You Are Invited!

Senator Creigh Deeds

"Meet and Greet"

Corner of Main and Market Streets

Danville, VA

Tuesday, August 4

9:00 AM

You Are Invited!

Senator Creigh Deeds

"Meet and Greet" Picnic

Ballou Park

640 West Main Street
Danville, VA

Monday, August 3

7:00PM to 8:30PM

Free food and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.

White Mill Building on Memorial Drive Sold

By Staff

Published: July 30, 2009

BY DENICE THIBODEAU

Register & Bee staff writer

Rumors and speculation about the fate of the White Mill property will be put to rest Friday when the city officially announces the sale of the property, which stretches from the King Memorial Bridge to the Union Street Bridge along Memorial Drive.

The announcement will be made Friday at 3 p.m. in Danville City Council chambers on the fourth floor of the Municipal Building on Patton Street.

City Manager Lyle Lacy would not release the name of the purchaser prior to the official announcement, but said the development plan for the project would be part of the announcement.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at dthibodeau@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7985.

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Rumor has it that Gibbs International, Inc. out of Spartanburg, SC has bought the old White Mill. Looks like Gibbs has lots going on alternative-energy-wise, including wind-mills. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in Danville, assuming the rumor is true.

http://www.gibbsinternational.com/alternative_energy_solutions_opportunities.php

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Whatever the project---Gibbs has the solution, .5MgW---50MgW---500MgW--++

Last Updated 08/01/2009

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ower Barges
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Please take time to look at our latest items available for sale. We will update this every 4 weeks. If you do not find what you need in the above list then please give us a brief email indicating your particular requirement. It will be our pleasure to give you a prompt response with complete details and photos. Our contact informaiton:

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9855 Warren H. Abernathy Highway

Tel: (+1) 864 439 8752
Fax: (+1) 864 439 7544
Email: sales@gibbsinternational.com
Web: www.gibbsinternational.com

P.O. Box 1727

"Tom [Perriello] In Your Town" Events Come to Southside

During the August district work period, Congressman Perriello will be visiting every locality in the 5^th District and hosting “Tom In Your Town” events.

"Tom In Your Town" is a chance for constituents to meet one-on-one with the congressman [Tom Perriello] to discuss policy issues, give suggestions, or to get help with federal programs like Medicare, Social Security, or veterans’ benefits.

All constituents are invited to come by anytime during the time period and sign in.

Meetings are first-come, first-served. After the constituent meets with the congressman, staff members will be there to follow up with any concerns.

This schedule can also be accessed at www.perriello.house.gov under “Newsroom,” then Upcoming Events.

Further media events will be announced at a later date.

August 3, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Martinsville: Martinsville High School (Library), 351 Commonwealth Blvd.

August 4, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Henry County: Laurel Park Middle School (Library), 280 Laurel Park Ave., Martinsville

August 5, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Danville: O.T. Bonner Middle School (Auditorium), 300 Apollo Drive

August 6, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Pittsylvania County: Chatham Middle School (Cafetorium), 11650 Hwy 29 N, Chatham

August 7, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Halifax County: Halifax High School (Auditorium Balcony), 310 High School Circle, South Boston

Officials working to sign first tenant for mega-park

By Denice Thibodeau

Danville Register & Bee
Published: July 20, 2009

Danville and Pittsylvania County leaders are working to sign the first tenant to the region’s first industrial mega-park, if all the details can be worked out with American Municipal Power.

According to a presentation given to the Regional Industrial Facility Authority, AMP may build a natural gas-fired, 270- to 550-megawatt electricity generating plant in the southwest corner of site. The plant would provide intermediate and peaking power needs to its members, including Danville, and would employ up to 35 people.

Danville Deputy City Manager Joe King said the deal isn’t final yet, but commented that it is “close.”

The plant would cost between $321 and $528 million, depending on whether AMP decides on the 270 or 550 megawatt facility, and would require the company to construct a $25 million high-capacity electric transmission line and interconnection facility at the Axton American Electric Power substation located 10 miles northwest of the proposed site in the mega-park.

RIFA also proposes to name the mega-park on Berry Hill Road the “Southern Virginia Energy Park.”

But first, AMP wants assurances from both the city and the county that the plant’s water, wastewater and natural gas needs will be met.

Danville City Manager Lyle Lacy and Pittsylvania County Administrator Dan Sleeper have jointly sent a letter to AMP supporting the project, but resolutions of support have also been asked for from Danville City Council and the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.

City Council will vote on whether to support the proposal tonight at its regular meeting, at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building on Patton Street.

http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/local/danville_news/article/officials_wor
king_to_sign_first_tenant_for_mega-park/12587/

The Alliance Holds Forum Against Uranium Mining in The Area

Photo: Traci White/Register & Bee
(Gregg Vickrey and Shireen Parsons)

By John Crane

Published: April 22, 2009

About 40 people got a wake-up call Wednesday night urging them to seize their right to self-government and make their representatives put a stop to corporate assaults on their communities.

