Craigsville debt, Staunton demolition, bike tour, and band: THE DIGEST
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Staunton downtown association names new executive director
STAUNTON – The Staunton Downtown Development Association has named David Greiner as its new executive director.
"I'm extremely honored and excited to assume this role and to have the opportunity to take downtown Staunton and the SDDA to the next level,” said Greiner. “I'm looking forward to supporting and promoting the many vibrant businesses of downtown Staunton."
Greiner previously retired from a 35-year career in wealth management and banking with Merrill Lynch and Bank of America. He has also worked with non-profits, such as the Asheville Humane Society, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, Homeward Bound of Western NC, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, and the Western NC AIDS Project.
“I am excited to have David join the SDDA as our next executive director. He brings decades of experience and has a proven history of growing and supporting businesses and non-profits. He is the right person for Staunton’s next phase of growth,” said Jessica Godsie Sawyers, the SDDA Board of Directors President.
The association’s press release encouraged anyone interested in the organization come to a meet and greet at Yelping Dog Wine on June 19 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Craigsville announces hiring event and resource fair in June
CRAIGSVILLE – Craigsville residents looking for new work will have a chance this week. A job fair will take place at the Craigsville Community Center on June 11, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The hiring event will host a variety of employers, including Augusta Health, City of Staunton and Staunton Public Schools, Blue Ridge Pallet, Farmer Focus, Modine, Middle River Regional Jail, Berry Global, and the U.S. Navy.
The Resource Fair will include the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board, Virginia Works, EnrollVA, Moving Forward Re-Entry, and Central Shenandoah Health District, and more.
– August Schwaner contributed to the reporting of this story.
Craigsville mayor thanks legislature for debt payment
CRAIGSVILLE – During the June 6 Craigsville Town Council meeting, Mayor Richard Fox started by thanking the Lord and the General Assembly.
After the Virginia Department of Corrections chose to shut down the Augusta Correctional Center located in Craigsville, the town was stuck with millions in infrastructure debt related to the prison. The recently-passed Virginia budget granted the town $3.8 million to pay off the debt.
According to Fox, the budgeted money could be used to pay off the town’s loans as early as the first of July.
“It’s a real blessing to try to see that happening, to keep our town incorporated, to keep it moving,” the mayor said, adding that the council “had to crunch some major figures” in the Craigsville budget to make things work.
Fox noted that with the Correctional Center closing, the upcoming budget was more uncertain than previous years. The council unanimously approved the first reading of the budget, with operating expenses totaling $738,266.
The budget is expected to be approved during the next council meeting on July 1, with the council meeting moved to earlier in the week due to the Fourth of July.
– August Schwaner contributed to the reporting of this story.
Heck's building demolished as part of Staunton's courthouse project
STAUNTON – Demolition has begun for the Staunton Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courthouse project.
On April 4, Staunton announced Howard Shockey and Sons was the lowest bidder at $18.8 million. The city broke ground on the project on April 16.
Last week, the Staunton Facebook page posted, “Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court construction update: The former Heck's building is prepped & permitted for demolition and scheduled to begin next Monday. Site clearing continues behind the buildings. The water line has been installed from West Beverley through much of the property. The former Big Lots is being prepped for demolition.”
By the evening of June 6, much of the former Heck’s building was gone.
The two-story, 34,330-square-foot courthouse’s final site plan is available online. For a higher resolution of the floor plans than in previous reporting by The News Leader, see pages 30 and 32.
Bike tour fundraiser returns to Staunton for ninth year
STAUNTON – The Lee Warren Queen City Century Bike Tour is returning for the 9th annual tour.
Registration for the tour costs $50, with proceeds going to Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta.
“Every penny [is] going to supporting Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta, a nonprofit organization serving the needs of our most vulnerable community members with our mission of safe, warm, dry and accessible,” Carolyn Ford wrote to The News Leader.
