Community

Matoaca High School graduates 429

By Danielle Ozbat on June 11, 2019 Community, Schools

Alexander Repak and Shane Hendricks were co-valedictorians of Matoaca High’s 2019 graduating class in which 429 received diplomas at the Virginia State University Multi-Purpose Center. “Shane and I have been friends since we were 2 years old, and honestly we never imagined we’d be standing side by side on this stage today,” Repak said, referring to Hendricks. “Since we’ve known each other for so long, we thought it would be best to end our high school career the same way it started: together.” The co-valedictorians thanked God for giving them strength the last four years, their parents for pushing them…

Meadowbrook High School graduates 381

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 11, 2019 Community, Schools

Meadowbrook High School held its 55th graduation ceremony on June 6 at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center. A “thank you” message that salutatorian Huy Hoang made to his parents in Vietnamese resulted in cheers and clapping from the audience. Hoang encouraged his classmates to “reach out and meet others. You never know how a mystery person might impact your life … Nothing comes without risk. It might lead to a brighter future or self development. Get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.” He cited Jesus’ words as recorded in Luke 17:21: “The kingdom of God is within…

Carver College and Career Academy graduates 118

By Danielle Ozbat on June 11, 2019 Community, Schools

Marissa Mansfield Carver College and Career Academy became the first school to kick off graduation season last week when 118 graduates received their diplomas June 3 at the Virginia State University’s Multi-Purpose Center. Superintendent Mervin Daugherty presented valedictorian Marissa Mansfield and salutatorian Khadyjah Dennis with the Superintendent’s Excellence Awards, which are $1,000 each. Carrie Coyner, Bermuda District school board representative, joked that the students would miss their youthful bodies one day and told them to make time for their health today or it would take time from them later. Chesterfield County supervisor Dorothy Jaeckle echoed Coyner’s statements and thanked principal Kenneth…

Karate class for children with special needs brings joy to students, instructors alike

By Amanda Creasey on June 4, 2019 Community, Sports

Instructor Mary Setzer, on right, helps student Avery Allen position his arms for a stance. (Radiant Snapshots) Corey Setzer leads exercises. (Radiant Snapshots)Branden Rivadeneira practices a karate move during a Parts of Me Are Excellent karate class. (Radiant Snapshots) When Mary Setzer was 4, she began taking karate classes alongside her brother, Justin, who was 2 1/2 years older. “Justin and I were inseparable,” Setzer said. “I wanted to do everything Justin did.” The classes were no ordinary martial arts experience. Part of Southside Virginia Police Karate Association, they were designed with special needs in mind and known as Parts…

Going solar? Colorado firm has designs on south Chesterfield megasite

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 4, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Planning & Zoning

The ‘megasite.’The site contains several bodies of water. If a rezoning application is approved by county officials, some 900 acres in the Bermuda District could become a solar farm with an estimated 300,000 solar panels in about three years. Torch Clean Energy of Boulder, Colo., recently submitted the application to the Chesterfield County Planning Department and has options to purchase 1,677 acres, including 1,540 from the Shoosmith family (Thomas Co.) and 137 from the estate of Joseph Hotz, according to Brennen Keene, a local land use attorney. The solar farm – which is being called the Chester Solar Technology Park…

Dump truck spills load on Nash Road

By Becky Wright on June 4, 2019 Community, Fire & EMS, Police

A dump truck spilled wood chips. (Billy Spivey) A dump truck crashed in the 11400 block of Nash Road on Tuesday, May 28. The truck overturned after the driver lost control around 1:30 p.m. Officials said the driver was able to get out of the vehicle on his own while rescuers were on the way. Some diesel fuel spilled, along with a load of wood chips. There were no injuries, and the driver was not charged. The road was closed for several hours for clean up.

The Sinning Saint: West pens book about overcoming life’s struggles

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 4, 2019 Community, Features

Lamar West (Samantha Tieng) “In this darkness, my demons and scars seem to be the only things that understand me.” Such is a poem on page 6 of Lamar West’s new book, “The Sinning Saint.” His response from Scripture is: “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14). West, 23, recently published his second book, which opens with him questioning his faith in God, anxiety and childhood trauma, including “a lot of things growing up that I didn’t hear Christians talking about,” he said. The book then shifts to West falling in…

Plan derailed: Federal agency halts study for new train station

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 4, 2019 Community, Development, Transportation

A study on where to build a new railroad station in the South Chesterfield area has ended for the time being with no conclusion. The Tri-Cities Metropolitan Planning Organization received word from Federal Railroad Administration official Marlys Osterhues in an April 4 letter that the study begun in 2014 had been discontinued. Last June, David Hyder, transportation director for the Crater Planning District Commission, said that a Finding of No Significant Impact should be complete by sometime in July 2018. That finding was to come on the heels of the completed environmental assessment, he said. Last week, Hyder said the…

Zoned out: County gets injunction against local charity

By Caleb M Soptelean on June 4, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government, Courts, Planning & Zoning

Employees of Home Depot helped rehabilitate a water-damaged building at 500 Baptist Drive last year. (Caleb M. Soptelean) Last summer, the Guardians HOPE Center received help rehabilitating a building at the site of a former Bible college. Now the center’s leaders have been ordered by a judge to cease all uses of the property until they come into compliance with zoning or modify a conditional use permit. In an April 30 ruling, Chesterfield Circuit Court Judge Edward A. Robbins Jr. ordered Chris and Stacy Lane, David Lee and Whitmell Investment Group to cease all uses of the property at 500…

Lets Go Services provides rides to those in need

By Press release on June 4, 2019 Clubs, Community

Theresa Sears speaks recently before the Chester Lions Club. (Carelyn Sheppard) Lets Go Services is a new nonprofit that provides transportation and more for people who need it and might not otherwise be able to afford it. The company serves Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, Goochland, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, Richmond, Varina, and other local areas. Owner Theresa Sears saw the transportation need while she was a teacher at Landmark Christian School. Her original company, Transporting Angels LLC, started by transporting children to and from school. It quickly expanded to providing non-emergency medical transportation for a wider group that included people with disabilities, the…

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