Republican civil war erupts over earmarks in funding bills
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Roanoke awarded $50,000 in state funding for historic city market improvements
The Commonwealth awarded the City of Roanoke $50,000 to improve the historic city market. The city will use the funds to install new awnings, which will increase vendor capacity. The project cost $90,000 in total, and the city’s economic development team secured the additional $40,000.Opening in 1882, the historic market is the oldest continually operated open-air market in the state.
The city will use the funds to install new awnings, which Downtown Roanoke Incorporated says will increase vendor capacity and maximize the market’s area in a way that is not possible right now.
“Right now we are avoiding some stalls that have a lot of holes so that our vendors aren’t getting rained on,” said Downtown Roanoke Incorporated director of marketing and communications Joya Garris. “This will allow us to use every single stall as well as the ones on Campbell [Avenue].”
Opening in 1882, the historic city market is the oldest continually operated open-air market in the state.
Downtown Roanoke Incorporated operates the market, and sees it as a worthy investment for the service it provides downtown.
“We don’t have a full-fledged grocery store yet in downtown,” said Garris. “So this does help offer food for our residents, but it also will help our farmers.”
The project cost $90,000 in total, and the city’s economic development team secured the additional $40,000 to make it happen.
They say the investment is a way for the city to support its small businesses and local farmers.
“From an economic development perspective, these farmers and vendors are small businesses and entrepreneurs using the farmer’s market as a launching point,” said Roanoke economic development specialist Mandy Cribb. “It’s a low-stakes entry to test out your products.”
The new awnings are already in the process of being made and installation is expected to begin in the next three weeks.
First responders rescue hiker lost in woods on Terrapin Mountain Trail
First responders rescued a hiker from a trail in the Big Island area on Monday night. The hiker was not hurt but was evaluated by medics at the scene, as a precaution. Firefighters said once the hiker downloaded the app, they sent their coordinates to search groups.
On Feb. 6, around 6:36 p.m., several crews including, the Big Island Volunteer Fire Company Inc. and the Boonsboro Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, responded to the Terrapin Mountain Trail for a hiker lost in the woods after it became dark.
The fire company said upon arrival, crews began staging an area. First responders also asked dispatch to call the lost hiker and requested them to download the app, What3words.
Firefighters said once the hiker downloaded the app, they sent their coordinates to search groups, and a drone was deployed.
Within 37 minutes, crews successfully located the hiker.
According to the Big Island Volunteer Fire Company, the hiker was not hurt but was evaluated by medics at the scene, as a precaution.
“Great job to all for a quick and successful rescue!,” said the Boonsboro Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company in a Facebook post.
Difficulty at the doctor’s office amidst health care worker shortage
40% of physicians in Virginia are now over the age of 55. Many of the doctors that can provide care, are starting to retire. In rural communities, like many in our area, this shortage can hit even harder. If you do need to get an appointment sooner, getting a referral from your primary care physician can sometimes help move the process forward a little quicker. The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association says this is a good reminder to go ahead and schedule your routine doctor’s appointments, even if you are healthy now.
One Lynchburg woman, Dominique English, is one of those people.
“It’s been literal months I’ve been trying to find a doctor around Lynchburg,” said English.
She says she’s dealing with multiple health concerns and needs to see a doctor ASAP but has lost count of how many offices she’s called trying to get an appointment–with no success.
“Everybody is either not accepting new patients or they’re like months out,” said English.
The reason, she’s told, is a few different things.
“I’ve heard anything from they’re just overwhelmed with patients to they’re understaffed, or they just don’t work with my insurance,” said English.
And Vice President of Communications with The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, Julian Walker, says that’s exactly right.
He adds that 40% of physicians in Virginia are now over the age of 55, which means that not only are there more patients that need care, but many of the doctors that can provide it, are starting to retire.
“More people are aging into that retirement population and utilizing services, at the same time that there are ongoing challenges with staffing and healthcare worker shortages,” said Walker.
And in rural communities, like many in our area, this shortage can hit even harder. English says she extended her search nearly two hours from home to find open appointments and the options were still limited.
“It’s just to the point where it’s so overwhelming that even if they weren’t understaffed, it’s a lot of catch-up they would have to do,” said English.
If you do need to get an appointment sooner, Walker says getting a referral from your primary care physician can sometimes help move the process forward a little quicker.
He also says that this is a good reminder to go ahead and schedule your routine doctor’s appointments, even if you are healthy now, in case anything happens.
Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5455216-earmarks-battle-republican-hill/