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Buena Vista
Cemetery Cleanup Continues
“Volunteerism is alive and well,” declared Jake Shewey at the March 21 meeting of Buena Vista City Council, in reference to an abundance of volunteers who are helping to clear and spruce up the long-neglected Greenwood Cemetery.
Shewey, chairman of Friends of Greenwood Cemetery, said students from Southern Virginia University and Washington and Lee University have joined with local residents to clear brush from the cemetery. Jail inmates have also been helping. About 40 to 50 dead trees have been removed.
A wooden fence is being put up around the cemetery and a bulletin board is being installed that will contain information about the history of the cemetery. About 190 graves have been marked, said Shewey.
There are believed to be about 300 people buried in the cemetery that was originally a burial ground for paupers in the 1890s at Buena Vista’s founding. In the first half of the 20th century, African Americans were buried in a separate section of the cemetery.
Carryover Funds Returned
Carryover funds of $781,887 are being returned to the Buena Vista schools from the past fiscal year. City Council approved returning the funds on March 21.
Of this amount, $618,263 is to be used for construction projects for the whole division. An additional $163,623 is being placed in the division’s facilities reserve account to be used for unexpected expenditures such as roof repairs.
Fix Appointed To EDA
Jody Fix was appointed by City Council to serve on the Buena Vista Economic Development Authority.
