By Randy Arrington
STANLEY, Oct. 12 — Earlier this month, the Stanley Council unanimously adopted a resolution requesting that Page County and VDOT name the newly constructed bridge on Route 211 just west of Luray the “Dominic ‘Nick’ J. Winum Memorial Bridge.”
Officer Winum served a decade with the Virginia State Police and five years with the Stanley Police Department before “3 p.m. on February 26, 2021 [when he] gave his life in the Line of Duty to protect his fellow Man, his Town and his community,” the resolution reads. “…one of Dominic ‘Nick’ Winum’s favorite spots was to sit in the area of the White House Bridge where he could enjoy the scenic view of the Shenandoah River while patrolling US Hwy 211 West.”
In November 2019, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded an $11.3 million contract to Fielder’s Choice Enterprises Inc. of Charlottesville to replace the westbound bridge over the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, between Route 615 (Egypt Bend Road) and Route 646 (Oak Leaf Road). Beginning in May of 2020 and reaching completion this summer, the two-year project featured two 12-foot travel lanes, a 10-foot right shoulder and a 6-foot left shoulder. The new, 625-foot bridge is about 200 feet shorter than the previous bridge to match the embankment length of the adjacent eastbound span.
“Winum was a dedicated servant who not only protected the community as a police officer but through kindness also,” the resolution states.
Now that the initial step has been taken, the resolution will go before the Page County Board of Supervisors for a vote, and then sent to VDOT for their approval, before the final approval goes before the Commonwealth Transportation Board in Richmond.
It took Doug Frye three years of efforts to get a bridge over Route 211 in western Luray named after war hero Emmett Arthur Dougans, the first Page County soldier killed in the Vietnam War. On Aug. 4, 2020, the Page County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to request that the Commonwealth Transportation Board give final approval for the name change. On Oct. 20, 2020, the CBT adopted its own similarly-worded resolution to make the renaming official. A dedication ceremony and unveiling of the sign was held Aug. 5, 2021.
In other business at its Oct. 12 meeting, the Stanley Council took the following actions:
• Unanimously approved a motion to recognize Monday, Oct. 31 as Halloween, with trick-or-treaters being asked to clear the streets by 9 p.m. and the general Town curfew on that day set at 10 p.m. Only children 12 years and under may wear a mask. A Fall Vendor and Craft Show is planned at Ed Good Park from 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Ed Good Park, followed by the Halloween Block Party from the railroad tracks to Honeyville Avenue along East Main Street from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
• Heard a report from Town Manager Terry Pettit that $864,031.69 of American Rescue Plan Act funds have been allocated, with $881,634.34 left to spend. The total allotment in federal ARPA funds to the Town of Stanley was $1,735,666. Pettit provided Council with a list of nearly 30 projects that have benefitted from ARPA funds.
• Unanimously approved a bid of $113,750 by Knight and Lucas Construction — the only bid submitted — to build a 34×24 building to serve as a new concession stand at Ed Good Park. The structure will add two bathrooms and include new grills and fire suppression. The addition of bathrooms will negate the need to rent Port-O-Johns during future events. The Council plans to utilize ARPA funds to pay for the project, in addition to seeking funds from the Stanley Homecoming Committee. Construction is planned to begin after the “Christmas in Stanley” event in December. Once the structure is complete, council members expressed an intention to “use it more than just Homecoming and Christmas.”
• Voted down a motion to place lettering on two of three unmarked vehicles used by the Stanley Police Department. Mayor Mike Knight raised the issue and stated that all police vehicles need to be identified with lettering on the vehicle, so citizens may know who the police are, either as a sense of comfort or as a deterrent. However, Police Chief Ryan Dean stated that having unmarked vehicles and being less noticeable helped in enforcing the law. The cost for the lettering was estimated at $5,000. After a brief discussion, the motion made by Councilman Jeremiah Knight was voted down.
• Heard a report that the new electric vehicle charging station at Ed Good Park is now in service, with a ribbon cutting scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28.
• Heard that veteran banners were temporarily taken down in anticipation of Hurricane Ian, but have been put back up — with a dozen new banners set to go up soon.
For more information about things happening in the Town of Stanley, visit townofstanley.com
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