Community talks about criminal justice reform
0HARP 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…
Chester resident turns 99
0Bernice Elder Bennett turned 99 on April 25. She celebrated her special day with many loved ones and friends at Tyler’s Retreat nursing home, 12001 Iron Bridge Road on April 27. She is pictured with her youngest sister, June Elder Williams. (Manuel Ruiz-Albino photo)
Strong Men and Women exhibit coming to Matoaca
0The Rev. Andrew J. White Matoaca High School invites community members to view the 2019 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History exhibit, currently on loan from Library of Virginia, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, May 13. The annual exhibit honors seven distinguished black Americans, past and present, who have made important contributions to the state, nation or their professions. Attendees will be able to meet the Rev. Andrew J. White Sr., one of this year’s honorees. During his career, which included leading Zion Baptist Church in Petersburg from 1963 to 2011, White was a prominent advocate for health…
Music series begins May 16
0Jay Turner and the Swinging Doors Third Thursdays on the Green, presented by the Chester Community Association, starts up the season of music in Chester Village at 6:30 p.m. May 16 on the Village Green. Jay Turner and the Swinging Doors will be on stage playing classic country tunes. According to Chris Bopst at Style Weekly, “the group doesn’t pollute the blue-collar soul of Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb and Lefty Frizzell with upwardly mobile sanitation. Its adherence to tradition will keep it off modern country radio playlists, but if you really like country music, you don’t listen that painful drivel…
Three displaced, dog rescued from house fire
0Three adults were displaced when fire damaged their home in the 5300 block of Ridgerun Terrace on Thursday, May 2. Fire and medical personnel were dispatched to the residence at 12:51 a.m., Chesterfield Fire and EMS spokesman Jason Elmore said. Fire could be seen coming from the rear of the structure, he said. The three adults had escaped the home while firefighters were en route. “Firefighters entered the home and discovered the dog on the lower level,” Elmore said. “The dog was removed and checked out and found to be in good health. No treatment was needed.” The fire marshal’s…
Education assn. calls Mayday after two teachers assaulted
0A teacher from Thomas Dale High School was assaulted while in the classroom on Wednesday, April 22, and the injuries sent the teacher to the hospital, police said. As a result, the Chesterfield Educational Association sounded a Mayday. “It was reported that a 15-year-old male student threw his backpack and two chairs at a (female) teacher,” Chesterfield police spokeswoman Elizabeth Caroon said. “During the incident, the student also damaged a school laptop and pulled a fire alarm.The woman, whose glasses were broken during the incident, was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A police officer filed a…
Oil change?
0Workers were busy last week at 10850 Iron Bridge Road, where a Valvoline Instant Oil Change is being built between Kroger Marketplace and Murry & Kuhn Dentistry. (Caleb M. Soptelean photo)
Longtime music teacher reflects on career
0On June 14, Curtis Elementary will be saying goodbye to its music teacher. Randy McConnell has taught at the elementary school for 25 years. All told, McConnell has been teaching for 39 years, including time in Tennessee, North Carolina and Lunenberg County, Va. He said he is retiring because it’s time. “Someone told me years ago, ‘Randy, you’ll know when it’s time,’ and I did. I know it’s time.” A native of east Tennessee, McConnell – who plays piano and organ – had an affinity for music at a young age. It was his choice to take lessons he said,…