Surviving are his nephews, Mike Miller and wife, Shirley, of Dublin; Tom Miller and wife, Lisa, of Riner; Steve Miller and wife, Sharon, of Lakeland, Fla.; Eric Miller, of Richmond; his special cousin, Louise Miller Haynes, of Pulaski and his niece, Rebecca H. Harrison, of Ashburn; nephews, Jason Burke and wife, Julie Ann, of Rockwell, N.C.; James Burke and wife, Monica, of Huntersville, N.C.; W.J. Clark and his wife, Mary Jane, of Chicago, Ill.; Marshall Clark and his wife, Fele, of Virginia Beach, and Carrie Crosby and her husband, Ed, of Yorktown. The family would like to give special thanks to his church deacon, Larry Markham, the staff of the Virginia Veterans Care Center, and the staff of Good Samaritan Hospice for their loving care and concern during his illness.

A graveside service will be held in Thornspring Cemetery, Pulaski County at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2013 with Chaplain Marvin Barbre officiating.  There will be no public visitation.  The family asks that donations be made to Good Samaritan Hospice, 2408 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018.

Oakey’s South Chapel is handling funeral arrangements.

melinda@southwesttimes.com

Pulaski Fire Department will hold its annual barbecue dinner and auction fundraiser Saturday evening at Pulaski Elementary School.

The event runs 4-8 p.m., with the live auction beginning at 6 p.m.

The department will be serving its “one-of-a-kind” Fire Prevention Barbecue plates, which include pork barbecue, slaw, baked beans, cheese, chips, drink and dessert. Hot dogs will also be available.

According to the department, the auction will offer lots of “great deals you won’t find anywhere else.”

All proceeds benefit the fire department.

shannon@southwesttimes.com

At the last Pulaski Town Council meeting, Bill Strenz, a local investor and former member of Pulaski’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority, addressed the council, announcing he had bid for and won a caboose and would like to give it to the town to go with the museum.

Strenz told the council he would donate it and pay for any costs associated with moving and setting it in place above a certain amount, and it could make money for the town if fixed up and rented out as a place for tourists to stay overnight. According to Strenz, a decision has to be reached by May 29.

At the time, council agreed it would take the two weeks until Tuesday night’s meeting to look into finances and see what was possible, and seemed to support the idea. At the meeting, however, most council members appeared to have changed their minds.

Town Manager John Hawley said Town Engineer Bill Pettigo went to Richlands, where the caboose is currently located, with a representative of U.S. Crane and Rigging, who advised it would be about $20,000 to move the caboose and set it up in Pulaski. He said an additional $470 or so would be needed to establish a standard water and power connection.

Vice Mayor Joseph Goodman asked if Strenz could speak. Worrell reminded council that they were conducting a work session with no public comment period, but advised Strenz could speak briefly.

“I called the local guy up in Richlands that moved this for the school before, and the price that he gave me to move it here, which is rigging it, taking it apart, and getting it here, was between $4,000 and $5,000, and just the cost of the crane here, which is in the neighborhood of $2,000 to $2,500 to take it off,” said Strenz. “The school has agreed that they would take out the deck on their own and pay for it, and disconnect the utilities, and the guy that would bring it here would take off a couple of the items on the top of the train and they would re-weld them here. He’s very familiar with it, he’s just moved one about three months ago, and he’s done it three times for the college already.”

Councilman Jamie Radcliffe asked, “Mr. Mayor, is what this is saying that it’s $20,985 to get? Is that what it is?”

Worrell answered, “That was the quote from the crane company.”

Hawley clarified, “That’s the company that accompanied Bill over there last week. Mr. Strenz says that the other contractor can move it for $3,000 to $5,000.”

Councilwoman Heather Steele said, “I don’t understand why there’s such a huge difference in price.”

Goodman joked, “Higher profit margin?” He said it seemed feasible if it could be done for the price Strenz quoted and mentioned putting it next to the museum.

Hawley mentioned problems in putting a caboose at that site, noting that there would be some difficulty with the sewer line, and also that where the caboose sits now at Kiwanis Park is actually Norfolk Southern property, not town property. “I think we’d have to make a call to them to make sure they’re OK with having something that would be rented on their property,” he said. “The town actually owns only what’s paved over there. Everything else is held in a 99-year-type lease for the park.”

Radcliffe said, “I’m just not in favor of spending this kind of money. I don’t feel comfortable spending the taxpayers’ money right now on this right here until we see how it is going to fall in the budget.” He went on to add, “We don’t know what the outcome is going to be. We’re guessing what it’s going to cost, we’re guessing how we’re going to do this…I just don’t know that I feel comfortable spending that much of our budget. We have the museum. We haven’t got that thing up and running yet. And to jump on something else before we finish this, I’m just not comfortable with it.”

