2022-03-23

‘CONTINUED INSULTING COMMENTS’

Citizen: If censure’s the new norm, Board should include Bowen

BOARD CRITIC MAKES FASHION STATEMENT AT COURTHOUSE Sue Yeatts of Crewe wore her emotions on her sleeves Thursday night. She stepped to the podium in a black sweatshirt embroidered with three of Supervisor Steve Bowen’s colorful quotes in recent years. And she called on Board members to step up and censure the District One rep. “Let Concerned Citizens Be Concerned” […]

SEX. ASSAULT ‘DID NOT HAPPEN’

Supt. breaks silence on Middle School incident

DR. GRIMES ALSO OFFERS TIMELINE OF DAY IN QUESTION Citing clearance from legal counsel, Nottoway School Supt. Dr. Tameshia Grimes says claims made publicly and spread on social media — that a male student at Nottoway Middle was sexually assaulted last Fall with a broom handle — are inaccurate. Dr. Grimes said it’s been hard for her to remain silent […]

COUNTY SOLAR OUTLOOK DIM?

Nottoway moratorium continues at least until April

OPPONENTS CITE EROSION, WATER QUALITY, WILDLIFE WORRIES Whether or not to lift Nottoway’s solar ban has been put off to a rainy day. The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Thursday night to take up the matter in April, after a 90-minute hearing that saw six speakers oppose the County’s proposed ordinance, four spoke in favor, and one — citizen Sonny […]

LOCAL NAMES REJECTED

Many suggestions here for Pickett excluded

FEDERAL COMMISSION NARROWS LIST TO 87 Fort Pickett will not be re-named “Fort Blackstone” or “Fort Nottoway” or “Fort Southside.” Those titles, which were among many suggested locally, aren’t in the running, according to a list of finalists released last week by the federal Naming Commission. That panel is tasked with proposing new names to Congress for Army bases named […]

AROUND TOWN

“Fox News Alert: Continuing Coverage of the Censure Crisis in Nottoway County, Virginia.” Welcome, Ainsley! Folks, I’ve been saying this for years: Nottoway County is the censure of the political universe. What 1981 hit song by The Cars have Nottoway Supervisors chosen to sing on karaoke night at their next VACo retreat? “Censure Gone.” Unconfirmed at presstime: a member of […]

Ragsdale

Ellen C. Ragsdale, age 74, of Blackstone, passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2022. She is preceded in death by her father, Paul B. Cassell, and her mother, Hilda B. Cassell; and nephew, Kevin DeHart. She is survived by her brother, Paul B. Cassell, Jr. (Janie) of Riner, VA; two children, Leigh Hart (Bubba) of Crewe, and Kimberly Reekes (Brian […]

Rossmeissl

Iffielee Pearl Rossmeissl, age 87, of Crewe, VA, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 12, 2022. She is preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Clifford Rossmeissl; and her daughter, Deborah Redeye. Iffielee is survived by four children, Sheri Ghiggeri (John) of Milford, NJ, Lyndon Corley of Basking Ridge, NJ, Mary Sanchez of Crewe, […]

‘THE FOUR OF YOU ARE COMPROMISED’

Supervisor’s censure was show of hypocrisy, says mom

‘THERE ARE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND ISSUES OF RAGE’ After citizen Sue Yeatts unleashed a barrage of criticism at Supervisor Steve Bowen (see related story), mother Chrysten Hardy took the torch Thursday night, reading the remainder of Mrs. Yeatts’ prepared marks which criticized three other Nottoway Supervisors for their recent censure of Board member John Roark. Ms. Hardy is a […]

CENSURE NOT THE SAME AS REMOVAL

Several readers have asked the Courier- Record what censure means. Some have mistakenly believed that censure is being booted out of office. Not so. Elected officials who are censured remain in office and still have the same legal authority they enjoyed before censure. Censure is a formal statement of disappointment in an elected official’s comments or actions by other members […]

‘LITTLE JOBS’ COMMENT BLASTED

Blackstone woman again urges Board to censure Pettis

Diana Mitchell is taking School Board member Clive Pettis to task for misquoting her in a recent Courier- Record op-ed, reminding him that last month she called his job at Lockheed Martin “important” — not “little.” Mrs. Mitchell addressed the Board last Thursday night and scolded Pettis, saying he was “dishonorable” for what she described as spreading false narratives about […]