By Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. -- Gun rights advocates fear a new merchant code for firearm purchases is an unnecessary attack on their civil liberties, while gun safety advocates say the code just levels the playing field.

The International Standards Organization approved last month a petition from New York-based Amalgamated Bank for a new merchant code. The ISO is Geneva-based nonprofit with global members who establish best practices across a range of subjects, according to its website.

The new code categorizes gun sales at gun and ammunition stores, which will allow banks to report suspicious activity and illegal gun sales, according to a press release from Priscilla Sims Brown, president and CEO of Amalgamated Bank.

Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards plan to adopt the new code, according to multiple reports, though it is unclear how widespread implementation will work. 

“This action answers the call of millions of Americans who want safety from gun violence and we are proud to have led the broad coalition of advocates, shareholders, and elected officials that achieved this historic outcome,” Brown stated. 

Credit card providers categorize purchases under merchant category codes, or MCCs, that classify businesses by their predominant business activity, according to the IRS. Categories cover many industries, including many types of building contractors, travel and leisure services, entertainment and recreation, and even escort services.

A Mastercard reference booklet from 2020 listed firearms under the MCC “durable goods — not elsewhere classified.” Other items in the same MCC include wood chips and musical instruments. Firearms and ammunition stores also appear in the same booklet under the MCC “miscellaneous and specialty retail stores,” along with sunglasses shops, magic stores and beauty supply stores.

The new code allows for the separate categorization of firearm purchases.

The Virginia Citizens Defense League lobbies the General Assembly for “good gun rights” and to stop gun control measures, according to Philip Van Cleave, the organization’s president. 

“Gun owners are not in the mood for anything that — in any way, shape or form — implies that we’re being monitored, or our rights are attempted to be curtailed,” Van Cleave said.

The code will not be useful for gun control, Van Cleave said.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares joined 23 other attorneys general from across the country in a letter against the new merchant category. Miyares is against the collection and tracking of private data by “big government and big businesses,” his office stated in an email comment.

“This new policy will do little more than put Virginians’ privacy at risk,” Miyares stated, “and discourage law-abiding citizens from exercising their constitutional right to purchase a firearm.”

The purchase of firearms should be “no one’s business but their own,” Miyares stated.

“To reduce gun violence, we need to get violent, repeat offenders off our streets instead of tracking lawful purchases at Bass Pro Shop,” Miyares stated.

The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, an organization that works to prevent gun violence through legislation, offered research to Amalgamated Bank in the development of the category code. There shouldn’t be “special treatment” for gun stores since the same rules already apply to other businesses, according to Adam Skaggs, chief council and policy director at the Giffords Law Center.

This code won’t necessarily lead to any new laws, rather it levels the playing field, Skaggs said. However, it could help detect illegal activities like gun trafficking, according to Skaggs.

Gun rights advocates worry the code may flag, or not be able to distinguish, high-dollar purchases from stores that sell firearms. Van Cleave used the example of a boat purchased from a store that also sells firearms, and voiced concern over the possibility of unnecessary scrutiny. 

The code is for gun stores and stores that sell firearms and ammunition. Stores that sell other merchandise, like Bass Pro Shops and Walmart, could have “dedicated cash registers” to use the code and keep purchases separate, Skaggs stated. Pharmacies, Skaggs pointed out, keep track of separate transactions for prescription drugs and general merchandise.

“I do think it’s a tool, and given the levels of gun violence and how much illegal gun trafficking and gun crime we see in this country, every tool that should be used to improve the situation is a way that we should pursue,” Skaggs stated.

The “small change” could help prevent huge tragedies, said Nick Suplina at a New York press conference announcing the new code. Suplina is the vice president of policy and law with Everytown for Gun Safety. He pointed to the thousands of dollars spent on guns and ammunition used in the mass shootings in Aurora, Colorado; Orlando, Florida; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Such expensive and multiple purchases could in theory be flagged under the new code, Suplina said.

Virginia had a firearm mortality death rate of approximately 13 people per 100,000 in 2020, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The lowest ranked state was Hawaii, with a mortality rate of approximately three people per 100,000. The highest ranked state was Mississippi, with approximately 29 deaths per 100,000.

Attorneys general for all but one of the top 10 states with the highest firearm mortality rate signed the letter expressing concern over use of the merchant code, according to an analysis by Capital News Service.

The idea that credit card companies will try to block lawful gun purchases couldn’t be “further from the truth,” Skaggs said. The merchant code is not a method to keep tabs on individuals, as the code does not provide product specific data, but could ultimately help law enforcement with investigations, he said.

“You would think the chief law enforcement officer of the commonwealth of Virginia, the attorney general, would side with law enforcement instead of mass shooters, but apparently that’s not the case,” Skaggs said.

By Cassandra Loper, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. -- Roughly three years ago, Maria Reynoso determined local policy issues and election information were not readily available or easily digestible to the average voter, and especially younger voters. 

