Virginia House unveils new searchable website of its members
0In recognition of the 400th anniversary of the first meeting of elected members of the House Burgesses in Jamestown, the House Clerk’s Office on Jan. 3 unveiled the culmination of an ambitious, multi-year project – DOME, or Database of House Members – that offers biographical and legislative service information on every House member since the first burgesses convened in July 1619. Now available in one convenient place is a treasure-trove of interesting data chronicling the 9,700-plus men and women who served as burgesses or delegates in the Virginia General Assembly over the past four centuries. The first-of-its-kind compilation is an…
Spanberger votes for Bustos, not Pelosi
1U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger In the Jan. 3 vote for U.S. House Speaker, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., voted for Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill. Spanberger, who represents part of Chesterfield County, said she would not vote for Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who was elected with 220 votes compared with 192 votes for Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Despite saying they would not support Pelosi during the campaign, numerous other Democrats changed their minds and voted for her. During the campaign last year, incumbent Republican Dave Brat tried to tie Pelosi to Spanberger, but the former law enforcement officer for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service…
Matoaca Middle School East addition involves two projects
0School district and county officials and construction and architecture employees broke ground Friday. Progress toward a new unified Matoaca Middle School began last week with a groundbreaking ceremony at 6001 Hickory Road. School district and county officials and construction and architectural representatives were on hand for the Jan. 4 event. Phase I of the project will result in a new 38,255-square-foot wing being added at the Matoaca Middle School East campus at an estimated cost of $15.6 million. That addition will include 20 to 30 new classrooms, Matoaca school board member Rob Thompson said Friday. The project will ultimately result…
Retired Army nurse facilitates PTSD group for veterans
0Tonia 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’
2Betty 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
0Jeff 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
0Girl 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.”
Recently deceased
0Cherry, Mrs. Constance Diane, 56, of Chester. Dunfee, Mrs. Susan Ann Jensen, 67, of Chester, a wife of Rick Dunfee. Freeburger, Mr. Barron Henry, 84, of Chester, widower of Helen Louise Tally Freeburger. Hamilton, Mr. Kenneth Lee Sr., 91, of North Chesterfield, a Navy veteran, husband of Kathleen Hamilton. Hammond, Mr. Joseph C., 56, of North Chesterfield. Harris, Mr. Eugene Clay, 71, of North Chesterfield, a Vietnam War-era Air Force veteran. Morley, Dr. Emily, 85, of Chesterfield, wife of John W. Morley. Perreault, Mr. Paul David, 83, of Chester, a retired Army master sergeant who served in the Vietnam War, husband of Mary Jo Perreault. Stevens, Mr. Andy J.,…