By Debbie Adams
At the council meeting on February 6, Vinton Town Council presented a Proclamation to the
William Byrd High School Terriers football team celebrating their outstanding 2023 football
season.
The Terriers finished their season as AAA State Semi-finalists with an outstanding record of 12
wins and 2 losses; they won the Blue Ridge District Championship, and the first regional
championship in school history—the 2023 Region 3D Championship. Head football coach Brad
Lutz, who has been at Byrd for five years, was named Region 3D Coach of the Year. He was
also selected by the NFL Washington Commanders as High School Coach of the Week and then
nominated for NFL High School Coach of the Year representing the Commanders.
The Proclamation congratulated each member of the team, the coaching staff, and the school.
Each player is to receive a copy of the Proclamation.
Student-athletes on the team include: Dexter Gaines, B.J. Cheatwood, John Kiker, Doniven
Davis, Israel Hairston, Brayden Andrews, Dominic Dulak, Bricen Lancaster, Walter Barrows,
Maurice Burnette, Jahdai English, Jerett Shepherd, Cyrus Adams, Jonathan Rosser, Ethan
Haston, Lane Shoemaker, Brady Reachy, Cooper Minnix, Elliott Gaines, Blake Anderson,
Braedon Young, Landon Martin, Aiden Kelly, Jalen Toler, Cannin Lutz, Ian Vest, Tate Kotz,
Jamez Toler, Justyn Rozenboom, Thomas Purcell, Nick Bustamante, Camden West, George
Slusser, Greg Stiltner, Julian Pantoja, Hayden Lish, Jhaquin Johnson, Graylen Castleberry, Gabe
Dixon, Ben Waid, Evan Tabor, Carson Bivens, Jackson McCoy, Titus Beatty, Tyler Harris, Lee
Doss, Connor Whitehead, Camden Thepsimuong, Josh Stores, and Jesse Smith, student
managers Luke Richardson and Dyllan Shepherd, and the coaches and the school.
Vinton Mayor Brad Grose commended the team and noted that not only are they champions on
the field, and as good students, but, led by the coaching staff, they have contributed to the
community. At each Mingle at the Market concert, the players and coaches set up for the event
and cleaned up afterwards. They have joined with the Vinton Breakfast Lions Club on projects
maintaining the Glade Town Cemetery and the Glade Town Trail.
“You make our community proud,” said Vice Mayor Mike Stovall.
Coach Lutz, who has coached for 25 years, commented on the close-knit Vinton and surrounding
community and their support of the sports teams at William Byrd. He said that at one of the
championship games, he glanced at the packed stands and thought that the entire Town of Vinton
had driven a distance to support the team and cheer them on.
Next on the agenda, Human Resources/Risk Management Director Donna Collins recognized the
2023 Employees of the Year. Awards were divided into three categories: Public Works, the
Vinton Police Department, and all other departments. Staff voted only on the co-workers in their
own department. After the votes were tallied, the results were:
• Employee of the Year in Public Works, P.C. Crimmins, “who has worked for the town since
2023 and has quickly proven himself to be a dependable and dedicated employee. He is an
integral member of the Grounds Crew and keeps Vinton looking beautiful.”
• Public Works Runner-Up for Employee of the Year, Banks Bradford, Sr., who “has been an
equipment operator with the town for seven years. He single-handedly keeps the town spotless
everyday as he drives the streetsweeper through town.”
• Employee of the Year for the Police Department, Sgt. Brandon Alterio, “who has been a
member of the police department since 2019. He came to Vinton as a patrol officer and has
quickly risen through the ranks to his current rank of sergeant. He is an Air Force veteran, and he
serves on the town’s Veterans Committee.”
• Runner-Up for Police Dept. Employee of the Year is Lt. Scott Hurt, who “has been an officer
with the town since 2008. Lt. Hurt exhibits his dedication to the town daily by serving the
citizens, leading his officers, and maintaining a high standard of excellence.”
• Employee of the Year for all other administrative departments is Tobbie Russeau, “who has
been with the town since September 2021 and works in our Capital Projects/Building
Maintenance Department. He serves as our Facility Maintenance Supervisor. He supports
multiple departments, serves on the Safety Committee, and is a key player in keeping the town
facilities running.”
