🌱 Proposal For Teacher Pay Increase + One Community, One Voice Vigil

Hello, friends! It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Lynchburg Patch newsletter — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Breezy in the morning. High: 67 Low: 56.
• Saturday: Very windy; a morning t-storm. High: 78 Low: 40.

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Here are the top three stories in Lynchburg today:

1. The Lynchburg City Council and school board met on Mar. 28 to discuss the school division's budget request for the fiscal year 2024. The school board presented its proposal, which includes a salary plan that would increase the starting salary for teachers to $50,000 and the minimum hourly wage for classified employees to $15 per hour. The city manager has proposed an additional $3 million in local funding for schools, but this is contingent on the adoption of a real estate tax rate of $1.05 per $100 of assessed value, which is in question. (Subscription: The News & Advance)
2. The One Community, One Voice initiative led by Pastor James Camm held a vigil at a church in Lynchburg on Tuesday to combat gun violence in the community. Members of the community, city leaders, and the Lynchburg police and fire departments attended the event to support the initiative. The vigil included the family of a 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed while driving on 16th Street last Thursday; the police are currently investigating the shooting as a murder. (WSET)
3. Starting on Monday, Apr. 3, a part of Commerce Street between 5th Street and 9th Street in downtown Lynchburg will be closed for two to three months to accommodate the rebuilding and paving of the street, with a series of closures that will progress westward. The closure will not affect access to local businesses and most parking lots, but through traffic will not be allowed, and on-street parking will not be available in any of the closed segments. The city announced that the schedule could change based on multiple variables. (WSET)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Lynchburg:

Friday, March 31

• Acoustic Night At Apocalypse Cidery & Winery, Forest (6:00 PM)

Saturday, April 1

• Lynchburg Community Market At 1219 Main St. (8:00 AM)
• Two For One: A Musical Celebration Of Symphony And Opera At Historic Academy Theatre (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• A statue honoring Lynchburg native Chauncey Spencer, who fought for opportunities for Black pilots, has been placed in front of the entrance to the Lynchburg Regional Airport. Spencer was denied pilot classes at the then-Preston Wood Airport in 1922 due to segregation. He is now recognized for leading the way for the integration of the military. (WDBJ)
• Former Vice President Mike Pence visited Liberty University's School of Law in Lynchburg and was the keynote speaker at the campus' first-ever consecration service. During his speech, Pence encouraged the students to have faith in the American founding, the American people, and in God, and talked about his own faith journey and the importance of supporting and defending the constitution. (WSET)
• An EF-4 tornado hit Mississippi on Friday, causing extensive damage, leaving thousands without homes, and resulting in 26 reported deaths so far. Gleaning For The World, a nonprofit organization, collected disaster relief items, such as food, water, hygiene products, baby supplies, and cleaning items, in front of Sam’s Club in Lynchburg earlier this week to assist those affected by the tornado. (Times Virginian)

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you soon!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.