2009.02.23
Controversy at Cracker's Neck
At least two dogs have been caught in leg traps recently while walking with their owners at Cracker's Neck, the hunting-biking-hiking-birding site Radford owns in Montgomery County. In at least one of those cases, the trap was reported to be on the edge of one of those hiking-biking-birding trails.
The committee that city council appointed to work out how all those interest groups can happily share the 250-odd acres out by the interstate won't begin meeting until later this week. So city council made it clear at Monday's meeting (Feb. 23) that they all feel strongly that they must do something in a hurry to keep people and pets safe until the committee can come up with a long term plan.
City Attorney Jim Guynn told council that since the city owns the land, it can say what's allowed to happen there. So, for instance, if council didn't want trapping going on at Cracker's Neck, council could decide trapping won't be allowed there.
Instead, council decided to put up new signs, alerting anyone using the land to all the activities that might be going on there, including trapping.
Councilmen have been talking among themselves about this for more than a week. We've officially requested copies of their emails so we can tell you more about what they said.
-- Tim Thornton
It is apparent that we do not have trapping of any kind in the city park so why would we allow trapping to be on a hiking, biking and bird trail? I think there should be 'no trapping' signs posted up! It does not take hours of wasted conversation on such! Let us talk more about a new water tower, a new police department, new city side-walks in what is called West Radford! Everything that I have read recently about the city in general is beyond comprehension here...fights like little children in the city offices by elected officials and nothing is being done to better things in our city...Think progress and maybe just by chance we can witness change for the better! Until that change we can see the same ole' same old DUNG!
Comment by Bev Bishop — February 24, 2009 @ 7:37 am
and one more thing...why would hunting be allowed on city property? When the city realised that they were owners of this property in question, why didnt they at that time post no hunting ,trapping signs up? When having tails do we at that time make people become targets of being hit by a bullet, arrow, or anything else for that matters...this apparently is an old subject that never was resolved as is most subjects when it comes to choices made for our citizens safety!
Comment by Bev Bishop — February 24, 2009 @ 7:52 am
This article does nothing to establish where Cracker's Neck actually is! A "250 acre chunck of Montgomery County" is all I have to go on? Well, it's either the City of Radford, or it's Montgomery County, so that description is nonsense. Someone please explain in terms of roads or other physical features where this land is, because I searched Radford's GIS for Cracker's Neck and got nothing.
Comment by Alan — February 26, 2009 @ 5:18 am
listen up Bev the piece of property has been hunted on for 40 some years and there has never been a problem like these last two incidents. The 2 people who had their dogs caught in traps did not have permits and did not have their dogs on leashes and neither dog was injured. If you want a park to walk in go to Wildwood or Bisset. Crackers Neck is not in the city limits and that is why people are allowed to shoot guns and anyway there is archery hunting in the city limits are you opposed to this as well? Lemme know how you feel about deer eating your garden and running out in front of your car at night. Just because you dont like what some people do does not make your opnion correct. It is people like you that dont want to share the property that will cause it to be off limits to hunters, bikers, and everyone else.
Comment by joe citizen — February 26, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Sorry, Alan.
This really is a chunk of Montgomery County owned by Radford. It's at the end of Peterson Road, near Interstate 81's Exit 105. You can find it on the Montgomery County GIS map by seraching for RADFORD CITY OF
Comment by Tim Thornton — February 26, 2009 @ 10:10 am
Thanks, Tim. That's very interesting. I hadn't heard of a City buying land in a neighboring county without actually annexing the property. I stand educated! I also know see that a few of the surrounding parcels are owned by Radford University Foundation, Inc. I suspect those are all treated as part of the so-called Cracker's Neck.
Comment by Alan — February 26, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
Sorry Alan the university does not see it your way with regards to access to their land. The Selu property can only be accessed on official visits and all the foundation property is considered off limits even to university employees.
Comment by joe citizen — February 26, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
Alan, I do not think they bought the land for I think that it was stated many moons back that it was given to the city! The city officials at one time had talks of using the land for a Welcoming Center and a place to create re-enactments of The Ingles story! However, I did not know that R.U. had surrounding pacels around the place! As for anything more I am sure you can contact the city mayor. Good luck in getting answers to any questions you may have!
Comment by Bev Bishop — February 26, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
Joe, it is people like me that suffer the mental effects that come after having guns pointed at my head from those supposed great hunters who are supposed safe people! It is people like me that believe that what is considered woods and country is just that and city land is city land! As for deer eating in my yard and running in front of my car, that happens anywhere in any area, and if, the hunter was so great at hitting their target then why is the city full of deer...maybe because a few hunters just don't know how to aim and kill the deer in the country, right! And one more thing, it is people like me that think illegal drugs should be rid of in our city but that is not happening either is it! Tell yah what, the next deer I see grazing in my yard I will give you a ring so that you can come on over and gracefully take a person out in my neighborhood! Extra bonus, you never know you might get you a drug dealer!
Comment by Bev Bishop — February 28, 2009 @ 9:30 am
Bev, WTF are you rambling about? Killing people? You are correct on one thing you are suffering some sort of mental effects.
Comment by joe citizen — February 28, 2009 @ 6:27 pm
Joe, tell me what do those intials mean to you? When one cannot use their real name and cannot type out the first three words in a statement to a person then I no longer entertain their ignorance! Put a pair of mens pants on and then come at me with your nasty comments! Better yet, if you have a bone to pick with me come on down to my studio and maybe we can work it out by painting on canvas together!!!! And yes one more thing, havent you heard that most artist are a bit insane and in all do reality I take a bit of pride in my insanity and it shows in my work! Have a great rest of the weekend Joe.
Comment by Bev Bishop — March 1, 2009 @ 12:06 am