Local News

    Masonic Lodge dignitaries from all over the state, including Virginia Grand Master Wayne Sawyer, gathered in Bedford to celebrate Liberty Lodge’s bicentennial. The lodge takes its name from Bedford’s original name, Liberty, because that was the town’s name when the lodge was chartered in 1813. Liberty didn’t become Bedford until that century’s end.

    Sometimes volunteering for something works out really well.

    Andy Crawford, Bedford County’s director of social services, attended a conference of social services directors from across the Commonwealth last year. At the conference, the state director of social services asked for volunteers among the local directors to come up with ideas that had the potential to be replicated elsewhere in Virginia. Crawford volunteered. He found out, after volunteering, that there was grant money attached.

    The Elks National Home once again lit up the night when Elks Grand Exalted Ruler Millard Pickering hit the big red button in the dining room that turns on the annual light display.

    Within minutes a line of cars began to cruise down the Home’s driveway to check out the lights, which can be seen from the National D-Day Memorial. A steady line was still coming through at 8:30 p.m., nearly three hours after the lights came on.

    For the past year Moose International has been helping the Safe Surfin’ Foundation provide funds to buy ballistic vests for law enforcement officers.