“As a citizen I certainly appreciate the gesture, Mr. Strenz,” said Councilman Greg East. “I do have some concerns regarding where we’re going with it, what the ultimate cost will be. If it’s $6,000 or $7,000 or $21,000, I don’t have a clear picture in my mind where it ultimately ends up, and how it all fits in. It just seems that we do have a lot of capital expenses that we do need to address. I’m a bit skeptical that it’s the right thing to do at this time.”

Goodman urged the council to consider the caboose, saying, “I think it’s something that we need to stop and think about. It’s been stressed by folks coming off the trail that they need a place to stay. This is an opportunity to create it.” Echoing Strenz’s idea at the earlier council meeting, he advised renting it out to tourists as a way to make money for the town.

“Right now, our worst-case investment is $7,500. In regards to budget, there is $2,300 unallocated in our budget available for us to use, so there’s a portion of it right there,” said Goodman. “I do know that we have $5,000 still to come up with and yes there are capital issues, but when you look at the future you have to start figuring how you’re going to invest in it and what chances you’re going to also take. I think this is one of those chances that we should take.”

Councilman Dave Clark asked if it were possible for Strenz to get a report from the contractor in Richlands with a dollar amount officially listed on it regarding the cost of moving the caboose.

Strenz replied, “Oh, absolutely. There’s no question about it.” He added,  “As I stated earlier, I’m willing to take the risk over a dollar amount. All you need to do is tell me where you want to put it.” The cap is $10,000. If it comes in at $7,500, that’s all it’s going to cost.  If it costs more than that, I’ll eat the cost. I’m willing to donate that.”

Radcliffe said, “I understand you’re willing to take the risk. I’m not willing to take that risk with taxpayers’ money. I understand what Vice Mayor Goodman said. I think it’s still poking in the dark at it. We have other things that we need to do with this $7,500 or whatever it may be.”

East brought up his concerns about the caboose beyond the initial cost of setting it up, saying, “Well then, you get into management-type issues, where somebody has to oversee that and maintain it, be there to rent it out, how do you address all that? It’s a lot more complicated than just, we set it there. There’s a whole system that has to go in place to manage it, and that’s where I’m having some difficulty.”

Goodman asked, “Mr. Hawley, we had talked at one point about talking to another local organization to see if it’s something they can manage. Did you speak to them?”

Hawley said, “I had not talked to them. I didn’t think we were that far along with it at that point in time. I had briefly discussed that with them when we asked about the cabins at Gatewood. I think they would have an interest in managing. I don’t know if they have an interest in coming over and cleaning it and actually doing everything they do to their cabins. I mean it’s possible but obviously at that point you’re paying them their housekeeping fees and all the fees like that. I don’t know how much that would be at that point.”

Hawley went on to say, “I think councilman East is right, there’s some things down the road, we’d have to consider in how we’re going to do it.”

Worrell said, “Well I, too, commend Mr. Strenz for his efforts for this community. It’s refreshing to see someone willing to step up and take part like this. And it’s an intriguing project, I wish we could do it. I’d like to see it,” but went on to say he felt uncomfortable with it right now.

No motions were made about the caboose before council moved on to other business.

shannon@southwesttimes.com

Sometimes the best news isn’t what people are doing in the community, but what they’re thinking. We again present a feature about just that, giving you their answers to a single question.

Q: Where do you think volunteers are most needed in the community? 

Effie Hasson: “Picking up road trash. I do it on my own on our road.”

Taylor Smith: “I think volunteers are needed in the nursing homes to sit with the people who don’t get visitors. I imagine it gets lonely with no one to visit you.”

Lynn Conrad: “Well, I do Daily Bread. [I think volunteers could do] nursing home stuff, people that could read to older people, stuff like that.”

Stacy Conrad: “Picking up trash by the side of the road, so it would be less ugly.”

Crystal Howard: “Help the school systems—read to kids, volunteering in the lunchroom.”

Debra Vaughn: “I don’t know. Picking up trash on the road is the first thing that comes to mind.”

Lisa Wade: “They need them so much in so many different places. I would say the animal shelter and the senior center. I’ve volunteered at the Humane Society.”

Bobby Hunter: “I’d probably say in the poverty-stricken areas. Just basically where the need is as far as the opportunity to advance and excel, like tutorials at the schools. I’ve served on the community recreation committee.”

melinda@southwesttimes.com

Pulaski County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing June 17 on a proposed 2013-14 budget that is almost $100,000 less than the current year’s budget.

