Staunton - The Highway Scanner - November 2022

More documents

Recommendations

Info

NEWS & NOTES COMMISSIONER'S AWARD WINNERS The Staunton District has brought home two Commissioner’s Awards this year – both for their courageous actions during emergency situations. Jeff Boyer, Incident Management Coordinator for the Edinburg Residency, displayed bravery earning him the Commissioner’s award for heroism. In October 2021, Boyer was on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on a bridge along I-81 in Shenandoah County. A truck driver involved in the accident was trapped in the burning cab of his tractor trailer. Boyer helped to battle the blaze with fire extinguishers saving the life of the driver. From the Fancy Hill Area Headquarters, three transportation operators acted quickly and decisively to help save a driver’s life after a crash in Rockbridge County. Their selfless efforts earned each of them the Commissioner’s Award for heroism. In July 2021 while working in the area, John Montgomery, Steve Cales, and Fred Bryant helped on the scene of a vehicle crash involving a fully loaded dump truck overturned on a bridge over Buffalo Creek and a pickup that had been pushed through the concrete railing. The pickup went over the side of the bridge and landed 40 feet below, upside down next to a creek. Montgomery grabbed a first-aid kit to assist the dump truck driver while Cales used a traffic vest as a makeshift tourniquet to help the driver of the pickup who was bleeding profusely from his upper arm. Cales and Bryant helped to carry the victim out of the embankment extending his life. ABOVE: Jeff Boyer BELOW: Montgomery, Cales and Bryant STAUNTON DISTRICT HOSTS CTB The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) held its two-day September meeting in the city of Staunton, giving the district a chance to showcase its natural beauty and diverse transportation network. The 17-member board oversees the operations of VDOT and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Three of its members are from the Staunton District: Mark Merrill of Winchester, Thomas "Ty" Lawson of Winchester and Randolph "Randy" Laird of Staunton. Following a work session on September 20th, CTB members boarded a special excursion run of the Virginia Scenic Railway (photos at right). Buckingham Branch Railroad launched the passenger service in August 2022 and already has plans to expand in 2023. The railway makes threehour trips between Staunton and Goshen or Ivy. The CTB's ride included a "lights-out" passage through the Blue Ridge Tunnel under Afton Mountain. Near the end of its action meeting on September 21, CTB members and the audience offered a standing ovation to retiring VDOT Staunton District Engineer Randy Kiser (bottom left photo). "You are very well respected here in the department as well as the district. I want to thank you for your service," said VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich. 8 SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER 2022 2020
NEWS & NOTES SALUTING OUR VETERANS Veterans Day is Friday, November 11. Below are some of the VDOT Staunton District employees who have served in the armed forces. Join us in honoring their service and sacrifice by saying "Thank You for Your Service!" Jon J. Carter Staunton District Pavement Marking & Signs United States Marine Corps – 1975 to 1981 Merril McGee Jr. Lexington Residency Sign United States Air Force – 1986 to 1990 Jackie Christian Regional ITS Maintenance Monitor United States Army – 1967 to 1969 Faron Ocheltree Incident Management Coordinator United States Coast Guard – 1983 to 1988 C.J. Duffy Staunton District Traffic Signal Technician United States Air Force – 2002 to 2006 Rex Pearce Staunton District Bridge Engineer United States Navy – 1979 to 1982 Gordon Ellison Senior Engineer, Staunton Bridge United States Army – 2012 to 2020 Roy Reid Staunton Traffic Operations Center United States Air Force – 1987 to 1993 Dominick Formato Transportation Operator II, Mint Spring AHQ United States Navy – 2009 to 2021 Patrick Shuman Staunton District Construction Inspector United States Army – 8 years Timothy Hall Transportation Operator II, Stephens City AHQ United States Air Force – 1980 to 1994 Rodney "Scott" Snider Permits Eng. Technician Sr., Harrisonburg Residency United States Air Force – 4 years Keith Harrop Staunton District Construction Manager United States Army National Guard – 17 years Jay Strong Environmental Specialist, Lexington Residency United States Navy – 1987 to 2015 Alan Johnson Assistant District Bridge Maintenance Engineer United States Army – 1992 to 1996 Michael Surratt Staunton District Traffic Engineering United States Navy Seabees – 1980 to 2000 Tanya Johnson Financial Accounting Manager United States Army – 2011 to 2013 Joel Taylor Staunton District Construction Inspector United States Marine Corps – 1991 to 1995 Doane Lam Transportation Operator II, Mauzy AHQ United States Army SPC – 4 years April Truxell Maintenance Supervisor, Warm Springs AHQ Va. Army National Guard – 2002 to 2008, 2015 to 2022 Burgess Lindsey Harrisonburg Assistant Residency Administrator United States Air Force – 8 ½ years Gary Via Jr. Superintendent, Mount Crawford AHQ United States Army – 4 years NOVEMBER 2022 9
Page 1 and 2: The Highway Scanner A newsletter fo
Page 3 and 4: 2022 SOUTHEAST REGIONAL ROADEO Not
Page 5 and 6: STAUNTON D.A. READY TO RETIRE A CHA
Page 7: NEWS & NOTES GETTING READY FOR NEXT
Page 11 and 12: NEWS & NOTES WORKFORCE TRAINING AND

Staunton - The Highway Scanner - November 2022

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?