Reynoso now runs We Vote Virginia, a nonpartisan digital media resource to help voters become more informed. 

“What my focus when creating the organization, and I guess my mission, was really to make it incredibly accessible and fun and engaging to learn about local politics,” Reynoso said. 

The most critical change happens in local and state politics, according to Reynoso. Virginia voter turnout traditionally drops off between presidential elections. Candidates are vying for U.S. House of Representatives seats in Congress this year, with other local races and initiatives on the ballot throughout the state’s districts.

Political organizers and candidates are watching to see if they pull younger voters to the polls in an election that could change the balance of power in Congress. They hope that more education on the importance of voting, and how to vote, can develop a consistent habit among young voters whose participation can be a wildcard.

Virginia Commonwealth University’s VCU Votes Student Coalition is a network of the university’s students, faculty and staff that promote voter engagement on campus, according to the VCU Votes website.

“Younger voters are considered a wildcard because they're still very new to voting, and I think also, they're still new to the democratic process as a whole,” said Cameron Hart, director of partnerships for VCU Votes Student Coalition.

Young voters understand the urgency of issues, such as climate change, according to Hart, and it can motivate them to the polls. 

Both the Democratic and Republican parties of Virginia could do more in terms of encouraging young people to vote by making appearances on college campuses, Hart said.

Generation X, millennials and Generation Z make up over 46% of the Virginia population, according to American Community Survey data by the U.S. Census Bureau. That percentage is totaled from the provided categories of ages 20-54, although the generations are ages 10-57. Gen Z and millennial eligible voters ages 20-44 account for over a third of the population, based on the census data. 

Virginia young voter turnout ages 18-29 has been a mixed bag in the past few elections, according to Tufts Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, or CIRCLE. That age group is most commonly used by researchers, versus a precise snapshot of voter participation by generation. 

• The 18-29 voter turnout more than doubled in the 2018 midterm election, according to CIRCLE (13% to 33%). Virginia voters are inconsistent when it comes to midterm elections, in general. Since 2000, anywhere from almost 32% to almost 60% of voters participated, according to the Virginia Department of Elections website.

• The 18-29 voter turnout was 56% in Virginia in 2020, according to CIRCLE, up from 48% in 2016. Voter turnout for the 2020 presidential election was the highest turnout of the 21st century, overall. 

•  The 18-29 voter turnout decreased in the 2021 gubernatorial election, according to CIRCLE, from 34% in 2017 to 27%. 

Social media is a great way to engage young voters, according to Reynoso. The We Vote VA Instagram account launched in late 2019. The account now has nearly 16,000 followers and is one of the organization's primary methods of reaching voters. It features easy to read and visually appealing posts containing information about polling locations, important dates, redistricting background and more. The concept is to inform and help create a habit of voting.

“It is so important that young voters know their facts,” Ellie Sorensen, press secretary for the Republican Party of Virginia, stated in an email.

Young voters may think their vote doesn’t matter because some policy issues might not directly impact them, according to Sorensen. 

“Sometimes, voters just vote based on what other people around them vote, but if they are taught the importance of voting and the facts about what they are actually voting for, it will encourage younger people to vote,” Sorensen stated.

Voting can become a habit, especially when voters can see the “good it can do,” according to Gianni Snidle, press secretary for the Democratic Party of Virginia. 

“If we’re not actively participating in our democracy, then we’re failing,” Snidle said.

Nonprofit organization Rock the Vote has worked to make voting a habit among young voters since 1990. It launched with a public service announcement featuring singer, songwriter and actress Madonna.

Rock the Vote serves as a one-stop shop for all things voting, Carolyn DeWitt, president and executive director of Rock the Vote, stated in an email. Voters can check registration status, request an absentee ballot, get election reminders and view election deadlines through the website.

The organization had direct channels to young voters through their partnership with MTV, and through concert venues where the organization would register people to vote. 

Rock the Vote has adapted through the decades and was the first to launch an online voter registration platform in the late ‘90s, according to an L.A. Times report. The organization reports that they’ve helped register 14 million people to vote. 

The new generation of voters are extraordinarily in touch with their values, according to DeWitt.

“But over the past few years, they’ve witnessed our political culture become increasingly volatile and our democracy threatened on multiple counts,” DeWitt stated.

Young people know their value and they keep showing up despite the obstacles put before them, according to DeWitt.

State lawmakers have made voting more accessible in recent years. Virginia voters are no longer required to show photo identification at the polls. Voters can prove their identity with things such as a driver’s license, passport, college student ID and even a current bank statement or utility bill that contains the voter's name and address. Same-day voter registration can be done up to and on Election Day, although voters receive a provisional ballot.

Voters can find local polling places and request an absentee ballot on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

Early voting started Sept. 23 and will end on Nov. 5. Absentee ballots must be requested by Oct. 28 and postmarked by Election Day on Nov. 8.

