Community

County looking to create five new voting precincts

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 15, 2019 Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Government

New Board of Supervisors Chair Leslie Haley Five new voting precincts could be in effect for elections later this year if a proposal from the county registrar is approved by the board of supervisors. Following long lines at several county precincts on Nov. 6, Chesterfield registrar Constance Tyler recommended that five of the largest precincts be split. The supervisors scheduled a public hearing on the matter at their Jan. 23 meeting. A moratorium on precinct splits goes into effect Feb. 1 and runs until May 15, 2021, so the supervisors are required to act before then to make any changes.…

Journey of Hope for children

By Diane Merryman on January 15, 2019 Community

Grayson Riley listens carefully for instructions from his riding instructor, Victoria Bryant. When Grayson Riley, 7, comes to Journey of Hope for Autism to take his horseback riding lesson, he is excited and focused. That’s something his mother, Rebecca Riley, doesn’t see very often. Grayson has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. “The minute he gets out of the car, he feels a sense of freedom that he doesn’t feel anywhere else,” Rebecca said. “It’s OK for him to run around and catch a chicken, run with the dog or slow down and pet the bunnies. All of the energy that he has pent…

Village News visits Dollywood

By Press release on January 8, 2019 Community, Travel

Val and Bethany Yurachek recently vacationed to Gatlinburg, Tenn., where they stopped in at nearby Dollywood with the Village News.

Credit union names new CEO

By Press release on January 8, 2019 Business, Community

CHESTERFIELD – Argent Federal Credit Union recently hired Jamie Asciolla as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer. Asciolla has more than 20 years of experience in the credit union industry. His last job was at 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union in Yorktown, where he was the chief operating officer since 2012. Asciolla has a bachelor of arts degree from Rutgers University and a master of business administration degree from the University of Maryland. He replaces Rose Baggerly, who worked with the credit union for the past 40 years. Based in Chester, Argent was founded in 1956. Initially serving…

El Juguetazo

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 8, 2019 Community

Toys were distributed to area children Saturday, Jan. 5 at L.C. Bird High School for El Juguetazo, or ‘the little toy,’ an annual event held in conjunction with Three Kings Day. The event commemorates the arrival of wise men bearing gifts for the child Jesus. The event was started in Chester 15 years ago, event organizer Juan Santacoloma said.

Police investigating bank robbery

By Press release on January 8, 2019 Community, Police

Chesterfield police are investigating a robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank at 5630 Hopkins Road. Police said a woman entered the bank just before 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, and provided a note to a bank teller demanding money. The woman obtained a small amount of money and fled on foot. She never displayed a weapon, and there were no reported injuries at the bank. During the police response to the scene, it was learned that the suspect may have discarded some of the money just inside Richmond city limits in the 100 block of German School Road. Police recovered…

Retired Army nurse facilitates PTSD group for veterans

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 8, 2019 Community, Military

Tonia Golden loves helping people. That’s why she became a nurse. Even though she’s retired, Golden continues to serve by facilitating a post-traumatic stress disorder group at Chester’s Disabled American Veterans chapter. The group, which meets at 11 a.m. Thursdays at 6221 Newbys Bridge Road, averages about 12 members at each meeting, said Golden, who grew up in Baltimore and served in Vietnam as a nurse in the Army Nurse Corps from 1966-70. Members come together to chat about life. “It’s very informal,” she said. “Some days we don’t even talk about PTSD. Sometimes they will approach it indirectly.” Sam…

‘Miles to go before I sleep’

By Mark Fausz on January 8, 2019 Outdoors

Betty Matthews Driving past a place, hearing a song or seeing something that is familiar can bring back wonderful memories followed by a little sadness. Elizabeth “Betty” Matthews, 92, died Friday, Dec. 28. She is mostly known for her service and working to create a sense of place for Chester. Some 19 years ago, after reading about a couple of community groups in the western part of the county, I wrote an editorial about Chester and the southeastern part of Chesterfield as being the stepchild of county administration. With no official group to represent the Chester area about what was…

New hiking-only trail opens at Pocahontas State Park

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 8, 2019 Outdoors

Jeff Samuels stands on the new Co-op Trail that he helped build. Those who love to take a hike now have a new option. The Co-op Trail officially opened Jan. 1 at Pocahontas State Park. Jeff Samuels, director of the Friends of Pocahontas State Park’s trails committee, said the trail is currently 3 miles although another mile is planned later this year. The Co-op Trail runs along the north shore of Swift Creek Lake and begins near the Pocahontas boat ramp. The trail intersects several other trails too, including a three-quarter mile loop located near the eastern edge of the…

Local Girl Scouts take action for foster kids

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 2, 2019 Community

Girl Scout Troop No. 5257, along with Highland Springs Church of the Nazarene and Gerlach Legal Services, recently collected, packed and labeled backpacks with toiletries, pajamas, books and comfort items for kids in foster care. The bags are important since many kids in foster care receive trash bags to haul their things from place to place, according to the Scout troop. The Girl Scouts delivered the bags to Chesterfield and Petersburg departments of social services on Dec. 19, just in time for Christmas. Some of the girls earned credit for their Silver Award for the “Take Action Project.”

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