The $81.7 million budget includes a 5-cent increase in the real estate tax rate, a 21-cent increase in the personal property tax rate and no changes in rates for machinery and tools taxes. If the budget is approved as advertised, the new real estate rate will be 59 cents per $100 of assessed value and personal property taxes will be assessed at $2.35 per $100 of value.

The hike in real estate taxes is expected to generate about $1.45 million in additional revenue, increasing the current year’s $14.25 million estimate to $15.7 million in the coming fiscal year. Personal property tax revenues are expected to jump from $5.13 million in 2012-13 to $5.78 million in 2013-14, resulting in a $653,000 increase.

Total general property tax revenues are projected to increase by $2.3 million, from $23 million to $25.4 million in the coming fiscal year.

State contributions will increase by about $242,000 and federal revenues will increase by about $6,000, bringing total General Fund revenues from all sources to just over $39 million (an increase of about $848,000 over the current year’s budgeted General Fund revenues).

When revenues from school and social services fees are included, total estimated revenue in the proposed 2013-14 fiscal year budget is $81,730,688. To have a balanced budget, expenditures also are estimated to be $81,730,688.

Total expenditures include $3.9 million for law enforcement and public safety; $277,000 for fire and rescue; $938,000 for health and human services; $1.4 million for parks, recreation and culture; a $2.2 million transfer to capital outlay, and $4.1 million transfer to debt service.

Pulaski County schools will receive $12.9 million in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2013-14. That is $662,500 more than the $12.3 million supervisors allocated for the current fiscal year and $362,500 more than the schools had to operate with this year. Pulaski County Administrator Pete Huber explained that $300,000 was carried over from the 2011-12 fiscal year, actually giving the schools a total of $12.6 million for fiscal year 2012-13.

He said schools also are allocated $332,000 in capital expenditures for the coming fiscal year. That includes $282,000 for replacement of school buses and $50,000 for purchase of security cameras. Last year, he added, $353,600 was allocated from reserves to purchase new school buses.

Complete copies of the proposed budget are available for public inspection at the County Administration Building, 143 Third St., in Pulaski during normal business hours.

SWT Sports Writer

Salem- The 2013 outdoor track & field season continues to get better and better for Tamera Smith, a senior at Pulaski County High School and a member of the Lady Cougars injury riddled track team.

With hamstring injuries still hurting two regular contributors, Smith has stepped up her game, and it was very apparent this past weekend at the 2013 River Ridge Track & Field District Championship. Smith won the 100 meters (12.59 seconds), 200 meters (25.63 seconds), long jump (16’ 9”) and triple jump (35’11”- personal record). In the 400 meters, Tamera was put in the slow heat and ran uncontested to win in 61 seconds. It was good enough for 3^rd place overall and proved that with competition, Smith could have captured her 5^th district title of the day. Overall, the Radford University bound student-athlete finished with 46 of her team’s 84 total points.  At the end of the day, Smith was named the most outstanding female performer of the meet.

Sydney Anderson, a track superstar when not hampered with hamstring injuries, proved she was on her way back to her old winning ways. Anderson captured the high jump title with 5’5” leap. She had cleared 5’7”, but her heel clipped the bar on the way down. Her winning leap broke her own River Ridge District outdoor record (5’4”- 2011). Anderson also tested her legs out on the 1600 meter relay and 3200 meter relay and ran well with no ill effects.

Sarah Wright is really busy nowadays. Despite having three softball games this past week and only being able to practice her field event throwing one evening, Wright still placed second in the shot put (35’ 11”) and fourth in the discus (93’ 6”) this weekend. Teammate Dyanne Nipper threw personal bests in the shot put (7^th- 29’ 2”) and discus (8^th- 77’ 4”).

Julie Guthrie, the long distance guru of the Lady Cougars, ran two personal bests in the 1600 meters (9^th- 5:38) and the 3200 meters (7^th- 11:59). With Guthrie breaking the 12 minute barrier for the first time in her career (personal best by 22 seconds), she qualified to run in the Region IV Championships. This was a particularly great feat due to the misty, muggy weather on Saturday. Julie Hager placed 6^th in the 100 meters (13.47 seconds), 7^th in the triple jump (31’ 10 ½”) and 11^th in the long jump (13’ 8 ½”). Erin Hamric placed 4^th in the 400 meters (1:03- personal best) while Anne Kelly Newman placed 12^th (1:07). Ellisa Fink ran well in the 300 meter hurdles (8^th- 53.71 seconds).

