Latest news with #RidgeRunner
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bluefield OKs tougher rules on animal abandonment
bluefield — Those who abandon animals in the city limits of Bluefield will now be subject to additional penalties. The Bluefield Board of Directors approved the second reading of an animal abandonment ordinance Tuesday. The amended ordinance specifically deals with the issue of those citizens who relocate to another residence in the city, but leave their cats and dogs behind. 'This just adds additional ammunition for our animal control officers to deal with people who are not properly caring for their animals, and are not actually living with the animals, but keeping the animals somewhere separate and far from where they live,' City Attorney David Kersey said. Bluefield has had a number of cases over the past two years of people moving from one residence to another and leaving their animals behind without proper food, water and care, according to City Manager Cecil Marson. 'We've had over probably the last year a couple of cases where folks actually own property, but they are not actually living in the property and they have their animals there,' Marson said. 'It's unacceptable, and the language in the original ordinance was somewhat vague on what the authorities and what legal rights we had to seize those animals. So this ordinance has been done in a manner to make sure we clear that up so our code enforcement and animal control teams and our police force can act if necessary if we see any type of mistreatment of animals.' The amended ordinance was approved by the board on a second reading Tuesday by a vote of 4-0 with board member Daniels Wells absent. According to the existing city code dealing with animal cruelty, no one living in the city limits is allowed to impound or confine any animal in any place, and fail to provide at the same time a sufficient quantity of food and water. In other business Tuesday, Marson talked about all of the Memorial Day activities that were held in Bluefield over the past weekend, including the opening of the Ridge Runner and the Memorial Day service that was conducted in the grassy area of the 400 block. Marson said all of the flags that were placed in the grassy area for Monday's ceremony were donated by Dreama Denver. He said Paul Dorsey and Felicia Holcomb helped to coordinate the Memorial Day program. While the weather didn't cooperate, Marson said the program 'turned out well.' Despite cooler temperatures outside and a steady rainfall during most of the long holiday weekend, the Ridge Runner was still able to start making its runs across Lotito Park on Saturday. Marson said about 290 people rode the miniature train over the weekend. But the train had to stop Sunday after a derailment occurred that involved one of its wheels leaving the track. Marson was asked after Tuesday's meeting to elaborate on the 'derailment' that occurred. 'So yes, Sunday afternoon, we had no train turned over or anything like that,' Marson said. 'It just got stuck in one spot. So we had to go out there this week and reshift the track and get it running.' The new splash pad at Lotito Park didn't meet its Memorial Day opening. Rick Showalter, director of parks and recreation for the city, said the splash pad is just about finished, but some work must still be completed, including the fencing. Weather also has impacted the ongoing work. 'We don't have an opening date,' Showalter said. 'We have hired staff, so all of that is going well. We will be training them when we get a little closer. We are very excited, and I think it will be a big hit with the kids.' 'Bottom line is with the weather, we have to get the dirt in and the fence in,' Marson added. 'We have to have the fence for the safety and monitoring. So that's what has been our biggest hold-up.' Board member Treyvon Simmons said the public is getting excited about the pending opening of the splash pad. Marson said final preparations also are underway for the start of the Cole Chevy Mountain Festival at city park. Trucks carrying carnival rides from the James H. Drew Carnival have started arriving at city park, and those rides will be assembled between now and Friday's opening. 'We should have a very nice Mountain Festival this year,' Marson said. 'And thanks to Cole Chevy for putting all of that together.' Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
City officials still hopeful of having splash pad ready for Memorial Day
bluefield — With the long Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, many area families will be looking for outdoor activities to enjoy. Some of those outdoor attractions can be found at Bluefield's Lotito Park, including the Ridge Runner, the new 40-yard dash, the city's new playground and the new splash pad. However, there is still a question as to whether or not the splash pad will be ready in time for Memorial Day weekend. Rick Showalter, director of parks and recreation for the city, said officials would still like to see the splash pad open by Memorial Day weekend. But there is still work to be finished between now and then. 'Our goal was that and still is to open on Memorial Day weekend,' Showalter said Tuesday while providing a project update to members of the Bluefield Board of Directors. 'However, we've had some setbacks. I'm sure that (the opening) is going to happen and we will announce in the future what that date will be.' Showalter said there is still some work to be done, including the installation of a perimeter fence around the splash pad. That work is expected to begin next week. Showalter said training also is underway for staff. 'We are presently interviewing for staff to run the concessions and ticket sales for the summer,' Showalter said. 