As a young soldier in the mid-1940s, Leonard Gooslin, of Mill Creek, had no way of knowing that his service to country would result in his participation in one of the most notable battles in history.
     But after Gooslin, now 83, joined the Army in December 1942, he found himself, along with others in the 94th Infantry Division headed for Germany.
      And it was there that Gooslin took part in the Battle of the Bulge, helping with fellow soldiers to defend American and allied positions outside of Bastogne -- part of a massive German counterattack which began by the Germans December 16, 1944 and continued as they pushed forward.
     Historians would later look at the battle and the German failure to take Bastogne as one that doomed the German offensive, although the battle itself would continue. It was labeled the U.S. Army’s largest single action of World War II. Some 120,000 German casualties were recorded in the battle, with another 81,000 American casualties also listed. Gooslin was one of the lucky ones, walking away from the battle with only injuries after being shot in the left arm while in a foxhole in the famous battle.
      He was transported to a field hospital in England and remained there for about 30 days before being transferred back to the United States and a Richmond area hospital. There, he underwent several surgeries, skin grafts from his chest and physical therapy to regain the use of his arm.
       His valor in the battle and in his service to country was recognized in May 2003 when Consul General of France Gilles Montagnier sent Gooslin a diploma recognizing him as one of the American veterans of World War II, "who liberated France and, in doing so, changed the history of the 20th century."
       It’s something Gooslin’s daughters, Patsy Hale and Kathy Hagy are proud of and something they say their father was also pleased to receive.
      In addition to the commendation from France, Gooslin also received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, rifle and sharpshooter medals -- seven in all -- which daughter, Kathy, tracked down in later years.
       "It was a wonderful thing Kathy did and I commend her for that," Patsy says of the 1992 receipt of the medals for Gooslin. "It brought Daddy a lot of pleasure."
       Gooslin spoke of the battle through the years and his time in the Army, relating stories to his daughters and his nephew, Steven Hagy, who also helps to care for him today. Several years ago, before a massive stroke left him unable to communicate verbally, Gooslin also told some of the stories to Justin Allen, who did a school term paper on Gooslin and World War II.
 

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
       As state legislators grapple over transportation funding, the issues came a little closer to home Monday when the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors learned the Rt. 680, Bill Young Mountain, project would likely be the first local project to experience a delay.
        Virginia Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Conrad Hill noted that since the state transportation budget had not yet been approved, local VDOT residencies were having to move forward with known budget figures from last year.
        "If nothing changes between now and June, it will delay the project one year," Hill said of the Rt. 680 project in Buchanan County.
       "That’s bad," Garden Supervisor Buddy Fuller said. "It’s already been delayed 20 years."
         Hill indicated he wished things were different, but said until the state decides funding issues, there is little else to be be done.
          "We are going forward and preparing the ad like something will happen, but if there’s nothing by June, you can look for the delay," Hill said.
        He noted that in order to get to the ad stage, 70 percent of the funding needed for any given project has to be accrued and available for spending, however, before a project can be awarded, 100 percent of funding has to be available.
        Ray Davis, who was in the audience Monday, suggested that other projects need to be put on hold to allow the Rt. 680 project to go forward.
         "I’m disappointed there is possibly a delay for another year," Davis said.
        Hill said he was also disappoint, but he said VDOT had to use the funds available.
        Hill said cuts to secondary road funding have been estimated at 40 percent for the next four years.
       Commonwealth Transportation Board Member James Keen backed up Hill’s comments, noting that the CTB is working on the six-year plan update, but he said at this point, there has not been a lot of success since the state doesn’t have an approved budget.
         "We do have a working draft," Keen said.
        He said that draft is based on the last official estimate available to the CTB, which is from November 2005.
        "We can’t use wish lists," Keen said. "We have to use the numbers we know."
       He said the revenue forecast has been reduced and maintenance costs statewide are up. As a result, he added, there are no new projects in the six- year plan.

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by Scotty Wampler
Staff Reporter
         The Buchanan County School Board voted last week to reinstall an agent of record.
        On Prater School Board member Bill Crigger’s motion, the board approved the hiring of Reid Scott, of Acordia, to the position. Scott also serves as the agent of record for the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors and the county PSA.
         South Grundy Board member David Thornbury was opposed to the hiring, citing the board’s decision to terminate the former agent of record due to the belief that an insurance premium belonging to the board did not pay for the expense of the position.
         “The whole facade of getting rid of the agent of record was to save money,” Thornbury said.
         Richard Williams and Jodi Street Reynolds both served as the board’s agents of record until last fall.
          Apparently, somewhere along the process of the board voting to eliminate the positions in 2005, it was stated that eliminating the position would save the board money. Last Wednesday, the board learned, that was not the case. In fact, carrying an agent of record is included in the board’s current premium, costing it no additional money.
        “I’d like to know who made the misrepresentation to this board,” Thornbury said. “There again, we fired some people. What’s the rationale, now that we’re going back, that we’re switching agents of record?”
          “I just don’t think you’re treating people fairly,” he continued.
         Thornbury was the sole board member to vote against the measure. North Grundy School Board member Don Newberry abstained.
         Also at the meeting, Newberry was unanimously approved to once again fill the board’s VSBA at-large position.
        After a unanimous vote, the golf program will be reinstalled at all four county high schools.
        Three new substitute teachers for the county (Brittany Hall, Tiffany Sheppard and Carla Thomas) were unanimously approved by the board.

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