🌱 Why Bedford County leaders are fighting Virginia’s new bargaining proposal

Good morning to you Bedford! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Bedford County leaders are fighting Virginia’s new bargaining proposal
• How Bedford’s top prosecutor just became your new circuit judge
• Will the April 16 hearing save Stewartsville Elementary from closure?

Also on today's calendar: Thrive Outside Festival.

Friendly reminder: know of a great event coming up in Bedford or nearby? Post it to the Bedford calendar! Did you know it's free to post locally? It's also inexpensive to share to nearby towns. 📅

Today's riddle: Why is it so hot after a ball game? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: A shower and thunderstorm, with a high of 82 and low of 58 degrees.
• Thursday: Mostly cloudy and very warm, temps: high: 82, low: 57.
• Friday: Warm with variable clouds, with a high of 80 and low of 58 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

1. Virginia counties push back on bargaining bill – [your]NEWS (yournews.com) — Bedford County supervisors have unanimously passed a resolution opposing statewide public-employee collective bargaining bills now awaiting Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s decision, warning they could raise costs and erode local control. County leaders, aligned with the Virginia Association of Counties, say the measures would impose new administrative, legal, and arbitration expenses that might force cuts to core services or higher taxes for Bedford residents.
   

2. Bedford County prosecutor sworn in as circuit court judge (wset.com) — Bedford County’s longtime commonwealth’s attorney, Wes Nance, has been sworn in as a circuit court judge and will soon preside in the same Bedford courtroom where he once prosecuted cases. He follows retired Judge James Updike, another former Bedford prosecutor, with an acting commonwealth’s attorney appointed and a special election set for November.
   

3. Lawsuit prompts new hearing process for Stewartsville Elementary closure, reopening debate (wset.com) — Bedford County’s decision to close Stewartsville Elementary is being re-done after a parent’s lawsuit forced the School Board to schedule a new, legally noticed public hearing on April 16 at the School Board Office. Residents now have another chance to speak out, and community pressure plus Board of Supervisors involvement could influence whether the school ultimately stays open.
   

4. Parents speak out after close family friend abused 18-month-old (wdbj7.com) — A Bedford County judge convicted babysitter Carly Webb on 17 charges after video showed her abusing an 18‑month‑old, but she received a largely suspended nine‑year sentence and may serve about nine months. The child’s parents, with ties to this region, are now pushing for tougher Virginia child‑abuse laws and urging all local families to use and regularly check home cameras.
   

5. Proposed redistricting map splits Christiansburg between two congressional districts. Here are some other splits. (cardinalnews.org) — Bedford County would remain split between congressional districts under a proposed Virginia map, with most of the county in the 6th District and Smith Mountain Lake–area precincts in the 9th. The detailed walkthrough explains how Bedford, Christiansburg, Roanoke County, Augusta, and other communities could be divided, and what that might mean for voters’ political representation.
   

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📸 Around Bedford

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Bedford

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday April 2

• Bedford County adult education, certification classes
  Bedford Central Library, 321 N Bridge St, Bedford
  4:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

Saturday April 11

• Thrive Outside Festival
  Falling Creek Park , 1257 County Farm Rd , Bedford
  10:00 am

Thursday April 16

• Bedford County adult education, certification classes
  Bedford Central Library , 321 N Bridge St , Bedford
  4:30 pm

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📣 Bedford Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday April 2

• Rock-A-Bye Reader
  Montvale Library , 11575 W Lynchburg Salem Turnpike , Montvale
  10:30 am
• Adult Book Club
  Montvale Library , 11575 W Lynchburg Salem Turnpike , Montvale
  2:00 pm

Saturday April 4

• Spring Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival
  Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest , 1776 Poplar Frst Pkwy , Lynchburg
  11:00 am

Monday April 6

• Books 4 Fun
  Montvale Library , 11575 W Lynchburg Salem Turnpike , Montvale
  3:30 pm

Tuesday April 7

• Stitchin' Chicks
  Montvale Library , 11575 W Lynchburg Salem Turnpike , Montvale
  2:00 pm

Thursday April 9

• Storytime Picnic - Timbrook
  Timbrook Park , 19040 Leesville Rd , Lynchburg
  11:00 am

Monday April 13

• Forest Friends Book Club
  Forest Library , 15583 Forest Rd , Forest
  1:00 pm

Tuesday April 14

• VBA Girls Freshman Soccer @ Timberlake Christian
  Timberlake Christian Schools , 202 Horizon Dr , Forest
  4:30 pm
• I'm No Van Gogh Paint Night
  Forest Library , 15583 Forest Rd , Forest
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Anyone know this cat?
  He's clearly hurt. Would love to get him help if he doesn't belong to anyone. He came and ate but left before I got up this morning. (Nextdoor Otterville)
• There is road construction on W Lynchburg Salem...
  There is road construction on W Lynchburg Salem Tpk reported at 1:12 PM. (Nextdoor )

• Domino's Pizza posted a job opening for Domino's Customer Service Rep Bedford VA in Bedford. Apply here.
• University of Lynchburg posted a job opening for Summer Resident Assistant for Governors School in Lynchburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bedford here.

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Ok Bedford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Because all the fans leave. (Thank you Shirley J. F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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