Former Army soldier now a teacher at Bellwood Elementary
0Bellwood Elementary’s 2019 Teacher of the Year said he didn’t want to be a teacher when he was growing up. Robert Nichols said his dreams changed as he went along and that being a teacher is where he needed to be. Nichols grew up in Buffalo. Prior to teaching, he was in the New York National Guard and the Army. His military service paid for his first college degree and still influences his current profession as he has high expectations and provides motivational talks for his students. After working as a school occupational therapist for nearly a decade, Nichols said…
Recently deceased
0NDRUZZI, JOHN P., 72, of North Chesterfield, husband of Lauren Sawtelle. BROWN, RONALD, 46, of South Chesterfield. CANNON, LEON JR., 55, of North Chesterfield, an Army veteran, husband of Shafnee Cannon. DANDRIDGE, MILES SYLVESTER, 59, of Chesterfield, companion of Gail Harris. DUREN, DEBORAH WINGER, 58, of Chesterfield, wife of Norman Gene Duren. GILL, EDYTHE EDWARDS, 99, of Chesterfield, widow of William B. Gill. HARVEY, JUDITH SLOAN, 71, of Chester, widow of Stephen A. Harvey. HOAGLAND, BECKY J., 78, of North Chesterfield, wife of Larry Hoagland. HOGGE, THOMAS CLIFTON, 76, of Chesterfield, an Army veteran, husband of Joyce Gibson Hogge. HORTON, ROBERT MURRAY, 91, of Chesterfield, a Marine Corps veteran, husband…
More than a hotel
0A hotel is a commercial establishment that provides short-term, paid lodging with meals and other services for travelers and tourists. Or so we thought. Last Sunday night, a fire ripped through a hotel in Chesterfield. The fire sent four people to the hospital and displaced 34 occupants. Three of the four who went to the hospital were police officers who arrived before firefighters and attempted to notify occupants. Firefighters said smoke was banked down to the doorknob in the outside corridors. Under normal circumstances, hotel occupants would be travelers with minimal possessions. However, today’s hotels have become another form of…
Williams is dancing: L.C. Bird alum in pursuit of second national championship
0What do you get the college basketball player who has everything? Another national championship. Kenny Williams, a L.C. Bird High graduate, is a senior at No. 1 Midwest seed North Carolina. After already winning a national title in 2017, he’s looking to end his college career on top. With a 81-59 win over ninth-seeded Washington on Sunday, Williams and company advance to the Sweet Sixteen to face Auburn at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Once the apple of then-VCU coach Shaka Smart’s eye, Williams committed to Roy Williams and North Carolina late in the recruiting process after Smart left for the University…
Bird boys soccer continues to improve
0Once not considered a competitive program, L.C. Bird High School’s boys soccer program developed and grew into one under Juan Chavez. The development and growth have continued under second-year head coach Bobby Clarke. This season, the Skyhawks will contend with the loss of eight starting seniors, highlighted by All-Conference and All-Region performer Kevin Medina. L.C. Bird will be very young in the net and on defense with a more experienced midfield and forward unit. Alejandro Compos is just a freshman, but is an experienced goalie with plenty of club soccer experience. Clarke called him a “very solid player” who “leads…
Warriors will count on pitching depth
0In Chris Olsen’s second year at Matoaca High School, the Warriors experienced another successful season. They finished 14-5, but didn’t make the playoff run they hoped for, falling at the hands of Douglas Freeman in the first round of the regional tournament. Gone are three key contributors: Hunter Vaughan (club baseball at Longwood University), Justin Parker (North Carolina Central University) and Jacob Waltman. The Warriors will have a lot of options and depth on the mound this year. Juniors Troy Whitaker, Brandon Arrowood, Chase Garrett and Marcus Dreher should all see time on the bump. Look for Whitaker to take…
Hill looks to lead Knights softball
0Like Thomas Dale High School baseball, softball went on a ride last year that took them to the state semifinals, where they fell to Grassfield. And like their diamond counterparts, they’ll do everything they can to get back and make it to the promised land under coach Patrick Sweet. Three seniors graduated from the 15-7 team: T’Asijah Vaughan (Virginia State), Brooke Dudley and Rebecca Kirby. The former two were starters, and the latter was a reserve player who provided great leadership. Longwood University pledge and senior Leigha Hill will enter the circle for her last season pitching for Thomas Dale.…
GTO cadets
0Brandon Garcia, Conner Ackerman, Christopher Brennan and C.J. Gallagher made up the first graduating class of Chesterfield’s Growth Through Opportunity Academy. Not pictured is Dakaree Mitchell. The academy teaches job skills and social experience to those with unique challenges. (Teresa Bonifas photo)