Committee, am not paying anyone, as I am not the treasurer.”
Mr. Irvine is the committee president, and always has been, so he is in fact the responsible person. Additionally, I personally witnessed at the AC meeting on Jan. 27, 2020, that Mr. Irvine carried the only Armory Committee ATM card, and it has his name on it.
I have seen armory reports for three years, 2016, 2018 and 2019, sent by the Armory Committee to the town. How many unexplained ATM withdrawals were made? I am defining “unexplained” as meaning that there was no indications of who got the money from each of the ATM withdrawals.
Of the available records, there were 28 unexplained ATM withdrawals for 2016, 18 for 2018 and 10 for 2019. Also there were no identifiable annual financial reports for 2018 or 2019. Per agreement with the town, the committee is required to file an annual financial report.
What I present here is documentation to allow voters to better decide if this matter needs a more in-depth look to alleviate voter concerns. I am making no accusations outside of these facts.
As a last point, some may wonder why I make no reference to actual records held by the AC. Ms. Kling Smith did request those records. Her request was denied and Mr. Irvine would provide no reports except those being given to the town.
Mr. Irvine has stated that some changes are forthcoming. Those changes, if they occur, are a result of Ms. Kling Smith’s FOIA request, not because Mr. Irvine saw the need. We should not ignore this history of non-compliance with reporting requirements, nor should we ignore Mr. Irvine’s reluctance to be transparent. Voters should consider these issues when they go to the polls this November.
Sincerely,
Donald Roberts
McCormick Boulevard, Clifton Forge
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Dear Editor,
Please allow me space in your paper to honor the memory of my very special friend, the Rev. Lee Dotson, who went to be with Jesus on Feb. 1, 2020.
While I’ve lived and worked in this area for nearly 50 years, I?have been blessed with many good friends, associates and supporters, for which I am very appreciative. Lee was at the top of my list of blessings.
Lee was a retired United Methodist minister. He was a wonderful Christian friend and brother to everyone he met. I doubt if anyone remotely knows the number of lives in the Alleghany Highlands that he touched in a positive and meaningful way.
Lee loved God, adored his wife, Thelma and his family. He loved his church, his country and the community in which he lived. Lee loved all people. I have never heard anyone say anything but good about Lee.
I could fill your paper with the positive things that I know about Lee and the blessings I received from him. However, I think of the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 as I attempt to describe Lee’s life. It was my observation that the life he lived in an ongoing manner reflected love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control like no other I’ve seen.
In addition, Lee was an awesome prayer warrior. He believed adamantly in the power of prayer and he constantly prayed for his family, churches, his country, elected and appointed officials and any other individual or situation of which he was aware that a need existed.
Lee belonged to a men’s prayer group that meets each Tuesday at 6 a.m. at Covington Baptist Church. Lee was always there, unless there was another pressing issue that he needed to address. He attended the prayer gatherings even at times when he was not physically well.
Lee was the unofficial leader of this prayer group and we all looked up to him as our Biblical and spiritual authority. I talked to him frequently on the phone and he would almost always pray about whatever issue we discussed before we broke the connection.
Even when Lee was hospitalized and so critically ill and unable to communicate verbally, he somehow made folks know that he wanted prayer.
As I mentioned earlier, Lee adored his wife, Thelma, and the rest of his family. Thelma was always beside him and she was so supportive of his ministry, his life, and at the end, she was there for him during his illness. Thelma almost had to be forced to leave him for a moment.
I believe I can speak for everyone who knew Lee that we share with Thelma and the family in their sorrow in his passing. We miss him and we grieve with Thelma and the family. Also, we share in the family’s joy, knowing that Lee is now with God in Heaven and he is at peace.
Lastly, I think that Lee would want me to mention that our prayer group meets every Tuesday at 6 a.m. All men are welcome
Covington Baptist Church has graciously afforded us the meeting space for the group, which includes about 10 men from five churches and four denominations.
Just show up at the church’s back parking lot at 280 W. Riverside St. and someone will direct you to where we meet.
Sincerely,
John “Woody” Woodzell
Grande Road, Covington
