Columns & Opinion

Blackstone Town Council will hold a continued meeting today (Wednesday) at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of adopting a budget. There are no proposed tax increases or utility rate increases, but I hear there’s some unrest over some of the 8% merit raises. It takes five votes to appropriate a budget. Never a dull moment. *** I emailed former Mayor […]

‘Blue wave’ not likely Dear Sir: A recent New York Times article: “The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash:” “Under its new leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee has been plagued by infighting and a drop in big donations, raising alarms from Democrats as they try to win back power.” That’s not good if you want a […]

When you’re five-years-old, a trip to downtown Blackstone is a great adventure. Shown here in May 1990 at left is Bettie Houseman (left), one of several kindergarten teachers leading the great expedition. They’re shown here walking north along the west side of South Main Street. That’s the old Dillard- Crawley Hardware building in background along with the former SEARS store […]

I want to highlight just how radical the top of Virginia’s 2025 Democratic ticket is and why it’s so important that we elect common-sense Republicans this November. At the top of the Democratic ticket is former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. In her first term in Congress, she voted with Nancy Pelosi 92% of the time. In her second term, that number […]

I’ve been doing this for 35 years, and I thought I had developed thick skin. But I was really offended looking through the Town Attorney’s legal bills for May. He charged the Town $100 to write and send me an email, urging me not to report on the Town’s recent sexual harassment investigative report. But he only charged the Town […]

It was Spring 1990, and World Geography students at Nottoway High School ranked 10th in the state and 44th in the nation in the National Geography Olympiad in April throughout the United States. That placed Nottoway in the upper third of the competition. Nottoway students participating, FROM LEFT: Rachel Allen, Brad Hanks, David Greene, Lisa York, James Dyson, Laura Williamson, […]

This black snake made the mistake in 1990 of taking a nap on the porch of James E. Jefferson of Ridge Road, Blackstone. Mr. Jefferson killed the snake, which measured six feet in length.

It was May 10, 1990 when Alice & Sam “Bid” Lloyd of Rt. 153 in Nottoway County made the front page after being honored by Bellefonte Grange with a Community Citizenship Award for their support of the Grange and other community endeavors. When this photo was taken, they had been picking-up roadside trash regularly for 10 years. Mrs. Lloyd passed […]

It was 35 years ago, and the 190 members of VFW Post 5313 had almost finished their lodge next to the Nottoway Civic League. Four years earlier, they broke ground and set out to build the 80’ x 40’ building with donated material and labor. FROM LEFT: William King, Quartermaster; Joan Boose, Ladies Auxiliary; John W. Simmons, Commander; Mac McLeod, […]