The 1600 meter relay team of Erin Hamric, Anne Kelly Newman, Julia Hager and Sydney Anderson ran an exciting race. They placed second in a time of 4:16.53, just 1.1 seconds behind Blacksburg and 1/10^th of a second in front of Hidden Valley. The 3200 meter relay team of Anderson, Hamric, Newman and Emily Llaneras placed third (10:21.20), beating Christiansburg by just 2/100^th of a second.

“The girls ran really well,” commented Head Coach Jamie McCarty. “With Brittany Worrell being out with her hamstring injury and still being cautious with Sydney Anderson’s injuries, I think the team performed and finished well at the district championship. This was really a prepping day for the Virginia State Championships in two weeks.” The Lady Cougars will compete next Saturday at Abingdon High School in the Region IV Track & Field Championships.

Blacksburg High School easily won the final River Ridge District Outdoor Girl’s Track & Field Championship with 170 points. Cave Spring High finished in second place (105) followed by Pulaski County (84), Salem (60), Christiansburg (57) and Hidden Valley (48).

Christiansburg-  Traveling to Christiansburg to play in the opening round of the River Ridge District, the Cougar baseball season came to an ends the fell to the Blue Demons by a score of  13-5.  It was a tale similar to most other games this season, as they made multiple errors and didn’t get the the big key hit.

Five errors and fourteen runners left on base was their undoing. It was a strange game in the fact that a 5 p.m. start time was moved back to 7 p.m. for Christiansburg to get the field playable. Then in the top of the third inning with Pulaski trailing 3-0, the Cougars had two outs when the ballgame was delayed for lightning.  The game finally resumed at 9:30 p.m.

The Blue Demons got three runs in the bottom the first on a towering Seth Wills home run over the right field fence.

Pulaski County got on the scoreboard in the top of fourth when senior Tyler Dotson singled in Jed Singleton.

The Demons would answer with two runs to go up 5-1,  and added a couple more in their half of the fifth to made it 7-2.

The top of the sixth saw the Cougars cross the plate three times, with Tyler Blevins hitting a sacrifice fly to score Jake Tabor.  J.D. Sutphin then singled in Dotson, and Singleton would draw a base on balls forcing in Brayden Morris to cut the Demon lead to 7-5.

The wheels would fall of the wagon for the Cougars in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Blue Demons lead off man flew out, then five straight batters would reach base to go up 9-5.  With the base loaded, Ryan Saunders hit a grand slam over the right centerfield fence to stick a fork in the Cougars season.

Christiansburg got five innings on the mound from starter Aaron Jackson. He gave up two runs and five hits, walking six and striking out eight.  Seth Wills was one of two, knocking in three runs.  Saunders had five RBI’s and was three of four from the dish.

J.D.  Sutphin had two hits for the Coguars ,was hit by a pitch, scored one run and knocking in one.  Jed Singleton was two for two with two walks and two RBI.  Tyler Dotson and Blevins both had one run knocked in.  Logan Alley went the first four innings on the mound in a losing effort. He gave up five runs but just three are earned.  He allowed five hits and struck out three.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” said Cougar Head Coach Doug Dunavant.  “The seniors just played their last game as a Cougar. They will miss the game, its a great game. We didn’t play well all year. To many mistakes and we didn’t hit the ball at key times.   Our mentality isn’t and wasn’t what it needs to be   We left 14 runners on base tonight.  Missed opportunities cost us all year.   I hate it for the seniors.”

R    H    E    LOB

PC          5     7     5     14

CB         13   13    3      6

PC- LP (MORRIS )

CB-WP (JACKSON)

HR’S

CB- WILLS, SAUNDERS

Special to the SWT

PULASKI–It started out looking like it was going to be a close contest just like the first time the two teams met, but it turned out to be a 15-7 victory for Blacksburg. The Cougar jayvee team couldn’t seem to get things all together in their final game of the season even though after three innings, Pulaski County held a 3-2 lead.

After four innings, the game was tied 5-5 and after five innings, it was 7-6 Blacksburg. That’s when things got a little rough for the Cougars.

In the sixth inning, the wheels came off for Pulaski County as the Cougars allowed the Bruins to plate seven runs off of  two singles, a double, three walks, two errors, and three passed balls. It was too much for the Cougars to overcome.

