Chesterfield Government

Rural connections: Some Rhodes Lane residents waiting for broadband access

By Caleb M Soptelean on May 21, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Economic Development

Rhodes Lane curves past a pond. (Caleb M. Soptelean photos) Tyler Moody stands next to some high-tech electrical wiring that was left at his home by the previous owner. Tyler Moody’s homemade computer. Hurry up and wait. That’s pretty much what some residents of Rhodes Lane have been doing for several years, according to Bonnie and Tyler Moody, a mother and son, who have been living at 16111 N. Rhodes Lane since March 2015. “We never thought there wouldn’t be Internet out there,” Bonnie said, noting that she and her husband, Thomas, purchased the home on a foreclosure sale in…

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New emergency communications director on board

By Press release on May 14, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Fire & EMS

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Chesterfield County recently named Thomas “Tommy” Tucker as its new director of emergency communications. Tucker served as interim co-director of the Emergency Communications Center since October 2018. He began in his new role as director of emergency communications May 4 at a salary of $125,000. With 32 years working in public safety, Tucker has a unique and thorough understanding of the importance of emergency communications and the essential role of the ECC staff as the public’s first contact in the event of an emergency, a press release states. As director, he will oversee the daily operations of…

New ‘Access On Demand’ transportation program being offered by county

By Press release on May 14, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Transportation

Getting around in Chesterfield just got easier with the launch of Chesterfield County’s newest transportation program, Access On Demand. The service is the first of its kind in the region, offering affordable, specialized transportation for individuals who are age 60 and older, have a disability or live in a low-income household. Launched May 1 by the Chesterfield County Citizen Information and Resources Division of Mobility Services, the pilot transportation program offers same-day service to eligible county residents through four highly qualified providers – Dependacare On Demand, Owl Inc. Transportation, Roundtrip and UZURV. Access On Demand is 100 percent county-funded. As…

County 1 of 15 to participate in national opioid treatment initiative

By Press release on May 14, 2019 Chesterfield Government

Chesterfield County announced last week that it is one of 15 localities, and the only one in Virginia, selected to participate in a national program to expand medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in jails. The county will receive expert guidance on how to overcome barriers to providing opioid treatment and scholarships for five staff members to attend trainings in Washington, D.C. Experts will work with jail officials to create treatment guidelines, manage administration of the medications, and educate jail staff about addiction. Chesterfield will also develop a plan with local health care officials to ensure people can access…

Two Democrats seeking SD11 nomination

By Caleb M Soptelean on May 14, 2019 Politics, State News

Wayne PowellAmanda Pohl Two Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination on June 11 in state Senate District 11, with the winner set to challenge first-term Republican incumbent Amanda Chase on Nov. 5. Chase defeated incumbent Stephen Martin and challenger Barry Moore in the Grand Old Party’s primary in 2015 and defeated Democrat Wayne Powell in the 2015 general election, 63 to 36 percent. Now, Powell is running again but is being challenged by Amanda Pohl, who is the data systems and evaluation coordinator for the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, 1118 W. Main St. in Richmond. Powell…

Community talks about criminal justice reform

By Caleb M Soptelean on May 7, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Politics

HARP enrollee Chris Wimmer, on left, speaks. Also pictured is Ruben Malpica. Defense attorney Ericka Battle. Tavorise Marks speaks as HARP enrollee Jodi Gayan listens. Although Democratic state House candidate Tavorise Marks promoted legalizing marijuana during last week’s town hall on criminal justice reform, three inmates who are enrolled in the Chesterfield County Jail’s Heroin Addiction Recovery Program all said they were undecided. Marks hosted the May 1 forum at the Central Library, and Chesterfield’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Miles and chief deputy sheriff Matt Wilkerson also participated, along with the HARP enrollees. Defense attorney Ericka Battle moderated the event. Wilkerson…

Walker to be honored at Falling Creek Ironworks Park: Event will include tours and period demonstrations

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 30, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Events, History, Outdoors

Lyle Browning stands next to the falls. The remains of a pump house is on left. Falling Creek Ironworks Park likely would not exist if not for Bryan Walker, and the recently deceased 87-year-old will be honored at a May 4 ceremony at the park. Lyle Browning — who serves as a volunteer archeologist for the nonprofit Falling Creek Ironworks Foundation — said he first got involved with the ironworks in the late 1980s or early 1990s when Walker organized a meeting about it. “He nudged people to do something and was instrumental in getting the county to buy it,”…

County Parks and Rec office moving

By Press release on April 30, 2019 Chesterfield Government

The Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department’s administrative office will be moving from its current location at 6801 Mimms Loop to 12140 Harrowgate Road, the former home of the Chester Library. The move is planned for May 13-14. The office is temporarily relocating until a new administrative office is completed at the old Beulah Elementary School. Public parking is available off Werth Street. Sharon K. Entsminger, Parks and Rec marketing and communications supervisor, said the administration office should be at the Harrowgate Road location for about two years. Moving Parks and Rec into the former library allows the county to…

Elevated, floating boardwalk earns Governor’s Excellence Award

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 30, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Outdoors

Jocelyn Rowe and Charles Henshaw view the surroundings from a boardwalk at Dutch Gap Conservation Area last week. A fairly new boardwalk at Dutch Gap Conservation Area recently won an award. A boardwalk located at the last parking area before Henricus Historical Park was recently selected for the 2019 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award. The boardwalk was a gold medal winner in the competition. The award was announced at the annual Environmental Virginia Symposium in Lexington in late March. The Dutch Gap Relic River Boardwalk includes 148 feet of elevated boardwalk and 400 feet of floating boardwalk with a canoe/kayak launch,…

Chesterfield attorney awarded for public service

By Caleb M Soptelean on April 30, 2019 Chesterfield Government, Community, Courts

Michael Chernau, a deputy Chesterfield County attorney, was recently awarded the A. Robert Cherin Award by the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia Inc. Chernau got the award for exemplary public service. He is the third attorney from the Chesterfield County Attorney’s Office to win the award. The A. Robert Cherin Award for an Outstanding Deputy or Assistant Local Government Attorney honors one who has demonstrated exemplary public service that reflects a personal commitment to the highest ethical and professional principles. “The award was created to recognize what Mike gives Chesterfield County every day,” Chesterfield County Attorney Jeffrey Mincks said. “Mike…

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