Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
Pastor’s lawsuit against Roanoke County parent continues, with diminished scope
A lawsuit brought by a pastor against a parent continues to play out in Roanoke County Circuit Court.
In a third amended version of the suit filed in December, Thomas McCracken reduces his complaint to one count of defamation against Tiffany Sandifer for making false and defamatory statements against him, including comments made on Facebook and TikTok.
He seeks a total of $750,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.
McCracken’s suit against Tiffany Sandifer stemmed from a contentious school board meeting in August 2023, after which McCracken and Sandifer’s teenage daughter got into an argument.
The meeting was one of several school board meetings that summer that went on for hours as dozens of residents spoke during public comment about the board’s implementation of the Virginia Department of Education’s model policies on transgender students.
One parent was arrested at that meeting and charged with disorderly conduct and was later acquitted. Three adults were arrested over a span of two school board meetings that summer.
The crux of the suit was the incident between McCracken and Sandifer’s daughter after the August school board meeting. In the initial suit, McCracken claimed Sandifer’s daughter told McCracken, “Don’t touch me,” and Sandifer said, “Don’t touch my daughter.” McCracken has denied having done so. In an October deposition cited in the latest amended complaint, Sandifer testified that she did not see McCracken touch her daughter.
McCracken also claims statements Sandifer made online about him and his conservative Southern Baptist church in Salem were untrue and malicious.
McCracken originally sued Sandifer and Luke Priddy for defamation and accused them both of conspiracy for alleged attempts to defame him. Priddy sat next to McCracken at the August 2023 school board meeting. Previous versions of the suit claimed that during the incident, Priddy said he saw McCracken touch Sandifer’s daughter on the shoulder.
Priddy, a former member of the Roanoke City Council, was never served with the complaint and was dropped from the suit in October.
— Lisa Rowan
9 localities recognized by Main Street program
Four localities in Southwest and Southside could be eligible for grants and aid programs to improve their downtowns.
Martinsville, Buena Vista, Galax and Covington were among nine localities recognized by Virginia’s Main Street Program, which is designed to preserve main streets across the state via grant funding and other initiatives. The program has existed since 1985.
“We are extremely proud of our Virginia Main Street communities and are excited to be continuing a strong tradition of supporting local economies across the Commonwealth,” Bryan Horn, director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, said in a news release announcing the designations.
While specific grants were not mentioned, the communities now have access to programs serving a number of needs, including market analysis and facade improvements.
“The Virginia Main Street program has been instrumental in nurturing small businesses, growing local economies, and preserving historic downtowns for nearly 40 years,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in the news release. “I applaud these newly designated Virginia Main Street communities for their commitment to revitalization, and I look forward to your community’s continued success.”
The other five communities are Clarksville, Colonial Beach, Hampton, Newport News and Petersburg.
Each had an accompanying organization recognized for its work on community revitalization. In Buena Vista, Galax, Covington and Martinsville, the organizations Main Street Buena Vista, Downton Galax Grows, Olde Town Covington and the Uptown Partnership served those roles, respectively.
“This prestigious recognition is a significant milestone for Martinsville,” said Spencer Koger, executive director of Uptown Partnership.
Statewide officials want this work to continue.
“Downtowns are the heart and soul of many communities across the Commonwealth, and these newly designated communities are no exception,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick said in the release.
Youngkin names board appointments
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has named additional state board appointments, including these residents of Southwest and Southside:
Sheep Industry Board: Clinton Bell of Tazewell, owner and operator; Amanda “Mandy” Fletcher of Washington County, owner and operator, Beyond Blessed Farm; Jason Geesaman of Cullen, owner, J-Mar Farm.
Small Grains Board: Alicia Pence of Salem, director of quality assurance, Mennel Milling Co.
Board of trustees of the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center: Ryland Otie Clark III of South Boston, community relations and engagement manager, Hitachi Energy.
Virginia Commission for the Arts: Debbie Garrett of Buena Vista, retired district director, Rep. Ben Cline.