In business

Jan's Jewelry closes Downtown Moneta shop

Jan and Tom Fleming have closed up shop. Jan's Jewelry specialized in authentic reservation American Indian jewelry for more than 30 years. Their store at the lake had been open for a little more than a year. Tom Fleming said the main reason they closed the shop was health issues. They will continue to do road shows, although that aspect of the business is for sale as well.

"Bedford County is just not small-business friendly," said Fleming. "We've ran into some difficulties with that and we're also just tired."

The Flemings have not spent more than three weeks at a time in the area since moving here. They constantly travel all over the country doing their road shows. "Not even our grandchildren can keep up with us," said Fleming. "I think its time for us to slow down."

For more information contact Jan and Tom Fleming at 297-6216 or jansjewelry@aol.com.

BB&T promotes Helms to vice president

Leslie Patsel Helms has been named a vice president at BB&T. Helms, who joined the bank in 1995, is a mortgage loan officer in BB&T's Home Mortgage department in Rocky Mount.

Helms is certified in construction-to-permit lending. She has been a recognized BB&T Sterling Performance Club member since 1999.

The Roanoke native, who earned her bachelor's degree in banking and finance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has lived in Franklin and Bedford counties for more than 15 years. Her husband, Buddy, is the owner of Windy Gap Mulch and Market.

Helms is active in the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce and Business Networking International's Smith Mountain Lake Business Connection chapter.