Distributed Free On Fridays For 11 Years! October 16, 2020 www.pcpatriot.com Locally Owned And Operated Insuring You & Yours Karen Tuggle Brad Alley Lynn White Home • Auto • Life • Business 611 East Main Street Dublin, VA 24084 • 540-674-4678 Mike Williams/The Patriot www.insurancecenterofdublin.com Members of the Pulaski County School Board cut a ribbong to officially open the new Pulaski County Middle School. (From left) Penny Golden, Beckie Cox, Dr. Paige Cash, Tim Hurst and Bill WEEKEND WEATHER Benson, along with former chairman Mike Barbour. Saturday Sunday Ceremony officially opens new Sunny, with a high near 58. Mostly sunny, with a high near Light and variable wind. 64. Saturday Night - Mostly clear, Sunday Night - Partly cloudy, Pulaski County Middle School with a low around 46. with a low around 37. “Welcome to Pulaski County Middle School!” taking. However, to quote the late Rev. Billy Gra- - Dr. Kevin Siers ham, ‘Comfort and prosperity has never enriched By MIKE WILLIAMS the world as much as adversity has.’ As you can see The Patriot here, adversity turned out the most beautiful mid- dle school in the state of Virginia.” Pulaski County Middle School was officially Siers introduced those responsible for the com- opened Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony pletion of the school’s construction, including and tours – even though students have been attend- the design firm, RRMM; construction company ing class there since early September. Branch Builds and construction management firm Officially welcoming a large crowd to the school, Skanska. Superintendent Dr. Kevin Siers spoke about the He reserved special recognition for the school effort to make the school a reality and introduced system’s Director of Operations, Jess Shull. several who have played a major role in its creation. “There is absolutely no way Pulaski County Introducing current and former members of the Middle School would be open today, or would it board of supervisors, Siers said, “It’s no secret be as nice as it turned out, without the determi- turning Pulaski County Middle School into a reali- ty was a difficult and sometimes contentious under- See SCHOOL, page A5 ACCE INSIDE Hokies Face BC Radford Chamber ‘Crown Princes’ Virginia Tech of Commerce gives Pulaski County’s readies for 3-1 ACCE at NRCC ‘Crown Princes’ Boston College; a boost. triplets turning 64. Hooker to start Page A2 Page A3 Page B1 New Positions, Companies & Area Great Opportunity If You Great Opportunity If You Live Live In Barren Springs, Pulaski and Galax, Hillsville and Floyd. 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TO SOMETHING 540-674-3103 We've Got Got We've Locally Owned & Operated • www.valleystaffingjobs.com Page A2 - The Patriot - October 16 2020 Radford Chamber boosts ACCE at NRCC Board increases business grant funding October 9, 2020, the Pulas- ki County Board of Supervisors will once again be allocating ad- ditional funding in the amount of $125,000.00, for a total amount of $750,000.00 to their Pulaski County Small Business Recov- ery Grant Program to further support 25 more local small busi- nesses with recovering from the comprehensive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to assist Radford Chamber of Commerce photos them with expenses in response to In the group photo from left: Deborah Kennedy, Jamie Little, Ciara Harris, Brad Angell, Micah Price, Keith Weltens, Radford ACCE COVID-19. Students, Angie Covey, Erika Tolbert, Abram Williams, Ryan Seavy, Kim Repass This allocation will take the program’s maximum capacity to From the Radford Chamber 150 - $5,000.00 grants. of Commerce The Small Business Recovery Grants are available in amounts On Tuesday, October 6th the ranging from $1,000.00 to Radford Chamber of Commerce $5,000.00 through a direct appli- presented a check to New Riv- cation on a first-come-first-serve er Community College at the basis for registered small busi- West End Triangle Plaza. Rad- nesses located in Pulaski Coun- ford ACCE students, along with ty, who have 25 employees or the chamber Board of Directors, less, are in good standing with Radford City Public Schools and the State Corporation Commis- NRCC representatives were pres- sion and/or local business licen- ent. sures (if applicable), and are up to The Chamber is excited to an- date on all Pulaski County taxes, nounce that after fundraising ef- charges and fees. forts of the business community, The grants are easily applied the Directors elected to assist in for through a simple two-page ap- the support of NRCC ACCE for plication comprised of only nine Radford! questions and a written summary The Radford Chamber hopes of how your business has been