(EMPORIA, VA) – District 4 Emporia City Councilwoman Carla Harris, who was appointed to the city council seat to finish out the term of her late husband, Woodrow “Woody” Harris, has made a major announcement regarding her future plans.

“I am not running in this election to keep the seat after the term expires in January 2023,” she said. Woody Harris, who was unopposed in his bid for re-election this November, died suddenly September 9 of a heart attack. His wife was sworn in within days after his death to complete his term and had the option to run for election.

Because the filing and qualification periods to run for the seat have already passed, voting must be done by write in. Election day is Tuesday, November 8. Early voting has already started.

“I encourage the residents of District 4 to vote their conscience and write in the name of someone you feel will properly and effectively represent you and put the needs of you – the voter – first. That’s what Woody did for his 34 years on city council. I would like to see his legacy of selfless public service continue.”

Harris added, “I’m extremely grateful to the residents, Mayor of Emporia, City Council, leadership and staff for their support, encouragement, and guidance during my time on council and hope I serve in a way that properly honors my late husband and those who live in District 4.”

175^th Anniversary Celebration!

Our celebration is nearly a week-old memory but what a wonderful memory!  The morning started off with coffee and doughnuts in the fellowship hall. During the Sunday School hour there was a video presentation of many of the past saintly members, present members, and events throughout the life of the church and our community directed by John Burnette, member of the 175^th Anniversary Committee.  Also on display was memorabilia from the annals of the church.  Members brought old hymnals, photographs, documents, and other items of historic importance to the life of Main Street United Methodist Church.  The displays will remain up for much of the rest of October for viewing. 

Our morning worship commenced at eleven o’clock with our Living Waters District Superintendent, the Rev. James H. “Jay” Carey bringing the morning message on Perseverance.  Several hymns were offered during the service including “How Firm a Foundation” and “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”.  The Choir, under the direction of Linda Rawlings and accompanied on the Church’s Steinway piano was Randy Hudson, presented a moving rendition of “In the Garden” by Charles Austin Miles.  George Morrison, Chairman of the 175^th Committee presented a framed letter and photo of Sharma D. Lewis, Resident Bishop, the Virginia Conference.  The letter and photo were sent by Bishop Lewis in recognition of our church’s anniversary milestone.  The letter and photo will be placed in a position of prominence in the church. 

At the conclusion of the service and the offering of the blessing, all in attendance were asked to gather on the front steps of the church to take a group picture to record their attendance for this special service.  After the official photo was taken folks then moved to the church grounds to partake of the delicious meal provided.  There was so much food that our wonderful cooks brought to accompany the delicious fried chicken additional tables had to be added to accommodate the entire fare!  Tents, tables and chairs dotted the grounds and great fellowship was enjoyed by all!

This was an exciting and encouraging day in the life of our church!  We enjoyed seeing members as well as welcoming new faces as we prepare for our next 175 years!  We are already making plans for our Bicentennial! It will be here before you know it!!!

On a personal note, as Chairman, I wish to thank my Anniversary Committee for their hard work and many volunteer hours making our celebration a huge success!  Also, I want to thank The Independent Messenger and EmporiaNews.com for their support in spreading the word of our history and celebration as well as our commitment to spreading the word and works of Christ in this community. 

  “AND ARE WE YET ALIVE?” – Charles Wesley

There is more to come – we are open – “Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors - The People of the United Methodist Church!” Please come and visit soon – we’ve missed you!   

This is the fifth and final installment in recognition of the 175^th Anniversary Celebration of Main Street United Methodist Church, 500 South Main Street, Emporia. 

Grace and Peace!

By Meghan McIntyre, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — State and federal officials are concerned Virginia will not meet its 2025 overall commitment to reduce polluted runoff into the Chesapeake Bay; 90% of which must come from the agriculture industry, according to environmental advocates. 

However, farmers and landowners can access a record $235 million next year in state funds to help pay for an array of practices aimed at protecting the nation’s largest estuary. The funding is available through the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program.

Progress in wastewater treatment plants are the main reason why Virginia is on track to meet its overall 2025 deadline, but more work needs to be done to address pollution runoff from agriculture, as well as suburban and urban areas, show reports from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency.

The Chesapeake Bay Executive Council, which guides the policy agenda and conservation and restoration goals for the Chesapeake Bay Program, met Tuesday with state leaders in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to discuss reevaluating the 2025 deadline. 

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said during the meeting that it was a “difficult recognition” when he took office in January that Virginia was not on track to meet its 2025 goals.

“I think we have a clear commitment to meet those goals,” Youngkin said. “It’s not a matter of hitting them, it's a matter of when.”

Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry by far and is the most significant source of nutrient and sediment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

Cattle can erode stream banks, causing runoff from fertilizer and sediment to flow into waterways, said Peggy Sanner, Virginia executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Cattle waste further reduces water quality, and can lead to algae blooms which are harmful towards aquatic life, Sanner said.

