Entries for November 2007

Martinsville, VA - November 29, 2007

The Martinsville - Henry County Economic Development Corporation celebrated the official opening of the Martinsville- Henry County Visitor Center today with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Click here for the full story and more pictures.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the murder of Willard Swanson “Blackie” Brown age 75 of 3414 Axton Road, Axton, VA has resulted in the arrest of Dickie Lee Pulliam age 59 of 611 Brown’s Point Drive, Moneta, VA on 11/21/07 at approximately 12:20 pm.

Criminal charges issued: 1st Degree Murder, Use of Firearm in Commission of Felony (1st Degree Murder). Bond amount – NONE Mr. Pulliam is incarcerated in the Henry County Jail.

Dickie Lee Pulliam

Mr. Pulliam was taken into custody by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in the West Lake area of Franklin County.  The investigation is continuing.

Missing Person Search November 21, 2007 at approximately 2:45 PM, a search team discovered the body of Benjamin Harrison Richardson, age 84 of 892 Blue Known Road, Martinsville, VA. Mr. Richardson was deceased when he was found, lying in a creek nearby his residence.  The investigation into the death of Mr. Richardson is continuing.   Foul play is not suspected.  The Henry County Sheriff's office would like to thank all who assisted in the search for Mr. Richardson.

Food Lion has presented a check in the amount of $2,500 to the Community Storehouse.  The funds are from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation.  "We'd like to thank all the local Food Lions, as well as the Food Lion Charitabe Foundation for all they've done to help the community; we're proud to be partners with Food Lion," said Nancy Nelson, Community Storehouse Executive Director.  The check was presented by local Food Lion Manager, James Hodges.  
 
Community Storehouse of Martinsville & Henry County
www.communitystorehouseofmhc.org 

The Fieldale Festival of Lights.  November 23, 2007, 
through January 1, 2008, from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

Drive through the Old Fieldale Iron Bridge (with lights), and by the lights in Fieldale Park, up Field Avenue then turn onto Marshall Wall to see some beautiful lights on and around the Fieldale Community Center.

Head Coach Jay Gilbert addresses the Bassett team after their win over Blacksburg Friday night.  The Bassett Bengals defeated the Blacksburg Bruins 27 to 15.

Martinsville Speedway had a VIP suite it needed to tear down.  Bassett High School needed a press box for its baseball field.  Teamwork and community spirit blended the two needs together for what's going to be a state-of-the-art high school press box.

The speedway was prepared to raze a small suite in the third-turn area of the track during a building project in the summer.  Steve Martin, owner of Steve Martin Trenching and a former Bengal player and longtime booster, was onsite doing some work and envisioned a new home for the building.  He huddled the track president Clay Campbell and a plan was born.

"It seemed like a perfect idea to me, " said Campbell.  "We had a building we didn't need anymore and they had a need for a press box.  The suite fit the bill perfectly.  We were certainly happy to donate it to them.

That was the easy part.  The difficulty part was getting the 36-foot-long building from Martinsville Speedway to Bassett High School.  But that's where community spririt and partnership took over.

Martin's company, Steve Martin Trenching, perpard the building to take off its perch some 15 feet off the ground.  Guy Turner Crane Service donated the use of a large crane to lift the building and place it on the back of a flat bed trailer.

After the trip to Bassett, Turner again donated the use of a crane to place the building on its foundation again.

Light Electric donated services to get the press box wired and Virginia Blower donated all HVAC services and materials, including a heat pump.

"Everyone in this area should be proud of the community coming together on a project like this," said Campbell.

More Photos

U.S. Army Pfc. Rush “Mickey” Marshall Jenkins was killed Tuesday, his 22nd birthday, after the Bradley fighting vehicle he was in ran over an IED (improvised explosive device), his brother, Sgt. George “Alex” Jenkins, said last week.

Mickey Jenkins’ body arrived this morning, and Funeral Service will be arranged with the Bassett Funeral Service. 

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Bassett Funeral Service's South Chapel.  The funeral will be held there at 2 p.m. Thursday, with full military honors.

More photos