[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6166927,"mediaKeyId","5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead","parentId",5413304,"title","Franklin County tourism highlights Major League Fishing coverage, launches VA250 programming","audioSeconds",1535,"startMs",8020045,"endMs",9555395,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead&start=8020&end=9555","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead/thumbnail_8020045.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6166927/Franklin-County/Virginia/Franklin-County-tourism-highlights-Major-League-Fishing-coverage-launches-VA250-programming","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166927-86844d0d666f780e503113c426e11822/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924706&Signature=enrZCK23JA4u3w2iA0ALxtUfQHIn9-Kg4kncMgYUCmAt4QItizbOi5dbvhorAetrFT0xCtcU2za46NCK8kU2mYVRCzpKur5n3KfvLvfSyfSVU3nK3-QQ1mxxU8v9C1XWPQ9JcpT~7aEg83UJ0arY341m0ZTeENTGK1vOngS7XKISjiQk9EqoiLo8KmhIoFpW9qzm46MOmNji1X6oaqvwGyttW9Q5oylgW-HV~mEf8DVtRS541BfYkFXwPM3wYiD6fWI4Ms9Gjs-IZ1nBYtMumgn1gIspGv~7zysVnLugXlOET0pyXLrncxkww36MesMfWfhSMuF9Xyg3-cQzeF0DQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-16T17:46:05Z","article","Franklin County tourism staff briefed supervisors on July 15 about a busy fiscal year that included national broadcast exposure from Major League Fishing and preparations for statewide VA250 bicentennial programming.

Kevin Tosh, director of tourism, said Major League Fishing’s May event was “the most viewed event in Major League Fishing history,” with over 1 million unique live viewers and more than 25 million minutes watched during the multi‑day event. The tournament producer plans subsequent broadcast windows on Discovery and other national outlets in July and December, Tosh said, and Major League Fishing has indicated interest in continued partnership.

Tosh also reviewed local tourism metrics drawn from Virginia Tourism data for calendar year 2023: an estimated $72.2 million in direct visitor spending, roughly 532 tourism jobs, $15.3 million in labor income, $1.4 million in state tax revenue and $2.8 million in local taxes. Tosh said the county’s marketing and visitor‑promotion budget (excluding fair and small line items) is covered by transient occupancy tax (TOT) receipts; the department returned a surplus to the general fund in FY 24–25.

The tourism director said the department secured several competitive grants: a $20,000 Virginia Tourism DMO marketing grant aimed at shoulder‑season promotion (Sept–Feb), a $10,000 microbusiness match grant and a $4,000 collaborative grant for a regional Mountain Spirits Trail.

On VA250 — Virginia’s 250th anniversary — the county has formed a local steering committee and launched initiatives to educate residents and students, including a virtual “Revolutionary Trails” field trip and an exhibit of historic items titled “Threads of the Revolution.” Plans for a hands‑on student program for spring 2026 and an expanded exhibit schedule were also announced.

Why it matters: Major League Fishing’s national coverage brings regional economic impact and national exposure for Smith Mountain Lake and the county’s tourism amenities. The VA250 activities aim to increase civic engagement and broaden educational programming across the county.

What’s next: Tourism staff will use state grant funding to market during the pandemic’s low season, continue pursuit of competitive grants, and coordinate VA250 events with local partners and schools.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Franklin County Board of Supervisors Meeting 07/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Tourism staff told supervisors Major League Fishing’s May event on Smith Mountain Lake delivered record live‑viewing and will air nationally this fall; the county also launched local programming and exhibits tied to Virginia’s 250th anniversary.","taxTitle","Franklin County, Virginia","taxId",30976,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6166932,"County approves lease payoff and authorizes Henry fire apparatus purchase up to $850,000",1457,3779090,5236938,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead&start=3779&end=5236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead/thumbnail_3779090.jpg","/articles/6166932/Franklin-County/Virginia/County-approves-lease-payoff-and-authorizes-Henry-fire-apparatus-purchase-up-to-850000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166932-03c65d62db051847a6fb14ae366ed648/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924706&Signature=CszLgHPVmzUOprU~AH4Fl2CR0Z48K2GichtozkTY8sJStSoYzZ7pRDc3-cGuhy~R87k3ftcbQkuWO~TRVxn1bElpq6cpcayrajxhTnZWeS5R9A9o5mBBgtxQXqlLm7qafFIn~gXv4LXnWjpemPJumItW2wGeGFXWFEpE5NX1IiW1kryziuLsPg2aDGZ1NIK8wx8Hz5MRrprzarJ~LIF5XvdYT6blYdlwjZ1teOEBxqdgRTSac7sNLtr1n69ffjR2RXhX2VYxTTJZ8bMKxcCRtXzk9YCJMYLRjJG8h9Almf7t8k2m6BMrLZM~FY7buPZd0qLb~OmRvRDFXJ7CHiVc4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County supervisors on July 15 approved paying off existing leases for fire apparatus and later authorized county staff to proceed with purchasing a replacement apparatus for the Henry district at a not‑to‑exceed amount of $850,000.

