by Sharon Curran Wright

During a recent interview with Cody Davis, Director/Chief of the Buckingham Department of Emergency Services, Davis said that, as of December of 2020, the Buckingham County Volunteer Rescue Squad had transitioned all of its operations over to the Buckingham County Department of Emergency Services. After 50 years of excellent service by volunteers, the county responded to a dwindling volunteer force and increasing administrative requirements by staffing positions with county employees. A number of those who previously volunteered are now on staff, and three continue
to volunteer with BCDES.

One of the first orders of business by the county was to remodel, expand, and reopen the Glenmore Station. Doing this drastically decreased response times to the northern part of the county and allowed better services to citizens in that part of Buckingham.

Two new ambulances – one of which already has more than 100,000 miles on it – serve the county. Through grants and other funding support, BCDES has been able to place new heart monitors into service and new state-of-the-art airway placement technology. A new utility terrain vehicle for accessing remote patients and new ventilators will be placed into service soon. In addition to these new assets, the department is also working on implementing new and improved patient care protocols and unveiling programs and initiatives that will enhance care in Buckingham County.

The awardees included Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Rebecca S. Carter (center), Volunteer of the Year Award recipient St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary represented by Father Anthony Haynos (left), Youth Achievement Award Courtney Agee (right). Business of the Year Award recipient The Cake Place (owner C.V Swann was not present).

Kathie and Michael Boyce had a dream of leaving city life behind, buying some land, and living a different life. To that end, they bought property in Buckingham County and established KMB Farms, where they keep bees, grow garlic and berry bushes, and will soon be making fruit wines.

This summer they will open Muddy Paws Winery, its name a tip of the hat to the 17 dogs that they have rescued over the years. Wines will be made, bottled, and sold on site. The Boyces have been making fruit wines for 15 years, having learned the craft by joining amateur wine groups that met monthly, sharing ideas, tips, tricks, and recipes. Among their favorite fruit wines that they have made are elderberry, raspberry, apricot, apple, strawberry, cherry, and pomegranate. Because they are beekeepers, they also make various meads. Stone fruits for their wines will be harvested from an established orchard that they lease in Nelson County; they plan to grow their own berry bushes and some grapevines.

According to Mike, fruit wines are typically sweeter than grape wines and true to the fruit flavor. A fruit wine will ferment in eight weeks, so a fresh batch will be produced at Muddy Paws every eight weeks. Muddy Paws Winery can do five batches at a time, and they plan to have that many available at the “soft” opening of the winery in late spring. They also plan to open on weekends this summer with a grand opening planned in October.

For an application and/or rules for this years’ contest, call the Buckingham Chamber at
983-2372 or you can download an entry form at www.buckinghamchamberofcommerce.com