The Shadow
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CLIFTON FORGE — Walter Nicely is a candidate for Clifton Forge Town Council in the Nov. 4 election.
Nicely, an employee of the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office, is a Clifton Forge native.
After graduating from Alleghany County High School in 1984, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a military police officer stationed in Germany. He received an honorable discharge in 1988 and was hired by the Clifton Forge Police Department as a patrol officer. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was second in command at the department.
In 2001, Nicely was hired by the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office and served as a resource officer at Clifton Middle School. After serving at the school for approximately 18 months, he became a road deputy and was later promoted corporal, sergeant and lieutenant.
He now served as a captain in the Sheriff’s Office’s patrol division. Nicely oversees road deputies, scheduling and the computation of compensation time. For the past five years, he also held responsibility for coordinating and applying for state and federal grants for programs such as Click it or Ticket and Check Point Strike Force. Nicely has also helped secure federal money to increase patrols at Lake Moomaw.
Nicely also volunteers in the community. He serves on the board for Clifton Forge Little League and is umpire in chief for girl’s softball. Nicely has been head coach of a Senior Little League softball team.
If elected to council, Nicely said he will work to ensure citizens have a chance to speak at ask questions at council meetings.
“If I do not have the appropriate answer, I will get it get back in contact with them,” he said.
Nicely he would also work to keep the town from increasing its water and wastewater rates.
“I would also like to try to implement a program that would give breaks on the water and sewer bills if you are elderly and living in a one- to two-person household on a fixed income,” he said.
“I have been told that in some months, some of our retired or disabled residents and veterans have to decide between buying food, medicine or paying their water bill,” Nicely added.
Nicely said he would also work to facilitate economic development in Clifton Forge to create tax revenue and keep young families from leaving the area.
“If elected to town council, I promise to do what is in the best interests of our town and the citizens of Clifton Forge. I would always be available for ideas, concerns and comments,” he said.
Nicely resides at 60 Alleghany St. with his wife, Amanda, and two stepdaughters, Larra and Shea-Lyn, both students at Alleghany High School. Nicely also has two sons, Benjamin and Christopher Nicely, and a daughter, Crystal, who is studying nursing at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College.