The cost-share program has its roots from back in the Great Depression era, Sanner said. People began to understand the need to improve farm practices to increase productivity, but also to protect the soil so that it wouldn't wash off in times of rain.

The program’s funding has nearly quadrupled since 2020, according to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, or DCR.

Nearly 23,000 participants have enrolled in the cost-share program since 1998, according to the DCR. There are approximately 54,000 farmers in Virginia.

Bobby Whitescarver and his wife Jeanne Hoffman enrolled in the program in 2020, after buying a farm in Augusta County. They received thousands of dollars from the state after projects were installed through a contract with the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District to improve the water quality around the 100-acre plus farm.

Approximately a mile of fencing along streams was installed to keep cattle out of the water, along with internal fencing for rotational grazing. Around a mile of new underground pipeline delivers water to six cattle watering stations. Native hardwood trees were also planted along the streams to create a forest buffer, which helps absorb runoff containing pollutants from fertilizer, and other sources, from entering the water. 

Whitescarver was reimbursed 100% of the costs of installing the practices within a month of completion, he said, and received incentive payments for the acreage along the streams that were fenced off from the cows. The payments are given to farmers to install certain practices under the promise they will be maintained for a certain number of years outlined in their contracts. 

“The process was incredibly streamlined,” Whitescarver said. “We were really pleased with how everything worked.”

Farmers can get partial or full funding for installing best management practices such as rotational grazing, wetlands preservation and planting cover crops. There are more than 70 practices offered through the program.

“It’s a program by which the state basically pays farmers to help them do the practices that achieve both of those goals of conservation of soil and water, while helping the farmers economically,” Sanner said.

The state Water Quality Improvement Fund received $313 million from last year’s surplus, much of which was allocated to the program overseen by the DCR. 

The increased public awareness of the record funding increases means there’s also an increased awareness of the needs for the best management practices, DCR stated in an email.

Reception of the program has been very positive, DCR stated. Many districts are reporting that they are seeing record levels of participation this year. 

A farmer can be reimbursed up to $300,000 per year for implementing the practices. State income tax credits are also available to farmers for the purchase and use of certain conservation equipment for installing practices specified by local soil and water districts. 

“Farmers want clean water, they want to produce a safe product,” said Martha Moore, senior vice president of governmental relations for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation.

Conservation practices help farmers save money because less fertilizer and soil is wasted through runoff, according to the DCR. When farmers can provide cleaner water sources through watering stations, livestock are better protected from possible injuries that occur from streams and rivers, according to DCR. Overall herd health is also improved.

“Cost-share pays financially now — but the practices can also benefit farms for years to come,” DCR stated.

A farmer or landowner interested in taking part in the program can contact their local soil and conservation district to start the process.

The program is “the best tool that helps farmers help themselves and help the environment at the same time,” Sanner said.

Emporia Storage Auction Scheduled for October 22, 2022

EMPORIA, VA – The treasure hunt is on as Emporia Storage has a unit auction scheduled at its three facilities in the city beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2022.

If you go to a storage unit auction, will it be like what you see on television on reality shows? “Somewhat, yes,” said auctioneer Carla Harris of Emporia. “The bidding is fast. There’s mystery and intrigue. You never know what you will find inside.”

“We’ve had some good units in the past. People have found some good stuff at a good price – from four-wheelers to cash,” said Emporia Storage owner Boyce Adams:

Some climate-controlled units may be included. A common thought among seasoned storage unit buyers is that climate-controlled units can contain higher-quality items that the owner felt deserved weather protection. While that cannot be guaranteed in this auction, it is often true.

What to expect

• Not every unit is valuable, but many are
• Bring cash and pay immediately
• While stepping into a storage unit is not allowed prior to bidding, you will be able to peek into it from outside. Having a flashlight with you is a good idea.
• Plan to clean out your unit(s) completely by that night
• Dress for the weather
• Have your own locks to secure your unit after winning the bid

The auction will begin at Emporia Storage office headquarters at 315 West Atlantic Street, Emporia, VA 23847, then move to the units at 623 South Main Street across from 7-11 and finish up at its third location on East Atlantic Street across from Georgia Pacific.

Multiple units will be auctioned. The exact number of units will not be available until the day before the auction. During this cash only sale, the belongings of delinquent storage units are auctioned to the highest bidder to recoup the loss of rental fees.

Gates open at 9 a.m. for registration. Registration is free. The auction begins at 10 a.m. Bidders will be given a few minutes to look at the units once they are opened. In this absolute auction, units will be sold "as is, where is.” A 15% buyers’ premium will apply. The auction is conducted by Carla Cash Harris, Emporia, Va., (434) 594-4406, VA License # 2907004352, a member of the Virginia Auctioneers Association. For more information, contact Emporia Storage at (434) 634-2919.

‘Rush is never worth the risk,’ says mother of daughter struck and killed by truck

By Darlene Johnson, Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – October is National Pedestrian Safety Awareness Month. September was Bicyclist and Pedestrian Awareness Month in Virginia. Fatal accidents and injuries involving road users increased last year, according to traffic crash facts from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Cyclist Natalie Rainer was struck in mid-August by a driver who was charged with driving under the influence.

