Outside fires
0I thought that I would write about the things that cause fires on the outside of our homes. The weather has finally changed, ushering in outdoor activities. Since more and more people are going outside, it is important to think about those things that can cause a fire on the outside. As always, my list will not cover everything that might happen, but it is designed to make the readers think about their homes and potential issues. I had originally titled this “The Deck,” but it is about any fire on the outside of a home. Your deck is a…
L.C. Bird High graduates 443
0Valedictorian Lily Tran had attendees of Lloyd C. Bird High School’s June 7 graduation laughing. Tran told her fellow graduates to look underneath their seats, paused and then said, “Just kidding.” She encouraged them to treat each person they come across with compassion and kindness. “Good deeds are never too late,” co-salutatorian Chengjian Chen said. “The world doesn’t magically get better on its own.” Co-salutatorian Elijah Kien thanked God for “everything He has done for me. Without Him I wouldn’t be here,” which resulted in rousing cheers from the audience. Kien also thanked his mother, father, brother and various school…
Matoaca High School graduates 416
0Valedictorian Lillian Wilmarth and salutatorian James Marrs were among the students who graduated from Matoaca High School June 4. Wilmarth and Marrs were among 81 students who received college scholarships. Tobias Konieczka and Drew Lather each received $100,000 scholarships. Konieczka was awarded Hampden-Sydney College’s Venable Scholarship, while Lather got a Human Dynamics scholarship from Syracuse University. Others who received scholarships of $20,000 or more include: Dalton Powers, $96,000 from Virginia Wesleyan; Denai Williamson, $96,000 from Bridgewater College; Victoria Roberts, $88,000 from Virginia Wesleyan; Ayanna Scarborough, $85,000 from Roanoke College; Tahani Dickson, $80,120 from Berkeley College; Ryan Smith, $60,000 from Lynchburg…
Meadowbrook High School graduates 350
0Meadowbrook High School led off a series of three graduations June 7 at the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. School board chairman John Erbach said the class – which walked onto the floor with many smiles and much cheering – was one of the most impressive he’s seen. Erbach encouraged the group to find their limits and prove people wrong. “If you try to find your limits, you will be impressed with what you achieve in your life,” he said. “Our day-to-day actions will determine our future,” salutatorian Tamia Penn told her fellow graduates. “Success is a process. It’s…
Thomas Dale High graduates 552
0The 110th commencement of Thomas Dale High School saw 552 graduates receive their diplomas before a large crowd at the Siegel Center. Interim superintendent Donald Fairheart noted the school received platinum donor status for donating $6,675 toward “The Cure Starts Now,” an anti-cancer fundraising organization. School board member Carrie Coyner encouraged graduates via video to “bless because you are blessed; love because you are loved.” Madeline Renault was valedictorian. Salutatorian Makayla Callender told graduates that “character is who you are; reputation is what others think of you.” Quoting poet Maya Angelou, Callender said, “If you don’t like something, change it;…
Matoaca High grad finishes successful college career
0In a sports world growing more and more obsessed with specialization, Matoaca High alum and Randolph-Macon College graduate Rick Spiers made a career from doing exactly the opposite. “When he was in high school, he did everything well but didn’t go anything great,” said Randolph-Macon coach Ray Hedrick. “He really wanted to be a dual threat player, and we offered him that opportunity.” Despite playing seven different positions and hauling in a load of accolades, Spiers didn’t receive a college offer outside of the Yellow Jackets. “I did feel overlooked,” Spiers said. “Obviously, every athlete has Division I dreams, and…
Fathers in the Dogpound
0Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. If you have been paying attention to the calendar, you are aware that the kissing cousin to Mother’s Day is just around the corner. No peeking at the calendar or Google…can you guess? That is right … the lesser known Father’s Day is just around the corner. Mother’s Day was made an official holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, whereas Father’s Day was not recognized as a national holiday until 1972 by President Richard Nixon. That’s the reason I call it the lesser known. The truth be had,…
NAACP committee chair protests incident; Police department says Taser use ‘improper’
0CHESTER – A March 28 incident near Virginia State University resulted in the Chesterfield NAACP’s legal redress committee hosting a press conference last week at Chester Library. Committee chairman Tavorise Marks called the press conference to protest the treatment of 21-year-old James Monk, who was pepper sprayed twice and Tased once after failing to comply with police officers’ orders. Monk was detained so that police could search the vehicle he was driving after an officer said he smelled a “strong odor” of marijuana. At the press conference, Monk said he doesn’t smoke weed and nothing was found in the vehicle.…