News
Pulaski County Hires First Fire Chief to Oversee Pulaski County's First Paid Fire Department
The County of Pulaski, Virginia officially names Brandon Hamblin as the first career Fire Chief to oversee the recently established Pulaski County Fire Department. As part of a multifaceted plan to provide the volunteer fire departments in the County with greater support and resources, the FY-25 County Budget allocated the funding to hire the first Chief of Fire-Rescue for Pulaski County, along with two additional full-time fire fighters required to augment existing staff needed to establish a fully functioning department to help provide fire-rescue coverage during the days and times of week where the community experiences challenges with higher response demand.
“Pulaski County is excited to welcome Chief Hamblin into this position and to work with him and our talented career and volunteer firefighters to continue to develop and support stronger fire-rescue response capabilities”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator. “This position will be vitally important to oversee our newly established paid department and to ensure we provide proper training and resources to our volunteer system in order to sustainably deliver the safest and best fire-rescue response to our citizens.”
The decision to establish a paid fire-rescue department and ultimately hire a Chief to oversee it came as a recommendation from the County’s Change Agent, Chris Gannon, who was contracted to develop and help implement a plan of action from recommendations received within the two (2) independent studies completed in 2022 that were conducted by the State’s Department of Fire Programs and Gannon Emergency Solutions.
“The Board of Supervisors continues with our priority to advance the recommendations from our two comprehensive studies that were focused on filling in the gaps in our fire-rescue response, and hiring a Fire Chief to lead our newly established Fire Department is another step toward achieving our priority”, stated Laura Walters, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We trust the knowledge, experience and care for the community Chief Hamblin brings to this position will help the County to quickly and effectively stabilize, evolve and scale our fire-rescue response.”
Hamblin takes office on July 16, 2024. His position as Chief will operate as the department head for the new department and provide the oversight for all fire/rescue activities conducted by the six (6) volunteer fire departments within the County. The County’s creative and resourceful approach to afford and sustain the new paid department included restructuring the County’s existing Squad 9 program to operate as a standalone Fire-Rescue Department. The County is presently hiring three (3) additional professional firefighters to allow for four (4) certified first responders to be on-hand from 7:00 AM-to-7:00 PM, Monday-through-Friday. The budgeted funding also includes an Administrative Assistant position to serve the newly created department as well as support and interface with Emergency Management and Emergency Medical Services.
“I am honored to have been selected for this position and to serve my community in a different but perhaps more impactful and universal way”, stated Chief Brandon Hamblin, Pulaski County Fire Department. “My vision is consistent with the County’s vision, and that is to not have two separate departments, one paid and one volunteer, but to have one unified department where career staff support volunteers and volunteers support the paid staff, all with the purpose of responding to the fire-rescue needs of the citizens of Pulaski County.”
Chief Hamblin has served the Town of Pulaski Fire Department in various capacities since 2005 as a Firefighter, Fire Lieutenant, EMT, Training Officer and Captain. He previously served the County of Pulaski as the Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator and as a Wildland Firefighter for the Virginia Department of Forestry. Chief Hamblin has an Associate’s Degree in Police Science from New River Community College and holds numerous Fire and EMS Certifications from VDRP, NFA, FEMA, DOH, NRCC, and VPI. He also serves as the Chief of the Newbern Volunteer Fire Department.
The Pulaski County Fire-Rescue Department will also administer fire prevention programming and community education activities. The dedicated funding also includes direct financial support to enhance the volunteer system and allow for volunteer fire fighters to receive necessary training, equipment and technical support. The funding will also include a response stipend provided directly to volunteers to assist them with offsetting expenses associated with their volunteer response. This new benefit is being employed with the hopes of bolstering volunteer recruitment and retention, as these critical personnel are and will remain a vital and necessary component of the County’s emergency first response.
Pulaski County Cougar Baseball to Open VHSL State Baseball Tournament At Historic Calfee Park in Pulaski, VA
Pulaski County Cougar Baseball is set to open the VHSL State Baseball Tournament at historic Calfee Park on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 in Pulaski, Virginia.
The Cougars won impressively against Lord Botetourt (7-4) on May 31st, to secure their status as the Class 3, Region D Champions and advance to the Virginia State Quarterfinals. With the support of both Pulaski County Administration and the Shelor Motor Mile team, the Pulaski County Cougars (15-10), will play against the Fluvanna County Flying Flucos (18-5), and host the game in historic Calfee Park, home of the Pulaski River Turtles.
