For the third year in a row Pamplin will come alive on Saturday, Sep.19, beginning with the Ralph M. Hamlett Memorial 5K Fun Run and Walk at 9 a.m. at the Heights School Road terminus of High Bridge Trail.  Free music, the Tom Mix Rangers and Powhatan Peacemakers shoot-outs, free surrey rides, a bounce house, and more will begin on Main Street, Pamplin, at noon.

“When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top,” could be the theme song for the free horse-drawn covered carriage tour of Pamplin. The surrey ride will carry three or four at a time, and tours will begin at 1 p.m.  Lib Elder, event coordinator says, “It’s nearly identical to what my grandparents used to court when they were dating in Stonewall in the early 1910’s.”

The Tom Mix Rangers and Powhatan Peacemakers will have shoot-outs at 12:30 and 3 p.m., and will be strolling around town all day.

Kelly Berliner, of the Archeological Conservancy Group, will conduct free tours of the Pamplin Pipe Factory all afternoon.

As you stroll Main Street you can browse at Sandy’s Emporium for jewelry, Long Ear Herbs for natural products, Back Door Crafts for hand made crafts, Refocused for glass art, ReWind Designs for chainmaille jewelry, CinTinque Jewelry for hand crafted items, Diane Hindenlang with her paintings, Magda’s Art For the Masses with framed art, Burks’ Natural Remedies for essential oils, Norman Haskins with his art, Village Crafter for crochet ornaments, Petie’s Gems for jewelry, and more.

All the while, you will be entertained beginning at noon with the Pamplin Celebration Choir, followed by Rebecca the Singing Cowgirl, Soli Deo Gloria, Shaky Grass, Deja Moo Again, Petr & 3 Women, and closing out the afternoon with Farm Use String Band.

Festivals always bring hearty appetites. DeVault Vineyards will offer wine while Tolley’s Market will have pizza and beer. Mt. Lyle Scholarship Fund will be selling fish/teriyaki chicken plates. Wild Oats BBQ, LLC and Pamplin Methodist Church will both be serving BBQ. You can get hot dogs and nachos with cheese from Harriet Croner and freshly prepared foods by Sam and Ashley. Wheeler’s Waffle and Stew will be offering ice cream with waffles and Brunswick stew. 

Be sure to visit the Community Room of the Depot to view the latest art exhibition by Amy Eason, of Farmville. There will be more to come about her next week. 

General parking will be at the churches and after noon at the post office, as well as on Mr. Mitchell’s property. Handicap parking will be at the far end of Main Street; turn by the car wash and look for the signs.

A special thanks goes to the following for their contributions of time, event items, and money: The Town of Farmville, Appomattox VDOT, Taylor Septic Services, Pamplin Volunteer Fire Department, High Bridge Trail State Park, the Town of Pamplin, Robert Mitchell, Elon Baptist Church, Pamplin Area Legacy Supporters, and many others mentioned last week for their support of the 5K Run/Walk.

Proceeds go to the Pamplin Depot Restoration Fund. Celebrate Pamplin is a 100 percent all volunteer community effort put on by the people who love the small town and what it represents and want to help foster an awareness of the joys of small town life.   

Pamplin Town Council

Due to the monthly charges that the Town of Pamplin would incur from BB&T bank for processing of credit and debit card used by citizens to pay utility and taxes Town Clerk Paulie Johnson announced to Town Council that she would not be accepting those forms of payment in the near future. Councilwoman Sarah Hamlett felt that some citizens need the credit option to pay their bills and town needs all the revenue it can collect. She suggested checking into Square as a card reader at a lesser charge.  Mayor Billy Horton said that the town would examine that option.

Horton said that he is currently planning a meeting for him, Bob Mitchell, and Sarah Hamlett with the USDA Rural Development representative in Lynchburg to see if the town can get some help in meeting its payments on the bonds. 

Council approved a request from Pamplin Area Library Supporters on behalf of Jasmine Klinedinst, a fourth-grader and Minerva Venable’s granddaughter, for a Little Free Library to be located near the Depot. These are small structures housing books that may be freely taken in exchange for another book. They are located worldwide in public and private places.

Dawn Armstrong, of Pamplin, presented her proposal to council to open a BBQ restaurant on Main Street.  She wants citizens and visitors to have a place to feel comfortable, have a cool drink, and a good meal.  Horton said, “We applaud you guys for this, and we will do everything we can to see this happen.”

New High Bridge Trail State Park Chief Ranger Glenn Shepard introduced himself to council.

Council tabled a request for approval of new gas pumps with canopy in front of Tolley’s Market until High Bridge Trail and Appomattox County make their recommendations.

Community Communiqué

Jimmy Hurt will present a slide show on Farmville postcards at the Farmville-Prince Edward Historical Society meeting in the Farmville Train Station on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Pray and Stitch Group of Prospect United Methodist Church met with Dot Campbell on Sept. 2. Those present were Mary Stone, Eileen Fiscus, Betty Coleman, Sue Case, Kitty Miller, Cary Reed, and Dot Campbell.

Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers:  Kenneth Brisentine, Dorothy Womack, Betty Jean Bolt, Gary Fiscus, and Vicki White.

“Of all God’s creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.” – Mark Twain

If you have any news, call Edwina Covington (574-6576).

EDWINA COVINGTON is a retired teacher and columnist from Elam. Her email is ecovington@centurylink.com.