Today's News

Liberty High School students decorated Centertown Park for this past Christmas, and now a different group from the high school has decked the space out for Valentine’s Day.

    According to Leslie Padgett, the high school’s art teacher, Cindy Key, a special education teacher, came to her and noted the good community response to the Christmas decorations. She asked if the special education students could do something in collaboration with the art department.

    When Ryland Elton Lee Jr., 51, of Bedford County had his day in court, Tuesday, he faced a reduced charge of abduction. He pleaded guilty to that charge.
    Last summer, on Aug. 13, Lee was charged for allegedly raping a female acquaintance in the county’s Body Camp area in the early hours of Aug. 13 or late on Aug. 12. In a plea agreement worked out between the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and Lee’s defense attorney, William Walker, Lee agreed to plead guilty to the abduction charge.

    The Bedford Volunteer Fire Department looked back at a busy year and honored the people who made things happen. A special thanks went to one person who, although not a member of the fire department, has provided a valuable service to Bedford’s firefighters.

    “She takes care of all of our sewing,” said Bedford Fire Chief Brad Creasy as he handed a plaque to Ruth Crouch.

    The last two years have been a rough time for John Buchanan.

    Buchanan and his wife moved here from Ohio a few years ago. He is a furniture maker and restorer and they were looking for a place to semi-retire. They loved the mountains, they loved Virginia and settled in the Bedford area.
    Then, in 2010, his wife died. He was still trying to adjust to that when his daughter, Jessica, was kidnapped by Somali pirates in October, 2011.