“We are thrilled to see Cougar Baseball make history as the Region Champs and advance their season to open the Virginia State Tournament here in Pulaski County”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet, Pulaski County Administrator. “With the recent gift of Calfee Park to Pulaski County, we immediately began working with the Shelor Motor Mile team to collaborate on bringing this event to our nationally recognized ballpark. Serving our community and our athletes with this world-class asset, is just the beginning of optimizing the facility, and is the start of many more exciting things to come.”
Gates will open at 5:00 PM with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. The game will begin at 6:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased through GoFan for $10 plus convenience fee or cash tickets at the gate are $12. Food truck concessions will be available for purchase from Mountain2Island. https://mountain2island.com
The community is invited and encouraged to attend this event in support of the Pulaski County Cougar Baseball team and the entire community of Cougar athletes. Pulaski County Cougar Baseball: https://pulaskicougarsathletics.com/teams/3852750/baseball/varsity
Pulaski County Board of Supervisors to Create Pulaski County Fire-Rescue Department
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors adopted their Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and included within the approved allocations is the funding necessary to create the first paid fire-rescue department in Pulaski County’s history. The FY-25 Budget provides the funding required to hire the first Chief of Fire-Rescue for Pulaski County and two additional full-time fire fighters and the necessary equipment and support needed to adequately provide fire-rescue response coverage during the days and times of week where the community experiences challenges with high-demand but low-response.
“Pulaski County has reached the threshold of industrial diversity and scale to now warrant a paid system for fire-rescue response, and the record-breaking number of building permits we have experienced in the past few years helps to further make the case that its past time for Pulaski County to make this important investment in public safety”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator. “The embarkation of a paid fire-rescue department is another milestone in elevating Pulaski County to a next-level community, and better equips the County to continue the advancement of our Comprehensive Plan and ultimately reach our goal of 40-by-30.”
The decision to establish a paid fire-rescue department came as a recommendation from the County’s Change Agent, Chris Gannon, who was contracted to develop and help implement a plan of action from recommendations received within the two independent studies completed in 2022 and conducted by the State Fire Program and Gannon Emergency Solutions.
“The Board of Supervisors has prioritized identifying challenges and opportunities within our fire-rescue response, and we dedicated the resources necessary to properly study the matter, bring in third-party expertise, develop an actionable plan and implement a sustainable approach to cost-effectively filling in the gaps in our fire-rescue response”, stated Laura Walters, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We owe it to our citizens to have the level of response they deserve, and we owe it to the brave and dedicated volunteers fire fighters to ensure that they have the training and support they need to continue to serve the County.”
The County is able to afford and sustain the new paid department by resourcefully restructuring the County’s existing Squad 9 program to operate as a standalone Fire-Rescue Department. The County is hiring three additional professional firefighters to allow for four certified first responders to be on-hand from 7:00 AM -to- 7:00 PM Monday-through-Friday. The County is also seeking a Chief who will operate as the department head for the new department and provide the oversight for all fire/rescue activities conducted by our six volunteer fire departments within the County. The funding also includes an Administrative Assistant position to serve the newly created department as well as support and interface with Emergency Management and Emergency Medical Services. The County will continue to rely on our Volunteer Fire Departments to provide response from 7:00 PM -to- 7:00 AM Monday-through-Friday and on weekends when call volume is the lowest. The Pulaski County Fire-Rescue Department will also administer fire prevention programing and community education activities. The dedicated funding also includes direct financial support for volunteer fire fighters to receive necessary training, equipment, technical support, and will also include a response stipend to volunteers to assist with offsetting expenses associated with their volunteer response with the hopes of bolstering the recruitment and retention of these critical personnel.
“The volunteer fire departments are and will remain a critical and valued component of the fire/rescue system throughout the county, and they will continue to be mobilized on every call in their community”, stated Chris Gannon, Change Agent and CEO, Gannon Emergency Solutions USA. “What they can now rely on is the backing of a dedicated team of at least 4 professional staff to provide mutual support during peak demand weekday hours. This initiative will improve response times, operational safety and fire prevention, and will give the public an improved level of first-response service.”
The County is presently evaluating County-owned facilities centrally located in the County in and around the Town of Dublin to house and potentially collocate the Pulaski County Fire-Rescue Department. This approach would be an expedient and cost-efficient way of getting the department online and in service to the citizens and business community of Pulaski County.
