Sky high County taxes
Dear Sir:
As senior citizens, we worked and saved all of our lives.
Now that we virtually have no debt and have a couple of better things paid for, along comes the County saying, “We must build this now, or we must purchase this now, so therefore we’re going to raise your taxes!”
Well, La-Dee-Daa!
What about senior citizens who have to cut back or postpone purchases they need, as much or more than what the County needs? What about young families living paycheckto paycheck?
To make matters even worse, these young families must drive 20 to 75 miles to work because Nottoway has no good paying jobs to offer — unless you work for the railroad, County, or State.
Our taxes should be based according to the services the County offers. Oh, wait, then there would be almost no taxes!
The County needs more manufacturing and industry! Taxpayers alone cannot sustain this kind of burden! If the Board of Supervisors doesn’t do something soon — or if they keep raping their constituents — they’re going to kill this county.
You can’t solve decades of neglect with massive tax increases that bring taxpayers to the breaking point! We do have businesses like Wilkerson Tire, Walmart, and Food Lion that do provide good jobs, but that’s not nearly enough given the County’s hearty appetite for more money.
Ronald Rice
Bible Road
Crewe
The cost of voting GOP
Dear Sir:
I can understand how frustrating it must be to have a second straight year of 20+% tax increases for local property owners, with further increases in local taxes looming to cover the enormous expenses the County has found itself facing since Ronnie Roark “retired.”
But I want to point out to upset locals that they should hang on to their hats as the national income tax changes that will take effect April 15th — the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” — are going to sting even worse than local taxes.
Donald Trump raised your taxes to benefit billionaires in his first term and promised to do it again if re-elected, and so many of you voted for him anyway, it is almost like you enjoy being taxed to death.
I also find it kind of sad that the one person involved in local government most likely to need a blood pressure machine is causing so much drama over a $25 purchase that could actually help save someone’s life — maybe even his. You do not need to be “properly trained” to put a cuff around someone’s arm and press a button, Supervisor Roark.
And, if Sam Mordan has any friends, can one of you — or THE ONE of you — please explain to him the difference between being charged with a crime and being convicted of a crime.
And if you were paying attention, Sam, you would have read months ago that the Town of Blackstone is likely to obtain a state Aviation Grant to offset the purchase price of Countyowned land near the airport that the county is unable to apply for.
Chris Ellington
Los Angeles, CA
Former and future
resident of Blackstone
Is that what they call ‘growth?’
Dear Sir:
So it appears the Town Manager has convinced Council to buy land from the County — outside of Town Limits — so a Council member and his dad and others, in my opinion, can get over on the people of Blackstone.
Meanwhile, the Mayor’s saying that Blackstone is “developing the town;” yes with apartments that cost $1,800 a month and houses that aren’t selling!
The Town Manager needs to go — along with some of what I believe to be corrupt Council members.
I can’t wait until Nottoway Supervisor John Roark spills the beans! I hope it will wake-up people in the county — and the town, too!
Oh, and to the Mayor of Blackstone: the federal government is shut down for now, so how are people going to pay the rent in those nice new apartments?
Sam Mordan
Jetersville
Blackstone taxpayer
Don’t let politics consume you
Dear Sir:
I like peaceful, quiet weeks, but things are constantly churning underneath.
The men in black from FASTC were on a practice exercise in town a few days ago, sharpening skills for protecting dignitaries who travel abroad.
A few citizens’ issues were promptly responded to both to my liking and their satisfaction, and the Ward cookouts are welcome by adults and children alike. The South Main paving project is on schedule and should end soon.
But do you hear birds chirping in the distance? If not, then turn-off the TV, and put your device down for a few minutes and just listen. Let the sound of nature crowd out the back-andforth jabs of political attack ads. Don’t let politics color your outlook on life. This is still God’s country! As the bumper sticker slogan said and I quote, “Think globally. Act locally.”
Please know that opportunities to serve are plentiful, and your contribution might make a meaningful difference!
Lafayette Dickens
Brunswick Avenue
Mayor of Blackstone
Filthy and rich at our capitols
Dear Sir:
Mark Twain celebrated his 70th birthday by stating: “I have made it a rule to never smoke more than one cigar at a time… It has always been my rule never to smoke when asleep, and never to refrain when awake.”
