Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Prince Edward County Planning Commission has a vacancy, after a member resigned. In January, the planning commission gave a unanimous vote to recommend moving forward with the Gabriel Solar project. The only one not voting was Teresa Sandlin, who had recused herself. Five years ago, Sandlin had sold a house to someone in the area who is opposed to the solar farm.

In recent weeks, solar farm supporters had claimed that decision, made long before Gabriel Solar submitted their latest application, proved she wasn’t objective. Sandlin said she decided to recuse herself from the final vote, even though local and state officials said she didn’t have to, in order to eliminate any doubt about objectivity. 

“She resigned after that last planning commission meeting,” said Prince Edward County Planner Robert Love. He told the rest of the planning commission during their Tuesday, Feb. 18 meeting that the county “will recognize her at a future meeting, to be recognized for (her) service.” 

Road closing set for March 3 

Cumberland drivers will have to deal with a road closure, starting on March 3. Route 673 (Ligontown Road) will be temporarily closed from Route 638 to Route 600 for a bridge repair. That’s supposed to last through May 16. 

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) says it will provide adequate signs for the closure and detour of this portion of Route 673 and will use Route 638 (Guinea Road) to Route 600 (River Road) as a detour, sending people back to Route 673.

Winter storm delays baseball 

Hampden-Sydney College students will have to wait a few extra days before suiting up for a baseball game. The scheduled non-conference game at the University of Mary Washington, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20, has been rescheduled due to Winter Storm Kingston. The Tigers will now play the non-league road game as the regular season finale on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m. in Fredericksburg.

Hampden-Sydney is scheduled to open its home campaign with a three-game non-conference series against visiting Franklin & Marshall (PA) College this weekend, Feb. 22-23, to include a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. and a single game on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 12 p.m. on Yank Bernier Field at the Ty Cobb Ballpark – Wurdeman Stadium.

Students make the Dean’s List 

There was good news for several local students that attend the College of William & Mary. The school released its Dean’s List for the Fall 2024 semester on Monday, Feb. 17. In order to achieve Dean’s List status, a full-time degree seeking undergraduate student must take at least 12 credit hours and earn a 3.6 Quality Point Average during the semester. The Dean’s List includes Neel Mishra and Evelyn Weese from Farmville, as well as Cal Rider from Prospect. 

 William & Mary is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.

McGuire asks for Walter Reed briefing 

5th District Rep. John McGuire is asking for some information. The newest member of the U.S. House penned a letter to the Defense Health Administration regarding the reported poor conditions and recent flooding incidents at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The letter requests a briefing for Members of Congress, particularly those serving on the Armed Services Committee, to discuss proposed solutions drafted to address the recent health and safety concerns. 

“As a Member of Congress and the Armed Services Committee from the Commonwealth of Virginia, but most importantly, a former United States Navy SEAL, I must advocate for the welfare of our servicemembers and the dedicated professionals who provide their care,” McGuire wrote. “The issues at Walter Reed raise serious questions about the quality and safety of the environment in our nation’s military flagship hospital.”

He also pointed out that a number of reports have “highlighted unacceptable infrastructure deficiencies, including water damage, mold growth, and persistent flooding, that jeopardize patient health and the operational capacity of medical staff. These conditions are detrimental to patients’ recovery and well-being and undermine the morale of healthcare providers committed to their care.”

Longwood finale gets televised

The finale of Longwood softball’s Big South series at USC Upstate on Saturday, April 27 has been selected for national broadcast on ESPNU, the conference, in conjunction with ESPN, announced Wednesday.

Longwood and USC Upstate will square off from Cyrill Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C., with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. The first two games of the series will be played April 26 as part of a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m., and will be streamed on ESPN+.

It marks the third time the Lancers and Spartans will play on ESPNU with the Lancers winning the first 2-1 in 15 innings on March 24, 2019 on a Bug Batten walk-off solo homer to center field. The teams also played last season on ESPNU at Cyrill Stadium with the Spartans earning a 5-3 win on April 6. 

The April 27 broadcast marks the 18th consecutive season Big South softball will be televised on a linear network, while Longwood will be making its sixth overall appearance.

Longwood (2-6) is next slated to play in the Mizuno Classic at Palmer Park in Charlottesville this weekend.