Government Briefs

Firefighters Thanked

Lauren Stull, Glenwood and Pedlar District Ranger for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests; and Nathan Ramsey, Rockbridge County chief of fire and emergency services; appeared before the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 11 to bring recognition and show appreciation to responders to the Matts Creek Fire.

At its peak, 380 firefighters and support staff were working the fire, which burned 11,000 acres in Bedford and Rockbridge counties. The portion of the fire in Rockbridge County covered 5,000 acres. Among the local responders were personnel from the Glasgow and Natural Bridge fire departments, the Virginia Department of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service and the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office.

Many of the firefighters were from out west. Stull thanked everyone for the “hospitality and kindness” shown to these workers from outside the area. Members of the Board of Supervisors also expressed their appreciation for the efforts to protect lives and property.

Citizens Committee On Solar Formed

A committee of citizens has been established to work on drafting a zoning text amendment to develop a solar ordinance for Rockbridge County.

Serving on this committee are to be Leslie Ayers of the Board of Supervisors, David Whitmore of the Planning Commission, Mack Smith of the Farm Bureau, Bob Biersack of the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council and an as-yet unnamed citizen at large.