Poquoson's Reed Booth won over Richlands' Andrew Boyd Saturday night in the VHSL Class 2 157 State Wrestling finals.
Poquoson's Reed Booth won over Richlands' Andrew Boyd Saturday night in the VHSL Class 2 157 State Wrestling finals.
Richland_clinch_valley
Film debut draws overflow crowd
In the summer of 1880 four young black children died in a house fire in Burke’s Garden.
The fire and the deaths of those children are the subject of “A Silent Fire," directed by Macie Alford and produced by Jorge Rey of Beartown Film Bureau. The Tazewell County Public Library partnered with the filmmakers to present its debut showing, Feb. 20, at the Tazewell Train Station.
The plan was for one show, but audience size required an impromptu second screening that same night. A third one is scheduled for March 6.
Alford, a Tazewell native and Virginia Tech student majoring in history and political science began working with Rey on the project over two years ago.
It was slow going and few details about the incident were found.
“American history is not the tidy, clean and simple fairytale we have all been fed. The truth is, history is messy and not always complete," Rey said.
The June 17, 1880, edition of the Evening Star, published in Washington D.C., ran a short story picked up from the Wytheville Enterprise stating that four Black children had died in a fire in Burke’s Garden.
The article said the parents had gone to church and it was assumed all four children were asleep. It also said the fire was so out of control by the time people arrived on the scene it was not safe to attempt entry.
Alford’s research revealed that the children were Bishops and ranged in age from 6 to 2. She could not determine any cause of the fire or the history of the family. What she did learn was there are large gaps in the history of Black people in Tazewell County.
She interviewed local historians as well as professors at Virginia Tech. She also researched local records at the courthouse, historical society and public library. Circuit Clerk Charity Hurst, Jameson Jones and Dr. Terry Mullins from the historical society and Chris Wilkes from the library are among the on-camera interviews.
Burke’s Garden native Sarah Brown-White guided Alford to the cemetery in Burke’s Garden where several Black people are buried. Alford plans to continue her research and hopes to make people aware of the need to record and preserve history.
She said talking about the past might make some people uncomfortable, but it is necessary.
“With the state of the world we are in we have to have uncomfortable conversations not only about the past but about the present. It is not only to tell the story that has been untold for almost one hundred years but to create ideas of better ways to move toward our future," she said.
The documentary is being reviewed by PBS for airing soon. Rey’s company has produced documentaries about Blackberry Winter, the Richlands Mural, Appa Bagworks, Local artists Scott Shafer and Nancy Brooks, among others. Several of his productions have been aired by PBS.
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Lane McMullen of Tazewell went over the 1,000-point mark for his career in the game with Richlands. Michele Ball
Lane McMullen of Tazewell went over the 1,000-point mark for his career in the game with Richlands. Michele Ball
Richland_clinch_valley
Tazewell council gives go ahead to July 3 fireworks
Tazewell Va. – Liability is the biggest issue with the town fire department shooting the July 4 fireworks.
Town Manager Leeann Regon told council at its Feb. 10 meeting that the town’s insurance will not cover volunteer firefighters. Regon said the company advised that the firefighters would need to obtain their own policy and to check with their health insurance carrier about coverage for injuries.
She said the insurance also advised against town firefighters going to other towns to shoot fireworks. That had been suggested as a way to help firefighters comply with the requirement to work five shows per year to be licensed.
Regon told council the company that has shot the fireworks in the past has offered to do it on July 3 for $14,000. She said the $2,000 increase in cost was due to tariffs. Council voted to proceed with the July 3 show for $14,000.
In other action council:
*Heard from Betty Wallace about Black History in Tazewell County. February is Black History month.
*Recognized Between Friends gift shop for 20 years as a merchant in Tazewell.
*Heard from Emily Combs Davis that 381 people entered the raffle held in connection with Restaurant Week Jan. 19-25.
*Also heard from Davis that the annual easter egg hunt will be held Mar. 28.
*Received an update from Councilmember Zach Cline on the development of a five -year comprehensive plan for the town. Cline invited anyone interested in the town’s future to attend the group’s meetings.
*Waived the second reading and voted to approve the closing of a portion of Bishop Street.
*Heard from Cara Spivey and Jordan Dillon about establishing a work force development hub at 1616 Riverside drive.
*Approved Police Chief Stan Lampert’s request to allow a retiring officer to purchase their weapon for $1.
*Heard from Lampert that a quote has been received and the fence ordered for the department.
*Learned from Regon that materials have been received and work started on the pavilion and farmer’s market with a tentative ribbon cutting for May 1 and first market for May 2.
*Heard from Regon that a $30,000 grant has been applied for to use for financing the mountain bike trail.
*Voted to establish a committee of seven people to develop recreation activities for the town.
*Adjourned until March 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Richland_clinch_valley
Richlands looking to aid new businesses
Richlands may soon be offering small business expansion grants.
Joseph Vance and Lynna Mitchell, representing the town’s Industrial and Economic Development Authority, presented the group’s plans at the Feb. 10 town council meeting. Vance said capital investment is the purpose of the grant.
He said the grants would be for equipment and would require one full-time employee. Mitchell said the program would offer up to $2,500. Mitchell said the money would be given after one year when the company showed proof of adding an employee. Mitchell said the program will focus on existing businesses. She said the enterprise zone's incentives would assist new businesses.
Mitchell asked council to consider funding the program in the upcoming budget. Council Member Seth White suggested going to Cumberland Plateau or other groups to see if funding could be found for the program.
Interim Town Manager Don Marr encouraged council to look at both sides of the budget.
"You can’t just cut your way to financial stability," he said.
In other action council:
*Received an update from Zach Romano of Quantum Power. He said the generator has been purchased and is waiting to be delivered. He said right of way and other permitting is critical. Romano said the best-case scenario would have the generator operational in the fourth quarter of 2027. He said AMLER funding is contingent on using American made equipment. He said pressure from outside sources have delayed the project.
*Approved a conditional use permit for 1205 Front Street.
*Received an update on the wastewater treatment plant renovations.
*Heard from Interim Town Manager Don Marr about the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. He said the project is specifically debris removal from streams. The grants are 75 percent of the cost with the locality providing 25 percent through either in kind or cash. The town’s portion is $159,000.  Council voted to approve the grant.
*Heard from Marr that the town has received a grant to fund a flood plan administrator. The grant would pay for the position for five years. The town received $657,000 which would cover the salary and benefits.
*Authorized Marr to sign a contract for fireworks for the Freedom Festival.
*Voted 5-0 to proceed with purchasing a new tanker for the fire department.
*Heard from Marr and Jason Shepherd that the salt building is becoming a safety hazard. He said the building does not have capacity to store salt and it also leaks. Â Shepherd said the town can use VDOT money to purchase a new facility. He said getting the building out of the town would be a plus. Council voted 3-2 to proceed with the plan.
*Voted 3-2 to purchase a grader for the street department.