“The collective of our existing volunteer fire departments represents a robust network of high-quality apparatus, equipment and personnel that will be efficiently utilized in conjunction with the County’s paid department to more rapidly respond to emergency calls”, stated Brad Wright, Pulaski County Emergency Management Coordinator. “Having on hand paid personnel who are ready and able to rapidly respond to emergencies will enhance what our existing volunteer system can deliver and help increase both the public’s safety and the safety of all our first responders.”
In addition, the FY-25 Budget includes funding to enhance the Emergency Medical Services Department by hiring a Pharmacy Manger due to new DEA requirements beginning in Fiscal Year 2024 that no longer permits EMS agencies to obtain certain medications directly from hospitals. All EMS agencies in the Commonwealth must now have an in-house pharmacy to handle their controlled substances and manage the high volume and complexities of medication our EMS provides patients multiple times per day, across more than 330 sq. miles, and on a 24-7 basis. This degree of assistance and level of attention requires a trained professional to carefully manage and administer this program.
“With the investment Pulaski County is making in Emergency Medical Services and Public Safety, we will be able to improve prehospital healthcare as well as provide a better level of service across all first response agencies, all while strategically preparing for future community growth”, stated Shawn Hite, Interim Director, Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services.
A Community Paramedic will help EMS backfill the transition of the Squad 9 Program and is designed with the strategic purpose of alleviating the burden on EMS response, on our medical facilities, on social services and law enforcement by reducing misappropriated requests and tying up limited resources. The position’s further purpose is to provide a better targeted service to community residents, and help reduce call volume growth rates. This program and its approach are supported by both the County’s fire and EMS studies, and is consistent nationally with industry best practices.
Pulaski County Parks and Recreation announces Evelyn Alexander Waterpark Updates
We are excited to share an important update regarding the rebuild efforts of Randolph Park's Evelyn Alexander Waterpark facilities. As you know, we have been diligently working on plans to restore and enhance this integral part of our community’s outdoor recreation. With recent developments and new information now available, we are please d to provide you with the latest details on this project
The key updates are as follows:
- Project Timeline The rebuilding process is set to commence late this summer/early fall and is expected to be completed by May, 2025 . We have carefully planned the schedule to minimize disruptions and ensure a smooth construction phase as we also replaster the interior of the pool
- Design The new design will incorporate modern amenities while preserving the historic charm of Randolph Park. Highlights includ e a more customer friendly centered facility that has improved accessibility and a year around operational wing that will be more versatility utilized
- Funding and Support We have successfully settled with our insurer, guaranteeing that the project i s fully funded and will proceed without financial obstacles.
- Community Involvement Your support has been invaluable over the last year. We will move forward by providing monthly updates on all of our media outlets to keep everyone informed and engag ed throughout the building process
We believe that the rebuilding of Evelyn Alexander Waterpark will not only restore a significant landmark, but also enhance the overall vitality, attractiveness and enjoyment of our community. We appreciate your contin ued patience and support as we undertake this transformative project
For more details and ongoing updates, please visit our website at www.pulaskicounty.org or contact us at 540.994.2587 or email sdunnigan@pulaskicounty.org.
Thank you for your continued support
Pulaski County Board of Supervisors Awards Prestigious 2024 Lead Through Service Scholarship to Clara Worley
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors and County Administration continues to fulfil their vision of fostering local leadership development and bolstering service to the community through personal sponsorship of their Lead Through Service Scholarship. This year, the Lead Through Service Scholarship Committee selected Ms. Clara Worley as their 2024 recipient.
“It remains ever important that we invest in developing our next generation of local leaders and nurture a mindset in our youth of continued service to their community,” stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator. “The future of our County depends on developing our young local leaders, that will one day return to Pulaski County and serve their community as our nurses, our first responders, our business leaders, our teachers, our entrepreneurs and our volunteers.”
The competitive and most prestigious local scholarship in the New River Valley is awarded to a graduating Pulaski County High School student who demonstrates leadership through serving their community and plans to continue to contribute to the community upon the completion of their formal education. The annual scholarship(s) have ranged in the past from $2,500.00 all the way up to $10,000.00, and can be utilized for any two-year or four-year institution or technical degree program.
“I am honored to contribute to this annual scholarship, and more importantly, to be contributing to an investment in our County’s future leadership,” stated Laura Walters, Chair, Pulaski County Board of Supervisors. “This is just one of the ways we can help raise up our future leaders and instill in them a deeper appreciation and value of service to their community. We can all be a part of developing future public servants and leaders by encouraging them to volunteer, offer them opportunities to serve their community, and by investing in them through education, programs and support.”
