KENBRIDGE, VA, June 13, 2023 – Benchmark Community Bank is pleased to announce that Nicole Martin of Crewe has completed the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University (LSU). Martin was among professional bankers from nineteen states, the District of Columbia, and Mexico who traveled to Baton Rouge to participate in the on-site segment of her participation.

Currently serving as Benchmark’s Senior Vice President/Chief Operations Officer, Martin’s banking career spans over twenty years. Since beginning as a Teller in 2002, Martin has risen through the ranks at Benchmark to her current position.

“Nicole has demonstrated commitment to providing an excellent customer experience both inside the branch and in her role leading our Operations team,” said Benchmark President/CEO Jay A. Stafford. “It’s been exciting watching Nicole interact with our customers and her team to deliver the kind of services we strive to provide every day.”

The three-year program from which she graduated on June 2, covered all aspects of banking, economics and related subjects. The program is sponsored by fifteen southern-state bankers associations in cooperation with the Division of Continuing Education at LSU. More than fifty bankers, business and professional leaders, and educations from across the U.S. comprise the faculty.

The Graduate School of Banking at LSU includes required attendance at periodic on-campus sessions interspersed with extensive bank study assignments. The three summer sessions include 210 hours of classroom instruction, as well as planned evening study, and final examinations to conclude each session.

About Benchmark Community Bank - Benchmark Community Bank, founded in 1971, is head­quartered in Kenbridge, VA. It is the sole subsidiary of Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. and oper­ates seventeen banking offices through­out central Southside Vir­ginia and northern North Carolina. The common stock of Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. trades on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol BMBN. Any stockbroker can assist with purchases of the company's stock, as well as with sales of holdings. Additional information is available at the company’s website, www.BCBonline.com. #MemberFDIC #EqualHousingLender #WithYouForLife

RICHMOND, VA- the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) picked up nearly 22,000 3-inch muskie fingerlings from North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's (NC WRC) Table Rock Fish Hatchery. These fish will be used to meet annual stocking allocations across Virginia. About 14,000 of the fish were stocked into a rearing pond at the Buller Fish Hatchery where they will be grown out to advanced fingerling size, which is approximately 10 inches.   

An additional 3,000 fingerlings were taken to the newly renovated Front Royal Hatchery for grow-out to advanced fingerling size. The advanced-sized fish will be stocked this fall. The remainder of the 3-inch fingerlings were stocked in existing muskie waters according to DWR's Muskellunge Management Plan. These bonus fish should help to enhance the muskie fishing opportunities in Virginia in the coming years. 

This abundance of muskie fingerlings was made possible through an ongoing cooperative effort between DWR and NC WRC. In February of this year, DWR collected seven adult muskie from the lower New River. These fish were taken to the NC WRC's hatchery for spawning and the fingerlings received this week are from that February collection effort. All muskie stocked into Virginia over the last several years are a result of this ongoing cooperation with North Carolina. 

For more information on DWRs fish hatcheries, please visit: dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/fish-stocking/state-hatcheries/ 

Residents at Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Robin Moore, recently used their artistic skills to create ‘silly socks’ for residents of an assisted living program in Emporia.

Using fabric paint, the children had a wonderful time decorating socks not only with fun designs but also with inspirational and kind words for the senior recipients.  “It’s always fun to spark the children’s imagination and creative efforts,” said Moore. “I’m forever seeking ways to engage our residents in volunteer efforts as a part of their treatment at Jackson-Feild. They were so proud of their creations, and were pleased that they could help brighten someone else’s day.”

Jackson-Feild is a behavioral health organization whose mission is to provide high quality evidence-based psychiatric, residential, educational and recovery treatment services for children who suffer from severe emotional trauma, mental illness and/or addiction.