Pulitzer writer Pearl S. Buck’s connection to Lynchburg, Virginia

By Lynn R. Mitchell

While recently driving on Rivermont Drive not far from downtown Lynchburg, there was a Virginia historical marker for writer Pearl S. Buck. Not realizing she had any association with Lynchburg, I looked her up after returning home and discovered she attended college in that river city, writing for the college’s literary magazine and graduating in 1914.

Born in West Virginia to missionary parents, she spent much of her life living in China which had an impact on her lifelong understanding of other nationalities. In 1938, she won the Pulitzer Prize and was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize for literature with her book, The Good Earth, that described rural life in China prior to World War I.

‘Overnight Christmas’ reminds of the reason for the season at Thomas Road Baptist

Photo from Thomas Road Baptist Church Facebook page.

By Lynn R. Mitchell

In the past I have attended the West End Assembly of God’s Christmas productions in Richmond but today was the first time experiencing Thomas Road Baptist Church’s Christmas spectacular celebrating the birth of Jesus. With more than forty years of productions under its belt, TRBC pulled out all the stops once again for an entertaining, music-packed, two-hour production with an underlying message of faith while pastor Jonathan Falwell bumpered the event with inspirational remarks and prayer.

My husband and I were invited by long-time friend Kurt Michael, who is managing editor of this blog and an assistant dean at Liberty University, and his wife Pam, to attend the production. We were not disappointed. For some the show has become a holiday tradition; for others, it was a first-time experience.

The entertainment included plenty of toe-tapping, hum-along music, dancers, jokes, soloists, and talent galore. Props and costumes were outstanding, and the 37-foot living Christmas tree filled the air with the voices of a 100-member chorus that was accompanied by a 30-member orchestra and 60 members of the children’s choir.

Why Virginia and not Texas?

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Ted Cruz represents Texas. He is going to announce his run for U.S. President today in Virginia. Why isn’t he in his own state making such an important announcement?

I posted that questions to Facebook friends. One, who lives in Northern Virginia, commented:

He’s marking his territory for the Libertarian and college vote. He wants to grab that stage at Liberty before Rand Paul does. Plus, he needs to cement himself here in VA by appealing to that crowd so he can correct the damage he’s done to himself in VA.

Another who lives in Texas and is not a Cruz supporter noted:

Ed Gillespie takes message of religious freedom to Liberty University

By Lynn Mitchell

Virginia’s GOP U.S. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie addressed the Liberty University Convocation on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, defending religious freedom and advocating limited government. Below are the video and his remarks to the student body and faculty:

Minimal impact to James River from Lynchburg’s Wednesday train derailment

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Governor’s office has updated the situation in Lynchburg after yesterday’s train derailment:

State of Emergency in downtown Lynchburg, train carrying oil derails and bursts into flames

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a photo and video of an oil fire in downtown Lynchburg after a train derailed and dcught on fire, sending billowing black smoke into the air:

Lynchburg has declared a state of emergency and Richmond has begun to switch to an alternate water supply after a train carrying crude oil derailed today, spilling oil into the James River upstream from Richmond’s primary water supply.

Oiled that spilled into the James River has caused headaches downstream in Richmond with the water supply.