Trump is celebrating serving as President/Commander-In- Chief by “smoking” drug-carrying speed boats. The difference between him and most politicians is he made big money before being President — not by inside trading and various payoffs as some of Virginia’s highest ranking politicians made before and after being elected.
Of course, the legacy state news media is also paid-off by the big spenders and would never say anything against Democratic State Senators and Congressional “persons.”
New Motto: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask how insider trading/corrupt representatives can get rich and ruin the country.”
Democrats: Have a cigar for the four years under Biden. You did nearly make us a Communist nation, Third World State as New York, etc. still want to do.
Who’s going to pay you off when that happens? Jim Harris North Chesterfield
Pathetic in D.C.
Dear Sir:
The federal government is shut down. In my opinion, the first people to lose their money are the ones running the country.
Some people will say that if they aren’t getting paid, they won’t do anything. Okay…they already were getting paid — and nothing was getting done.
If Republicans said, “Breathing is good,” Democrats would stop breathing.
This is the disagreement that need to stop on all sides.
Maybe there needs to be a king.
Frank Hostettler
Mill Road
Blackstone
Things to ponder for local leaders
Dear Sir:
To citizens of Nottoway County & members of each Town Council, Board of Supervisors, School Board, Community Leaders:
For all of us who confess Jesus, how often are you approaching every problem and disagreement within our county with the goal of having it resolved His way and with His mind? It’s not you vs. them, or your group vs. their group. It is: How does our Heavenly Father want it resolved?
We all have to check ourselves and pause to ask The Father:
“Lord is my heart right before you? Or am I seeking my own or my group’s desires? Am I looking at the other people involved as You see them (His creation, a neighbor who is hurting; a neighbor who is lost, but still a creation of the Father), or do I just want to be right? Am I standing on The Gospel, or am I standing on my own interpretation? Have I sought guidance from The Holy Spirit? Do I view others as beneath me?”
We must seek to trust in the Lord with all our heart, and do not rely on our own understanding; but in all of our ways, we must acknowledge Him because He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Now as we consider those who do not know Christ or who reject Him, do you speak the truth with the love of Christ? Are you prayerful in your interactions? Are you able to pray for those who are lost, but without thinking you are better or holier?
We are saved by His grace and by no goodness of our own. Can you pray to ask God for His will to be done within our county — for Him to deliver those bound by drugs and for them to be led to the jobs He has for them; for The Almighty One to provide ways for us to help those who are trying to have a better life, but they are drowning in tough circumstances?
Are you able to pray and ask The Almighty One to guide all of the believers of Jesus Christ, The Messiah, that are members of Nottoway County by residency or employment, that we allow Him to correct us when we need correcting, comfort us in our sorrow for the state of the world & our community, to help us to love as He loves, and speak the truth with love and humility, and for His will to be done?
As a believer, I have and will make mistakes along the way, too, but my heart’s goal is to always resolve and treat everyone the Lord’s way. He will open doors for us to love and make amends when needed. Let us submit everyday and trust that The Lord is faithful to complete the good work He started in us all. Be encouraged, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
For those who do not understand salvation through Jesus, it means we acknowledge that we are in a sinful nature that is in opposition to God Almighty, and the only way to be reconciled to Him is through acknowledging that His Son, Jesus, took on all of humanity’s sin, suffered, shed His sinless blood to wash our sins away (because sin separates us from God), then He died; but rose from the dead by the power of The Living God.
Therefore, we no longer have to fear death because we can return to Him in Heaven when our time comes, and we do not have to be hopeless here on earth because Jesus came so that we can have life and have it more abundantly here (trusting Him to guide us, provide for us, solve the unsolvable, give us peace when we’ve been hurt, and to see the beauty in everyday life).
It doesn’t mean that everything will be sugarplums and roses, but we have hope that He will see us through hard times & be our Dad. Download a Bible app, read and judge for yourself. The Book of John is a good place to start.
ShaRhonda Robinson
East Broad Street
Blackstone
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