Buildings, Plans, Destruction & Other Cool Stuff The Alleghany Traveler   (Editor's note: The Alleghany Traveler is, in fact, the original writer of what many in our region once knew as "The Shadow." But when the newspaper was sold to the competition in 1988, the name "The Shadow" was sold, too, so despite the fact that the talent remains, using that name isn't fair.) So, let's get on with it for some down-to-earth news. • My tennis shoes keep wearing out. That's because all the hiding I have to do to collect the vast amount of REAL local news I want to report about results in sneaking behind rough buildings and crouching in attics or walking miles to get the facts I need. I refuse to pay more than $18 for a pair, despite the fact that I do have size 14 feet. Try to match that, will ya? What I've found recently on the REAL news beat has been interesting: - VDOT is making good progress on both the planning for the Low Moor interchange modifications (apparently on schedule and so far, on budget) and in nearby Botetourt County, substantial work proceeds apace near the Gala area to correct some of the worst aspects of Rte. 220 that citizens in our region want fixed. So, kudos to both VDOT and the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors for doing what is necessary to make both projects run as smoothly as possible. On the OTHER hand, if the Low Moor interchange project ends up with traffic backed up in I-64's fast-moving lanes, one might expect not a few tough words coming from the school traffic parents having to deal with it. Maybe we'll need a warning sign posted on both the east and west entrances to the Low Moor exit which says, "Caution, strong language expected!" We'll see. • A small group of officials and other interested parties are pushing for a so-called "Broadband Authority" to be created to assist in the development of more and better regional Internet access. That group needs to know that there are many folks in the region who do not necessarily like the idea of "Authority" due to the fact that in Virginia, this concept basically involves an almost totally independent public corporation-like setup. Many residents want to know how that type of entity will be controlled, how will members be appointed and their terms set, etc. etc. There was a meeting held on the the Broadband topic at DSLCC on Tuesday, Nov. 14th, but very few people showed up. Sheesh, two the local major providers of Internet services didn't even show up, leaving just Lumos there to answer questions from the public. The fact that only about 35 citizens showed up means that a) the meeting was poorly advertised or b) not many people are actually that concerned about the issue. I prefer to think that, just like many other public meetings, folks just didn't get enough background material to convince them that they'd learn that much from going. The Broadband study is nearing its conclusion, however. And this has a huge potential for the entire Highlands area....that is, if it's managed correctly. • I've heard rumors that we'll soon see more action to promote drone racing or other events around here. Really? Who's pushing this? Have them email the The Alleghany Traveler and supply me more details so I can help promote this. This is not just "cool," it's WAY COOL! • Perhaps you missed it and if you did, dedicate yourself not to miss it next year. Jim Rhodes, Post Commander of a local VFW group had this to say on Veterans Day: Click here for his brief talk. And remember: these are among the individuals who make sure that tanks from foreign powers aren't rolling down our streets.... • What in the world? What has happened to what used to be a major Democratic Party stronghold in the Alleghany Highlands? All the jurisdictions and precincts without exception, voted for Donald Trump for president. That's Bath County, Alleghany County, Covington, Clifton Forge and Iron Gate, just to name a few places. What a change from the old days. • Soon, perhaps very soon, photographers will be lined up probably at or near Scott Hill in Clifton Forge for a once-in-a-lifetime event: the destruction of the huge smokestack at the old CSX railyard facility. That baby won't come down easily, I'll bet, for it's constructed of interlocking huge bricks and strong mortar...but down it will come after the town of Clifton Forge and its demolition contractor get going. But first, before the stack and all those crappy, mosquito infested buildings come down, a big bunch of asbestos has to be removed. That shouldn't take that long. The videos and photos of the stack coming down will be seen worldwide, methinks... well, I plan to make SURE that they do. Join me! Let's have a beer to celebrate this event. Nice note: the old turntable structure will be purchased by the C&O Historical Society for about $15,000 and will be relocated at the Railroad Heritage facility for folks to enjoy for decades more. That thing is still operational! • Imagine this! Emergency personnel - many of whom dedicate their bodies and time free to keep us safe, rescue us and more - may get a communications system that is worthy of their service. But let me caution all of you: this ain't gonna come cheap. I'm talking several millions of dollars, folks. Getting Covington, Alleghany County and Clifton Forge all on the same communications "page" and ensuring good communications is a project that Alleghany County and Covington have been working on for months. So, look forward to some announcements on the concept as the plans progress. There's even the future possibility of the new system being able to be linked with Rockbridge County and Bath County to make regional cooperation and communications more fluid. Stay tuned! • There's a new owner at Alleghany Motors, I've heard. Stop in to meet him. We need strong, responsible auto dealers in the region and this change of management is a welcome turn for an organization so many have done business with for years. Good luck! • At a recent soup event held at the Masonic Amphitheatre, apparently one customer liked Steve Greenblatt's clam chowder so well that he called him to request an additional special brew of it - to which Steve, owner of Vic's Restaurant, quickly agreed. That's great service and a great attitude. I'm a chili and broccoli cheese soup guy myself. • Tell me your secrets, send me some rumors. Tell me about anybody lying to the public about any subject. The best thing about being an AlleghanyJournal.com columnist is that I am 100% independent. That means you get the straight stuff, 100% of the time to the extent that I know about it. And that's where all of YOU, come in. All you have to do is email me at traveler@alleghanyjournal.com and you'll get a response from me quickly! See ya right here again next week! And here's a final hat tip to the old "Shadow." The name was suggested by former Farrar's Drug Store owner James C. Bay, who became tired of not getting the "straight stuff" from the local newspapers at the time. I knew Jim and told him I'd ask the "Daily Review's" owner if I could provide the "straight stuff" on a weekly basis and the owner said, "of course!" There's some history for you.... • By the way, I'm aware that many of you have zero voice in community affairs or if you own a business, don't have a huge coffer of cash to promote it. I'm going to partner with BOTH of you to change this. The web is an amazing thing, capable of change and significant power. In that regard, a friend of mine reminded me that she had some concerns she'd not previously expressed to me: there were NO black police officers in Clifton Forge, she said. There are no black members of town council. There are no black town officials either. My response was: "Hmmm, I admit not having thought about that lately." And, she said, Washington Park really no longer should be known as the "black park," because she's seen plenty of white folks using it. My response was "great," and I admitted that that park really hadn't received much attention in recent years. For what it's worth, there have been three local donors who've given a total of $2900 to fix up the park since several members of the black community complained of its relatively sorry condition. All are white. While that may NOT be all that significant to many, it seems to me, however, that some folks are beginning to listen and that's a start. Linden Park got tens of thousands of dollars in upgrading and Washington Park was so overgrown and messed up that when the public works crew start cleaning it up, metal grills were in place at the rear, but the weeds and overgrowth had overtaken them to the point of hiding them. Sheesh.

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