Government

    Bedford’s planning commission had  an item on its agenda, Thursday evening, about whether to issue a conditional use permit to allow Grace House Community Church to operate a homeless shelter. It didn’t quite go that way.
    The Rev. Joshua Ball, pastor of Grace House, argued that the homeless shelter is what his church does. He said Grace House started in 2011.
    “We found a need that was in the community,” he said.

    Election day appeared to be drawing a heavy voter turnout. According to County Registrar Barbara Gunter, most precincts had recorded a 50 percent voter turnout by 3 p.m.  She noted that this is a high turnout.

    For complete results of Tuesday’s election visit www.bedfordbulletin.com Wednesday or see next week’s paper.

    The new body cameras the Bedford Police Department has are proving useful, according to Chief Todd Foreman. Chief Foreman made a presentation to Town Council last week on the cameras.

    “We wear them on our belts,” Chief Foreman said.

    Barbara Gunter, Bedford County’s voter registrar, is expecting a busy election day.

    “Voter registration has been higher than normal.” she said.
    Gunter said some of the registrations they have received have been duplicates; the person turned out to be already registered, but did it again to be sure.
    Absentee balloting is also above normal. There is still time to request an absentee ballot, although it is too late to request an absentee ballot to be sent by mail.