The annual competitive scholarship is funded personally by each individual member of the Board of Supervisors as well as the County Administrator, Assistant County Administrator and certain County staff who share in the important vision of local leadership development. There are NO taxpayer’s monies involved with this scholarship and contributions are entirely voluntary. The members of the Board of Supervisors are as follows: Laura Walters, Chair; Dirk Compton, Vice Chair; Jeff Reeves, Chris Stafford and Mike Mooney. The County Administrator is Jonathan D. Sweet and the Assistant County Administrator is Anthony Akers.
Previous Lead Through Service Scholarship recipients are Ms. Breanna Lytton - 2019, Ms. Jaelyn Szerokman - 2020, Ms. Alex Turner and Ms. Ashlyn Kirtner - 2021, Ms. Gwendolyn Puckett – 2022, and Ms. Tori Vest and Ms. Kaitlin Ervine – 2023. The Scholarship has provided more than $23,500.00 in awards to graduating seniors of Pulaski County High School since its inception in 2019.
Shelor Motor Mile Makes Largest Gift in the History of Pulaski County with the Donation of Motor Mile Speedway and Calfee Park
Shelor Motor Mile has given the largest gift the County of Pulaski has ever received by donating the storied Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway and all the improvements located upon the more than 152-acre property, and the historic Calfee Park, home to professional baseball teams and voted Best Rookie-Level Ball Park in America by Ballpark Digest, along with 21 accessory parcels.
"Being a part of this historic moment for Pulaski County and helping carry on the traditions and extend the legacies of two of the most iconic assets in all of the New River Valley is one of the highest honors I have experienced in my professional career”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator. “This further demonstrates the commitment and care the ownership of the Shelor Motor Mile has for this community and the confidence they have in the leadership of Pulaski County to entrust us with these famed community assets.”
Shelor Motor Mile and their affiliates intend to lease both the speedway and the ballpark back from the County and will continue to manage the operations of both facilities for the next three years as a means of continuing the existing functions of each enterprise and to better allow for a training period and smooth transition of ownership to the County. Pulaski County will possess these assets immediately upon transfer of ownership, but will rely on the professional staff of each respective operation to continue business as usual. Pulaski County will, however, have the ability to utilize both assets for their own purposes as a means of tourism, economic, and community advancement when events are not being hosted by Shelor or their affiliates.
“The Shelor Motor Mile organization is pleased and proud to entrust these properties to Pulaski County. We want to ensure these event facilities are permanently available for use by all of the New River Valley communities. This is a new chapter in the life cycle of the two historic properties, and we are excited to see how the County’s leadership will take them to the next level.
“We are truly grateful to Shelor Motor Mile and their leadership for their long-standing partnership with the County and for their involvement in so many facets of the development and prosperity of our community”, stated Laura Walters, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “These gifts will be deeply cherished and will help ensure Pulaski County and the New River Valley continue to enjoy two of Southwestern Virginia’s most valuable outdoor sport and event venues.”
Note: The Motor Mile Speedway operates under the Shelor Motor Mile affiliates of ‘Speedway Properties, LLC’, ‘DLR Group, LLC’ and ‘SHAH Development, LLC’. Calfee Park operates under the Shelor Motor Mile affiliate of ‘Historic Calfee Park LLC’, ‘Calfee Park Baseball Inc.’ and ‘Calfee Park Concessions LLC’
Economic Developmet Authority Special Called Session
The Pulaski County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 10 a.m., in the Executive Conference Room of the Pulaski County Administration Building, located at 143 Third Street N.W., Pulaski, for a Special Called Meeting.
Pulaski County Board of Supervisors and School Board to Hold Joint Executive Session
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors and Pulaski County School Board will meet on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 12 pm. (noon), in the New River Room of the Pulaski County Innovation Center, located at 6580 Valley Center Drive, Radford, for a joint Executive Session pursuant to Section 2.2-3711(A) 3. of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, to discuss acquisition or disposition of real property related to Project Flex.
There will be no public comment period and no action will be taken during the joint meeting or following the joint Executive Session.
