Law enforcement
Police departments and sheriff’s offices throughout Virginia must be permitted to continue to use all resources to fully and effectively implement best practices in law enforcement and community policing strategies. This is the surest way to maintain safety and security in communities throughout Virginia.
Immigration law enforcement is a federal responsibility and no state, county or local resources of any kind should be diverted to subsidize its cost. This includes expanding the duties of law enforcement, such as Patrick County sheriff’s Office personnel, beyond the stated mission of the agency.
Therefore, I oppose HB 2000, a bill proposed in the Virginia House of Delegates by Delegate Poindexter.
Stephanie Floros
Stuart
Blood drive
We just conducted another successful blood drive. Thirty-nine units of blood were collected with a goal of 43 units. That translates to helping as many as 117 people.
There were two double-red machines available with a full complement of Red Cross staff at hand.
Thanks to all donors who took time out of their day to do their part to help others in need. There was one first-time donor and a 22-gallon donor. There were 46 donors who registered and 10 were deferred.
Volunteers working during the blood drive were Christine and Laura Citrano, Michelle Boyd, Mary Lou Hall, Pauline Tatum, Linda Smith, Judi Sanburn, Noel Honeyman, Patrick County’s beloved Jesse Mae Vernon, and Everett Rakes. Additionally, please welcome Ron and Dee Manning as our newest volunteers. Thanks, volunteers, for all you do. I appreciate each and every one of you.
Thank you, Pete Foley of Foley’s Autoville, a long-time sponsor, for sponsoring this month’s blood drive.
Next month’s scheduled sponsor is Brian Jessup, CPA and Associates, a second-year sponsor of the blood drive.
Next month’s blood drive is scheduled on Tuesday, March 7, at Rotary Field in the John D. Hooker Memorial Building from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Just remember that it’s the first Tuesday of every month.
Please consider giving blood. Make a difference in your life as well as others in need.
Thank you again, Patrick County, for making the February blood drive a success.
Remember, it takes all of us to make a successful blood drive; donors, sponsors, volunteers, and the American Red Cross. One is just as important and necessary as the other.
Gene Stirewalt
Patrick County
Blood Drive
Coordinator
County spending
It is that one magical time of year when the Patrick County Board of Supervisors deigns to fully disclose to the people of Patrick County the financial performance of the county.
As I have pointed out in earlier letters the annual audit is the only time that the board of supervisors produces a full and complete set of financial statements for public consumption. Adding to their record of consecutive years of deficit spending, 2016 marks four straight years that the Patrick County Board of Supervisors has spent more money than it collected.
The losses over four fiscal years (2013-2016) total $6,342,193. That may not seem like a lot by Washington, D.C. standards but on the scale of the Patrick County finances it is very significant. It is the equivalent of losing more than 50% of the property tax collections for one year.
The supervisors were able to achieve another losing year in 2016 despite increasing taxes by $592,240 over fiscal year 2015 and continuing to have over $400,000 in cost reductions from the school bond refinancing. The question is will they raise taxes again this year? I doubt they will do it in the election year 2018 so my presumption is we will see another tax increase this year. After all, the supervisors may as well match their losing streak with four consecutive years of tax increases.
Bill Moore Woolwine
Sheep and goat club
The New River Valley Sheep and Goat Club would like to make you aware of how we are seeking to help Southwest Virginia sheep and goat producers realize potentially higher profitability from their farming enterprise.
We are beginning our third year as a fairly new organization working to promote the economic benefit of sheep and goats to small, medium and large farms in Southwest Virginia. We concluded our second year with 108 farms and a total of 317 members.
New members are always welcome! We are working collectively to help farmers come closer to maximizing the economic potential that exists in Southwest Virginia.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in sheep, goats and associated products in the New River Valley of Virginia and surrounding area. This includes the counties of: Bland, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, Smyth, Tazewell, and Wythe.
The mission of the New River Valley Sheep & Goat club is to support and promote the sheep and goat agri-business in the New River Valley and provide education and appreciation of these breeds for the benefit of club members and the general public. As farmers, members are stewards of the land and believe it is important to raise healthy animals in a manner that improves their land, the community and the environment.
Our club offers many benefits, and provides its own educational programs including all-day meetings. Last year the University of Maryland sheep and goat specialist spoke to us, and is returning with a similar program for the club’s upcoming meeting on February 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We have also used a mentoring system and successfully assigned mentors to new producers. Members have also benefited from being able to merchandise their breeding stock among club members. The club has been particularly active in various farmers’ markets and local festivals, promoting sheep and goat meat as an excellent source of protein, as well as several related products, such as fleeces and wool and the value of milk. Several of our farms are very successful in merchandising homemade soaps, lotions and other various items.
Southwest Virginia is an ideal location for sheep and goat production. The topography and climate are very conducive to raising healthy sheep and goats, which is why we are promoting these activities.
We are also located only seven hours away from the New Holland Livestock Market in Pennsylvania, which is the largest livestock market in the eastern United States. We have managed to cut the cost of transporting animals to this market in half. By having members pool their livestock, we are able to fill a truckload, which makes transport cost per head significantly lower.
Most lambs sold locally are purchased by order-buyers and then re-sold to the New Holland Livestock Market, therefore, we cut out the middle-man, which also reduces stress on the animals. Because of this, club members have been very happy with the prices their animals bring at New Holland compared to local markets, so the reduced transportation cost is an added benefit.
Leath Livestock Transportation is the local trucking company in Carroll County that we have partnered with in this endeavor. We have also developed a special easily recognizable ear tag identifying the animals as locally farm raised with our club initials on it, so buyers become accustomed to looking for it, and know they are getting quality animals.
Return on Investment per acre facilitated through sheep and goats is higher than cattle most years. Sheep and goats are smaller and more easily handled, making small flocks of great value. They also help in other ways, such as clearing brush.
Even the Virginia Tobacco Commission has recognized the importance to the economic development of Southwest Virginia in providing grants to six counties to help in all facets of sheep and goat production. They are reimbursing 33% (up to $3,000) for sheep and goat related expenses including fencing, watering systems and barns to promote more productive sheep and goat flocks.
The mission of the New River Valley Sheep & Goat club is to support and promote the sheep and goat agri-business in the New River Valley and provide education and appreciation of these breeds for the benefit of club members and the general public. As farmers, members are stewards of the land and believe it is important to raise healthy animals in a manner that improves their land, the community and the environment.
Our club organizes farm tours every year of member farms, providing the benefit of visiting other successful local farms to exchange ideas and learn from each other. Last year we visited three farms in Grayson county, including Michelle Shupe and Timothy Luper of Carrico Farms, Ronald and Joy Jones of Spring Valley Tunis and Bill Shaffner of Stoney Brook Farm, and in 2015 we visited Giles county, including the Ed and Betsy Sarver of Stillwater Farms and Bernie and Lynn Cosell of Fantasy Farms.
We have also organized a bus trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival for the past two years, and are looking into doing a goat-related trip this year.
For more information on what our club can do for you, please call Cecil King at (540) 239-4720, or e-mail us at nrvsheepgoatclub@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.
In Patrick County:, call Jennifer Scott at (540) 593-2243 for information.
Cecil King
President
New River Valley Sheep
and Goat Club