“I have damage to my organs,” Rainer said. “I have a lot of road rash on my skin.”

Rainer was cycling with C. Jonah Holland on a popular bike route in east Henrico County when they were hit. Holland died at the scene and Rainer was badly injured. Her pelvis, ribs and collarbone were broken. Rainer was in the intensive care unit for a week, then placed in the trauma unit for two weeks, she said.

Rainer called the crash a “random occurrence,” where she and Holland were at the “wrong place at the wrong time.”

Jeffery Brooks, 18, awaits trial on felony involuntary manslaughter and misdemeanor DUI charges.

“One of the scariest things that you can do is operate a car badly, because you put so many people at risk,” Rainer said.

Crashes involving a vehicle increased by 12.2% from 2020-21, according to the DMV’s traffic crash facts. Crashes that involved a vehicle and a pedestrian increased 12.6% in the same time period. The number of pedestrians injured in such crashes increased 11.7%. The number of pedestrian fatalities rose 9.7%.

There was a 100% increase in fatal crashes that involved a cyclist; rising from eight to 16 cyclists killed.

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, became an advocate of safer streets after he cycled cross country and had several close calls, he said. There should be more driver education and awareness, he said, along with improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. That will help minimize risk to vulnerable road users, he said. For example, roads given high speed limits years ago would need updates to accommodate further developments.

Lack of law enforcement is another big issue, Surovell said. The General Assembly passed the Hands-Free law in 2020, banning cellphone use while driving, but Surovell said he does not see enough enforcement.

Distracted driving crashes increased by over 11% from 2020-21, according to the DMV.

“Put your phone down, take a deep breath,” Surovell said. “Be more attentive, be more courteous. Slow down.”

Rainer echoed that.

“There is no need for speed in our city streets,” she said.

Traffic crashes where speed was a factor increased by 9.5% last year, according to the DMV.

Rainer urged cyclists to be vigilant and wear protective gear, bright colors and have blinking tail lights. She suggested riding where people expect cyclists. Street markings and signs alerting drivers to cyclists would help, she said.

Rainer “will ride a bike again,” she said, although it will take a while before she is physically able. She will likely ease into it by riding with large groups and near home.

“I’ll never stop loving the sport,” Rainer said.

Pedestrian and bicycle safety advocates said there are a host of efforts needed to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries.

More people have been walking and cycling since the pandemic began, according to Doug Allen.

Allen is an avid cyclist and sits on the board of directors for the Virginia Bicycling Federation. Less traffic on roads at the start of the pandemic led to more reckless driving, Allen said. Vehicles are bigger, heavier and faster which is a “bad equation” when there are more reckless drivers and more people sharing the roads.

“People will drive as fast as they feel comfortable driving,” Allen said.

Allen believes infrastructure design should be the primary focus of making streets safer.

“Using enforcement as a hammer to try and make safer streets is not a great idea,” he said. Design changes could help reduce the need for police interaction, and help avoid a potentially “dangerous situation.”

Allen recommended that all road users be aware of their surroundings and limit distractions when traveling. There should be more frequent driver education testing to refresh people and familiarize them with new laws, Allen said. Driver education courses should teach how to interact with pedestrians and cyclists, he said.

October is a hard time of year for Khrystal Bethea-Artis. Her 16-year-old daughter Aajah Rosemond died while walking to the store along Jahnke Road in the early evening in October 2020. Rosemond was killed when two vehicles crashed and one struck her, according to Bethea-Artis.

Bethea-Artis believes her daughter died in part due to bad driver behavior that cannot be unlearned. This includes people speeding, driving under the influence and having road rage, she said.

“The rush is never worth the risk,” Bethea-Artis said.

Surovell hopes learned behavior can be changed.

“It took a while, but we got people to put on seat belts,” he said, as an example.

Bethea-Artis offered testimony earlier this year on behalf of legislation that created stiffer penalties for careless driving that injures or kills a road user. The driver of the vehicle that caused the accident that led to her daughter’s death was only penalized $200 and charged with reckless driving, Bethea-Artis told a legislative subcommittee in January.

Bethea-Artis hopes her advocacy will help ensure other parents do not experience such loss.

“If it’s one voice, it’s like an echo in a hallway,” she said.

If the community works together, she said it could create the change needed to decrease traffic fatalities.

Rosemond’s family will be at the corner of Jahnke and German School roads on Sunday, Oct. 16 from 1-5 p.m. People are encouraged to join and commemorate the loss of their loved ones to traffic fatalities.

“We will not let that day just pass,” Bethea-Artis said.

