New Courthouse Still Discussed

On January 13, the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors agreed to focus on a plan for a free-standing court building instead of additions to our historic courthouse.  There seems to be some confusion as to what was said at that meeting.  We were present at that meeting; here is a brief summary of what occurred:

A last minute addition to the agenda was a “closed session to discuss litigation.”  Shortly after convening, the supervisors went into the closed session along with Russell Slayton, attorney for the county.  When they returned to open session, Mr. Slayton informed the room that the courthouse committee — Gary Walker, Robert Shook, and R.B. Clark — and he had met that morning with Judges Osborne, Cunningham, and White and their counsel to discuss how to settle the dispute over proposed court facilities.  After much discussion a compromise was reached, with all parties agreeing to focus on constructing a free-standing court building.

Mr. Slayton went on to say that they had contacted Judge Robert P. Doherty, Jr., the retired judge appointed to hear this case, who supported the compromise.  Judge Doherty then gave the county 60 days to present a plan.  If the plan can be presented in the timeframe, there will be no need to appoint a second five-member panel (as reported, the first panel was rejected by Judge Doherty for bias.).  The architect is now working on the concept plan with the hope that it will be ready for public review by the February 10 board meeting.  Cost projections should be available shortly thereafter.  If the plan is not ready by the February meeting, Chairman Haywood Hamlet stated that he would reconvene the meeting as soon as it was ready.

Both Mr. Slayton and Chairman Hamlet repeatedly stated that the public would have a chance to review the plans before they are finalized. They asked for patience, and assured us that they are now going in the right direction.   This was also echoed in private conversations with others knowledgeable about the case.  It seems that all parties finally heard the voice of the people and have agreed to leave our historic courthouse in peace.

As ones who have been on the frontlines of the battle to save our courthouse, we would like to thank the judges and supervisors for heeding our concerns.  As requested, we will be patient.  But have no doubt that we expect the board to honor its promise that the public will be allowed to review and comment on the plans for the new court building before they are approved.  We’ve dimmed our torches but they are not extinguished.

Kathy Liston and Earl W. Strain, Brookneal, VA

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I was not born into this world with deeply formed opinions. Before I had much to say in the matter (as a child), I was sent off to a variety of schools and churches to become informed and educated about the world around me. Along with the classroom instruction, I was taught at home to have values, principles, morals and character. As I became older and these “building blocks” of learning took shape and form within me, I dared to have my own opinions on many topics that make me the individual that I am. Among the different interests and pursuits I picked up, hunting became among the first and foremost. I soon learned (however) hunting isn’t something that is universally accepted by society. Although “hunter” is a rather benign name, the truth is hunters do kill animals. Some call it, “The blood sport.” Many people from my grandmother on down might ask me if I’ve had any luck hunting but, only other hunters really wanted the in-depth details of some buck or bear I killed. I soon learned to be socially discrete in what I said and to who about my hunting life style. It’s a pursuit loved by my fellow hunting community, tolerated by the general public and despised by a large portion of society (some of which want hunting completely outlawed).

Having made this point about hunting and hunters, I want to strike a parallel concerning the “Gay” community. “Gay” is the politically correct word for homosexual as “harvesting” is also a politically correct word for killing animals. I am a hunter making me a killer of animals but, I do not go out of my way to make people like or even respect what I do. I do not demand nor expect universal acceptance. I can appreciate there are those who consider what I do as cruel or to be socially unacceptable by their standards. Still, I have my standards too. As I stated earlier, I was taught certain ethics in school, church and home soon as I was old enough to comprehend. In the same way I respectfully remain silent around those who dislike hunting, I too want my space not accepting homosexual/”Gay” behavior. From a Biblical standpoint, both hunters and “Gays” are talked about in various places in the Bible. Of the 2, (and without quoting the many chapters and verses), hunters enjoy a more honorable status. We live in a world of constant change I realize. There is more and more pressure put upon people like myself to change mindsets accepting “Gay” marriage and the like. I am resigned and accept (as a hunter) that I’ll be best thought of and understood by my fellow hunters (exclusively). No matter the media hype and decisions made by the courts across the country, I think the “Gay” community should (at best) recon on the same limited acceptance I get as a hunter.

Karl Schmidt, Farmville, Va.