Virginia Tech coach James Franklin addresses the team after the spring game on Saturday at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.
Virginia Tech coach James Franklin addresses the team after the spring game on Saturday at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.
Government-politics
Top Story Spotlight
Rocky Mount keeps tax rates level, but service rates will increase
Rocky Mount Town Manager Robert Wood reviews the town's budget with council members during a budget meeting held Thursday.
Rocky Mount won't see an increase in taxes in the next fiscal year. Council members were presented with the budget last week with the town's real estate tax remaining at 13 cents for residents.
In addition to the real estate tax rate, the town's personal property tax rate will also remain at 51 cents. Both rates have remained unchanged since 2013, though town residents may have noticed an increase in property taxes last year following reassessments that increased home values in the town.
Council members held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the budget presented by Town Manager Robert Wood. He explained that the town's water, wastewater and solid waste collection rates would be increasing for residents starting on July 1.
Those rates will increase by approximately 6% for residents. Wood said the increase was due to direction from the staff to assure the water, wastewater and solid waste collection rates reflect the true costs of providing those services, including both operational and capital expenses. The uptick is part of an ongoing multi-year plan to increase rates a small amount.
Rocky Mount's budget for the upcoming fiscal year also shows a reduction in funding for the Harvester Performance Center from $600,000 budgeted in the current year to $550,000 in the upcoming fiscal year. The town's funding for the center is trending downward, dropping from $680,000 in 2024.
The Harvester is seen as an economic engine that has helped establish multiple new businesses downtown since it was first opened in 2014.
While there is no tax increase in this year's budget, Rocky Mount is proposing a 3% cost of living increase for all town employees. The increase will require $172,000 in additional funding, which Wood said will be provided by reducing expenses in other areas and utilizing revenues that have increased in the town.
The Rocky Mount Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget on May 4 at 6 p.m. A vote on the adoption of the proposed budget is scheduled for May 11 at 6 p.m.
Both meetings will be held at the Rocky Mount Municipal Building.
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3507
Local
Top Story
MAYOR’S NEWEST HONOR
Rocky Mount mayor wins ‘Kiss the Pig’ at Spencer-Penn fundraiser
Fundraising winner, Rocky Mount Mayor Holland Perdue, has the honor of kissing the pig.
SPENCER — Rocky Mount's mayor crossed county lines — and perhaps a personal boundary — Saturday to support a local cause, ultimately winning the right to pucker up with a squealing pig.
Holland Perdue, mayor of Rocky Mount, raised $750 to top the “Kiss the Pig” fundraising contest at the Spencer-Penn Centre’s 15th annual Pig Cooking. The event, a longtime Henry County tradition, blends barbecue, music, and community fundraising with a dose of humor.
“I heard about it online,” Perdue said. “Happy to get involved, raise some money. It’s for a good cause.”
The "Barn-I-Val" was a fun-filled place for the children at the Spencer-Penn Centre on Saturday.
Perdue outpaced four other participants by a wide margin. Monica Adams Hatchett raised $140, Chad Hall collected $105, Sheriff Wayne Davis brought in $15, and Luis Romero raised $5, according to event figures.
The contest’s premise is simple: whoever raises the most money earns the honor — or indignity — of kissing a pig in front of the crowd.
Beads of all colors were available at Spencer-Penn.
For Perdue, the win came down to outreach.
“We’ve got good social media,” he said. “Anytime you’re raising money for a cause, people seem to get involved.”
Plenty of clothing items were on sale at the Spencer-Penn Centre.
Though he serves a neighboring locality, Perdue said the regional connection made participation an easy decision.
“It’s local. We’re neighbors,” he said. “It’s always good to get people involved.”
Homemade jewelry and other handmade items were also available.
Still, the victory came with a first-time experience.
“Ruby was my first pig to kiss,” Perdue said, referring to the animal brought out for the event.
Many of the rooms inside the Spencer-Penn Centre were filled with vendors and items for sale.
Asked to describe the moment, he paused briefly before offering a diplomatic assessment.
“Well, it was interesting,” he said.
A Kona Ice truck was just outside the entrance to the Barn-I-Val.
Spectators gathered as the pig squealed through the encounter, adding to the crowd’s amusement and underscoring the event’s playful spirit.