Missions, Ministry and Fellowship

Women’s Missionary Society/United Methodist Women

The Women’s Missionary Society, the forerunner to United Methodist Women, was organized at Main Street United Methodist Church in 1912 with forty-six charter members.  The Reverend J. Sidney Peters (1911-1913) was the Pastor of Main Street at that time.  Mrs. E. M. Parker was elected the first president of this organization.  “In twenty-five years, Mrs. Parker and Mrs. C. S. Powell were the only presidents.”  1940 saw the remaining of this group, as they became the Women’s Society of Christian Service.  Mrs. E. E. Eanes was the first president under the new name.  Members were organized into eight circles, each named for a missionary except for the Margaret Parker Circle, which was still active until recently.  1973 saw this group renamed again as it became the United Methodist Women.  This took place following yet another church merger that took place in 1968, at the Uniting Conference when the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged and became the United Methodist Church.  While still successfully active, these ladies have reorganized to call themselves United Women of Faith.  They continue to be recognized for their stellar support for missions.

Methodist Men/United Methodist Men

The Methodist Men organized formally in 1954 und the clergy leadership of the Reverend Harris Kessler (1956-1957).  This group became the United Methodist Men following the aforementioned Uniting Conference in 1968.  The United Methodist Men, after a brief hiatus, were re-chartered in 2004 under the leadership of Reverend David A. Holbert (2000-2005).  The men’s group remains strong and active meeting once a month throughout the year and conducting an annual pancake supper to aid in funding mission projects in the community, state, nation and around the world.

United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF)

The Reverend James John, appointed to Main Street, (1961-1966). Worked extensively with the youth, not only from the church membership but also with youth in the community at large.  He helped to organize a Youth Council.  The youth group was formally named the United Methodist Church Youth Fellowship or UMYF as it was frequently referred to.  In a renewal effort to minister to and with our youth, Gloria and Will Robinson, have become youth leaders, are working diligently with our youth, rekindling the UMYF spirit.  As a group, they have conducted several mission trips and assist in coordinating Backpack Buddies to provide after school meals and snacks to the children within the school system.

Main Street’s Mission to the World

During the one hundred seventy-five years of continuous ministry by the many who have worshipped and served here, there have been two missionaries and three pastors sent forth into full time Christian service.  Ella Yarrell, a native of Greensville County, served as a missionary to Brazil in 1899.  Margaret Light, daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. J. H. Light, (1916-1918), became a missionary to Cuba.  Those that became pastors are Donald O. Collins, George M. Pearson, Jr., and Meadie A. Taylor, III.

A former pastor and his wife retired and made their home here in Emporia.  The Reverend Carl and Caroline Manear, (1981-1984), both now deceased, blessed this church and community with their presence and participation.

The Reverend Stephen Butler (1991-1997) helped to guide the church into mission work by helping the church to become more directly involved with Habitat for Humanity and with the Russian Initiative Mission Project, with the church becoming the host church for Russian Children.

Member, C. Jay Osburn, Jr,. under the pastorate of Reverend Tom Durrance (2016-2022), started the Community Meal program to offer food and fellowship to those in need.  Every fourth Sunday of the month volunteers from the congregation gather to prepare a hot fresh meal to feed those who desire to come.  During COVID pandemic, the meals were provided through drive-thru means.   “AND ARE WE YET ALIVE?” – Charles Wesley

There is more to come! This is the fourth installment of several in recognition of the 175^th Anniversary Celebration of Main Street United Methodist Church, 500 South Main Street, Emporia.  The celebration will culminate with an exciting worship service on Sunday, October 9, 2022 with special music and historic displays and presentations.  A potluck lunch will be served on the lawn.  Please make plans to join in the celebration, catch up with old friends and greet new ones!  If you should have items of history related to Main Street United Methodist Church (wedding pictures, Sunday School or Bible Zone memories, hymnals, Bibles, articles, or other memorabilia and would like to share those please contact the church at 434.634.3724).  Grace and Peace!

Parts of the above history are based on the history compiled by Jane Prince for the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

RICHMOND – Virginia State Police Superintendent, Colonel Gary T. Settle, is proud to announce the appointments of three new executive staff leaders, in the wake of the retirement of the Department’s first female deputy superintendent. Effective Aug. 19, 2022, Colonel Settle appointed Lieutenant Colonel Kirk S. Marlowe Deputy Superintendent. Effective Aug. 30, 2022, Major Tricia W. Powers, Bureau of Administrative and Support Services (BASS) Deputy Director, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed to BASS Director. Effective Sept. 25, 2022, Captain Robert C. Holland was promoted to Major and appointed to the position of BASS Deputy Director.

Effective Oct. 1, 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Tracy S. Russillo concludes 33 years of service with the Virginia State Police. Russillo achieved many “firsts” in her advancement through the Department ranks. She was not only the first female Deputy Superintendent, but also the first female to serve as a Bureau Director and a Bureau Deputy Director. As Deputy Superintendent, Russillo oversaw all three VSP Bureaus – BASS, Bureau of Field Operations (BFO) and Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) – as well as the Office of Internal Affairs and Executive Protective Unit.

