Opinion

As of this writing, most of the folks who lost power during the derecho on June 29, with a few exceptions, have had their power restored.  Matters were complicated by subsequent severe storms.  The governor’s office informs me that the Virginia Emergency Response Team (VERT) was demobilized as of July 10 and now four joint preliminary damage assessment teams have begun operations to evaluate the full physical and financial impact of these weather events.  Initial damage assessments are well over $25 million with the expectation that this number will be much higher once all is said and done.  

As I write this weekly update, today marks one week since the unusual derecho swept across the commonwealth causing property damage, power outages and to date, 13 fatalities.  I had never heard of this term, but in doing a little research, it appears this type of straight-line windstorm is common in the prairie regions of the U.S.   Regardless, it wreaked havoc across a huge area of the eastern U.S.   

•Brookneal R.F.D. 1 news included some of the following.  Dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Jennings and Mrs. M. A. Easter were Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Buckler of Arlington, Mrs. R. H. Jennings, Treva, Jimmy and J. E. Jennings of Brookneal.  Mrs. John Stevens and daughter, Mrs. Alma Patterson visited Mrs. Edgar Stevens.  Aspen news; Norwood Neal and family of Atlanta visited Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Neal. Miss Sally Bruce Wilson spent a weekend with Miss Mary Lee Lipscomb.  Mr. and Mrs. Cordell Wilson and twins, Billy and Bobby, and Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Williams spent a weekend with relatives in Richmond.  Mr. and Mrs. Claiborne Deaner visited Mrs. Elizabeth Henry and Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Terrell. Mrs. Henry and son, Marshall visited in Alabama and Texas.  Stovall news; Mrs. Sterling Burton, Mrs. Dick Landrum and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Waller visited Virginia Beach.  Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh Moorefield and family visited Virginia Beach.  Mr. and Mrs. Sam Waller, Mrs. S. G. Rode and Mrs. Jasper Taylor visited Mrs. Inez Short, L. L. Rudder and Mrs. Floyd Short.  Hat Creek news; Mr. and Mrs. Dick Harper vacationed in Florida.  Those in attendance for the Naruna Class of 1933 were Mr. and Mrs. Rayford Carey and Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Clark and families. Ed Bates Jr. and Dr. George Green went on a tour of the mid-western states.  Local news; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Sowell and daughter, Janet spent a few days in Virginia Beach.  Z. B. Johnston, S. G. Bates, Clarence Green and Clinton Rudd enjoyed a fishing trip to Gloucester.  Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Clowdis returned from a trip to Niagara Falls and other locations.  Mr. and Mrs. Ran Guthrie and daughter, Joan spent several days in Myrtle Beach, S.C.  Mrs. William P. Guthrie was hostess in her home to Bridge Club ’56.  

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

•Liberty Bell gets gala reception in Brookneal.  A replica of the Liberty Bell was given a gala welcome when it was displayed in Brookneal in connection with the Independence savings bond drive.  The American Legion Auxiliary sponsored the appearance of the Liberty Bell here.  The bell, mounted on a decorated truck, was met by a welcoming committee at the intersection of Routes 501 and 40 two miles south of Brookneal in Halifax County, where a parade was formed to usher the bell into Brookneal.  The parade was headed by a State Police escort furnished by Troopers J. R. Agee and T. R. Sexton.  Brookneal Post 153, American Legion, furnished the color guard.  The American Legion Auxiliary escorted “Miss Liberty,” represented by Miss June Foster.  Other units in the parade included a car decorated by the members of the Junior Woman’s Club.  The occupants were Mrs. V. J. Lusardi, Miss Blair Parsons, Mrs. R. O. Rudder, Jr., Mrs. Clyde Rowntree and Mrs. Royal Elder, Jr.  Cars were furnished by Brookneal Motor Co., H & L Chevrolet and Campbell Motors.  The Brookneal Fire Dept. had two fire trucks in the parade. Streets were decorated with flags by local merchants and business houses.  A. L. Lunsford, vice-mayor gave the official welcome.  Mrs. William Page Williams, State president of the American Legion Auxiliary, made introductory remarks, and V. J. Lusardi spoke for the bond drive.  Rev. F. Marion Dick gave the invocation.  The ceremonies were held in front of Hotel Brookneal.

