Local News

Many times, children suffer from the problems that adults in their lives have. They may be victims of abuse or neglect. They may become collateral damage in domestic warfare between parents.

    When these situations land in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, in Virginia, a group of volunteers get involved. Called Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), these volunteers, who have been trained and sworn an oath before a judge, gather information and make a report to the judge. Their job is to be advocates for the children’s best interest.

    Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello made his way through Bedford County last weekend visiting with area residents during a town hall meeting in Moneta Friday and with his newly formed Veterans Advisory Board on Saturday.

    “The best way to serve our veterans is to be listening to them,” Perriello said during a press conference Saturday at the D-Day Memorial in Bedford. He stressed that the advisory board wasn’t about partisanship or politics. He said the goal is to have it stand as a voice for veterans in Washington.

    Dave Vaden comes from a long line of educators. His dad was an elementary school teacher, principal and superintendent, his wife taught French in an elementary school, his grandmother was a math teacher and his mother was a librarian.

    Vaden’s hoping to continue that tradition by joining the Bedford County School Board.

The volunteer fire chief of the Hardy Volunteer Fire Company is being investigated by the Virginia State Police for the possible mismanagement of department funds.