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Thousands without power across Virginia

Mari — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:04:05 +0000

Nearly 112,000 customers are without power and schools are closed in parts of Virginia as a late-winter storm moves across the state.

The outages include about 65,700 Dominion Virginia Power customers, more than 43,000 customers of electric cooperatives and about 4,000 Appalachian Power customers.

Most of the outages are in the Shenandoah Valley.

The University of Virginia and public school systems in the affected areas canceled classes Wednesday. Local government offices in Culpeper, Waynesboro and several other localities also are closed.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for these areas.

The National Weather Service says parts of northern and western Virginia could see more than a foot of snow.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says it has plenty in its snow-removal budget to tackle the storm.

How the “Fiscal Cliff” would affect Lynchburg families

Mari — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:08:13 +0000

The average family of four in Lynchburg would pay $3,578 more in taxes if the Bush-era tax cuts expire January 1, according to Gerald Prante, assistant professor of economics at Lynchburg College. Dr. Prante and Austin John, a Lynchburg economics student, calculated marginal tax rates — the highest rates on the highest levels of income — for all 50 states. They combined state, federal and, where applicable, local income taxes, plus payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare and included the deductibility of some taxes. Wealthy Californians would be hit the hardest.
Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/12/high-income-californians-may-pay-nations-highest-tax-rate.html#storylink=cpy

How would the typical Lynchburg family be affected by the fiscal cliff? Here is what I got for 3 scenarios (fiscal cliff, tax cuts all extended except for payroll tax cut, and 2012 law which means everything is extended including payroll tax cut).

The income figures (median) come from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for the Lynchburg MSA in 2010, which I then adjusted for expected per capita earnings growth in Lynchburg MSA. The results show that a married couple with 2 kids would pay over $3,500 more in taxes if the fiscal cliff was allowed to happen.

Tax Liabilities (Income + Payroll) for Typical (Median) Lynchburg Taxpayers under Various Scenarios

Family Type	2013 Income	Fiscal Cliff	2012 Law w/out payroll tax cut	2012 Law
Married family with no children	$68,789	$12,888	$11,686	$10,310
Married family with 2 children under 17	$68,789	$10,718	$8,516	$7,140
Single mother with 1 child under 17	$28,587	$1,977	$885	$313
Single householder	$27,068	$4,631	$4,183	$3,642

Sources: Census Bureau and Tax Foundation

Round Up Nets Over 100 Suspects

tina — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:47:13 +0000

Amherst County authorities arrested about 70 suspects Sunday and another 40 arrests are expected in coming days, It is largest-ever drug sweep rounded up in the county based on a special grand jury’s indictments of 111 people who are accused of a total of 243 offenses. “Operation Avalanche” began at 4 Sunday morning. Police arresting people ranging in age from 16 to 68; most are charged with selling drugs. Sheriff Jimmy Ayers says the arrests are the result of several investigations that began in January 2012. He says some of the suspects were also charged with selling drugs 1,000 feet from a school. Two of the suspects were school-age teenagers. None of the sales occurred inside a school.

Gas prices dip slightly in Virginia

Mari — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:13:15 +0000

Gas prices in Virginia have fallen 3.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.18/g. According to the website VirginiaGasPrices.com, prices are 0.3 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 9.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago.

Rocky Mount escapee back in custody

Mari — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:12:34 +0000

A Rocky Mount man has been captured a day after escaping from the Franklin County sheriff’s office. 26-year-old Steven Ray Dillon II was taken into custody during a traffic stop Saturday just outside Rocky Mount. Sheriff’s officials say Dillon originally was arrested Friday on charges of breaking and entering and grand larceny – but then fled on foot from the sheriff’s office. He now faces an additional charge of felony escape and is being held without bond.

Rustburg holds first Christmas parade

Mari — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:47:33 +0000

Thousands of people came to downtown Rustburg for the town’s first ever Christmas parade yesterday. About 95 groups participated –including marching bands, Boy Scouts, church groups, classic cars, gymnastics demonstrations, elves, snowmen and Santa. Organizers hope to make the parade an annual event and have formed a committee under an LLC to oversee future preparations.

Rocky Mount man caught after escaping from custody

Mari — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:34:21 +0000

Well-known Franklin County Banker killed in Accident

Mari — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:33:04 +0000

A well-known banker in the Franklin County area was killed in a car accident Sunday morning in Patrick County. ABC-13 reports 55-year-old Larry Heaton was headed south on Route 8 when his vehicle ran off the road and hit a tree. Heaton was president and CEO of Franklin Community Bank. He also volunteered for the Rocky Mount Rotary Club and served on several community boards in the Franklin and Henry County area.

Brookville Bees are State Champs Again

Mari — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:09:07 +0000

For the second year in a row the Brookville Bees are football state champions. They won the Group 2-A Division Three championship Saturday, defeating James Monroe 24-14. In the Division Four championship, Heritage High School lost to Briar Woods 52-0.

Make Over For Treasure Island

tina — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:45:24 +0000

Effort to revitalize Treasure Island has begun with Liberty University officials removing an old bridge from river. The University has owned the property for decades and plans to transform the 28 acres into a recreational facility. In May, LU approached Amherst County with a request to build a dock and a boat ramp along a parcel of land they own on River Road to allow students access to the river. According to the News & Advance citizens expressed concerned about traffic, noise, property values, and Liberty’s long range plans for the island and neighbors petitioned against Liberty’s request.