Town election is set Nov. 3

The terms of three town council members are set to expire this year, according to Kate Cosner, director of the Alleghany County Board of Elections. A municipal election will be held Nov. 3. Seats up for re-election on the non-partisan council are those of Mayor John Miller, and councilmen Mike Parlier and John Brady.

Miller was sworn in as mayor on May 3, 1982 to complete the term of H. Eugene Gray, who resigned. He has since served six consecutive terms. Parlier and Brady were each elected in 2001 and have served two consecutive terms on the Sparta Town Council.

The filing period will begin at noon July 6 and end at noon July 17, two weeks shorter than the period of filing in 2007. Cosner noted there is a possibility the elections office would be closed on July 8, 9 and 10 for training purposes. She is currently awaiting notice from the state whether the period to file will be extended for this reason.

Miller asked what training the applicants would need, to which she replied they would need campaign finance training, which would need to be completed within four months.

Individuals on the council are paid $125 monthly, regardless of the number of meetings attended. Absentee ballots will not be allowed in the election and only those registered and residing within town limits may vote in the November election.

Sparta Revitalization Report

John Kilmartin provided the council with a report highlighting several upcoming events, including the annual July 4 parade. This year's parade, themed "Celebrating our Patriotism," slated for Saturday, July 4, will begin at 2 p.m.

The grand marshal for the parade is Eldon Edwards, a former county commissioner, a veteran of the Korean War, a former commander of the Bruce Wayne Osborne Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7034 and active member of the organization.

Turning to concerns about the upcoming parade, Kilmartin said, "As a safety precaution, we're asking people not to throw candy from the cars, (but) to hand it out. We need to get the word out—hand candy out, don't toss it into the crowd."

In addition, he proposed the council enact a policy wherein mobile street vendors attain permits to sell their goods. He cautioned, should something unforeseen happen, under the current conditions, the individual selling the goods could not be found.

"We don't know who they are, we don't have their names…if something happens…they're gone," he noted. "That would be a chance to get their ID...."

On July 3, a music performance is slated on the new stage at Crouse Park from 6:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. On July 4, old-timey hillbilly games for children will be held at the park at 10 a.m., with a community picnic at noon, and old-timey hillbilly games for adults at the park following the parade.