Callie Ratcliffe scored the first run of the game as she singled to center, stole second, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on another ground out by Sindie Hedge. Ratcliffe scored again in the third. She singled to left and moved to second as Chelsey Gravely walked. A double by Hedge scored both runs, but Hedge was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

In the fourth, Kayla Price singled, stole second and came home on a double by Chelsea Doss. Jade Murray singled to right to put Doss at third. Doss scored on a single by Ashley Curtis, but Murray was left stranded at third.

Gravely belted a triple to open the fifth for the Cougars and scored on a single by Hedge. The Cougars’ final run came in the seventh when pinch hitter Caleigh Phibbs walked, stole second, moved to third on a ground out, and scored on a ground out to first.

The Cougars collected eight hits. Ratcliffe finished with two, while Gravely, Hedge, Price, Doss, Murray and Curtis each added one.

Murray took the loss for the Cougars. She gave up 12 runs (seven earned) on 12 hits. She walked three and struck out six across 5 1/3 innings. Doss finished the sixth. She gave up two runs (earned) and no hits. She walked two and fanned one. Ratcliffe came in to pitch the final inning. She gave up one run (earned) on one hit. She walked one and struck out one in one inning of action. Katie Muscatello earned the victory for the Bruins.

The Cougars finish their season with a 9-7 record.

melinda@southwesttimes.com

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will hold a public hearing June 4 on a $15.4 billion draft Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) that includes just over $35 million in road projects in Pulaski County and $533 million in the Salem District.

Statewide, the draft program, for fiscal years 2014-2019, consists of almost $4 billion in additional funding as a result of House Bill 2313, the state’s first comprehensive transportation funding plan approved in 27 years. Gov. Bob McDonnell signed the bill into law after approval by the 2013 General Assembly.

Major new Salem District highlights that impact Pulaski County include:

•$47.1 million district wide for paving and pavement rehabilitation projects for interstate and primary roads.

•An additional $47 million to eliminate a shortfall in funding for replacement of the northbound I-81 bridge over the New River.

The $78.1 million bridge project is fully funded and to be advertised for construction bids in fiscal year 2018, according to Virginia Department of Transportation. The northbound project is included in Montgomery County’s allocations, but the SYIP lists the southbound bridge project among Pulaski County’s allocations.

The northbound project already had $6.5 million allocated. The remaining $71.6 million needed to complete it will be allocated during fiscal years 2014, 2017 and 2018. Already allocated to the southbound project is $2 million, with the balance of the estimated $6.1 million project allocated in the last three years of the SYIP.

•An additional $8.9 million district wide to pave unpaved secondary roads with traffic volumes of more than 200 vehicles per day. Residency Maintenance Manager David Clarke told Pulaski County Board of Supervisors Monday night that the county doesn’t have many secondary roads meeting the 200 vehicles per day volume.

•An additional $11.3 million for counties across the district to prioritize as part of secondary road improvements.  These funds are to be allocated in fiscal years 2017-2019.

Salem District funding increase more than 20 percent over last year’s $431 million SYIP for the district.

The draft SYIP also shows just under $4.7 million previously appropriated for four-laning of Route 99 in the town of Pulaski. However, Pulaski Town Council has already decided to use that funding for improvements to the Route 99 corridor other than four-laning because funding is not accumulating fast enough to keep up with escalating construction costs for extending four lanes beyond the Bob White Boulevard intersection.

The public has the opportunity to review the draft program and provide input, which will be taken into consideration by the CTB before the final program is adopted in June. The program goes into effect July 1.

The June 4 public hearing for the Salem, Bristol, Lynchburg and Staunton districts begins at 6 p.m. at Northside High School in Roanoke.

The full draft SYIP is available online at www.virginiadot.org/projects/syp-default.asp.

He was born April 16, 1941 in Pulaski, to the late Garver and Elsie Cox. Elwood was preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis Puckett, and brothers, Marvin, Clayton, Howard and Thurman.

Survivors include his wife, Freda; his daughter, Carol, and son-in-law, Doug Wyatt, as well as four sons, James, Timothy, John and daughter-in-law, Tracey, and Michael and daughter-in-law, Krista, and numerous grandchildren, whom he dearly loved.

His sisters, Dorothy Brookman and husband, B.K., of Austinville, Teresa Jones of Pulaski and Nancy Altizer and husband, Roger, also of Pulaski, survive him.
Friends and family may visit Stevens Funeral Home, 815 Randolph Ave., Pulaski, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 24. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 25, at 11 a.m. from the funeral home, with the Rev. Jeff Aikens officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Thornspring Church Cemetery, Pulaski.

Elwood’s family would like to express deep appreciation to all well-wishers for their cards and prayers, especially Jeff and The New River Valley Baptist Church.

Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski.