An appearance by author Emyl Jenkins at Red Hill's Christmas Open House on December 7 made the occasion even better for Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation at Red Hill Executive Vice-President David Voelkel. "I was delighted to have Emyl here for our event at the home of the Henry family. She has spent several years studying and researching 17th-18th century Christmas traditions. I'm encouraging her to reprint her Southern Christmas book to include Christmas at Red Hill," he said on Thursday.

During a single vehicle accident on December 23, 2:30 p.m., Edith L. Milton, 75, of Phenix, was killed when the 2003 GMC Sierra she was riding in with her husband, Thomas E. Milton, went off the road hitting two trees. Her husband was later transported by EMS.

Brookneal police will soon have a new tool in the war on crime when Officer Scott Earhart picks up the town's new patrol dog. The German Shepard he named "Ice" is currently being trained in a Pennsylvania canine school.

The Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) Brookneal Center, located on the bottom level of the Patrick Henry Memorial Library, has closed due to low enrollment and drastic state budget cuts.

The U. S. Census Bureau has set up a Brookneal testing site for applicants interested in collecting census data during 2009. Regional recruiter Matt Thompson has made arrangements with Patrick Henry Memorial Library, 204 Lynchburg Avenue, to have blocks of time 2-3 times per week to offer the chance to apply and take the 30-minute for field employees. Evening and daytime slots are available to stop in.

Phenix Volunteer Fire Department Chief Walt Bailey has achieved an honor that only 540 chiefs in the world can earn...being selected to receive the "Chief Fire Officer Designation" from the Commission on Fire Accreditation. He is the only volunteer fire chief in Virginia to hold this designation.

Recognizing and showing appreciation to Charlotte County employees was on Chairman Garland Hamlett Jr.'s mind Tuesday night during the December supervisors meeting. When describing a conversation he had with county administrator R. B. Clark, Hamlett said, "I told R. B. that I wanted to see county employees recognized at the meeting. I've always felt that recognizing (and thanking) employees encourages them to do a good job. There's no cost to the county because everything here tonight was done in-house. We hope this will be an annual event to give us a foundation."