Town Council Meeting May 2023

The monthly Town Council meeting was held on May 9, 2023. The meeting agenda can be viewed here and the full Town Council packet is available here

Shawn Durham, CEO of Four Seasons YMCA, updated Town Council on current happenings and thanked them for their ongoing support of the facility over its nearly 14 years of operation. Last summer’s youth soccer program was one of the most successful to date, followed by a similar basketball season with record participants. Shawn also expressed support of the sports complex project and felt it would complement the mission of the YMCA.

Town Council acknowledged several Tazewell High School students for their academic and athletic accomplishments:
– Lauren Keene broke the record for the 3200 race that has been held by Charity Young Hurst for 37 years. The new record set by Lauren is 11:58.72. Lauren also won the class 2A 1000-meter race in the VHSL indoor track state championship.
– Abigail Rhudy won the class 2A 500-meter race in the VHSL indoor track state championship.
– Maddie Day scored her 1000th career point in her home basketball contest against Marion.
– Taryn Stiltner and Jaden Redd placed 7th in the state DECA Competition in Business Solutions. Taryn and Jaden competed in Orlando, Florida during the week of April 22 –
April 26 for the national DECA Competition.
– Tazewell High School FBLA members attended the Virginia FBLA State Leadership Conference in Reston, Virginia. During the Awards of Excellence program held on April 1, THS FBLA received designation as a Virginia FBLA Honor Chapter. Riley Nunley received 2nd place in International Business; Abigail Rhudy received 2nd place in Graphic Design; Ian Rhudy received 3rd place in Coding and Programming; and Audrey Brown and Layla Cecil received 5h place in Broadcast Journalism.
– Landri Lallande broke the former THS record held since 2012 by Kasey Adair for the discus field event at the Judy Thomas Invitational, with a throw of 133 feet 3 inches that also broke the meet record. Landri additionally broke the Six Rivers Relays oldest standing girls record that stood for 42 years. The previous record was 134 feet 9 and ¾ inches. The record now held by Landri is 135 feet 9 ½ inches. (Maddie Day and Lauren Keene pictured below).

Mayor Hoops and Town Council recognized area business Tessa’s Precious Paws Salon. Owner Tessa Farrell shared that the pet salon is located at 130 Walnut Street and will soon offer boarding and training, in addition to their current grooming services.

Tiffany Pauley, owner of newly launched business The Box Charc, was recognized by Mayor Hoops and Town Council. Located at 113 Shire Lane, The Box Charc offers charcuterie to-go services for the everyday to-go and special events for a unique culinary experience.

Town Council adopted a resolution designating the third Saturday in June 2023 as Juneteenth:
WHEREAS, 14 percent of the population in Tazewell County were slaves in 1830; and
WHEREAS, very few slaves were set free by their masters or successfully bought their freedom in Tazewell County; and
WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, did not end slavery in Virginia and only became effective in the Commonwealth with the enactment of Chapter 103 of Title 30 of the Code of Virginia in 1873; and
WHEREAS, news of freedom for enslaved Americans did not reach each state on the same date, and each state has its own account of this important announcement; and
WHEREAS, “Juneteenth,” or June 19, 1865, is recognized as the date on which General Gordon Granger, upon arriving in Galveston, Texas, issued General Order Number Three, notifying the last enslaved Americans of their new legal status; and
WHEREAS, “Juneteenth” is observed by many African Americans and others as a special time of celebration, and they credit the survival of their forebears to faith in God, perseverance, hope, and triumph of the human spirit; and
WHEREAS, all people in the Town of Tazewell, without regard to race, ethnicity, origin, creed, religion, and culture, share a common destiny and a desire for freedom and the determination to preserve our freedoms and extend these benefits to people abroad; and
WHEREAS, the 19th of June is recognized as a federal and state holiday.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR THE TOWN OF TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA:
1. That the date of June 19th will always be recognized as Juneteenth; and that the seventeenth day of June, in 2023, and the third Saturday in June in subsequent years thereafter, be designated and commemorated as “Juneteenth” in the Town of Tazewell; and,
2. That the Council recognize the suffering caused by the enslavement of generations of African Americans, and call for reconciliation among all citizens of the Town; and,
3. That the Mayor call upon the people of the Town to reflect upon the significant roles and many contributions made by African Americans to the Town of Tazewell, to the County and to the Region, throughout history and today, and to celebrate this day with appropriate activities and events that honor this rich legacy; and,
4. That the Council post the designation of this day on the Town’s website

Schedule of events for the 2023 Juneteenth events:
– Friday, June 16 at 5:00 p.m. kicks off the Juneteenth weekend at the Fuller Peery building at the Tazewell County Fairgrounds
– Saturday, June 17 at 11 a.m. the celebration on Main Street begins at Altizer Stage with a program featuring keynote speaker Judge Frederick Adams, followed by a Community Choir performance. A parade begins at 1:00 p.m., travelling down Main Street toward the Little League Fields. From the fields, the celebration travels on to the Tazewell County Fairgrounds for a full day of festivities (free community picnic, bounce houses, foam party, face painting, DJ, crafts)
– Sunday, June 18 at 10:45 a.m. at Nuckolls Hall at Tazewell County Fairgrounds, with worship and reflection at 11:00 a.m., followed by a community meal
– Monday, June 19 at 5:00 p.m. at the “Standing Tall and Proud” mural on Main Street, join in for a prayer and award ceremony to announce the winners of the Creative Writing and Excellence competition

Scenes from prior Juneteenth celebrations:

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