News

This and that

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Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Well, Thanksgiving is over, the election is over “kind of,” and Christmas is the next box we need to check off to close out the year 2020. I have been busy; I got my new carpet in, and finally got my new kitchen/dining room floor installed (dish washer had a bad leak), looks very nice. Did discover that when they moved the washer and dryer the vent hose fell apart, literally. I could see the rest of the hose through the hole in the floor, but it was too…

Morrissey questions Circuit Court Judge Brice; part of judicial performance review by General Assembly

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A number of Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Circuit Court judges are up for six-year renewals, but one in particular was questioned by state Sen. Joe Morrissey (D) recently. He asked Lynn S. Brice, one of six circuit court judges serving Chesterfield, several questions during a joint Dec. 10 meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Courts of Justice Committee. Morrissey said Brice was “unfailingly polite” to him when he appeared before her as an attorney, but noted he received several complaints about her. A district court clerk in a small jurisdiction described her relationship with Brice as a “toxic work…

Some legislators left holding the bag in redistricting

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Legislators are trying to figure out their next steps following a map proposed by two special masters to the state Supreme Court following the 2020 Census.  State Sen. Amanda Chase (R) has a Senate district laid out for her to run in again in 2023 if she so desires. SD73 would cover the western half of Chesterfield, similar to her current district. That district also includes freshman Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D), but has a 54.3 to 38.7 percent Republican tilt based on the 2016 presidential  election.  However, Chase recently threw her hat into the ring as one of eight Republicans…

Supervisors approve redistricting map, land purchase in Dale for park 

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On Nov. 17, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve Plan B of the redistricting map process related to the 2020 Census.  County Attorney Jeff Mincks noted that the map smooths out some lines. It also moves all of the Woodlake subdivision from Matoaca to Clover Hill.  Some have claimed that the county was intentionally moving Democratic voters to the Dale District, thereby bolstering Republican supervisors in Clover Hill and Midlothian.  “It is a numerically-driven exercise,” Mincks said. “We don’t make changes based on political party affiliation or voting history. This is not a politically-driven exercise.”  Mincks…

Morrissey reflects on election, upcoming session

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State Sen. Joe Morrissey (D) took time last week to reflect on the Nov. 2 election in which Glenn Youngkin (R) won the governor’s race and his party picked up seven seats to win control of the state House of Delegates, subject to two recounts in Hampton Roads. Earlier, Morrissey said he thought Democrat former Gov. Terry McAuliffe would win, based largely on the coronavirus. However, that issue faded a bit over the last several weeks heading up to the election and trailed the economy, education and taxes in issues on voters’ minds, according to MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki.  Morrissey said…

Supervisors hear about Riverside Jail agreement, approve $3K bonuses for deputies

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On Oct. 27, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors heard about a two-year agreement regarding the Riverside Regional Jail and also approved $3,000 bonuses for sheriff’s deputies. The two-year consent agreement between the state and the jail, which had 414 Chesterfield inmates as of Oct. 27, effectively ended a probationary period due to three inmate deaths from 2019-2020, according to attorney Jeff Gore. However, supervisors Jim Ingle (R-Bermuda) and Chris Winslow (R-Clover Hill) disagreed with that assertion. The 20-page agreement established three internal audit procedures, Gore said. “They’re still on probation with me,” Winslow said. “Only time will tell if…

Citizens decry firing of high school teacher 

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Several local residents continued criticism of the Chesterfield County Public Schools Board during their Oct. 12 meeting. In addition to general criticism about a mask mandate for teachers and students, Anne Taydus called the board to task for the firing of Monacan High School government teacher Stephen Roszel. “You squashed him,” she said.  In addition, Taydus said that three school board members are “up for removal,” but she didn’t elaborate other than to say it’s not being covered in the media. Another media outlet reported that she was circulating a recall petition.  Roszel also addressed the board during public comment. …

Supervisors hear about broadband expansion, redistricting proposal

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The Chesterfield County supervisors heard updates about broadband expansion and a redistricting proposal during their Sept. 22 meeting and also recognized several longtime county employees. In regard to broadband, Barry Condrey, the information systems technology department’s chief information officer, said that only 726 residences out of 116,085 lack broadband internet access. Some may be able to access Elon Musk’s Starlink dishes next year, Condrey said. But in the meantime, the county has applied for $7.8 million in grants from the state to provide these locations with service. It would involve 150 miles of line, he said. Over 80 percent of…

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