Pulaski County Parks and Recreation Updates On Pool House Rebuild and the Status of the Evelyn Alexander Waterpark
The rebuild of the Randolph Park pool house, and the opening of the Evelyn Alexander Waterpark, have been on the forefront of the Pulaski County agenda in the second half of 2023. This important community asset is a staple of summer for many families of Pulaski County and surrounding region.
During this time, our Board of Supervisors, County Administrators, and legal teams have worked closely with insurance adjustors, architectural and engineering firms, and contractors to advance our insurance claim and begin planning the rebuild of the facility. As expected, this process has been both cumbersome and time extensive, but we have not lost focus.
The Evelyn Alexander Waterpark, located at Randolph Park in Dublin, will unfortunately not open or be operational in any capacity for the 2024 summer season. This decision is primarily driven by the active construction expected to be occurring on the premises and the importance of safety for our visitors.
During this time, the pool house rebuild will be initiated and we take advantage of the shutdown to make important upgrades to the 240,000-gallon community pool. A request for proposals will be released in the coming weeks to procure a company to complete a comprehensive replaster of the pool’s interior. This will both repair existing cracks and ensure longevity of the pool for many years to come.
Randolph Park remains open for general recreation and our 2024 Summer Camps will continue as planned. We look forward to providing additional plans of how we will continue to ensure a wonderful and enriched summer experience for our campers with the continued support of our community.
Questions should be directed to Pulaski County Parks and Recreation by calling 540.994.2587 or emailing sdunnigan@pulaskicounty.org
Board of Supervisors to Continue Focus on Improving Pulaski County's Fire and Rescue Systems By Contracting with a Change Agent
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors has made it a priority to focus efforts and resources to comprehensively analyze and evaluate the state of Pulaski County’s fire and public safety services. In 2022, the Board of Supervisors commissioned two independent studies that comprehensive analyzed the County’s fire and rescue systems. A baseline study was performed by the Commonwealth through the Virginia Fire Services Board and a parallel third-party study was conducted by an independent contractor – Gannon Emergency Solutions USA. Both studies were made public and officially presented to the Board of Supervisors, paid and volunteer fire departments, the Public Safety Department and the general public in an open meeting.
“The studies conducted were intended to be more than checking a box or even constructive feedback, but more of an instrument to understand what opportunities lie ahead to strengthen these critical services, and to give us a direction on what our next step(s) would be to improving safety, response and sustainability for our Fire and Public Safety Departments”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator. “We have come to a place in time where it is important to consider making necessary investments, to employing best practices and to look for ways to resourcefully support our brave men and women who provide first response services to our growing community.”
Following a nationally advertised request for proposals (RFP), Pulaski County selected Gannon Emergency Solutions USA. The firm had already demonstrated a tremendous wherewithal for the complexity of fire and rescue systems by way of preparing a detailed comprehensive analysis of all of our Fire and Public Safety Departments, and the company hits the ground running due to their extensive familiarity with Pulaski County and their existing relationship with our many volunteer and paid departments.
“The cooperation, faith and passion shown by everyone involved was pivotal in our decision to bid for the opportunity to provide Pulaski County with the help they need to move forward from the studies,” stated Chris Gannon, CEO of Gannon Emergency Solutions USA. “I am very grateful to the County for selecting my firm, and in return I will dedicate all my energy and experience to this challenge. Moving from Florida to the New River Valley of Virginia has been the first step in my commitment, and I look forward to starting work on the important task of making the lives of first responders and the people they serve safer.”
Both the study conducted by the Commonwealth and Gannon identified the current Fire and Public Safety Departments could benefit from organized support and collaborative assistance.
“Although the County is fortunate to have so many dedicated volunteers and professionals who are committed to providing first response services, we are at a juncture where it is vitally important to find ways to keep up with the evolving needs of our emerging next-level community,” stated Laura Walters, Chair of the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors. “The Board’s commitment to our citizens, our business community and to the men and women who serve them, has been unwavering and we continue to follow the strategic process of comprehensively studying, carefully evaluating, properly planning, adequately funding and sustainably implementing, in order to ensure we can continue to meet the progressing needs of Pulaski County.”
The contract for Change Agent services is a two (2) year partnership and will provide direct engagement with all paid and volunteer departments serving Pulaski County. The high-level deliverable is for the development and implementation of a strategic plan that will serve to strengthen, support and affordably sustain the paid and volunteer emergency response services, as well as implement safety, efficiency and support measures to ensure the highest level of response can be provided.