The Alliance, a local rights group opposing uranium mining in Pittsylvania County, and the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund gave that presentation at Averett University’s student center on the devastation they say uranium mining and milling would inflict on Pittsylvania County. They also strongly encouraged attendees to act now and make sure their elected officials protect their health and safety from environmentally damaging activities.

The event included a mixture of Averett students and local residents.

Gregg Vickrey, a founder and chairman of The Alliance, outlined the history of uranium mining speculation in Pittsylvania County, starting when Marline Uranium wanted to mine and mill uranium deposits in Pittsylvania and Orange counties in the early 1980s but abandoned the idea when the price of uranium dropped from $40 a pound to $9.

In 2007, the price climbed to $135 a pound.

Today, Virginia Uranium Inc. seeks to mine and mill a 119-million pound uranium deposit at Coles Hill, about six miles northeast of Chatham. Virginia has a moratorium on uranium mining. The Virginia Coal & Energy Commission is overseeing a study to determine whether mining and milling can be done safely in the commonwealth.

Patrick Wales, geologist and spokesman for VUI, said during a telephone interview Wednesday night that the company doesn’t want to get involved in a debate with a group that’s talking about overthrowing the county government, a reference to a petition by the two groups.

Vickrey said during his presentation that a mine at Coles Hill would be about 55 blocks wide, cover 110 acres, and be a block and a half deep. Vickrey also showed photos taken on a road near Coles Hill after heavy rains that showed water along the road and the side of the road. He questioned how rainwater would be contained and said it would seep through tailing piles and contaminate water sources.

Shireen Parsons, Virginia community organizer with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, said during her presentation that uranium mining in the county is a “corporate assault.” She said uranium mining has never been done safely anywhere. Once mining takes place, everything within a 30-mile radius of Coles Hill would be contaminated, or a “dead zone,” Parsons said.

If VUI’s plans at Coles Hill are realized, a few fortunate property owners will be bought out and other families will have to walk away from their homes, with those left behind forced to deal with the health hazards of uranium mining, Parsons said. Residents must insist that their local representatives pass ordinances, such as a chemical-trespass ordinance, to protect their community from corporate assaults that would damage the air, water, land and the public health, she said.

“You cannot trust the government to save you,” Parsons said. “You have to save yourselves.”

Southside Virginia, in government and corporate language, is a sacrifice zone, Parsons said. The area has low income and education levels and a high minority population. Corporations are allowed to come to such places and engage in practices they can’t do in other areas, she claimed.

“You’re blessed with this beautiful place, but it’s a sacrifice zone,” Parsons said.

http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/local/danville_news/article/local_rights_group_holds_forum_explaining_what_uranium_mining_would_do_to_a/10566/

McAuliffe Travels to Danville to Outline Tax Relief Plan; Mum on Mine

JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, STAFF WRITER

Richmond TIMES-DISPATCH

Published: March 24, 2009

Terry McAuliffe, a Democratic candidate for governor, says job creation shouldn't be a taxing experience for business.

Traveling yesterday to Danville, where unemployment is 16.8 percent, he outlined a pilot program under which the state would provide tax relief for firms that generate new jobs in ailing areas.

McAuliffe said Virginia should help such businesses pay their federal payroll taxes for hiring more workers or raising employees' salaries.

To qualify for the aid, he said employers must provide health insurance and carve out jobs in high-growth fields, including energy. The program could be expanded statewide as the economy improves.

"This would support job creation and higher wages for Virginia workers, and connect tax relief for businesses directly to the actual creation of more, higher-paying jobs in Virginia," McAuliffe said in a position paper.

He laid out his latest proposals during a visit to Danville, a tobacco-and-textile city hit hard by the collapse of manufacturing. He later held a conference call with reporters.

McAuliffe had little to say about a possible source of future jobs: a proposed uranium mine, west of Danville in rural Pittsylvania County.

McAuliffe said he would not take a position on the mine until a study is completed on whether the radioactive ore can be extracted without, among things, threatening water supplies.

He also declined to answer questions on whether he feared the study could be considered fair and objective if paid for by mine proponents.

McAuliffe said the next governor must help businesses find investment capital; encourage regional cooperation in economic development and expand support for small and start-up firms.

McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a confidant of Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton, is incrementally announcing elements of what he calls a "Business Plan for Virginia."

McAuliffe started this month with an energy package, followed yesterday by the business-expansion plan. Four more proposals are expected.

McAuliffe is one of three candidates for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, which will be decided in a June 9 primary. His opponents are state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/MCAU24_20090323-221253/239140/