On Feb. 1, state Sen. Amanda Chase (R) filed a federal lawsuit against the state Senate and its clerk after she was recently censured by the Senate. The civil rights complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond. On Feb. 6, Chase noted that Judge Robert E. Payne had already held two hearings on the case with a trial scheduled for March 17. Chase was hopeful of a good outcome, noting that Payne was nominated to the seat by then-President George H.W. Bush on Nov. 20, 1991. Payne was unanimously confirmed by the…
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By a vote of 24-9 with six abstentions, the Virginia Senate censured Chesterfield Sen. Amanda Chase on Jan. 27. It was only the second time in state history that a senator has been censured. The first was Sen. Peter K. Babalas (D-Norfolk) in 1987 for unethical conduct. That vote was 25-14. The censure of Chase was for failure to uphold her oath of office, misuse of office and conduct unbecoming a senator. Three Republicans — Tommy Norment of James City County, Bryce Reeves of Spotsylvania County and Jill Vogel of Fauquier County — joined all 21 Democrats in voting for…
Brandi Pope models a t-shirt with the logo In the dark be the Light. The theme for the 2020 fashion show.
Not today. Just two little words, but possibly the most powerful words you can say to someone contemplating suicide. Alicia Amsler, owner of Alicia’s Salon and Day Spa in Chesterfield Meadows Shopping Center became well acquainted with depression and suicide in her personal life and at work. Her mother went into a deep depression after heart surgery that lasted for five years. “It was a difficult time for our family, because we didn’t know the signs of mental illness at that time,” said Amsler. “We just wanted her to get better, but she didn’t seem to respond to anything we…
Despite the efforts of freshman Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) to avoid the censure of Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield), it appeared that the Senate would vote to censure her this week. “I worked tirelessly so we could come to a compromise,” Morrissey said on Saturday, noting he supports the freedom of speech. The compromise included Chase apologizing for certain things and denouncing certain things, Morrissey said. However, on Friday, Jan. 22, Chase instead gave a general apology while condemning violence that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. On Jan. 8, the state’s Senate Democrats called on Chase to resign…
By a 4-1 vote with Midlothian board member Dot Heffron dissenting, the Chesterfield school board on Jan. 12 approved a return to in-person learning on Feb. 1 for prekindergarten through fifth-grade students. The remaining grades would return to in-person instruction at an undetermined time. Parents and students who want to remain 100 percent virtual can do so. Clover Hill board member Kathyrn Haines was hopeful that all teachers would have a COVID-19 vaccination by March 1, thus enabling the return of secondary school students. The vote followed the direction of staff and was based on a revised recommendation from Harvard…
The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 approved a modified noise ordinance. The noise ordinance prohibits noises from electronic devices that can be heard inside nearby residences or 50 feet from the device between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. It also prohibits noises that are “plainly audible” during daytime hours in nearby residences or 300 feet from the device. The modification passed unanimously. A violation is a misdemeanor with a fine of $100 to $500. It requires a complainant to testify before a magistrate or for a police officer to do so if there is no complainant. Exceptions are…
Kristin Wright with her two boys.
Despite a global pandemic and social and political unrest, these days, Kristin Wright feels unstoppable. She didn’t achieve such confidence without personal setbacks and challenges, though. “It took becoming a mother, going through a divorce, and having my life turned upside down to really dig deep and find out who I was, what I wanted, and what I was going to do about it,” Wright said. Much like Wright’s life at one point, in 2020 the world seemed to have turned upside down. In the wake of a global pandemic, joblessness increased, medical centers became overwhelmed, learning and working from…
A campaign to raise money for children’s books for local libraries is underway. Friends of the Chesterfield Public Library call this the “signature” part of the association’s 50th anniversary celebration. “There is the need for the county’s public libraries to replenish the high-in-demand but very worn collections,” said Kathryn Helen Geranios, campaign chairman. “During 2020, picture books have become the second most in-demand for the Chesterfield County Public Library systemwide,” she said. “The dedicated librarians are attempting to accommodate the requests from ten library branches; this task is especially demanding during Covid-12 with some public libraries still closed to the…
A big 4-H thanks from the 4-H Business Bunch and Cloverbud Clubs The 4-H would like to thank everyone who helped to make and fill Christmas Stockings for Seniors. The 4-H Business Bunch and Cloverbud Club members have been making Christmas stockings for several years in partnership with the Chesterfield County Council on Aging. This year, Always Best Care Senior Services assisted the Council on Aging in filling and delivering the stockings to seniors. A donation of 42 stockings were donated to 42 seniors in the county. Fifty Christmas cards were handmade by 4-H members to include in the stockings.…
Reviews of current Chesterfield/Colonial Heights District Court Judge Pamela O’Berry were split when two committees from the state House and Senate met virtually on Friday, Dec. 11. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman John S. Edwards (D-Roanoke) said he had “never seen so many citizens in support and so many with a different position” about a judge. O’Berry, who has served 12 years on the court, is one of five judges on the 12th Judicial District. Positive opinions of the judge came from several well-known officials, including county supervisors James Holland (D) and Chris Winslow (R), state Del. Dolores McQuinn (D-Richmond) and…