Gannon Emergency Solutions is a firm of specialists dedicated to the review and improvement of Fire and Rescue Services. Chris Gannon, CEO is a globally recognized pioneer of reform in the public safety industry. He has 27 years of experience working on five (5) continents and is fully registered in the USA. He brings a unique and unparalleled level of experience to Pulaski County and the departments he will be working with, and shares a unique insight that could make our best even better. To learn more about Chris Gannon, Gannon Emergency Solutions and the Gannon team of professionals, please visit: www.gannonemergencyusa.com
Pulaski County Administrator to Challenge Community to Jet Ski Race
Pulaski County is set to host the American Jet Ski Association’s (AJSA) Championship Race on Saturday, September 9th. Preceding this major professional event, Pulaski County, in concert with the AJSA, has organized a jet ski competition on Friday, September 8th, to help raise funds for the Pulaski County ACCE program (Access to Community College Education) through New River Community College. Ahead of what is shaping up to be one of the largest jet ski competitions in the country, community members from area businesses, industries and institutions, along with neighboring local governments and county departments, the teams will compete head-to-head in a timed-course jet ski challenge.
“This is a great way to bring our business community together, to support the Pulaski County ACCE program, to network, to team build and to be a part of making history with our first AJSA Championship Race taking place here at Claytor Lake”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator and NRCC Board Member. “We are excited that so many of our business and institutional leaders value these types of unique experience opportunities, and understand the benefits it has to their respective organization and to our community.”
The Pulaski County / AJSA Corporate Jet Ski Challenge on Friday, September 8th, will consist of individual teams that compete to see what corporate/institutional-sponsored team completes a fixed-buoy course in the fastest time by taking an average of the three fastest times from each team. There will be awards given out by the AJSA for the winning team, along with second and third place recognition. A sit-down jet ski and all necessary equipment to ride will be provided as part of the team entry and participation. Teams will simply need to register and arrive to participate and enjoy. It is recommended teams plan to make a day of the networking and team building opportunity. Team tents and chairs are encouraged.
‘We already have a considerable number of teams committed to the Jet Ski Challenge, and the list is growing”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet. “Martin’s Pharmacy, Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, Camrett Logistics, RDL, Trova, and the City of Radford are just some of the teams that have accepted the challenge, but I want to publicly call out and challenge Radford University, Tekni-Plex, BimmerWorld, Fontaine, Volvo, the Towns of Pulaski and Dublin, Delegate Ballard, and all the jurisdictions that make up the New River Valley.”
The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, County Administration, Sheriff’s Department and Parks & Recreation will host competitive teams and encourage participation from neighboring counties, cities and towns to support and help raise funds for the Pulaski County Access to Community College Program.
Featured jet ski racers at this event are several national and world champions including two-time amateur ski division world champion and seven-time ski division national champion, Jimmy Wilson, and Pro Women Runabout World Champion, Sophie Francis, and many more.
Anyone wanting more information or wishing to participate in racing events may email Keith McAfee at: keith@ajsaracing.com or call at: (423) 341-6416.
Status Solutions to Enhance Safety for Pulaski County Public Schools
Status Solutions, a leader in providing situational awareness and life safety technology, is proud to announce its latest partnership with Pulaski County Public Schools. Building upon an established relationship with the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, Status Solutions will extend its innovative solutions to the school district through its Grant of Use program, reinforcing the commitment to safety that the district and Pulaski County have embraced for years.
Pulaski County Administration has been a valued customer of Status Solutions since 2015, utilizing the company's situational awareness platform in their E-911 call center and within county buildings. This new partnership expands the scope of this successful relationship to ensure the safety and security of the school district's students, teachers, staff, and visitors.
"In Pulaski County Public Schools, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff," said Rob Graham, Superintendent of Schools. "By integrating Status Solutions' advanced situational awareness platform, we are taking a significant step towards creating peace and comfort for our teachers, students, and families. Our partnership with Status Solutions aligns perfectly with the County’s unified mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment for learning."
The partnership with Status Solutions aligns with the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors and Pulaski County School Board’s unified vision of becoming the safest district within the region. By implementing Status Solutions' technology, the district aims to set a new standard for safety in education, attracting families to the area due to its reputation for excellence in security and care.
Mike Mooney, Board of Supervisors and School Safety Committee Member expressed enthusiasm about the expanded partnership: "We have witnessed firsthand the positive impact of Status Solutions' technology in our County buildings and emergency response facilities. This new initiative reinforces our priority and dedication to the safety and prosperity of our community. We are proud to support our unified mission to not only educate but also protect our most valuable assets."