Russillo was appointed to the position of Deputy Superintendent Aug. 5, 2016. A native of Fredericksburg, she joined the Department May 16, 1989. Her first patrol assignments as a trooper were in Spotsylvania and Culpeper counties, which are within the Culpeper Division. As she progressed through the VSP ranks, Russillo served as an Academy sergeant in Richmond, area commander of the Culpeper Division’s Area 13 Office in Winchester and field lieutenant in the Culpeper Division. In 2008, she achieved the rank of captain serving as the Fairfax Division commander in the Northern Virginia region. Russillo was promoted to major in 2011 following her appointment as BASS Deputy Director, where she remained until her 2016 appointment to Deputy Superintendent.

Promoted to the position of Deputy Superintendent is Lieutenant Colonel Kirk S. Marlowe. Marlowe has served as BASS Director since Sept. 10, 2016. As the Director of BASS, Marlowe oversaw the Department’s Communications, Criminal Justice Information Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, Property and Finance, and Training divisions. BASS also includes the Office of Legal Affairs.

Prior to serving as the BASS Director, Marlowe served as the BASS Deputy Director upon his appointment to that position in Dec. 25, 2015, from division commander of the High Tech Crimes Division (HTCD) within BCI. He began his career with state police Aug. 1, 1988, and spent seven years in the Richmond Division as a trooper and special agent before he was promoted to Academy sergeant in 1996. Over the years with state police, he has supervised the Violent Crimes Unit and Staff Inspection Section as a first sergeant. In 2004, Marlowe was promoted to lieutenant of the Richmond BCI Field Office and later transferred to the Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Interdiction (CCI) Unit. He achieved the rank of captain in 2009 and oversaw the Support Services Division before being assigned to establish and supervise the new HTCD. Marlowe is a graduate of the University of Richmond with a bachelor’s degree in human resource management. He also graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security with a master’s degree in security studies and was a valedictorian of the Administrative Officer’s Graduate Course at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville.

Prior to her appointment to BASS Director, Lieutenant Colonel Tricia W. Powers served as BASS Deputy Director since her appointment to that position Aug. 10, 2019. Powers graduated from the VSP Academy in 1994 with the 90th Basic Session. Her first patrol assignment as a new trooper was in the Culpeper Division’s Area 13 Office in Winchester. In 1997, she was promoted to special agent and advanced to the rank of first sergeant working in general investigations and drug enforcement in the Culpeper and Chesapeake BCI Field Offices. She returned to uniform as a first sergeant in 2010 as the commander of the Chesapeake Division’s Area 32 office in Norfolk/Virginia Beach. In 2012, Powers was promoted to lieutenant in the Richmond Division and transferred to the CJIS Division a year later.  In 2016, she achieved the rank of captain and served as the CJIS Division Commander until her appointment to major in BASS. A native of Luray, Va., Powers is a 2012 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Bridgewater College and a master of criminal justice degree from Troy State University.

Promoted to the rank of major and to the position of BASS Deputy Director is Captain Robert C. Holland. Holland has served as the Training Officer at the VSP Academy since 2017. He graduated from the Academy in 2000 as a member of the 100th Basic Session. Holland’s first patrol assignment was in the Richmond Division’s Area 8 Office in Henrico County. He was promoted to sergeant in 2006 as a supervisor in the CJIS Division’s Sex Offender Investigative Unit. In 2010, he advanced to first sergeant within the CJIS Division and then transferred to BCI’s High Tech Crimes Division. In 2015, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and served the next seven years at the VSP Academy in that position and then as captain. Holland, a native of Powhatan County, is a graduate of Longwood College with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, with a concentration in criminal justice.

House Passes Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act to Fund the Federal Government

Washington, D.C. – On Friday, Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) helped pass the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6833, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, to continue government funding through December 16, 2022. The CR extends funding for vital federal agencies, including education, health, housing, and public safety programs to allow Congress time to complete its work on Fiscal Year 2023.

“It is imperative that our government remains open and working for the American people, which is why I voted for today’s stopgap funding measure,” said Rep. McEachin (VA-04). “Not only does this bill fund our federal government, it includes important provisions to help hardworking Virginians with rising costs. Furthermore, this legislation provides necessary resources to help communities impacted from recent natural disasters and additional assistance to support the Ukrainian people, as Russia continues its aggressions. During this extension, we will continue working to advance all the necessary appropriations bills to fully fund our government for the coming fiscal year.”

The Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act includes:

• Billions in relief for New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Florida, Alaska and other communities hit by natural disasters, especially in the wake of Hurricane Ian
• $12.3 billion to power the fight for freedom in Ukraine, including new security, economic and humanitarian assistance
• More resources to respond to the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi: an emergency that poses a direct threat to the health and well-being of Mississippi families
• Bolstering funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program: this will help working families pay for higher energy bills as we enter the winter months
• Five-year reauthorization of FDA user fees: ensuring no interruption to the FDA’s life-saving work reviewing and approving new prescription drugs coming to market
• More resources to continue resettling brave Afghan evacuees

Read the one-page fact sheet here and the section-by-section summary here.

