Lawsuit alleges Russell County administrator illegally shut down Dante FD

A lawsuit filed on Monday alleges Lonzo Lester, the Russell County administrator, and acting county emergency management director, of unlawfully shutting down the Dante Volunteer Fire Department more than a year ago. The suit also says last August, about the same time the station was locked up, there were rumors of the county selling the property to Dollar General. Since then, the St. Paul Fire Department has been handling calls in Dante. Lester is accused of unilaterally closing the department without prior notice and without a public vote from the Russell County Board of Supervisors. Under Virginia state code, only the governing body of the county can dissolve a fire company. According to the lawsuit, there is no record of a formal vote from the board.