Interested cyclists should go to the Sunspots Pavilion in Staunton on June 15. Registration will open at 6:30 a.m. on the day of the event, or here online, for either the 100, 50, Metric century, and 25-mile options. Snacks, fruit, water, and Gatorade will be available.
Stonewall Brigade Band returns for 169th year
STAUNTON – The Stonewall Brigade Band has returned for a summer of free concerts.
The first concert of 2024 came to Gypsy Hill Park on June 3. According to the band’s website, this year is the 169th continuous year and the 135th season in Gypsy Hill Park.
The June 3 concert featured a selection of music from Disney films, ranging from Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and the Disney classics. The band will return to the Stonewall Brigade Bandstand every Monday night at 7 p.m. from June to August. Each concert is different, the schedule showing American classics, marches, and recognizable movie scores.
VDOT traffic alerts for June 10 through June 14
STAUNTON – The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.
INTERSTATE 64
Mile marker 95 to 98, eastbound and westbound – Overnight single lane and shoulder closures for sign installation work, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Wednesday nights.
INTERSTATE 81
*NEW* Mile marker 205 to 211, northbound – Overnight single lane closures for pavement resurfacing, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights June 13 – August 16.
Mile marker 206 to 236, northbound and southbound – Overnight single lane closures for paving operations, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights through June 20.
*NEW* Mile marker 208 to 205, southbound – Right shoulder closures for shoulder repairs, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday.
Mile marker 214 to 210, southbound – Alternating lane closures for milling and paving operations, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights through July 25. Exit 213 traffic will be detoured during ramp paving.
*UPDATE* Mile marker 221 to 227, northbound and southbound – Left and right shoulder closures in place 24/7 through spring 2026. Work zone speed limit 60 miles an hour. Traffic restrictions are for I-81 widening project.
Mile marker 221 to 223, northbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for paving approaches to bridges over I-81 ramp and railway, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights through June 20.
*NEW* Mile marker 224 to 223, southbound – Right shoulder closures for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mile marker 225 to 227, northbound and southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for bridge maintenance, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights through June 27.
PRIMARY ROADS
*UPDATE* Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 772 (Sulfur Pump Road) and Route 865 (Rockfish Road) for maintenance to bridge over Middle River, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through June 28.
*NEW* Route 340 (Stuarts Draft Highway) – Brief northbound and southbound closures between Route 654/909 (White Hill Road/Johnson Drive) and Route 608 (Draft Avenue/Tinkling Springs Road) for utility work, between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday (June 9).
*NEW* Route 340 (Stuarts Draft Highway) – Southbound right shoulder closures between Route 1510 (Stuart Avenue) and Route 608 (Draft Avenue/Tinkling Spring Road) for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
SECONDARY ROADS
Route 610 (Howardsville Turnpike) – Flagger traffic control between Route 855 (Mill Creek Lane) and Route 623 (Back Creek Lane) for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through June 13.
*UPDATE* Route 619 (Purple Cow Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 340 (East Side Highway) and Route 611 (Calf Mountain Road/Dooms Crossing Road) for utility pole installation, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through June 20.
Route 623 (Back Creek Lane) – Flagger traffic control between Route 610 (Howardsville Turnpike) and dead end for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through June 13.
Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through May 2025.
Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) – Closed between I-81 frontage roads (FR-217 and FR-218) for bridge replacement as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project. Follow posted detour. Expected completion summer 2025.
Route 662 (Greenville School Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 1205 (Main Street, Greenville) and Route 608 (Cold Springs Road) for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through June 13.
Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through June 2025.
Route 670 (Wagon Shop Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 675 (Callison Mill Road) and Route 674 (Pilson Road) for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through June 13.
Route 675/670/604 (Broadhead School Road/McClures Mill Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 919 (Old Providence Road) and Route 675 (Callison Mill Road) for utility work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through June 27.
Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations. Flagger traffic control for drainage work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: THE DIGEST: Craigsville debt, Staunton demolition, bike tour, and band