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The Smithfield Times
Judges decline to rehear Nazario appeal
A panel of federal judges declined to reconsider their May ruling that upheld a Richmond jury’s 2023 verdict awarding a wildly lower-than-requested monetary award to Virginia National Guard 1st Lt. Caron Nazario. The panel wrote in its June 28 order that the court “denies the petitions for rehearing,” noting “no judge requested a poll” in […]
First of eight Luter-owned lots at Washington and James streets sold
The first of eight new residential lots at Washington, James and Clay streets created from the 2021 sale of town-owned land to developer Joseph Luter IV has found a buyer. According to Isle of Wight County land transfer records from June, Luter’s holding company, JWL34 LLC, sold a 0.14-acre lot fronting Washington last month to […]
State blames staffing shortage for Surry farmer’s water woes
When the 40-year-old well that’s provided drip irrigation to Surry County farmer Michael Drewry’s blueberry orchard began pumping out nothing but silt in February, Drewry contacted the Virginia Department of Health in hopes of securing a permit to drill a new one. State law mandates no one construct, rehabilitate or abandon a private well without […]
Heat forces cancelation of summer concert
Tonight’s Downtown Smithfield summer concert, which would have featured the Hannah Jai Band, has been canceled due to an excessive heat warning by the National Weather Service. The weather service’s Wakefield office cited “dangerously hot conditions,” including heat index values of up to 110, in issuing the warning, which encourages people to stay in air-conditioned […]
Smithfield, Isle of Wight celebrate Independence Day with two days of fireworks
Independence Day fireworks returned to Smithfield on July 2, and to the Heritage Park fairgrounds near Windsor on July 3. Smithfield kicked off the festivities at 6:30 p.m. on July 2 with a reading of the Declaration of Independence outside the 1750 Isle of Wight County Courthouse. The festivities at the fairgrounds included a concert […]
Smithfield women question lack of Dominion bill
Laura Middleton of Smithfield hasn’t seen a statement from Dominion Energy showing her electricity usage since May of last year. She’s been making regular payments, but says none have been applied to any bills. “Our account currently shows a $2,800 credit and there’s no bills that it’s been applied to for a year,” Middleton said. […]
Smithfield finishes strong in PONY tournaments
The Smithfield Recreation Association’s 12-and-under blue district all-star team became the 2024 East Zone Bronco 12U District 1 champions after playing in a tournament hosted by Kempsville PONY Baseball. They are also headed to the Section Tournament July 5 at Great Neck Baseball League in Virginia Beach. Pictured above, from left are Coach Matt Stephenson, […]
School Board Member Alliance takes hold in Isle of Wight
In the wake of a handful of departures from the Virginia School Boards Association, an alternative organization led by a controversial figure is looking to fill the void. Over the past nine months, the VSBA has seen five of its formerly 132 member boards vote to disaffiliate over allegations that the state association champions causes […]
Smithfield High’s Brown named all-state in baseball
Maddax Brown, a 2024 Smithfield High School graduate, made the Virginia High School League’s Class 4 all-state baseball team. Twelve players make up the first and second teams: three pitchers, one catcher, one first baseman, one second baseman, one third baseman, one shortstop, three outfielders, and one designated hitter. Only those players selected to all-region […]
Police identify victim in fatal Surry County crash
Virginia State Police, on July 3, released additional details on the Surry County crash that killed a pedestrian a day earlier, including the name of the victim. State Police identified the deceased as 67-year-old Ahmed F. Ahmed of Surry. Police say the fatal collision occurred just after 4 a.m. on July 2 at Magnolia Circle, […]
Isle of Wight comprehensive plan group plans first meeting
A comprehensive plan-focused stakeholder working group under Isle of Wight County’s Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to hold its first meeting on July 9 at 6 p.m., though not all of its members have been appointed. The meeting may be postponed to Aug. 13, the first date a third-party consultant will be available. As of […]
Town Council votes to offer Smithfield Times building for sale
Smithfield’s Town Council voted unanimously on July 1 to solicit sealed bids to purchase the town-owned Smithfield Times office at 228 Main St. The town acquired the 3,300-square-foot building in 2020 from Times Publisher Emeritus John Edwards and currently leases a portion of the building to Smithfield Newsmedia, which publishes the Times, Slice of Smithfield […]
100 years of Bethany Presbyterian
Bethany Presbyterian Church, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary this September, has become intertwined with the history of Zuni over the past century. The circa-1924 sanctuary was one of the few structures left untouched in 1999 when Hurricane Floyd dumped a foot and a half of rain on Zuni, flooding most homes to their rooftops […]
Carrollton Publix could open this fall, developer says
Carrollton residents craving a “Pub Sub,” the submarine-style sandwiches offered at Publix supermarkets, may not need to wait much longer. The Publix that will anchor the commercial phase of The Crossings at Bartlett Station, a mixed-use development at Carrollton and Brewers Neck boulevards, could open by early fall, according to The Crossings’ developer, Jerry Bowman. […]
Surry crash kills pedestrian
A pedestrian died early Tuesday morning, July 2, after being struck by a car in Surry County. According to Virginia State Police, the fatal collision occurred just after 4 a.m. at Magnolia Circle, a mobile home community just outside the town of Surry’s limits, when a 2015 Volkswagen heading east on Colonial Trail was unable […]
Sowden, Curro named all-state in soccer
A recent Smithfield High School graduate and rising senior each made the Virginia High School League’s Class 4 all-state girls soccer teams. Defender Kennedy Sowden, who played in 17 games her junior year, was named first team all-state. Brianna Curro, a 2024 graduate who played in 19 games this season, was named second team all-state. […]
Local author Angela Martin publishes historical fiction novel
Angela Martin, Isle of Wight County’s newest author, has self-published her debut historical fiction novel. “These Gifts HE Gave,” set in the wake of World War I and the fading terror of the Spanish flu, follows Mae Johnson, a survivor of domestic abuse who finds herself widowed and facing a future with three children and […]
Clay Street extension complete
Smithfield’s Town Council voted unanimously on July 1 to accept the extension of Clay Street as a town-maintained road. The council sold 1.5 acres of town-owned land at Washington and James streets in 2021 to developer Joseph Luter IV for a proposed eight-home subdivision that included the planned extension of the formerly dead-end Clay Street […]
Isle of Wight comprehensive plan group plans first meeting
A comprehensive plan-focused stakeholder working group under Isle of Wight County’s Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to hold its first meeting on July 9 at 6 p.m., though not all of its members have been appointed. The meeting may be postponed to Aug. 13, the first date a third-party consultant will be available. As of […]
Ferry to operate at reduced service
Starting July 8, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will operate under a new schedule and reduced service until further notice due to current staffing levels among an industry-wide shortage of certified maritime positions. The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will continue to run 24 hours per day, seven days a week, transporting motorists for free in […]
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