Safety is the foundation of a thriving community. With the support of the Board of Supervisors, the School Board, and the Chamber of Commerce, everyone is united in the commitment to grow Pulaski County by showcasing the district's dedication to safety. This is why we are also enlisting the help of the Status Solutions Network. This digital marketing business was designed with the sole purpose of sending profits back to the school district to offset the costs of safety measures and then help fund any additional needs. Local businesses will have the opportunity to purchase a membership and be listed in the Status Solutions Network Directory. In turn, students, teachers, and families in the community are asked to patronize those businesses. The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors, with the help of Status Solutions and Status Solutions Network, is inviting the community to take ownership and be part of a secure and vibrant educational experience.
“We firmly believe that safeguarding our schools is not just a responsibility, but a moral imperative,” said Amy Jeffs, President of Status Solutions. “By harnessing the power of situational awareness and the Status Solutions Network, our innovative funding model, we are dedicated to creating an environment where students, educators, and staff can thrive. Our commitment to protecting schools goes beyond mere solutions – it's about empowering communities with the tools they need to proactively prevent incidents and ensure a secure future for their children."
The partnership between Status Solutions and Pulaski County School Board, fortified by the Board of Supervisors enduring commitment to safety, symbolizes a shared vision of nurturing growth, fostering security, and creating a future where education and well-being go hand in hand.
About Status Solutions
Status Solutions has built a reputation for being a master of situational awareness services, including lifesafety assurance, real-time security monitoring and data analysis, environmental awareness, and mass notification technologies. They carefully craft custom software solutions that give teams the awareness of what’s happening, empower them to take action, and then provide the analysis that helps them adapt and stay ahead of threats, no matter how mundane or extreme. To learn more about Status Solutions, visit https://www.statussolutions.com or follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. To learn more about Status Solutions Network, the innovative franchise opportunity and funding model for schools,
Pulaski County Public Schools believe:
- All students must achieve at their highest levels
- That every child will excel
- Learning occurs best in an atmosphere of mutual respect
- Schools must provide a supportive and safe environment for students to learn
- We recruit, hire, and retain the best staff
- We hold our teachers to the highest professional standards
- Parents can make the biggest difference in students' learning
- Families are critical to the success of students in school
For more, visit: www.pcva.us
Commissioners & Cans Food Drive
Help fight hunger in Southwest Virginia
August 1 - 31, 2023
Commissioners of the Revenue offices across the state come together to collect food items for their local foodbanks.
Monetary donations go through https://www.feedingswva.org/donate-to-commissioners-cans/.
Most needed items:
- Canned Meats
- Canned Veggies
- Canned Fruit
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Hearty Meaty Soup
- Pasta & Sauces
- Cereal, Oatmeal
- Condiments & Spices
Drop off items at the Pulaski Commissioner’s Office or contact us to pick up from your county department. We are located at 52 W. Main Street, Suite 200 in Pulaski.
Contact: Sabrina Bishop (sbishop@pulaskicounty.org) or Terri Carter (tlcarter@pulaskicounty.org) or (540) 980-7750
July 4th Veterans Remembrance Ceremony
The public is invited to attend the county's annual July 4th Veterans Remembrance Ceremony to be held at the Pulaski Theatre, located at 14 West Main Street, Pulaski, Virginia, beginning at 1 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors and the Pulaski County Courthouses Exhibits Committee.
At this year's ceremony, local Vietnam Veterans will be recognized for their service to our country as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam in 1973.
The event's guest speaker will be Ben King, Operations Director for the Virginia War Memorial. Local groups participating in the ceremony include the VFW Post #1184, AMVETS Post #40, Boy Scouts, Wilderness Road Chorus, and bagpiper, Andrew Meeks. The ceremony will conclude with a 21 gun salute and the playing of “Taps” on the lawn of the Old Historic Pulaski County Courthouse at the War Memorial. Refreshments will then be served and tours of the courthouse will be conducted by members of the Courthouses Exhibits Committee.
All veterans and their families are encouraged to attend as we remember and honor our local veterans and active members of our military.
Pulaski County Parks & Recreation Friends and Neighbors
We wanted to connect with you as quickly as possible. We know many of you have heard the devastating news of the fire at the Randolph Park Pool facilities yesterday. The good news is that everyone is safe. We are beyond grateful for our Pulaski County First Responders, and all of the surrounding communities, who were quick to respond and take action.