Staff told the board they had negotiated trade‑in, state funding and prior capital appropriations to cover lease payoff and to advance procurement steps. Fire and county staff said initial vendor quotes had varied: a lower‑priced option (about $850,000) was available from a new vendor but included contract language that could permit price increases during build; an established manufacturer (Pierce) quoted about $1,050,000 before a proposed $100,000 upfront discount. Chief Fowler said the department wants the flexibility to select a vendor but is cautious about contract language that could expose the county to future cost escalations.

At the meeting a motion to authorize a purchase not to exceed $950,000 failed. The board then approved a motion, 5–1, to let the chief begin procurement subject to an $850,000 cap and to use cooperative purchasing vehicles (HGAC or similar) per county procurement rules if appropriate.

Why it matters: The action advances replacement of aging apparatus in Henry County while keeping the county within the planning assumptions of its capital improvement program. Staff said purchase timing affects lead time because custom apparatus builds require many months (chief estimates 16–18 months for some options) and vendors sometimes retain production slots if contracts are signed earlier.

What’s next: Chief Fowler and procurement staff will finalize specifications and pursue a cooperative procurement up to the $850,000 limit. Staff said they will return to the board if a higher appropriation is needed or if vendor quotes change materially.","Supervisors approved payoff of outstanding fire apparatus leases and later authorized Chief Fowler to begin the Henry fire apparatus purchase process with a not‑to‑exceed amount of $850,000 after rejecting a higher $950,000 cap.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6166937,"River Street project installs middle‑mile fiber; company says buried customer connections will follow",435,2573255,3008595,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead&start=2573&end=3008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead/thumbnail_2573255.jpg","/articles/6166937/Franklin-County/Virginia/River-Street-project-installs-middlemile-fiber-company-says-buried-customer-connections-will-follow","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166937-8c3f99ea80c33293c8fde0720da36ae4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924706&Signature=WlA8PDNKJliwrY5N4bn6PWlalvPgQQXOfbDhN6KUOtQdBP~u3QlgTYgCzJar-Yx4cDvDuCsrD0-dh-u54cj8Uqi3gHvrXNmIB1QaB9CwriI7HONB7D3UQQt-V6HSkne4fNlEYkW5jwr~o2MF2UV3Iz7U4uVR5qiHxVLEWU8LOcGV20Vae6oKOCWIWES6XvFtOappFAO68-1DXrowgNNXiZ-M2l~Jp6mZcMZoVNP8PZJTO1SCmKZbbMTBgBXPNLE3Np1CzmbYd4741U42izzA-~K4P1d-eFCZEHcprFENlycLY-esm~klMElwATrmP9-hP~F6NiEO-wMIlC19Mmae9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","River Street Networks told Franklin County supervisors on July 15 that Appalachian Power had completed significant aerial installation of middle‑mile fiber along its transmission corridors and that River Street crews are installing ‘tails’ (short fiber drops) on many poles to enable splicing and later customer service drops.

River Street’s director of engineering said the work is advancing on several segments — including Dickinson and Sago routes — and that the build method for customer connections in planned areas will be predominantly buried cable, not additional aerial make‑ready attachments. The company said more than 60 pole tails were already on poles and crews anticipate further splicing and contract work in the coming weeks as permitting clears.

Why it matters: River Street is a regional, middle‑mile project administered by the Planning District Commission and intended to enable multiple ISPs to light last‑mile service. The distinction matters because middle‑mile availability is a prerequisite for providers to attach distribution cable to reach residences; the choice to bury laterals changes permitting, cost and schedule compared with aerial make‑ready work.

River Street said the Sandy Level area is likely to be first for buried construction; company staff estimated 30–45 days to begin construction activity in the earliest phase if permitting remains on schedule. The company said it had resubmitted some VDOT permits for Dickinson and was coordinating bonding and VDOT reviews for additional cabin areas. River Street also said it has about $6 million in bonding tied to current permit packages and that VDOT reviews and bond increases will be staged as each permit advances.

County staff emphasized the project differs from the VADI program: Appalachian Power is providing the middle‑mile backbone under lease to River Street, and River Street will attach customers by building its own buried distribution off that backbone. Supervisors asked about the visual signifiers that residents might see — coil on the pole vs. completed splice — and River Street staff described the difference: a coil alone does not indicate the cable is live, while an installed h‑frame and neatly mounted splice case and tail indicate testing and readiness.

The county encouraged River Street to continue public outreach so residents can sign up on the project website to be notified when service reaches specific addresses.

