The Petersburg Progress-Index

PETERSBURG - Thomas Manson may be gone, but the spirit of his generosity lives on. Family members and friends of the Petersburg man, who passed away last April at the age of 66, spent hours in the cold yesterday carrying on Manson's tradition of feeding Full Story »

PRINCE GEORGE - It's an extra merry Christmas for three young people from William A. Walton Elementary. The school swept this year's Countdown to Christmas Contest. Cameron Schwalm, a fifth-grader in Ms. Bolling's class, took the top prize for his drawin Full Story »

HOPEWELL - Nestled among the woods and farmland of Prince George County lies one of Virginia's historic landmarks: the Merchant's Hope Church. With a history dating back to the Colonial era, the church is one of the oldest in the country. The church carr Full Story »

Prince George County youth, in third- through fifth-grade, were invited to participate in the county's annual Christmas Card contest. The winning entry is used to adorn the Prince George Parks and Recreation card. This year's winner, Miranda Carmichael Full Story »

The 2009 Dinwiddie Christmas Parade was held Dec. 12 in the county. The Dinwiddie Chamber of Commerce would like to thank those who made this event a success. "First and foremost, we would like to thank Matthew Bradford, grand marshal, for flying in fr Full Story »

The residents at Colonial Heights Health Care & Rehabilitation Center had a grand time at their Christmas Party. All were serenaded by the Center's resident holiday choir, which was conducted by volunteer Frances Barr and activities assistant Betty Wren Full Story »

COLONIAL HEIGHTS - Joan Slater, a resident of the Dunlop House Assisted Living, 235 Dunlop Boulevard, has many fond memories of decorating her Christmas tree. As she sits in her studio apartment in Colonial Heights and looks at her unique Christmas tre Full Story »

HOPEWELL - Hopewell/Prince George Healthy Families hosted its Fifth Annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 18, at the John Randolph Foundation, who donated the space. Hopewell/Prince George Healthy Families is a free parent support program serving first- Full Story »

DISPUTANTA - The Rev. Dr. Sylvia V. Tucker, a longtime member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, has been named acting chairman of the board of directors of the Atlanta-based civil rights organization. Previously, she was vice chair. "It's Full Story »

PETERSBURG - An electrical fire that started in the ceiling of a city grocery store caused at least $350,000 in damage early Wednesday morning based on early estimates. Harrison's Grocery Store on West Washington Street was damaged mostly in the interior Full Story »

PETERSBURG - Just two days before Christmas, hundreds of children from throughout the city descended upon the small, unassuming building at the edge of the city. There they received something special, a bit of Christmas generosity. "We've been working o Full Story »

Today is Thursday, Dec. 24, the 358th day of 2009. There are 7 days left in the year. This is Christmas Eve. Today's Highlight in History: On Dec. 24, 1809, legendary American frontiersman Christopher "Kit" Carson was born in Madison County, Ky. On thi Full Story »

DINWIDDIE - The annual 4-H Ham Curing Project is about to begin for 2010. This program, once again, will include a tour of the Gwaltney Plant of Smithfield. Each participant will be responsible for prepping, trimming, and working their ham in salt for c Full Story »

As we approach this holiday season, the Board of Directors and staff of the American Red Cross - Southside Area Chapter would like to say thank you to everyone whose contribution of time, money, or blood has helped us help each other in their time of ne Full Story »

RICHMOND - Virginia's Department of Historic Resources and the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation recently gave Defense Logistics Agency the go-ahead for upcoming demolition projects at Defense Supply Center Richmond and the adjacent Defen Full Story »

PETERSBURG - An electrical fire that started in the ceiling of a city grocery store caused at least $350,000 in damage early Wednesday morning based on early estimates. Petersburg Fire Chief T.C. Hairston said that around 1:20 a.m. the fire department r Full Story »

CHESTER Hundreds of gleeful children, many who might not otherwise have a Christmas, gathered with their parents at Premier Transfer and Storage's Warehouse in Chester a couple of weeks before Christmas. The warehouse transforms each year into Santa's Full Story »

RICHMOND (AP) - A former bus driver has been convicted of reckless driving in connection with the death of a Prince George woman who was walking in downtown Richmond. Richmond General District Court Judge Thomas O. Jones found 46-year-old Teresa L. Jones Full Story »

PETERSBURG - Registration is now ongoing for a wellness program offered by the Appomattox Area Health & Wellness Center. The Lay Health Promoter Program consists of 12 weekly classes designed to educate the public about chronic diseases, promote healthy Full Story »

COLONIAL HEIGHTS -The nation's most celebrated laundryman of 2009 operates here. He is Thomas M. "Tommy" Coyne, recently named winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award by TRSA, the national association of the textile rental services industry. He is the o Full Story »

On Wednesday, Dec. 9, residents of Brighter Living Assisted Living in Hopewell went to Fort Lee to assist in the 'Holiday Helpers' project. The residents helped in wrapping gifts for soilders stationed at Fort Lee. The residents enjoyed helping wrap gif Full Story »

Petersburg Auxiliary Police made monetary donations in the amount of $1,000 to the American Red Cross and $100 to Petersburg Dinwiddie Crime Solvers on Dec. 14. Above: Pictured from left to right are: James Harris, Esther Hyatt (Crime Solvers), Ernest Wi Full Story »

by markus schmidt COLONIAL HEIGHTS - He may still ride around in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, but other than that, Santa Claus has arrived in the 21st century. Santa at Southpark Mall has gone hi-tech this year and is sending updates to chi Full Story »

HOPEWELL - A city man was convicted Friday of killing a man in a drunken driving accident that happened more than three years ago in a case that involved the prosecutor delivering a stinging rebuke to Hopewell police. William Besley, of Hopewell, was con Full Story »

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) paid to nearly a million service members living off base in stateside areas will increase an average of 2.5 percent in January to keep up with rising rental costs. But in 158 military housing areas -- 43 percent of the t Full Story »