The Smithfield Times

Applications for the Delta Kappa Gamma-Gamma Epilson Vaughan scholarship are due Friday, April 3. Graduating seniors who attend school or live in Isle of Wight or Surry pursuing a career in education, are eligible. Contact Dgchristie826@aol.com or 813-0313.

Offices close in Isle of Wight, towns— Isle of Wight County offices are closed to the public due to the coronavirus crisis. Signs will be posted to alert the public to the change. There is no reopening date scheduled at this time. Read more: bit.ly/2UujVtf

Reacting to COVID-19— Folks took comfort last week in bottles of hand sanitizer and bulk white potatoes as everyone settled into a new reality caused by the arrival of COVID-19 to the Commonwealth. Read more: bit.ly/2J2vzpX

Pinewood relocation in final stages— As the Pinewood Heights relocation projects progresses through its final phase, current residents are feeling anxious, but thankful, to get out of the neighborhood plagued by the smell and noise from Read more: bit.ly/38HviDj

School Board nixes admin. raises— Isle of Wight County Schools' proposed 2020-2021 school year budget received mostly favorable reactions from parents and community stakeholders during the division's public hearing, which was held last ... Read more: bit.ly/2TIjNXL

Edwards to get day in court— Edwards Virginia Smokehouse’s case against its insurance companies — now in its fourth year — is scheduled to go before a Surry County jury in February 2021. Read more: bit.ly/2TCJCIX

Fish slow bridgework— Figuring out when fish want to spawn is tricky business. That is why work on the Park-to-Park Trail bridge over Jones Creek has hit the pause button — at least for the pile driving part. Read more: bit.ly/2Tv2cCM

Stallings named Smithfield town manager— Michael Stallings has been appointed the new town manager for Smithfield. The Smithfield Town Council cast the deciding votes at Tuesday’s meeting. Stallings is currently the town manager for Windsor... Read more: bit.ly/2VJs2UV

Windsor Ele. to start preschool— Officials with Isle of Wight County Schools are taking steps to create a paid preschool at Windsor Elementary School at the onset of the 2020-2021 school year, to serve the daycare needs of that area of ... Read more: bit.ly/2VGxvfe

Farmers feeling effects of tariffs— Some Isle of Wight County farmers are feeling a pinch as the trade war with China wages on, putting the value of soybeans in its crosshairs. That being said, Isle of Wight County Virginia Cooperative ... Read more: bit.ly/2VxqIVg

Parts of IW still lack access— With grant money flowing toward Surry County for the implementation of high-speed fiber internet, some Isle of Wight residents are feeling left out. Left without reliable internet, that is. Read more: bit.ly/2HYhjhs

Surry getting wired— SURRY — Following two grant awards, every household in Surry County will be hooked up to rural broadband internet through an agreement between Prince George Electric Cooperative and Dominion Energy, according to officials. Read more: bit.ly/396rRqw

Sheriff offers SRO options— Isle of Wight Sheriff James Clarke is offering up a plan to put a school resource officer in all of the county’s nine public schools. Read more: bit.ly/32nDWVO

2 new schools eyed— A new Westside Elementary School to be located next to Smithfield middle and high schools is being considered by the Isle of Wight School Board and Board of Supervisors. Read more: bit.ly/32hvA22

Guilty in double murder — Smithfield resident Richard Holmes — charged in connection with the double murder of an elderly woman and her son in their Ennisdale Drive home — pled guilty to two counts of first degree murder Wednesday. Read more: bit.ly/3bQ2ET2

Couple learns to live with dementia— An album filled with photos brings back happy memories for Chuck and Donna Cowger, of sunny days spent boating with friends. “I could do anything on the water,” said Chuck, adding that... Read more: bit.ly/38uajo6

Smfd. prepares for growth— The 2020 U.S. Census is looming, and with it, preparations for the day when the Town of Smithfield nears or exceeds a particular population threshold. Read more: bit.ly/31TaOWj

Surry divided on 2nd Amendment— SURRY — On gun rights legislation, Surry County residents have emerged divided in terms of whether the Board of Supervisors has gone far enough to protect Second... Read more: bit.ly/2SghY3R

Bill to benefit CTE programs— William Cousins left the restaurant industry after decades on the job to teach culinary arts at Smithfield High School, as part of the division’s Career and Technical Education program. Read more: bit.ly/3blvB9i

Smithfield incumbents plan to run for reelection— Smithfield Town Council elections are coming up on May 5, with three out of six seats coming to the end of their four-year terms. Town Council members Randy Pack, Michael Smith and Denise ... Read more: bit.ly/2UCNo5I