What’s next: River Street will continue splicing and tail installation and submit VDOT and local permits for buried distribution; county staff said they expect to see construction in Sandy Level within 30–45 days, contingent on permit approvals.","River Street Networks and Appalachian Power have installed large stretches of middle‑mile fiber across Franklin County; River Street told supervisors most of its last‑mile distribution will be buried and expects initial construction to start in weeks in targeted Sandy Level areas.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6166941,"Franklin County sets Aug. 15 deadline for AEP make-ready as broadband rollout lags",1029,68799,1098535,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead&start=68&end=1098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5413304-61f2afdb282da72e7052c393ea409ead/thumbnail_68799.jpg","/articles/6166941/Franklin-County/Virginia/Franklin-County-sets-Aug-15-deadline-for-AEP-make-ready-as-broadband-rollout-lags","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166941-6a457e78eeebe1b80cb00c45087f6205/orig.mp4?Expires=1770924706&Signature=JlSrHutAxuqENoq9370XdbNtk8UHK3NO7ByaJWy~fFuO39nIvTSatuJiDjWkuyuBeBauRXdZPpRrriYBgFjUDMFti3cUyNijMCx1KChrcCT51BFJ7R~N9GJdVnazF5Xk--YyTmRGJNIU-geU4HHELTyyprTpAPVGz0kCu3tHyJOifaZYbRu7tmK7tpBNb6Pw6UJ41emLHGnvqg8j-2R0hHPopV~PgsTcUvr6LSE0iZISEnVLODaagZOS4x8t9Xgr9trERyASsxTz8KB-ZF9qWr5Tq-zeZVRxdidl9FjPhAsvgaayyDF4J6WNEI5p0tcqfcdY1Lx4u~mtwlcvhCR~gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County supervisors on July 15 set an Aug. 15 deadline for Appalachian Power to complete make‑ready work for parts of the county’s Volk‑Assisted Digital Infrastructure (VADI) broadband projects and voted to reinstate weekly progress reports. The board also directed staff to reengage AEP leadership and the state regulator if deadlines are missed.

Supervisors took the step after receiving updates from county staff and internet providers that while fiber build and cabinet work are substantially complete in some zones, roughly 900 utility pole permits remained outstanding in mid‑July. County staff, the ISP Chante|Shentel, and Appalachian Power described a mix of challenges: permit backlogs, tree‑clearing costs, broken specialized track machines needed to reach remote poles, and crews pulled off for storm response.

The board’s action followed presentations from county staff, company representatives and AEP distribution leadership. County staff reported VADI project spending at roughly 90% of the currently budgeted total and said that, as of the meeting, about 2,035 homes had broadband in service and 1,188 were in active construction. Chante|Shentel said it expects about 550 of those under‑construction locations to be serviceable by September if the needed permits and AEP work are completed.

Why it matters: The VADI program was funded with a mix of state, county and private investment to deliver broadband to underserved parts of the county. Delays in make‑ready — the preparatory pole and right‑of‑way work performed by the electric utility before ISPs attach cable — have slowed activations and placed the project at risk of missing contract deadlines later this year.

At the meeting, Appalachian Power said the July target would not be met and that crews and equipment breakdowns had reduced progress in early July. AEP representatives said they are working with county project managers to escalate the outstanding permit packages and anticipated additional progress in the weeks following the meeting.

Board members criticized the pace and asked staff to demand better communication and outcomes. The board approved a motion (mover: Authority member; second: Supervisor Quinn) to: 1) set Aug. 15 as a firm internal deadline for AEP’s make‑ready completion on the impacted pole sections; 2) reinstate weekly written reports to county staff and the authority; and 3) ask staff to reach back to AEP leadership and the State Corporation Commission (the utility regulator) and to bring AEP leadership back to the August broadband meeting.

Outcome: The motion carried unanimously. The board recorded concern that some neighborhoods — particularly those on the initial build routes — have seen little activation despite funds spent and time elapsed, and asked for a specific update at the board’s August meeting immediately following the Aug. 15 deadline.

What’s next: County staff said they will continue weekly coordination meetings with AEP and the ISPs. The board signaled it will ask for the AEP president and regulator engagement if progress is not visible after the new deadline. Any milestone slips or formal change requests to grant timelines will be reported to the board.","After months of progress and permit backlogs, the Franklin County authority voted unanimously to set an Aug. 15 deadline for Appalachian Power to finish make‑ready work tied to the county’s VADI broadband projects and to restore weekly status reports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Franklin County tourism highlights Major League Fishing coverage, launches VA250 programming

County approves lease payoff and authorizes Henry fire apparatus purchase up to $850,000

River Street project installs middle‑mile fiber; company says buried customer connections will follow

Franklin County sets Aug. 15 deadline for AEP make-ready as broadband rollout lags