By Adrianna Lawrence,Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. – Rail workers in a union with Virginia members reached a second tentative agreement with railroad corporations days ahead of another planned strike, though some members said they are still not happy with the new terms.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 19, or IAM District 19, rejected the initial tentative agreement made between President Joe Biden’s administration, labor unions and top railroad corporations including CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. 

The initial agreement included pay raises, better health care and an additional personal day of leave, according to an IAM District 19 press release. The negotiations helped stop a mid-September rail strike that would have shut down passenger and freight rail. 

The new tentative agreement outlines additional benefits like health care cost caps, travel reimbursement and single room occupancy, and a study on overtime pay, according to IAM District 19.

 IAM District 19 represents 92 chapter unions across the U.S. and Canada, including one in Richmond, according to the union’s website. 

Collectively, 12 unions represent about 125,000 rail workers and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee represents more than 30 railroads in the U.S., according to a statistic from the National Railway Labor Conference.

IAM District 19 members will still need to vote on the most recent agreement, which also includes the terms negotiated earlier this month, according to Eric Peters, a member of the union and a CSX roadway mechanic.

Some workers are still upset that this recent round of negotiations did not resolve the lack of sick days and days off, the request to accrue vacation time faster, and the overall feeling of not being recognized as hard workers, according to Peters.

Some of the terms in the new agreement have already existed, like the solo hotel room occupancy during travel, just not in writing, Peters said. “Mechanics have had that for 20 years for CSX.”

Rail workers are still pushing for more time off, although the agreements would mean “a healthy pay raise,” according to Peters. Workers would see a 24% general wage increase with a $5,000 service recognition bonus, according to the IAM District 19 press release. This includes retroactive pay up to almost $12,000 within 60 days of the agreement ratification date.

Train conductors get about one day off a month where they aren’t on call, according to Peters. 

“The rest of the time they’re on a two-hour recall,” Peters said. “If they don’t make it, they get in trouble and that’s not a positive way to live.”

Rail workers receive about three weeks of paid vacation and senior workers receive about 5 weeks on average, according to the Association of American Railroads, or AAR. Sick time policies and routine medical care are pressing issues but additional sick time was not implemented during the union negotiations.

Rail carriers offer a “federal sickness benefit program” to workers under existing agreements, while the new agreements recognize time-off for routine and preventative medical care, according to the National Railway Labor Conference, or NRLC, which represents railroads.

“I have no sick days at all,” Peters said, who said he has worked for the company for approximately 12 years.

Peters feels like the new tentative agreement still does not address these concerns.

Rail companies need to catch up to the rest of society and offer better benefits, Peters said.

IAM District 19 originally planned to strike on Sept. 29 if additional negotiations were not met, according to Peters. Workers are now in a “cooling off” period that expires Dec. 9. They cannot strike until that date. Some members are not happy leadership agreed to the additional cooling off period, Peters said.

“The members feel like they voted to strike, they waited their time, and they should have been given the opportunity to strike and to use their voice,” Peters said.

Workers have waited three years to strike, he said.

“We were prepared and ready and have been waiting a long time for our voices to be heard,” Peters said.

Once the member’s votes are finalized, it will dictate whether IAM District 19 accepts or rejects the new terms, Peters said. 

National rail companies are being blamed for the poor working conditions that push workers to the extremes of organized strikes, according to Madison Butler, communications manager for Rail Passengers Association. The association advocates for more rail services and quicker rides for passengers, according to their mission statement.

“There are fundamental rights that these workers should have and given the profit margins that these companies take home, there’s no reason to not return that to the workers,” Butler said. 

Cliff Dunn is co-chair of Virginians for High Speed Rail and a frequent train rider. Corporations cutting jobs by the thousands has led to the decrease in working conditions, Dunn said.

“In some ways the bad working conditions themselves are a symptom of the head-count [attendance] problem,” Dunn said.

The Railway Labor Act was drafted in 1926 to allow workers to collectively bargain to fix labor issues and help ensure the continued transport of goods, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, the overseeing agency.

Freight railroads across the country started to shut down a day ahead of the planned Sept. 16 strike, according to Dunn.

“If everybody goes on a strike, they don’t want to have a bunch of freight trains going dead in the middle of nowhere,” Dunn said.

Amtrak, a national passenger railroad company that shares freight rail tracks along some routes, preemptively canceled all long distance passenger trips prior to the tentative agreement, according to a media statement from Amtrak media spokesperson Kimberly Woods.

The Sept. 16 strike could have affected over 19 million rail travelers, Butler said.

The first tentative agreement was nearly three years in the making and involved two major unions in the country: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and SMART Transportation Division.

All unions are expected to ratify or reject the negotiated terms in the next few months, according to the NRLC. 

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University's Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.