We recognize that yesterday’s events create a lot of questions from you regarding our Parks and Recreation operations. Please know that we are committed to serving our Pulaski County friends and neighbors and take that privilege seriously.
What you need to know today
- Randolph Park remains open and available to the public.
- The Evelyn Alexander Waterpark Aquatic Building is a complete loss. When you visit Randolph Park, you will find this area to be secured with fencing. Please respect these physical barriers and help us keep everyone safe.
- All Parks and Recreation sports will continue as normal. All games scheduled next week, and moving forward, are a go!
- All scheduled weekend baseball/softball tournaments will continue as normal.
- All scheduled and future shelter reservations will continue as normal. All shelter facilities have been inspected and confirmed to be safe and accessible.
- Walking trails, fields, playgrounds, shelters, public restrooms, the disc golf course etc. remain safe, accessible, and available for use!
- The Evelyn Alexander Waterpark is closed until further notice.
How to contact us!
- The Parks and Recreation offices will temporarily relocate our offices to the Bat and Ball Sports Complex at Randolph Park effective Tuesday, 05/30/2023. You can best access us by parking at the basketball courts and walking to the complex.
- We recommend you call or text us before stopping by the office. We expect to be in transition most of the week and not in the physical office full time.
- The Randolph Park Main Office line is not available. Please connect with us by EMAIL or TEXT until we have our new phones up and running.
Jenna Kinder
Program and Activities Manager
jkinder@pulaskicounty.org
TEXT: 540.744.6273
CJ Burgis
Recreation Coordinator
cjburgis@pulaskicounty.org
What's next?
Please allow us several days to regroup and put together all the information that each of you need regarding next steps. Our team is committed to having a great summer and look forward to connecting with you soon on how we're going to make that happen. Look for more information from us next week!
Historic Name Change of the Legendary Motormile Speedway
Wednesday, May 10, 2023, marks another big step in economic development for Pulaski County's growing tourism industry, as a long time fixture in the County, the Motor Mile Speedway, officially changes its name and becomes the Pulaski County Motorsports Park. Motorsports has changed over time, and so have many of the venues that host it. For the racers and race fans, that is exactly what has happened at the speedway in Fairlawn, Virginia. The newly named Pulaski County Motorsports Park has raised the bar and is providing race fans the chance of a lifetime to enjoy the best of the best drivers in NASCAR and IndyCar by hosting the Superstar Racing Experience, better known as the SRX Series.
Pulaski County, in partnership with the Rusty Wallace Racing Group, is pleased to further announce that on Thursday, July 27, 2023, THE THUNDER WILL BE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF PULASKI COUNTY, VIRGINIA!, as the Pulaski County Motorsports Park will be hosting the Superstar Racing Experience Series. This race will be carried live on ESPN's Thursday Night Thunder, with an anticipated viewership of approximately two million.
“SRX could not have picked a better track in a better community to host the Superstars of Racing, as we are known for having one of the most entertaining short tracks in the country and some of the best race fans in the world”, stated Jonathan D. Sweet, County Administrator. “This new partnership marks our strong commitment to continue the long tradition of racing here in Pulaski County, and our desire to have our Motorsports Park become one of Virginia's prime tourism destinations as well as a world-class outdoor sports and event venue.”
Mark Ebert, President and CEO, Wallace Racing Group, shared that race fans will have the opportunity to see and experience the thrills of watching superstars of racing maneuver their cars at high speeds with some of the country's best stock car drivers competing. Included will be legendary names in racing like Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Bobby Labonte, Kyle Busch, and Marco Andretti, just to name a few. “We are excited to work closely with SRX and Pulaski County”, conveyed Mark Ebert. “The SRX Race will be amazing but that's just the start, we are truly a motorsports park! We have go-karting, IHRA Drag Racing, a world class racing experience and more, the Pulaski County Motorsports Park and the NRV are truly a destination for race fans of all ages.”
The Pulaski County Motorsports Park is home to the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience features a 1/8th mile IHRA sanctioned drag strip, a .416 NASCAR sanctioned paved oval track, and the recent addition of a go-kart track.
Broadband in Unserved Areas
All Pulaski County residents who reside in unserved broadband areas are encouraged to pre-register to show interest in fiber-to-home broadband internet to help ensure universal coverage and to finalize the construction sequence by All Points Broadband. Head to the link below to pre-register.