U.S. Agriculture, Energy Secretaries to Visit Pittsylvania County Saturday, July 18th

We are taking the unusual step in publishing 2 articles in the same post because the information each contains complements the other. As always, we appreciate the reporting of both Tim Davis, editor of the Chatham Star-Tribune and Linda Goin, editor of Appomattox News.

There will be seating for 200. They should be looking for 2000! There is no way to stress too strongly just how important this meeting could be! And we suggest trying to be there way, way before 12:30 pm...this is going to be a major event!


By TIM DAVIS/Star-Tribune Editor
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 9:25 AM EDT

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will visit Pittsylvania County Saturday [July 18] as part of President Obama's "Rural Tour."

Vilsack and Chu are scheduled to talk about green jobs and a new energy economy with a focus on weatherization and carbon sequestration.

The cabinet secretaries are scheduled to fly in to Danville around 10:30 a.m. and visit Piedmont BioProducts, a biodiesel pilot project at Ken Moss's Windy Acres Nursery in Gretna.

After a quick lunch, Vilsack and Chu will hold a town hall meeting at Buddy Mayhew's farm on Carter Lodge Road in Blairs.

The town hall meeting, which is open to the public, will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

"We're expecting a large crowd," said Freddie Wydner, the county's agricultural director.

A large tent will be set up and there will be seating for around 200 people.

"If you want a seat, you'd better arrive early," Wydner said.

http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2009/07/15/chatham/news/news53.txt

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White House Listening Tour Slated for Pittsylvania County

Saturday, 18 July 2009

Buddy Mayhew’s farm

1501 Carter Lodge Road
Blairs, Virginia

(Directions below)

The public is encouraged to arrive around 12:30 p.m. with an anticipated arrival by the Secretaries at 1:00 p.m. The Secretaries plan to take comments and questions until approximately 2:30 p.m.

By Staff Reports on July 15th, 2009

The White House recently announced that President Obama has directed many members of his Cabinet to begin what it describes as a “listening tour” of rural America this summer. The tour will be in Virginia’s Blairs community on Saturday, 18 July 2009. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack will be on a mission to develop “green jobs.”

The Obama administration stated they will focus on weatherization and carbon sequestration.

A town hall meeting will be held at Buddy Mayhew’s farm (1501 Carter Lodge Road, Blairs, Virginia).

Directions to Buddy Mayhew’s farm from Danville: Take Route 29 North. Turn right onto Spring Garden Road (Route 640). Go 1.7 miles, then turn left onto Carter Lodge Road (Route 825). Go 0.2 miles to Buddy’s farm.

Directions to Buddy Mayhew’s farm from Chatham: At the ‘top’ of White Oak Mountain, turn left onto Carter Lodge Road. Go 1.4 miles to Buddy’s farm.

http://www.appomattoxnews.com/2009/white-house-listening-tour-slated-for-pittsylvania-county.html