A Martinsville doctor died after a crash in Franklin County on Monday. According to the Virginia State Police, the crash occurred on Monday night at the intersection of Routes 122 and 116. Dr. Diane Rowell died at a hospital following the two-vehicle crash. Dr. Rowell had worked at Sovah Health-Martinsville since 2012. The circumstances of the crash are under investigation.
Patrick Baker, 61, April Kump, 39, and Tommy Bowers, 50, were all arrested on drug charges Tuesday after the Henry County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotics search warrant at 351 Pine Street and seized firearms, suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. Several malnourished puppies were also taken from the home.
A citizen-led effort to remove Martinsville Mayor LC Jones from office has been filed with more signatures than required. Once verified, the petition will pass from the Martinsville Circuit Court Clerk’s Office to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for review, and then to the Circuit Court for consideration. The group alleges Jones engaged in conduct prohibited under the Code of Virginia, violated the state’s Conflict of Interests Act, failed to disclose or recuse himself from matters involving personal interests, and interfered with investigations and whistleblower protections.
Martinsville Councilman Aaron Rawls has filed an affidavit with the Clerk’s Office, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and the Martinsville Police Department detailing many of the allegations. The affidavit claims Jones received a hot tub from former City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides in exchange for facilitating a $34,000 pay raise for Ferrell-Benavides and a take-home vehicle.
