(From left to right) Councilwoman Debbie Laudermilk, Councilman Carl "Shorty" Wolfe, Mayor Jeff Irvine, and Vice-Mayor Dale Burdette.

Tensions High During Monthly Clifton Forge Town Council Meeting By Jennifer Bailey Staff Writer   Clifton Forge, VA (Jan. 13, 2026)— This evening, the Journal's camera rolled during, what we would call, a tense session between the public and members of council. The regular monthly meeting started off as it typically does: approving minutes from the previous month, approving department reports, and even hearing a special presentation from PHD of Virginia Tech, Stephanie Davis, regarding a pay plan update. However, things went south when the time came for public comments. Both Dr. Ronald Goings and Pamela Lightfoot signed up to speak during the meeting regarding the potential children's arcade going in to the old VA ABC store on Main Street in downtown Clifton Forge. Readers may recall that the Journal released this story on our Facebook page and website last week. Though Dr. Ronald Goings expressed his support for new businesses coming to Clifton Forge, resident Pamela Lightfoot shared a much different opinion. "I don't have any children, but the whole concept of having a vape shop next to a place where small children and teenagers will be located is, just, it doesn't make any sense to me in any sense of anything." Resident John Moser also addressed the council with various complaints, but seemed to focus most on Town Manager Chuck Unroe and members of council. "I don't feel our town manager cares about us. He's never been in the position to be a town manager, and he was an undertaker. Just like I don't believe the people of the town council has other alternatives to be there," Moser stated Tuesday night. "The only person on town council that has done anything for this town is [Carl] 'Shorty' Wolfe." During council comments, Councilwoman Debbie Laudermilk, Mayor Jeff Irvine, and Town Manager Chuck Unroe strongly opposed Moser's statements, but did not address Lightfoot's or Goings.' The Journal believes this is likely due to the fact that a public hearing will not take place on the matter until next month's council meeting. "Mr. Unroe may not live in Clifton Forge," Mayor Irvine said to Moser Tuesday night of the town manager who currently resides in Iron Gate. "He [Unroe] could live in China for all I care and fly back and forth to here, but I have been on this board for 15 years... I have seen him [Unroe] do more than the last previous six town managers. You [Moser] don't know what goes on behind closed doors. You don't know what goes on with these council members or what they do... but every one of these council members do their part for this town and dearly love it." The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10th at 7:00 p.m. To watch tonight's meeting in its entirety, please visit the Alleghany Journal's page where it was livestreamed earlier this evening. Town Manager Chuck Unroe gave an interesting manager's report which included talks of repairing the Ridgeway Street Bridge. According to Unroe, the initial plan was to have the bridge repaired before winter 2025, but the sudden cold rush halted the plans until spring 2026. PHD of Virginia Tech, Stephanie Davis, gave a presentation this evening on the pay plan update, which was unanimously approved by council. Her presentation was livestreamed by the Journal within the Clifton Forge Town Council Meeting, which is now available on our Facebook page. John Moser was among the three residents who signed up to speak during public comments this evening.

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