We were unable to obtain more information about a disturbing police call this past Monday afternoon, Oct. 6th. Officers were called at 4:22 p.m. to Nottoway Manor Apartments, where a parent reported that her son told her that moments after getting off of the bus, a subject “walked up on him” and held a gun to his head. There were no reports of injuries and no description of a suspect had been announced at presstime. In many instances, initial police reports are skewed because callers are distraught and panicked, and initial reports aren’t always accurate. We sure hope those reports were wrong.
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The good thing about Nottoway County’s tax bills arriving early this year is that residents with a cluttered stack of mail just might happen to “misplace” them. I’d sure hate for that to happen! Another good thing, which has pleasantly surprised me, is that the Emergency Squad hasn’t had an increase in cardiac arrest calls since thousands of Nottoway County envelopes were opened last week by taxpayers. I’d have a unit or two on standby outside the courthouse on the night of Oct. 16th when County Supervisors hold their next regular meeting.
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I’m glad County Supervisors and the School Board are working toward sale of the former Burkeville Elementary School building. Get that property on the tax rolls. Hopefully a private entity will buy it and perhaps provide good-paying jobs. I believe that if the School Board is allowed to keep all sales proceeds, that Board — and that Board alone — should be able to spend that money as it sees fit. There should be no strings attached or requirement that it must be spent only for capital improvements. If the School Board believes salaries and benefits are a more pressing need, then by golly use those funds to address that challenge. Supervisors, in turn, could tell the School Board to remember their generosity when the next budget comes around.
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Just asking: if a Republican running for statewide office had sent disturbing text messages three years ago — like Attorney General candidate Jay Jones (D) — about putting bullets in the head of the Speaker of the House of Delegates, how many Democrats would be calling for that candidate to withdraw from the race? Typcial doublestandard politics.
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Another question: why didn’t the recipient of Jones’ text messages — a Republican — keep those messages for three years? If they were so inappropriate and bothersome (they are), why ‘hold’ such information and not alert authorities? Again, politics.
To the Republican’s credit, she replied to Jones, “Please stop. It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them.” Jones, who’s seeking the position of Attorney General, also was convicted in 2022 for driving 116 miles per hour on Interstate 64 in New Kent County. I remember not too long ago when Virginia politics was fairly tame and civil. There was a method of governing and seeking office called “The Virginia Way.” Those days sadly are long gone. I’m afraid they may be waning even in our beloved Nottoway County. The solar debate is shaping-up to be a whopper and a potential ‘Exhibit A’ of how national politics has infiltrated our community.
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I don’t fully know all the details but that hasn’t stopped me before: Nottoway High School’s golf team apparently got ‘robbed’ at Regionals last week. The Cougars finished fourth, and only the top two teams advanced to the state. The Cougars had a bad day, and it happens to me regularly on the links. However, I’m told that players on two teams that finished ahead of Nottoway signed incorrect scorecards. That SHOULD be disqualifying, and I’m told that if those players’ scores were excluded, Nottoway would have finished second.
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The issue involved a par-3 hole with a body of water near the green. There was no drop zone, and a local rule required players hitting into the water to re-tee and take a penalty stroke. However, we’re told some players took a drop near the water, closer to the hole. I hear Nottoway has appealed. Time is ticking because the state tournament is next week.
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Friday night will be a busy one at Coach Joe May Field. It’s Nottoway Homecoming, it’s Military Appreciation Night, and it’s Alumni Night — all rolled into one (See stories, page 7). I can’t wait to see the parades of classes by decades. Very cool idea.
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It’s National Newspaper Week (Oct. 5-11th). We appreciate the opportunity to inform you. It’s a responsibility that we don’t take lightly. But we try to have fun, too.
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