Featured Stories

Blackstone and state authorities are trying to determine the cause of a house fire Sunday afternoon that claimed the life of a two-year-old boy on Luke Street here. The Father’s Day tragedy plunged this community into sadness just one day after Blackstone Volunteer Fire Department christened its newest fire engine. Nottoway Sheriff Robert Jones said the first of several 911 […]

Nottoway County, which continues its 2019 ban on industrial solar farms, is studying a “concept” proposal that would allow permitted projects in about 13% of the county’s land mass, or 40 of the county’s 316 square miles. County Planner Gregg Zody told Supervisors last Thursday night that the Planning Commission hopes to incorporate key aspects of a proposed “Renewable Energy […]

Volunteers raising funds to assist Nottoway County in its effort to build a new animal shelter are getting antsy. The County’s shelter status has become somewhat reminiscent of a 1975 Purina Cat chow commercial (“Chow, Chow, Chow”), where a cat and its owner take two steps forward and two steps back. It’s been three-and-a-half years since attorney Jack Boswell stood […]

The next principal of Blackstone Primary School says she’s “more than elated to be back home and serving in my hometown!” Delphine Simmons-Fowlkes was hired recently by the School Board to succeed Dr. Carrie Gravely, who’s taking the helm at Nottoway Middle School. Both women begin their new duties in July. “It was a long time coming,” said Delphine, “but […]

Due to lower than projected enrollment, Nottoway Supervisors agreed Thursday to reduce the County’s appropriation to Nottoway County Public Schools (NCPS) by $324,106. The move impacts the funding for the current fiscal year — not the new one that begins July 1st. The School Division built its current year’s budget on projected ADM (Average Daily Membership) of 1,780 students — […]

Members of Blackstone High School’s Class of 1957 enjoyed their 65th year reunion on Saturday, June 18th, at Blackstone Herb Cottage. The class had 38 graduates on June 6, 1957 — back when gas was 31¢ per gallon, a Coke would cost you 5¢, and a loaf of bread averaged about 19¢. That year also saw the end of America’s […]

Clive Pettis quit the Nottoway School Board the same way he served for the past six and a half years — by claiming much isn’t right in the division and airing new allegations while also restating prior grievances. Pettis made the announcement Thursday night near the end of an 11-minute complaint that preceded the Board going into closed session. “It’s […]

The thought of resigning first entered Clive Pettis’ mind — according to the now-former School Board member — “a couple of days after I found out that the Superintendent’s contract had been modified” without a Board vote. That was back in February. Pettis says that in the weeks and months that followed, he continued to ponder the move confidentially. “I […]

A small Nottoway County dog is expected to make a full recovery after being struck Saturday morning in the face by a copperhead. “Dolly,” a six-pound Yorkie (Yorkshire Terrier) owned by Kaitlyn Pridemore of Bible Road, was rushed by the Pridemore family to an emergency veterinary facility in Richmond. The 18-month-old pet learned the hard way that not everything that […]