Chesterfield ‘students of the year’ recognized
0CHESTERFIELD – Wonderful worker. Knowledgeable. Impressed with their service to the school and community. Kind. Happy. Eager to help. These are the some of the descriptions of Chesterfield County Public Schools’ 2018 Students of the Year, who were recognized April 26 during a special celebration. The annual event honors two students from every Chesterfield County school for demonstrating citizenship and the school division’s core values of respect, responsibility, honesty and accountability. Below are the 2018 Students of the Year for Chesterfield County Public Schools in the Village News coverage area: Elementary schools Bellwood — Grace Abolade and Leila Dodson Bensley…
Beamon’s stock soars, Payoute’s starting to climb
0The L.C. Bird High School football faithful have another season of watching the greatest recruit in school history: defensive and offensive lineman Hakeem Beamon. Beamon has offers from Alabama, Ohio State, South Carolina, UVA and Arkansas, among many others. The rising senior was originally committed to North Carolina, but withdrew his verbal agreement a couple of weeks after offers came from the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes. At 6-4, 250 pounds, Beamon has blossomed into a world-class athlete. Depending on which recruiting site one reads, he’s typically rated four stars and is arguably pushing five stars. “He is a big kid…
Spring in the Dogpound
0Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Spring must be in the air; first there was one, then two and now three; Yes, my turtles have returned to the pond. Then there was the “winter legs” alert that went out to my neighbors. Yes, my first day outside wearing shorts while mowing my lawn. Draw the shutters and put on the shades; these legs have not seen the sun for a very long time. Along with turtles, shorts, and mowing…here comes the dandelions. I declare this the “Year of the Dandelion!” They are everywhere! It is…
EDA board votes to withdraw application to rezone megasite
2Following an executive session that lasted about an hour Thursday morning, May 3, the Chesterfield Economic Development Authority unanimously approved a resolution to withdraw a rezoning application for a proposed megasite on 1,675 acres in the southern part of the county. Several EDA members said the county should continue looking into developing the site, which currently has residential zoning. The EDA had been asking for industrial zoning to attract a manufacturing business. The EDA, which had planned to purchase the property from the Shoosmith family, suggested that the county purchase the land.
Police looking for missing man
0Chesterfield Police are searching for a missing man who was last seen by family on Sunday, April 29. David J. O’Dell, of the 1200 block of Wycliff Court, was last seen by family on the morning of April 29 at his residence. He spoke to a relative via phone at about 6 p.m. on April 29, and said he was leaving his residence to visit a friend. When O’Dell had not returned home by about 5:30 p.m. on April 30, his family contacted police. O’Dell, 33, is described as a white male, about 6 feet 4 inches tall and 240…
Carver Academy plans to ‘grow’ curriculum
0Carver College and Career Academy students recently took up gardening. Students, staff, alumni and volunteers planted the school’s first garden April 21 behind the school at 12400 Branders Bridge Road. About 50 people showed up and got their hands dirty. “Students have been working really hard, learning something new,” first-year teacher and project organizer Rebecca Paoletti said, adding that students were figuring out what plants work best when planted next to each other. “A lot of the kids aren’t used to doing this kind of work,” she said. The plants were grown inside the school under a “grow light” and…
Recycling solution? Dominion to come up with coal ash remedy by November
2Above: Dominion Energy spokesman Rob Richardson looks at the Chesterfield Power Station from the upper coal ash ‘pond.’ Recycling coal ash was popular at the state Legislature this year. A bill that requires Dominion Energy to conduct a request for proposals for recycling options at its two legacy coal ash “ponds” at the Chesterfield Power Station passed with near unanimous support. Gov. Ralph Northam signed the bill (SB 807) into law March 30. The new law delays closure of the ponds – which are now mostly dry – and requires Dominion to produce a business plan that complies with the…
Supervisors adopt new plan for northern Jeff Davis neighborhoods
0Chesterfield County adopted a new special area plan for the north Jefferson Davis Highway Area last week. The supervisors approved the plan 4-0 with Supervisor Chris Winslow absent. The plan replaces one that was approved in 1993. The plan – which covers the Bellwood, Bensley and Ampthill areas – includes over 13 square miles and some 12,000 residents and 12,000 jobs, county planning director Andrew Gillies said. He noted that the county began working on the revised plan in 2015 and said that more than 96 community meetings were held. Among the plan’s goals are enhancing the area’s gateways, pedestrian…