'We plan a ribbon cutting in the future, a grand ribbon cutting, and that will be announced based on when we know exactly when we can do that.' A generator is currently being used by the city to provide temporary power until work on a transformer can be completed, Curtis French, director of public works for the city, told the board Tuesday. The new splash pad was made possible with funding support from the Shott Foundation along with grant funding from the West Virginia Land and Water Conservation Agency, according to Showalter. The city's original plan was to have the splash pad and the Ridge Runner operational by Memorial Day weekend at the park. One week later, or on Friday, May 31, the James H. Drew carnival also will open at city park as the 2025 edition of the Cole Chevy Mountain Festival gets underway. The Cole Chevy Mountain Festival will continue for 10 days through Sunday, June 8. One new addition that won't be ready for Memorial Day weekend, or this summer, is the new multi-purpose building, which is planned adjacent to the splash pad. It will serve multiple functions, including as a concession area where snacks can be purchased and as a designated location for a splash pad attendant. The new facility also would include four new restroom facilities that would also serve as changing room areas for those who utilize the new splash pad. Work on the multi-purpose facility won't begin until the fall with a goal of having it open for the 2026 season. According to a legal advertisement that appeared recently in the Daily Telegraph, the city is seeking requests for proposals from qualified manufacturing firms to construct the new multi-purpose building. All proposals for the project are due back at city hall by 4 p.m. on June 12. The bids would then be opened on June 13. According to the request for proposals, the building will serve multiple functions, including housing four restrooms, (that will also function as changing rooms for those who use the splash pad), a concession area for snacks, and a designated space for the splash pad gate attendant. The facility will be located at the newly constructed splash pad and would be operational primarily during the splash pad season. Work on the new multi-purpose facility would begin in the fall after the park attractions are closed for the season. That way construction won't be occurring in the area while children enjoy the splash pad, Showalter said in an earlier interview. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Ridge Runner on track for May opening
bluefield — It was a year ago when the historic Ridge Runner made its last one-mile lap for the season around Lotito Park. Since that time the park has been hit with both the remnants of a hurricane and a flood five months later. Hurricane Helene toppled thousands of trees across the two-state region last September, many of which fell at city park. Five months later the park also was impacted by the Feb. 15 flood. Repairs to the railroad tracks at city park are continuing with the goal of having the Ridge Runner operational by Memorial Day weekend, according to Bluefield Parks and Recreation Director Rick Showalter. 'We are actually just now finishing up repairs from Helene on the railroad tracks,' Showalter said. A meeting was held two weeks ago with parks and recreation staff to plan for the train's reopening on Memorial Day weekend. 'That's our plan,' Showalter said. 'We've hired train drivers and the staff at the depot for ticket sales. We have a mechanic who has on the punch list the engine to make sure it is in good shape.' The goal is to finish all of the track repairs so that the train will be ready for late May. 'Public works has been working on the tracks,' Showalter said. 'It wasn't just the wind. There was water too. They've been working on that. So everyone is in the loop and working toward that goal.' Each summer the miniature train transports visitors across city park on a mile-long trip that includes two bridges, a tunnel and a train depot. In May of 2023, the train was down for the entire season after another flood hit the Bluefield area — this time on Memorial Day — also causing widespread damage to the railroad tracks at the time. The historic train has a long a history with Nature's Air-Conditioned City that dates back to 1964. At that time, a private corporation brought the Ridge Runner to the East River Mountain Overlook as part of a larger plan to develop the mountaintop into a major tourist attraction, according to the city's online narrative of the train's history. For a period of time the train was a big hit on the mountain drawing visitors and tourists to the area. However, with the completion of Interstate 77 in 1976, and the opening of the East River and Big Walker tunnels, the volume of traffic over the mountain was significantly reduced, and the attraction faded away with little fanfare. The city briefly relaunched the Ridge Runner in 1984, but with limited revenues as well as increasing maintenance costs, it didn't last long. At that point the train was stored away. It was resurrected again in 2011 after a controversial proposal by former City Manager Andy Merriman to decommission the train was met with overwhelming community opposition. That led to the creation of the Save the Ridge Runner committee and ultimately got the little train back on track at Lotito Park where it continues to operate each summer. Thousands of visitors to city park now ride the train each year. In more recent years, the iconic train has also shared its name with a wooden bat league baseball team at Bowen Field and with the new Ridge Runner Fun Zone at Lotito Park. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