The Pig Cooking at Spencer-Penn Centre has become a staple annual gathering, drawing residents for food, entertainment, and fundraising efforts that support the historic site and its programming.
Local park rangers were on hand to answer questions.
While Saturday’s highlight leaned toward the lighthearted, Perdue kept his focus on the broader purpose.
“It’s good anytime you can raise money for a cause,” he said.
The pig train was a favorite among the kids at the Barn-I-Val.
As for what’s next, Perdue said his political plans remain close to home.
“I’m running for mayor again,” he said.
Plants and other gardening items were provided by outside vendors.
For now, however, he can add an unusual line to his résumé: champion pig-kisser for a cause.
Crime-courts
Top Story Spotlight
Products at 3 Rocky Mount vape shops seized for possibly illegal THC amounts
IVY Smoker's Boutique at 320 Old Franklin Turnpike was one of three vape shops searched by Rocky Mount police on Thursday for potentially selling products exceeding legal THC limits.
Rocky Mount police executed search warrants at three vape shops on Thursday for potentially selling products exceeding legal THC limits.
The police department searched Rocky Tobacco and Vape, IVY Smoker's Boutique and Magic Tobacco and Vape Shop. Among the numerous items officers seized were products labeled as THCA, including pre-rolled items, vape cartridges and edible products, as well as packaged green plant material labeled as THCA.
THCA is the raw, non-psychoactive precurser to THC found in cannabis plants, while THC is the psychoactive compound created when TCHA is heated.
THCA doesn't produce a high, but smoking or vaping it converts it into intoxicating THC.
According to a media release from the Town of Rocky Mount, investigation into the stores has been ongoing since October. It stems from citizen complaints as well as a complaint from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Hemp Enforcement.
During the investigation, undercover officers purchased items at the locations. Based on observations by the officers and preliminary field testing, officers identified products labeled as THC and THCA that they believed to potentially exceed legal THC limits under Virginia law, particularly when heated.
The items were seized and samples submitted to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science for laboratory analysis. Testing results are expected to take several months.
The evidence will remain secured in the Rocky Mount Police Department's property and evidence facility pending the results of that testing.
The police department will continue to work in coordination with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to determine any appropriate criminal charges. Additionally, the Office of the Attorney General will review the matter for any applicable civil enforcement actions, according to the release.
"Our priority is to protect the safety and well-being of our community," said Rocky Mount Police Chief Phillip Young. "Products that are unregulated and potentially harmful have no place being sold to our citizens. We will continue working with our state and local partners to ensure compliance with the law and to address any threats to public health and safety."
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3507
Government-politics
Top Story
State grant to boost manufacturing workforce in Franklin County, Southside
MARTINSVILLE — A $4.23 million state grant aimed at strengthening advanced manufacturing is expected to benefit Southside Virginia, including Henry, Patrick, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties, as well as the cities of Martinsville and Danville, according to an announcement from Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
Spanberger
The funding is part of the Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (AM2) Initiative, a multiregional effort designed to expand workforce training, support business development and improve coordination between industry and education partners.
The Southside localities are among those included in the initiative’s footprint, which spans multiple regions of the state. The project will focus on developing training and credentialing programs, building industry partnerships, and providing resources for prototyping and commercialization.
Local leaders have long pointed to workforce availability as a key factor in attracting and retaining manufacturers in the region, where advanced manufacturing remains a major economic driver. The initiative is expected to help address those needs by strengthening the pipeline of skilled workers and aligning training programs with employer demand.
Statewide, the broader GO Virginia funding package totals more than $15.3 million and is projected to train more than 6,000 workers and create more than 600 jobs. The investments also leverage an additional $9.5 million in local, private, and institutional funding.
Spanberger said the initiative is intended to position Virginia for growth in high-demand industries.
“By equipping Virginians with the skills they need to find jobs in high-demand fields, we can help set them on a course for lifelong success,” she said in a statement.
Since its launch in 2017, the GO Virginia program has supported regional collaboration to expand workforce development and economic growth across the commonwealth.
Officials said projects like the AM2 initiative are designed to ensure regions such as Southside Virginia remain competitive in attracting new industry while supporting the expansion of existing employers.
