FYI: County News, Announcements & Reminders

Spring sports registration with Bedford County Parks & Recreation opens Jan. 2 and continues through Feb. 2. Spring sports are baseball/softball, soccer, and flag football. Learn more about how to register at www. bedfordcountyva.gov/sports.

Schedule your free tax preparation assistance from AARP at the Bedford Central Library (321 N. Bridge St., Bedford). AARP will be at the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) from Feb. 1 through April 11. Stop by and pick up your pre-appointment packet and schedule a day to return with your documents.

Are you looking for a career in Fire & Rescue? The next Firefighter 1 session starts on Jan. 8; thirteen people recently completed this program. The next EMT-Basic Training session starts on Jan. 9; sixteen people recently completed this program.

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office’s Citizen’s Police Academy registration is now open. Classes will be primarily Tuesday nights starting May 28. Open to citizens ages 18 and up. Background check required. Register at www.bedfordcountyva.gov/ academy. Questions? Call Sgt. Ron Clayton at 540-586-7718.

The Information Technology department is excited to announce Ashley Thornton as Bedford County’s new GIS Manager. Most recently, Ashley performed analysis for Pinkerton Consulting and Investigation. Prior to that role, she was a GIS Specialist for Bedford County after starting out as an intern.

Bedford County has a new Treasurer. William Perrow’s term officially starts on Jan. 2, 2024. Perrow was previously a part of the finance staff at Bedford County Public Schools. We want to welcome William to the Bedford County team and wish him the best of luck in his new position!

Clerk of Circuit Court Judy Reynolds is excited to announce she will soon offer a free service to any citizens and property owners who are concerned about fraud involving their property. Citizens can open an account and will receive notification if there is a recording of land documents in their name. Look for those details in early 2024.

Applications for Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled will be accepted from Jan. 1 - Feb. 29, 2024. In 2023, Supervisors made adjustments to the qualifications. Those include: total income of the household cannot exceed $50,000 and net worth cannot exceed $150,000. To apply for an exemption, contact the Commissioner of Revenue’s office: 540-586-7626.

February is Heart Health Month. It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. They include: chest pain/discomfort; shortness of breath; pain/discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm or shoulder; and feeling nauseous, light-headed or unusually tired. If you are experiencing chest pain, you should call 911 immediately.

The Waste Management department wants to remind residents that winter weather may affect hours at waste collection centers. If there is snow or ice, be sure to check www.bedfordcountyva.gov or Bedford County social media pages before visiting your collection center. All closure announcements will be made on those platforms.

Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burning Law starts on Feb. 15 and continues through April 30. Open-air burning prior to 4 p.m. is prohibited if the fire is within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass which could carry the fire into the woods. You can burn between 4 p.m. and midnight. The law applies to campfires, warming fires, brush piles, etc.

There will be a dual primary for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates on March 5, 2024. Early, in-person voting starts Jan. 19 and ends on March 2 and will be held in the Parks & Rec Chapel (1257 County Farm Rd., Bedford). To learn more about the March Primary Election, visit www.bedfordcountyva.gov/vote.