Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Jordaine Penick is still in the running for the division championship. Two weeks of storms postponed races at South Boston Speedway, but things got back to normal on Saturday, Aug. 17. As the race to the championship continues in the HEAT Hornets Division, It was Jason DeCarlo, the 2022 champion, winning Saturday’s 20-lap race. DeCarlo claimed a 4.580-second win over Dustin Davis in the caution free race. 

As for Meherrin resident and Randolph-Henry High student Jordaine Penick? The current division points leader came in third, with Cameron Goble fourth and Cameron Moss wrapping up the top five. 

It all comes down to one final points race, on Saturday, Aug. 31. It’ll be Championship Night at South Boston. A 50-lap race for the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division and a 20-lap race for the HEAT Hornets Division will decide the respective championships in those two divisions.

Fans will be treated to a fireworks display following the night’s final race.

You can read more about Jordaine Penick and her teammate/cousin Max Sangillo, by clicking here.

Five County Fair gets permit 

This year’s Five County Fair runs from Sept. 24 to Sept. 28 this year. During their Tuesday, Aug. 13 meeting, Prince Edward supervisors officially approved the fair’s permit. We have dates set for several events at the fair this year, with the Power Wheel Demolition Derby set for Sept. 28, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Kids ages 3 to 8 can enter to compete by Sept. 21.

That includes a parade of power wheels before the competition, with drivers and their families encouraged to decorate it as a derby style car. Judges will determine a winner based on derby style driving, the car’s appearance and sportsmanship. Each contestant gets a goodie bag with a medal, while the winner gets a trophy. There will also be livestock shows, with beef cows, lambs, goats and bunnies being judged, along with dairy cows and chickens. Cole Shows will handle the Midway, with games, exhibits, food, pro wrestling and a number of other events, along with the annual beauty pageants. 

Buckingham to honor Monroe Snoddy 

Buckingham supervisors announced last week that they plan to put together a resolution to honor Monroe Snoddy. Snoddy, the longtime Buckingham supervisor and community leader passed away on July 18. He served on the Buckingham School Board for 12 years, as part of the Buckingham Board of Supervisors for 22 years and as a local barber for 65 years. The resolution will be presented to Snoddy’s family at an upcoming meeting of the board of supervisors. 

Gene Dixon Park gets some work done 

There will be repairs and renovations taking place over the next few months at Gene Dixon Park. Buckingham supervisors agreed during their Monday, Aug. 12 meeting to allocate $116,000 to get work done. To be clear, this isn’t new money. These are funds already set aside for that purpose. Each work project just has to be signed off on. The park’s current concession stand building will be fixed, as it’s starting to sink. Some bleachers that are becoming a safety hazard will be replaced, along with a leaky roof. Also there’s a tree at the soccer fields causing problems, which will be removed. In addition, those funds will pay for excavation work to help redirect standing water and prevent damage from water running down the hill. 

Cumberland opens up to more public comment 

Cumberland County residents will have more chances to speak up during board meetings. During their Tuesday, Aug. 13 meeting, supervisors made some changes to county by-laws, with the intent being to allow both more public comment during the meetings and to allow those comments at particular times for items of business that don’t usually require a public hearing. It also gives people more time to sign up to speak. 

“I was sitting there last year and I thought it was kinda crazy that if you weren’t here by 7 p.m., you couldn’t sign up to speak,” Supervisor Bryan Hamlett said. “(The change) was something in January we decided to do.” 

This is your meeting, he told the residents in attendance.
“We’re here to discuss your business,” Hamlett added. “You should have a say in it.” 

Woodworking project gets unanimous approval

A new shop just got approved in Buckingham County. During their Monday, Aug. 12 meeting, supervisors unanimously approved a permit for Dillwyn resident Jonathan Zook to run a custom woodworking shop. In previous meetings with the planning commission, Zook explained that he wants to make and manufacture furniture out of his shop at 860 Allens Lake Road in Dillwyn. Since the property in question is zoned (A1) Agricultural, a woodworking shop isn’t a ‘by-right  use, meaning it needs a permit from the county to operate.