July 24, 2020 County to Offer ‘Out of School’ Program Grants the Pulaski County Board of Or to Initiating Programming
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Distributed Free On Fridays For 11 Years! Locally Owned And Operated Work has begun on Countryside Landing By DANIELLE REID for 494 residential building units including single The Patriot family dwellings, town homes, duplexes and apart- ments. The building project, which broke ground “Rain, rain – go away…” is probably a frequent earlier this year will be phased in over a 10- year prayer of those doing construction projects this period. summer. Among those whose projects have had Rutledge and his crew are currently excavating too many rainy-day delays is the new Countryside and developing the site for infrastructure: roads, Landing Subdivision, proposed by Shah Devel- water and sewer lines and storm water manage- opment LLC partners, Larry Shelor and David ment before beginning Phase 1. Hagan. “In Phase 1, we plan to have homes under con- Shah Development Project Manager Thom Rut- struction by the end of summer or early fall. We ledge remarked, “We are about two months behind are projecting 47 single family homes with square schedule because of all the rain. The heat doesn’t footage between 2,000 – 2,200 square feet.” affect us. That’s part of the job, but the rain makes Most homes will be on half-acre lots. excavation difficult.” Rutledge praises Shah for their special planning Three hundred-plus acres located behind the for the subdivision. new Pulaski County Middle School will be the site See WORK, page A8 WEEKEND WEATHER Saturday Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near Sunny and hot, with a high near 89. Calm wind. Chance of pre- 90. cipitation is 30%. Sunday Night - Partly cloudy, Saturday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 68. with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Shoney’s closes - maybe for good By MIKE WILLIAMS “We simply had to make some difficult choic- The Patriot es because of low sales, and we have closed two (Shoney’s) locations, the one in Bristol and the one Shoney’s in Dublin is closed again … and this in Dublin.” time it may be for good. Shoney’s in Dublin had been closed during the News of its closing broke this week on Facebook, COVID-19 pandemic, however, when the governor and while early reports said the restaurant was gone eased restrictions and the state entered Phase 3 of for good, its owners say they still hope to re-open reopening plans the restaurant reopened. in the future. “We have been able to be open since we were “Hopefully it is only temporary again,” stated shut down before because we had gotten a Payroll Susan D. Spencer of Young & Associates, owners Protection Loan, so our payroll has been coming of the Shoney’s and Bojangles restaurants between Dublin and Bristol. See SHONEY’S, page A2 Pulaski Drain Service and Plumbing Repairs Water Heaters Faucets • Toilets & More Classifieds Reasonable Prices No Job Too Small FREE 'The Right WWay,ay, Right AAway!'way!' Call 540-808-3949 Call 540-998-1223 SOMETHING TO SELL? TO SOMETHING We've Got Got We've Experienced, Licensed & Insured Page A2 - The Patriot - July 24, 2020 County to offer ‘out of school’ program grants The Pulaski County Board of or to initiating programming. and above, including school-age sources as possible”, stated Joe quality of offerings and services Supervisors has developed the “A major concern across Vir- children up to age 13, the group Guthrie, Chair of the Pulaski provided to students through the Pulaski County Emergency ‘Out ginia is what to do with our chil- size maximum is 22 (including County Board of Supervisors. program. of School’ Program Grant to sup- dren when our workforce returns staff) as long as social distanc- “The Board believes we will get port the development and imple- to work and schools are closed ing of six feet apart is maintained a better product if we challenge The County of Pulaski will mentation of ‘out of school’ pro- due to compliance with physical and age-based adult-to-child ra- our for- and non-profit communi- administer this new program. grams that caters to our students’ distancing mandates put in place tios are followed. Groups of chil- ty to develop new out of school Forms can be downloaded from needs in response to the impacts as a response to COVID-19”, dren may share the same physical programs to fill the gaps created the Pulaski County website at: of physical distancing require- stated Jonathan D. Sweet, Coun- space (e.g. classroom, gymnasi- by the Coronavirus and we are www.pulaskicounty.org. Appli- ments on educational regulations ty Administrator. “We need our um) so long as physical distanc- committed to making an invest- cations and accompanying pro- due to COVID-19. community partners to step up to ing of six feet can be maintained ment