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Saturday marked the latest race in the HEAT Hornets Division and two drivers from the region placed in the Top Five. Meherrin resident Jordaine Penick and Farmville’s Max Sangillo finished fourth and fifth, respectively. It was Cameron Goble taking the checkered flag. The Ringgold resident started on the pole, led every lap and won the 20-lap race at South Boston Speedway. He was followed by Nathalie resident Steven Layne in second, just 0.65 of a second behind and Keeling’s Landon Milam in third. 

The Hornets Division returns to South Boston on Saturday, July 13, with the Boone Tractor Race Night. The first race starts at 7 p.m. 

Oxendine signs with Coastal Carolina

Chad Oxendine has a new job. The former Longwood University baseball coach, who stepped down after his third season with the Lancers, has signed on with Coastal Carolina as the associate head coach. 

It’s a return to his alma mater for Oxendine, who was a catcher at Coastal from 2001 to 2004. After college, he signed with the Chicago White Sox, playing one year with the Bristol White Sox before switching to coaching. This past season, Oxendine and Longwood went 23-29, tied for fifth in the conference. 

First part of construction project finished

As the plan to renovate Prince Edward Elementary moves forward, one part of the project has been finished. Staff from the school district, along with Prince Edward Supervisors Bill Jenkins and Odessa Pride celebrated the completion of the new elementary school playground on Wednesday, June 26. Students will be able to use the equipment when they return to school in August. 

The rest of the project, meanwhile, still moves forward, but at a slower pace. The goal currently is to have the mobile classrooms operational after fall break, with students transferred to them around the middle of October. None of this includes the actual beginning of the full renovation. A recommendation is expected to be in place to hire a contractor for the big project by mid-October. 

Letterpress wins national award 

A Farmville-based business earned some national recognition near the end of June. Marketing and communications firm Letterpress Communications received a first place award at the National Federation of Press Women’s 2024 Professional Communications Contest. The award was announced on June 22. 

The Letterpress team received the NFPW’s top award in the “Social Media Presence” category for innovative and effective social media strategies marketing Farmville-based Green Front Furniture’s Northern Virginia (NOVA) location. 

“Letterpress’s mission is to help rural communities thrive,” said Letterpress Founder and Principal Ilsa Loeser. “Our work with Green Front supports a key economic driver for the town of Farmville. We’re excited that we’re able to bring attention and dollars from one of the nation’s largest metro areas to work in rural Virginia.” 

The first-place NFPW award is Letterpress’ fourth in four years at the annual contest, dating back to 2021 when the team took three top prizes in the categories of “Social Media Presence – Nonprofit, Governmental or Educational,” “Blog – Corporate or for-profit” and “Crisis Communications.” This year’s honor is also Letterpress’ third first-place award of 2024 following a pair of wins at the Virginia Professional Communicators (VPC) Contest in April – one for the Green Front NOVA social media campaign, and the other for Prince Edward County’s Wonderful Wellness Weekend Campaign.

FAR holds Water Safety Class

On Saturday, June 22, an American Canoe Association instructor taught members of the Friends of the Appomattox River a Water Safety Class.  The class covered canoe and kayak practices to prevent capsize, partner rescue and self-rescue for capsized boats, and some of the safety gear and tools to have with you on the water. 

Group members thanked Lee Woodruff and Damien Fehrer, saying knowledgeable and patient instructors helped to make the class a valuable experience for all that attended. Another class may be scheduled if enough interest is expressed.