Escalating tensions between Hopewell City Council and citizens reached a new level April 28 after Mayor Johnny Partin Jr. had a resident escorted from that night’s meeting over what he perceived was a “threat.” The meeting was briefly delayed while deputies assigned as security spoke with Mark Burroughs, who lives in Partin’s Ward 3. Partin tried to keep the meeting going while at the same time encouraging the deputies to “escort Mr. Burroughs from City Hall.” Burroughs is one of a handful of residents who regularly speak at council meetings and has had a couple of run-ins with Partin in previous meetings. The latest happened during a public hearing on financing repairs for Hopewell’s pumping stations. Burroughs was the only resident signed up to speak on the topic, and it was not long before the tensions reached their boiling point. … Later, while a discussion was going on at the council dais, Partin reminded the gallery “this is your only warning” to be quiet during discussion or risk removal. At that point, resident Ed Houser stood up and said, “You don’t have to throw me out. I’ll leave now,” and walked out. Progress-Index
Whit Babcock will be paid more than $1 million in base salary in his first year as Virginia Tech’s athletic director emeritus, according to a contract provided to The Roanoke Times by Virginia Tech on Wednesday under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Virginia Tech announced last week that Babcock, who was under contract to serve as athletic director through June 2029, would retire as athletic director this June 30 and would become athletic director emeritus. He will be employed in his new role through June 2029. He will be paid $1.15 million in base salary for his first year as AD emeritus (July 1 through June 2027). His base salary drops to $900,000 for his second year as AD emeritus and $600,000 for his final year being employed as AD emeritus.