toward jumpstarting and posals will be accepted starting The Pulaski County Emer- the challenge and develop new and children do not mix between achieving this goal.” on August 3, 2020 and will close gency ‘Out of School’ Pro- “out of school” programs that groups. The six feet distance The applications and ‘out of on August 31, 2020. gram Grants will be awarded in will help our Pulaski County requirement is primarily what is school’ program proposals in amounts of up to $7,500.00 will families place their kids in a safe limiting the number of children response to COVID-19 will be The entirety of the program is be made available through a di- environment when school is not that can be served within the ex- awarded based on a competitive funded at a level of $30,000.00 rect application and written pro- an option. This new grant pro- isting square footage of childcare basis, with up to 40 points being through a CARES Act appropria- posal and competitive selection gram is designed to assist with facilities. given for demonstrated ability tion to Pulaski County, Virginia. process. The program grants are filling this need and we trust we “It is important that we think to implement, operate and sus- The Pulaski County Emergency for both non-profit and for-profit will see new programming mate- local to solve problems and to do tain program; up to 25 points ‘Out of School’ Program Grants entities and organizations who rialize as a result.” all we can to turn challenges into given for the number of children will conclude on August 31, 2020 are based and operating in Pulas- Physical distancing require- opportunities using as many of served by program; and up to 35 or at which time the funds for the ki County, are in good standing ments has proven to be one of or community partners and re- points given for the quantity and program have been depleted. with the State Corporation Com- the biggest challenges for school mission (SCC), are up to date on systems and is what is driving all Pulaski County taxes, charges the modified school schedule.County to offer local childcare and fees, were in operation pri- Currently, the group size limit is or to February 15, 2020 and are 12 (including staff) for children willing to attain any required under 4 years old provided age- centers emergency recovery grants licensures, certifications or- ap based adult-to-child ratios are The Pulaski County Board of Centers in Pulaski County who “We are finding that childcare provals that may be required pri- followed. For children ages four Supervisors has developed the have all the required state licen- centers around Virginia are hav- Pulaski County Childcare Center sures and certifications, are ining an increasingly difficult time Emergency Recovery Grant Pro- good standing with the State Cor- reopening and operating because gram to support local certified poration Commission (SCC), are of the spatial restrictions put on Donley’s childcare centers with recovering up to date on all Pulaski County them and the limitations brought from the comprehensive impacts taxes, charges and fees, and were on by their existing facility’s of the COVID-19 pandemic and in operation prior to February 15, square footage”, stated Jonathan to assist them with mitigating 2020. Barber Shop See GRANTS, page A3 expenses resulting from new re- Asa Burchett will be joining me on quirements and regulations im- Thursdays each week. posed by the Commonwealth to Asa brings many years of experience. reopen and to continue childcare Shoney’s operations under phased guide- Continued from Page A1 Please stop in and help me welcome Asa! lines. Childcare Center Emergency from that account,” Spencer ex- vital to the restaurant’s business. Recovery Grants in the amount plained. “Unfortunately, that 254 West Main Street, Dublin was exhausted this week and we That’s just not happening of $5,000.00 and up to $10,000.00 enough now due to the pandemic. 540-320-4583 will be made available through a cannot continue to meet payroll direct application for Childcare and bills for food, utilities, re- “People just are not traveling pairs, etc., so we had to close the like normal, and are wary about two restaurants with the lowest eating out, and there is nothing sales and see how we do. There is that any amount of advertising, talk that we may be able to apply etc. is going to do to change for a 2nd loan, but that has to get that with the current situation,” through Congress, and our fran- Spencer said. “Even if there were chise may be considered too large travelers, etc. out there, we can’t at this point to qualify if they are really fully seat our dining rooms going to specifically help smaller and maintain social distance, al- business owners first this time.” though I don’t think it’s been a While Shoney’s has always case that we have had waiting been popular with locals, travel- lines.