To the editor,

As I write this update, Gov. McDonnell has now signed House Bill 1301, the appropriations bill for the 2012-14 biennium. The governor signed the bill with one veto and one provision marked as unconstitutional.  He vetoed Section 4.5-11 of House Bill 1301 because it deviates from the established principle by legislating through the budget, in direct contradiction of legislation passed during the regular session. He also indicated he views part of Item 469.J.3, which conditions the governor’s authority on distributing any funds from the Federal Action Contingency Trust Fund on prior approval by the FACT Commission, as unconstitutional because it violates the division of powers.  The biennial budget bill will go into effect July 1. Localities can now make final plans for their budgets.  

On this date back in 1941 some of the following news was featured:

This past week, the House voted for the 30th time to ensure that the President’s health care law does not negatively impact 5th District families and small businesses any further than it already has. The cost of this budget-busting law is too much for Central and Southside Virginians to afford and, listening to those we represent, we in the House remain committed to working on their behalf to repeal and replace this misguided law.

This past Thursday, I had an opportunity to spend some time with Governor McDonnell while he was in Lynchburg to participate in a “Year of the Entrepreneur Regional Roundtable” at Central Virginia Community College. He discussed the importance of youth engagement in entrepreneurship and the implementation of a regional entrepreneurship strategy while highlighting groundbreaking projects including the Young Entrepreneurs Academy and the Building a More Entrepreneurial Regional 2000 strategy. 

On this day back in 1980 some of the following articles were featured.

To the editor,

In order to update the 5th District on my work in Washington and in the district, we record a monthly video address.  Below you will find text from our May address. The video may be viewed at youtube.com/reproberthurt.

To the editor,

On this day back in 1978 some of the news featured the following.

The Bob White Homemakers Club will meet Thursday at the clubhouse at noon, lunch will be furnished but the hostesses. Bring your dish garden and flowers to fix for the shut-ins.

•Cheryl Bomar, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Bomar of Brookneal, was crowned “Miss Brookneal 1962” in the beauty and talent contest held in the Brookneal School auditorium, sponsored by the Brookneal Junior Chamber of Commerce.  Miss Bomar, a 17-year-old Junior at William Campbell High School, will be Brookneal’s princess in the Richmond Tobacco Festival in the fall.  She received her crown from last year’s Miss Brookneal, Miss Linda Fore.

 The General Assembly is scheduled to convene again the week of May 14 to finalize voting on the budget issues.   I’ll keep you posted in future updates, but you can look at the budget provisions or any bill of interest at www.lis.virginia.gov. 

•In recognition of those serving our Military at this time in defense of our country as listed in the paper on this day back in 1944 the following were listed:  PFC. Martin E. Scott Jr., U.S. Marines, South Pacific- brothers, Pvt. Leon H. Smith, U.S. Army, overseas, Pvt. William O. Smith, U.S. Army, Italy, Pfc. Raymond M. Harper, Army, Northern Ireland, Pfc. Cothran M. Hamlett, U.S. Army Air Force, Westover Field, Mass. (for further training), Pvt. Haywood Mason, Army, Ft. Meade, Md., T/Sgt. Marvin T. Mason, Army, England- twin brothers, Pvt. Barkyey Deroy Beale, Fort Bragg, N.C., Pfc. Thornton Leroy Beale, Army, Italy, Pvt. Edward S. Carwile, Army, Hawaii, Seaman Bernard Lee Mosby, U. S. Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, Pvt. John Llewellyn, Army, prisoner of the Germans, Staff Sgt. Edward L. Francis, Army, Camp McCain, Miss., Pvt. James W. Pool, Army, Fort George G. Meade, Md., Pvt. Lawson Hill, Army, Mt. Holyoke, Mass., Sgt. Charlie Marstin, Army, Camp McCall, N.C., and Sgt. Louis W. Francis Jr., Army, China Burma India theater. 

•Back on this day in 1962 some of the news featured was:  Miss Barbara Queen Booker was recently elected by the student body at Lynchburg College to serve as Maid of Honor in the Homecoming Court.  Miss Booker, a Dean’s list student, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Booker in Brookneal.