Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison moved to withdraw due to a “material conflict” in the case. The court appointed Alfred Gray Collins III of Colonial Heights to both the civil removal petition and forensic audit of Martinsville expenses, both of which involve Mayor L.C. Jones.
Martinsville area
News from the Martinsville area.
Posted inLocal
Henry County residents can expect higher real estate tax bills, even though supervisors plan to lower the rate
The board’s plan to reduce the tax is not enough to offset the property reassessment that raised the overall value of property by about 51%.
Posted inLocal
Martinsville mayor reinstated to city council pending trial on recall petition
Mayor L.C. Jones had been suspended since February, when a judge ordered a recall trial after petitioners accused him of wrongdoing.
Posted inLocal
Martinsville’s suspended mayor fights petition to remove him in a recall trial by jury, a rarity in Virginia
A jury trial on a petition to remove a public official is unusual in Virginia, but two such cases are currently on commonwealth dockets. One of them, in Martinsville, involves Mayor L.C. Jones, whom a circuit judge suspended pending trial, despite the lack of criminal charges.
Posted inLocal
New special prosecutor named in case seeking to remove Martinsville mayor
Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison will also handle the criminal investigation into Martinsville city spending, Martinsville’s top prosecutor announced.
Posted inMartinsville area
Sheriff puts multiple grants on Henry County supervisors’ agenda
The Henry County Board of Supervisors will be asked to approve more than $130,000 in grants for the sheriff’s office when it meets Thursday.
Posted inLocal
Petition to remove Martinsville mayor will stay with city commonwealth’s attorney
The court denied Commonwealth’s Attorney Patrick Flinn’s request for a special prosecutor to handle the petition. Flinn said he plans to “act promptly” but said that there is no time limit for his review of the petition.
Posted inCulture
Hidden figure: How a one-time Martinsville teacher played a role in helping the world find its way
Gladys West spent a brief stint teaching math in Martinsville in the 1950s before moving to the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, where her work helped lay the foundation for GPS systems. She died last week at age 95.
Posted inLocal
Martinsville City Council to discuss increased trash rates
The city’s five-year contract with First Piedmont expires at the end of 2026. City staff warns that changes to garbage collection rates might be necessary to continue the service.
Posted inLocal
Martinsville council votes to publicly release some details of city audit and will turn over full report to special prosecutor
The forensic audit looked into the city’s spending during the tenure of then-City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides.