Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
* * *
Lynchburg plans cooling centers
Lynchburg will open three cooling centers this week in anticipation of high temperatures.
— Lynchburg Public Library, Main Branch, 2315 Memorial Avenue — Monday, July 28 and Wednesday, July 30, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tuesday, July 29, 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
— Lynchburg Public Library, Downtown Branch, 216 12th Street — Monday, July 28 and Wednesday, July 30, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tuesday, July 29, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
— Department of Human Services Lobby, 99 Ninth Street — Monday, July 28 – Wednesday, July 30, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bottled water will be available at all locations.
* * *
Cooling assistance available
The Virginia Department of Social Services offers Cooling Assistance to help eligible households stay safe and comfortable this summer. The program supports:
— Electric bills to run air conditioners or fans
— Repair or replacement of cooling equipment
— Purchase & installation of one A/C unit (if none is working)
— Security deposits for new or reconnected service
Applications are being accepted now through Aug. 15. You may qualify if your household has someone under age six, age 60+, or with a disability and meets income limits. Full eligibility details are available at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/ or by calling VDSS at 1-855-635-4370.
* * *
Louisa County animal shelter at critical capacity; county offer free adoptions
The Louisa County Animal Shelter is currently operating at a critically full capacity and is requesting the community’s assistance in fostering, adopting and retrieving lost animals. Without space available for any incoming strays, Louisa County is offering free adoptions on all animals.
If your pet is lost
The shelter aims to reunite animals with their owners, which is critical to ensuring space at the shelter. If a pet owner is missing an animal, the owner should check online images of strays at the shelter and contact 540-894-4219 as necessary to make arrangements for pick up.
If you find a lost animal
In the past, it was standard practice for lost pets to be brought into the shelter. However, it is now known animals have a much better chance of getting back home if some actions are taken in the neighborhoods where they’re found, before they are brought to a shelter. In fact, the typical reclaim rate nationally for lost pets is only 17% when a pet comes into a shelter. But when a pet is kept in a safe place in the neighborhood where they were found, that rate jumps to 70%. For area residents that have a found an animal and when possible, Louisa County asks that the animal not be removed from its neighborhood. Instead, the Report a Found Animal Form should be completed.
If you can no longer keep your animal
Louisa County also encourages owners to rehome their own animals. The following sites are recommended for finding a new home for an animal: Petfinder.com, Rehome.adoptapet.com, Getyourpet.com, Rehomeyourpets.com, and Home-Home.org.
If you are considering pet adoption
Adoptions are currently free for all animals. Adoptable animals are up-to-date on vaccinations and are spayed/neutered. Images of adoptable animals are available on louisacounty.gov/animalshelter. Adoptions are same-day, and the shelter invites the public to meet the animals at 18 Sacred Heart Ave., Mineral, anytime Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
* * *
Hillside Trail Park to be developed in Lebanon
An 11-acre site in Russell County will be developed as a part due in part to an up to $50,000 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Tourism Capital Improvement Matching Fund.
The grant will be used to help finance the construction of the Hillside Trail Park in downtown Lebanon. Matching funds contributed by the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Town of Lebanon and the Clinch Valley Soil and Water Conservation District will also be provided for the project, which will be developed on the hillside in front of the Lebanon Farmer’s Market and Russell County Governmental Center in downtown Lebanon.
Work on the project has already been started and will be completed in phases. It is estimated the project improvements will be completed within the next 18 months, if not sooner.
“This unique opportunity allows the community to utilize property that was previously considered to be deemed unsuitable for traditional development,” said Russell County IDA Executive Director Ernie McFaddin in a statement.