Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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7 state parks to undergo repairs
Seven Virginia State Parks will undergo cabin and/or campground renovations beginning this fall. Due to the magnitude of these projects, dates are subject to change, and guests should check the park’s webpage before their visit.
“These renovations are key to the longevity of our parks,” said Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker in a statement. “It takes time to upgrade the facilities and make each location more enjoyable for all guests. We look forward to sharing the upgraded cabins and campgrounds when the projects are completed.”
Here are the parks that will be affected by the renovations:
- First Landing State Park — All cabins will be closed from Nov. 1, 2024, through October 2026.
- Westmoreland State Park — All cabins and camping cabins will be closed from Nov. 1, 2024, though October 2026.
- Claytor Lake State Park — Campgrounds B and C will be closed from Nov. 1, 2024, through the 2025 season.
- Fairy Stone State Park — The main campground will be closed from December 2024 through Feb. 28, 2026. While the renovations will not impact the equestrian campground, customers staying at the equestrian campground will not be able to use the bathhouse and dump station at the main campground.
- Grayson Highlands State Park — Hickory Ridge Campground, including all campsites, yurts and the bunkhouse, will be closed from November 2024 through April 2026. Chestnut Hollow Equestrian Campground will remain open for the 2025 season.
- Bear Creek Lake State Park — Black Oak and Chestnut Campgrounds will be closed from Oct. 7, 2024, through May 2026. The Acorn Camping Loop will be open through Dec. 1, 2024. The Acorn Camping Loop accommodates tents and small campers less than 20 feet. Large RVs will not fit in the Acorn Loop.
- Douthat State Park — The Douthat Lodge area is closed to vehicular traffic until further notice. Pedestrian traffic is permitted while accessing the Guest Lodge Trail.
All of the park locations will remain open, and these projects will not impact daily park operations.
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Interim president named at Danville Community College
Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, has announced that he has appointed Dr. Cornelius Johnson, who is currently serving as the Vice President of Academic Affairs & Student Services, as the Interim President of Danville Community College effective Dec. 1.
On Oct. 29, it was announced Dr. Jerry Wallace will be leaving his position as President of Danville Community College to become campus president at West Virginia University Potomac State College.
The search for a permanent president of Danville Community College will begin soon, the community college system said in a statement.
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BWXT names new VP/GM at Lynchburg facility
BWX Technologies, Inc. has named Howard B. Markle II as vice president and general manager of the BWXT Nuclear Operations Group – Lynchburg facility.
The Nuclear Operations Group – Lynchburg facility manufactures naval nuclear reactor cores for submarines and aircraft carriers and fuel assemblies for research and test reactors. The site is a highly secure Category I nuclear facility licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission — one of only two such commercial facilities in the United States.
Howard has served as the site’s deputy general manager since 2022. He retired from the Navy as a rear admiral after serving in numerous roles on nuclear submarines and carriers in his career. He has extensive industrial operations, repair and manufacturing experience, serving as commander of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Additionally, he served as deputy commander of Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations for the Naval Sea Systems Command, leading the four public naval shipyards, other maintenance and overhaul facilities, and oversight of new construction facilities.
He succeeds Jim J. Bittner, who was recently named vice president of operations and programs optimization for BWXT’s Technical Services Group subsidiary.
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Hampden-Sydney raises $178 million toward $250 million goal
Hampden-Sydney College has launched a fundraising campaign designed to raise $250 million in honor of its upcoming 250th anniversary next year.
College President Larry Stimpert that the college has already raised $178 million toward that goal.
This includes a $30 million gift from Endeavour Legacy Foundation, led by Katharine P. and Dr. Eugene W. Hickok, Hampden-Sydney class of 1972 and college trustee. This gift will endow multiple faculty and staff positions aimed at growing the college’s business, finance, foreign affairs, and national security offerings. This investment builds on Endeavour Legacy Foundation’s previous investments in Hampden-Sydney, including a recent $20 million commitment to fund the renovation of Gilmer Hall, which will house these newly endowed positions and their associated departments and programmatic offerings.