By Taylor Boyd
The Henry County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution supporting the Town of Ridgeway’s petition to name a bridge in honor of former Mayor Edward M. Page Sr. at its Tuesday, Oct. 28 meeting.
County Administrator Dale Wagoner said the item was brought before the board at the request of Travis Pruitt, of the Ridgeway District, on behalf of Ridgeway Mayor Craig O’Der.
“They are formally asking the board to support the town’s request to the Commonwealth Transportation Board to name the bridge located on Main Street in Ridgeway as the Mayor Edward M. Page Sr. Memorial Bridge,” he said.
Page served as Ridgeway’s mayor for 24 years, from 1990 to 2014. He passed away on June 9, 2025.
Earlier this month, Wagoner said the Ridgeway Town Council adopted a resolution on the matter and intends to forward it to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for consideration.
As part of the resolution, Chairman Jim Adams of the Blackberry District said all costs associated with the naming will be covered by Ridgeway.
According to a Ridgeway media release, Page dedicated his life to the betterment of Ridgeway and its citizens.
“Among his many accomplishments, Mayor Page worked tirelessly alongside former Congressman Virgil Goode to secure federal funding for the replacement of the Main Street bridge in the early 2000s – a project that strengthened local infrastructure and improved transportation safety for the community,” the release states.
O’Der said he is honored to help recognize Page’s accomplishments.
“His dedication to the Town of Ridgeway and his tireless efforts to improve the community continue to inspire us all. Mayor Page’s vision, leadership, and commitment to public service left a lasting impact that will be remembered for generations to come,” he said.
O’Der added that Page was not only a mentor and professional influence but also a personal friend.
“He was kind of like a father at times,” O’Der said. “I’m just so pleased the board of supervisors followed suit with their support because he truly was a remarkable person who tried to not only improve the quality of life in Ridgeway, but in Henry County as well. He loved so many people.”
In other matters, the board:
*Approved a resolution recognizing Nov. 11 as Election Worker Appreciation Day in Henry County.
*Recognized Boy Scout Troop #166 and Cub Scouts Pack #166, who attended the meeting to earn their citizenship and merit badges.
*Heard the monthly report on delinquent tax collection efforts.
*Heard an update from Blue Ridge Regional Library Interim Director Melissa Chapman.
*Heard an update on general highway matters from Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Resident Engineer Lisa Price-Hughes.
*Approved an additional appropriation of $33,222 for overtime for deputies performing extra traffic enforcement, the purchase of a LiDAR unit for speed detection, and travel expenses related to grant administration and training.
*Approved an additional appropriation of $31,200 to purchase Class A dress shirts for the sheriff’s office.
*Awarded a $64,187 contract to East Coast Emergency Vehicles LLC for emergency equipment on nine new police vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office.
*Awarded a contract of $214,616 to Vest Sales and Service Inc. for an ambulance re-chassis.
*Approved an additional appropriation of $36,500 from the board’s contingency fund to buy seven secure voting supply cabinets for the Registrar’s Office.
*Conducted a public hearing and approved a request to rezone approximately 1 acre in the Horsepasture District from Commercial District (B-1) and Agricultural District (A-1) to Suburban Residential District (S-R). The applicant wishes to subdivide the property and create two single-family residences.
*Conducted a public hearing and approved a request to rezone three lots in the Iriswood District from Suburban Residential District (S-R) to Rural Residential District (R-R). The applicant wishes to replace a manufactured home on the property that was destroyed by a fire in 2020.
Travis Pruitt, of the Ridgeway District, attended the meeting virtually and did not participate in the 6 p.m. session.