• Runner-up for this award is Tiffany Stewart, who “has been with our Finance Department since
June 2021. She is the most senior finance employee and has been the cornerstone through the
major transitions that the Finance Department has been through over the past several years. She
was recently promoted to Assistant Finance Director.”
“All the individuals recognized this evening are exceptional in their work, contributions, and
behaviors,” said Collins.
Year were introduced to Town Council. Pictured left to right are Tobbie Russeau, Tiffany
Stewart, Banks Bradford, Mayor Brad Grose, Sgt. Brandon Alterio, and Lt. Scott Hurt. (P.C.
Crimmins is not pictured.)
Jeff Ramsey made a special presentation to members of the Vinton Police Department. His
father, U.S. Army Cpl. Calvin Wetzel Ramsey, died in service to his country in Vietnam on Aug.
8, 1970, just before Jeff was born. Cpl. Ramsey received a Purple Heart for his sacrifice.
Jeff Ramsey’s mother received the traditional American flag received under these circumstances
and kept it stored in a container until she gave it to him about five years ago. He wanted to
display the flag in a case but discovered that the flag was improperly folded. Police Chief
Fabricio Drumond and Lt. Michael Caldwell organized a ceremony in January to refold the flag
correctly and read Ramsey’s obituary to family members and police officers present.
Ramsey came to council to thank the police officers for their kindness. Lt. Caldwell commented
that it was an honor to be part of the ceremony.
(on left) visited the Town Council meeting to thank members of the Vinton Police Department
for their kindness in assisting with an American flag his family received years ago when his
father perished in the Vietnam War. He is pictured with Lt. Michael Caldwell, who participated
in the flag folding ceremony.
Dr. Jefferson Teass, president of the Vinton Dogwood Festival, presented an update to council
on this year’s Dogwood Festival coming up on April 26 and 27. The main change will be a new
parade route confined to downtown Vinton rather than proceeding down Washington Avenue
from the War Memorial. The parade will be a walking parade, featuring horse-drawn carriages
with the Dogwood Queen and Court. Teass noted the increasing difficulty in drawing
participants for parades, especially bands.
Other than the modified parade, the Dogwood Festival will remain the same, with entertainment
on three stages downtown, numerous vendors, and activities for children.
For more information on the Dogwood Festival, visit https://vintondogwoodfest.com/ or their
Facebook page.
At the request of a citizen, Town Manager Pete Peters updated council members on the
Speedway service station across from PFG which was purchased by a national conglomerate and
demolished in recent months. The town is not involved and had no knowledge of the action
beforehand but has contacted the realtor in Richmond who is in charge of the sale of the
property.
Assistant Town Manager Cody Sexton presented a report from the most recent Public Works
Committee meeting. He discussed the new street sign project which will eventually replace all
the street signs in Vinton. The sign work has begun in the Midway community with poles
readjusted or replaced and new signs installed.
He noted that paving on Clearview Drive and Niagara Road will be completed “when the asphalt
plants reopen” as part of the 2023 paving program. Eighth Street will also be paved to the town
line. Planning for paving in Fall 2024 is underway at an estimated cost of $1 million. A sinkhole
at First and Cleveland is under repair—a stormwater project.
A new refuse truck has been under discussion for several months: whether to purchase the same
type of truck currently in use in Vinton—a flipper truck—or to buy a fully automated “one-
armed bandit” vehicle. Sexton explained to council that due to costs, the committee recommends
continuing with the flipper truck model when purchasing the new equipment.
In a side note, Sexton reported that the Western Virginia Water Authority has begun the
Lindenwood Replacement Project in East County, which will replace approximately 22,000 feet
of cast iron water lines with new 8- and 12-inch water lines in the subdivision.
Sexton also presented a report from the Finance Committee, stating that the financial statements
from October and November 2023 are “mostly dead on,” with revenue and expenditures
matching expectations. Council approved statements for both months.
Deputy Police Chief Tim Lawless presented the comprehensive January-December 2023 Police
Department Annual Report. His most exciting news was that the VPD is now 100% fully staffed
with 25 sworn officers and two civilian staff. He credited the officers on the force for their
efforts in building a culture in the VPD that has made the department attractive to recruits.
Lawless also reported that the VPD has received $194,466.10 in grants to be used for purchasing
bulletproof vests, Criminal Investigations equipment, and Eagle 3 Radar units, and for paying
officer overtime. (Look for full details of his report in the Feb. 15 Vinton Messenger.)
