Tom McLaughlin

It was quite a nice surprise to pick up the Halifax County Historical Society’s new book, “An Architectural History of Halifax County, Virginia“ and see our family’s South Boston residence listed on page 256: “The West-McLaughlin home.” Never heard it referred to that way before; wow. It reminded me of the moment in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special when Pig-Pen tells Lucy Van Pelt to show some respect because that could be the dirt of Nebuchudnezzar swirling around his person. Even our beagles are impressed. They’ve used the bathroom indoors only once this week.

It’s hard to believe sometimes, but Mecklenburg County appears to be finally ready to move forward with the construction of new schools — provided that the powers-that-be don’t screw everything up.

It’s been awhile since we checked in on the presidential race. Maybe now might be a good time? We are past Labor Day, after all.

It’s always great fun whenever The New York Times or some other bigfoot media operation sends a reporter down from the big city to check out life in the local honey hole.

Members of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, County Administrator Jim Halasz, the county attorney and others have worked very hard to shape the future of the Halifax County Courthouse, drawing up a modernization plan for the building that brings years of back-and-forth negotiations with a restive judiciary to an end. But will it fly with the public?

Lately I’ve fallen into the habit of making references to the summertime heat every time I ramble on in this space.

As if it weren’t evident enough already, the weather outside tells me now’s a good time to stick to offering hot takes on the news:

The forecast is for more hot weather, just the ticket for hot takes on the news:

I ran into a friend this week who expressed ambivalence — that lovely feeling somewhere between admiration and contempt — toward the School Board’s recent vote to build two school complexes on opposite ends of the county to replace the two Bluestones and the two Park Views.

With today’s mass mail edition, a copy of the News & Record will be showing up at 18,000 mail boxes at homes and businesses throughout Halifax County — yours included.