The historic Gables building at the former Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center was all decked-out for the holidays 15 years ago. This photo was taken during Blackstone’s last White Christmas — the afternoon of December 25, 2010. The building, which has sat idle since VUMAC closed in 2016, is being planned for renovations by The Inn at Blackstone, which now […]
Lifestyle
More Room At The Inn
The Gables (right foreground) has sat idle since the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center (VUMAC) closed in 2016. But now the 1915 building is being planned for renovations by The Inn at Blackstone, a 113-room hotel that opened here three years ago. The Gables was saved from a state Methodist wrecking ball in the mid-1990s and renovated after a local […]
SAVE THE GABLES II
Three decades after renovations, improvements are planned againThe Town of Blackstone has received a re-zoning request from The Inn at Blackstone, which is planning to renovate the 1915 Gables building to complement its hotel and event venue here. (Legal Notice in today’s edition) Town Manager Philip Vannoorbeeck shared the news near the end of the Commission’s Nov. 24th meeting. “The applicants are referring to it as ‘The […]
HOLE-IN-ONE FOR GOLF COACH
Nottoway High School golf coach, Whip Wilson, recently recorded his second career hole-in-one. Wilson aced Crewe Country Club’s par-3 third hole, using a pitching wedge from 84 yards. He was playing Monday, November 24th, with Ricky Johnson, Bill Shorter, and Steve Wilson. Wilson this past Fall coached the Cougars to their first district golf title in 30 years.
BENCHMARK UPS DIVIDEND
Kenbridge-based Benchmark Bankshares, Inc., holding company for Benchmark Community Bank, recently declared a semi-annual dividend of 48¢ per share to holders of common stock of the company. That number represents a 9.1% increase over the prior semi-annual dividend amount of 44¢ per share. The record date for shareholders entitled to payment will be close of business, 5:00 p.m., this coming […]
Special Service Sat.
Jerusalem Baptist Church, located at 141 Bowles Road, Blackstone, invites the public to a “Love Benefit” program for Kim Finney this coming Saturday, December 7th at 3:00 p.m. Several local gospel singers and groups are scheduled for Saturday’s program.
MIRACLE MAN
Willie Ragan recalls heartbreak, survival and more in new bookSix years ago, Willie Ragan of Burkeville was a dead man walking. He needed a new liver or he wasn’t going to be here much longer. Today he’s a miracle man. It was February 2020. After doctors at UVA in Charlottesville began Willie’s transplant, what was going to be a threehour surgery took 11 hours. Willie Ragan died on the […]
GOLFER, 70, SHOOTS 60
Back nine 29 for ‘Super Senior’Local golfer David Pleasants shot a back nine 29 (seven under par) last Wednesday, Nov. 19th, at Nottoway River Country Club to complete a sensational round of 12-under-par 60. Pleasants, who turned 70 in April, was playing with David Earl Matthews, Johnny Cole, and Lee Loftis. The course record is 60, shot twice by former PGA Tour pro Cameron Yancey. […]
3RD GRADERS TO THROW SWITCH
Blackstone Grand Illumination this Friday in Seay ParkANNUAL LIGHTING CEREMONY SET FOR 6:00 P.M. AT GAZEBO
Four local 3rd graders have been awarded the privilege of “throwing the switch” to thousands of Christmas lights in Blackstone’s Seay Park with Mayor Lafayette Dickens. Blackstone’s annual Grand Illumination ceremony is set for this coming Friday night, Nov. 28th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Park gazebo. In keeping with a tradition that began 18 years ago, third graders at […]
‘HOMICIDES & CRACK HOUSES’
Lunenburg native shares stories from her State Police careerBOOK SIGNINGS SET FOR DEC. 1 AT BOTH CO. LIBRARIES A Kenbridge native, who enjoyed a successful, exciting career with Virginia State Police, is coming home to sign copies of her new book, Becoming Fire — Chasing the Passion to Protect, Serve, and Love — A True Crime Memoir. Jennifer Clark Eskew is a 1980 graduate of Central High School […]
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