Local News

It doesn't appear as if John Thomas Hess Jr. will have to spend much, if any, more time in jail for taking a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun to Jefferson Forest High School last May.

But what still remains to be answered is if Hess, now 19, will face a felony or misdemeanor conviction for the crime.

The Bedford Historical Society held its annual Hanging of the Greens Luncheon at the Bedford Historic Meeting House last week.

Hanging of the Greens refers to putting up Christmas decorations incorporating greenery. It was traditionally done just prior to Advent. The decorations would remain up through the 12 days of Christmas and would be taken down after Epiphany.

In this case, the Historic Meeting House had already been decorated. The luncheon is used by the Historical Society to raise money that will be used in restoration projects.

Sheriff's deputies from Bedford County and Campbell County spent last week at New London Airport.

They weren't there to fly and although the airport also hosts drag racing, they weren't there to race.

"This is our annual drivers' training," said Sergeant David Marsh, of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office.

Marsh said that this is the third year they have conducted this training, and they always do it at New London Airport. The airport shuts down for a week and its paved runways/drag strip offer a safe place for law enforcement officers to do this training.

This time of year we are more conscious of gifts than at any other time. However, there are those who donate their blood, the gift of life, to others all during the year.

One such man is John Davis-McMullan, who is a regular blood donor. John usually gives what we call "doubles" (2 pints) every 112 days. John has been giving blood most all of his adult life, and in Virginia for the past seven years.