Play ball — but not yet
VDOT saying turn lane is needed for safety at the ball fields
By Ryan Kushner
Staff writer
The town of Smithfield had initially expected to be able to open the Joseph Luter Jr. sports complex this year without a turn lane installed at its entrance.
However, the Virginia Department of Transportation has informed the town that it may need to build the turn lane first, which could push the grand opening of the facility back another year, according to Smithfield Mayor Carter Williams.
VDOT said that not having a completed turn lane at its entrance may create a safety issue for drivers, according to Williams.
That was a few months ago, so things may have changed, but Williams said he hasn’t heard otherwise if they have.
“With VDOT, things just don’t work so fast,” said Williams.
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Smithfield to run its own baseball tournaments
Smithfield Recreation Association to have schedule preference for events
By Ryan Kushner
Staff writer
The town of Smithfield is gearing up to host and manage its own baseball tournaments at the new Joseph W. Luter Jr. sports complex, a $4 million ball park slated to be completed later this year.
The sporting events will be managed by the town’s Parks and Recreation Department, according to Smithfield Vice Mayor Andrew Gregory, and will run depending on the availability of the fields. Smithfield Recreation Association (SRA), a nonprofit on deck to manage the maintenance of the park, will have first dibs on using the ball fields.
As for exactly how many tournaments the town plans to run in a year, Gregory said “everything’s on the table at this point.”
Parks and Recreation Director Amy Musick said in an email that the town is working with SRA, Isle of Wight County, and Isle of Wight County schools on determining a schedule and the number of tournaments for each organization.
“It will just be a matter of availability, just as booking The Smithfield Center depends on available dates,” Musick said.
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What in the world happened to Rex Alphin?
By Diana McFarland
Managing editor
Ever since Isle of Wight was included in the 64th House District in 1991, its delegate — at least when initially elected — came from the county*.
Not so this year.
Suffolk business owner Emily Brewer beat Isle of Wight County farmer Rex Alphin for the Republican nomination and Suffolk attorney Rebecca Colaw defeated Carrollton resident John Wandling and Suffolk educator Jerry Cantrell for the Democratic nomination. Either Brewer or Colaw will win the seat in November.
While Wandling was relatively unknown prior to the primary race, Alphin and his family are a recognized name in the county. Alphin currently serves on the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors, and prior to that, on the Planning Commission.
Many were surprised when Alphin did not win, and were doubly so when he failed to win his home county.
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Isle of Wight will attempt to trim debt service
By Diana McFarland
Managing editor
Isle of Wight County is headed to the bond market in an attempt to save about $3 million on its debt service burden.
Isle of Wight is ranked seventh in per capita debt among counties in Virginia, according to the fiscal 2016 Comparative Report of Local Government.
Isle of Wight has an outstanding debt load of $219.9 million — or $6,035 for every man, woman and child living here.
The state average among counties is $5,016 per capita.
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