Wholesome News Hour: Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s, getting active for a good cause, and pet adoptions galore

Good news is still news! Dogwood’s wholesome news hour is a quick refresh from the day’s hard news, celebrating some of the positive things happening throughout Virginia. Today, we’re highlighting three pieces of good news directly from the commonwealth.

Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s

Construction officially started on the first Buc-ee’s convenience store in Virginia. Buc-ee’s is an iconic travel destination that originated in Texas. 

This store became infamous for its wide selection of merchandise, food, and more. Buc-ee’s quickly became a phenomenon—and a key destination for road trippers in the South. 

The chain is growing steadily, opening stores in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Colorado, Tennessee, South Carolina, and now Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Virginia’s first location will be 74,000 square feet large, open 24 hours like other Buc-ee’s stores, and provide gas, car washes, and more for your traveling convenience. 

Walking is good for the heart

Alisha Pope’s story is one of great sadness—and incredible change. Following her mother’s unexpected death due to heart complications, Pope found a community in Richmond’s Heart Walk as a part of the American Heart Association. 

While Pope suffered immense grief following the loss of her mother, she also found new inspiration to prioritize her own health. 

At this year’s walk, the Virginia mother discussed her dedication to motherhood and emphasized the importance of self-care, saying: “I realized I had to do something for myself so that I could do better for him.” 

That epiphany led Pope to transform her life over a two-year span.

During her journey, Pope prioritized her health and went through a physical transformation as a result. 

At this year’s Richmond Heart Walk, Pope once again honored her late mother by participating in the charity’s event. Meanwhile, the American Heart Association honored Pope herself, awarding her as the Central Virginia’s Lifestyle Change winner.

Pope discussed receiving this award with local media station CBS 6, saying: “I feel very honored and proud, I know she’s smiling down on me today. It’s a gorgeous day.”

2024’s Richmond Heart Walk raised upwards of $655,000 to help those suffering from heart-related diseases. 

If you’d like to donate to the American Heart Association, visit the organization’s website. 

The gift of pet adoption

Chesapeake couple Andrew and Jennifer Duhe spent the last year volunteering at the Chesapeake Animal Services animal adoption center. 

To cheer up his wife after the unexpected loss of their pet, Andrew decided to give his wife a 40th birthday gift he knew she’d love. 

So, Andrew covered the cost of 40 pet adoptions at the center, which meant every animal in the shelter would be free of adoption fees. 

This gift totaled around $4,000, and will help many pets in need find happy homes.