im- to continue to raise funds to help pacted by COVID-19. Approved support the education and train- expenses that have occurred after ing of local students, to be placed March 1, 2020, and before De- into the community and work in cember 30, 2020, are items such local businesses. as: rent/mortgage, payroll, em- The chamber works to under- ployee benefits, reopening costs, stand the importance for growing utilities, marketing, vendor pay- and driving economic develop- ments, equipment purchases, per- ment in the NRV and for Radford sonal protective equipment (PPE) through this initiative. Thank and supplies and new software. A you for continued support of the From left: Ciara Harris (Executive Director of Radford Chamber of Commerce), Angie Covey (Ex- ecutive Director NRCC Educational Foundation), Erika Tolbert, and Abram Williams (First Street W-9 must be completed and at- scholarship program! tached to all applications. If you’d like to make a donation Properties, Chamber Board President) to the program on behalf of your business, please visit our web- Griffith applauds $32,940 for N.R. Water Trail Expansion See GRANTS, page A3 site www.radfordchamber.com/ about. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Wednesday award- ed $32,940 to the New River Valley Regional Commission for the New River Water Trail Expansion project. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following state- ment: “Our region’s natural scenery draws visitors while offering rec- reation to residents, supporting economic growth. ARC’s award of $32,940 will advance the work of the New River Water Trail Expan- sion project to make local natural assets into destinations for tourists and locals seeking recreation activities.” The Patriot - October 16, 2020 - Page A3 Town opts for virtual costume contest, won’t sponsor Treat Trail From Town of Pulaski get closer to Halloween, we will update you on which businesses Following a discussion held will be participating so that you last Thursday morning regard- can map out a trick or treating ing our Trunk or Treat and Treat route. Trail Halloween events, the We know that this news may Town of Pulaski has made sev- not be what some were hoping eral decisions in relation to these to hear, but we believe that this activities. is the best course of action to al- Trunk or Treat, which is usu- low families and children to still ally held in Jackson Park, will have fun on Halloween night be cancelled. Due to the large without additional risk regard- number of people that would be ing COVID19. There are other present, there isn’t a safe way to events being held that you may implement the required social consider participating in, such as distancing guidelines to ensure a the drive-through Treat Trail at successful and responsible event Randolph Park or the Halloween for everyone involved. Bash at Calfee Park. However, the Costume Contest portion of the event will still be As a reminder, the Town is not taking place, virtually. We plan involved in decisions regarding on expanding on the contest this door-to-door trick or treating. year to make it even more enter- We continue to recommend that Pulaski County’s ‘Crown Princes’ taining for those who wish to en- you follow the CDC’s guidelines Pulaski County triplets Jerry Melvin, Perry Alvin and Terry Calvin Selleck were born on Oct. 19, 1956, ter, so look for more news on that on best social distancing practic- to Mr. & Mrs. John and Frances Selleck of Dublin. The triplets are fraternal. They will soon celebrate activity in the near future. es while out on Halloween night their 64th birthday. They were born in the Pulaski Hospital and delivered by Dr. Yonne Varese of New- In regard to the Treat Trail, we with your family, which you can bern. They were dubbed Pulaski County’s “Crown Princes” at the time they were born and were met have decided that participation find at the link below. with an outpouring of best wishes from the citizens of Pulaski County. The triplets joined four other will be at the discretion of indi- CDC Halloween Guidelines: siblings at home. (Top photo – left to right) Jerry Melvin, Perry Alvin and Terry Calvin Selleck pose for vidual businesses. As such, the https://www.cdc.gov/coronavi- a photograph in their United Clipper wagon. (Below – left to right) brothers Jerry, Perry and Terry a few Treat Trail will not be officially rus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/ years later. ( sponsored by the Town. As we holidays.html#halloween Submitted by their oldest sister Billie Gerringer) Fall Festival planned for River of Life Church in Dublin A Fall Festival will be held at the River of Life Church in Dublin on Saturday, Oct.