PROVIDING HELP IN DISASTER AREAS

An employee of the Buckingham Department of Emergency Services packed up and spent time over the last week in western North Carolina, helping with search and rescue. John Fury, who also works as park manager and park ranger at James River State Park, was part of a group from Virginia State Parks to help with the search and rescue strike force.

The team, organized by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, included 14 highly trained search and rescue personnel and four specialized K9s. Together, they tackled some of the hardest-hit areas in the wake of Hurricane Helene, including Fairview, Bat Cave, Buncombe County and Henderson County.

Fury worked alongside a group of partners, including Virginia State Police, Black Diamond Search and Rescue, K9 Alert Search and Rescue Dogs, GARD K9 Search and Rescue, Blue and Gray Search and Rescue, Search and Rescue Tracking Institute and Botetourt Fire and Rescue Special Operations.

CONGRESSIONAL FORUM SET AT HAMPDEN-SYDNEY

Hampden-Sydney College will play host to a 5th District candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17. Both Republican John McGuire and Democrat Gloria Witt, who are competing to fill the seat currently held by Republican Bob Good in the U.S. House of Representatives, will be on hand, answering questions written by Hampden-Sydney students.

Dr. Richard Pantele, dean of students for Hampden-Sydney, will moderate the debate. Residents can sit in and watch the debate in person, as it will be held at Hampden-Sydney’s Johns Auditorium. There are one hundred seats available to the public on a first-come, first serve basis. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. and the debate will begin at 6 p.m.

DEMO UPCOMING FOR SHEETZ?

Plans are in place for one business and a power company to undergo some changes over the next 12 months. The Sheetz operation, located just off Main Street in Farmville, will close for a period of time next year, as the company demolishes the current structure and rebuilds with some new features, including a potential drive-through.

Also in Farmville, Dominion Energy will be putting up construction fences early in 2025, with plans to do a remodel of their building on East Third Street.

MEHERRIN FIRE DEPARTMENT GETS A BUS

The Meherrin Fire Department will be getting a school bus. By a unanimous vote, the Prince Edward County School Board agreed to donate one of their damaged vehicles, for the fire department to train with. The vote came during the school board’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8. To be clear, this donated bus isn’t one currently in service. The vehicle in question failed its inspection back in May.

FARMVILLE MOVES FORWARD WITH ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN

Finally, work continues today on Farmville’s asset management plan for infrastructure, being conducted by the firm Hurt & Proffitt. To date, the group has located and identified 450 of the town’s 453 fire hydrants. They’re also working on manholes, having inspected 645 of the 1300 in Farmville.