RENTING IN THE DOGPOUND
0Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Hope you had a nice Easter and are ready for the Tax Man. Over the Easter holiday weekend I decided to give old Betsy [my 2004 Honda] some much needed and deserved rest, and rented a car to make sure all of my holiday travel was uneventful. I am not saying Betsy would not come through as she always does [I know she can hear me through the garage walls], but her engine light was on again and I wanted to get to the mechanic before I drove her…
‘Mr. Speaker’ Cox takes helm of state assembly where he has served 27 years
0Kirk Cox enjoys his job, and as the 55th speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, he hopes to continue in that post for several more years. Cox, R-Colonial Heights, became speaker in January when he began serving his 28th year in the state Assembly. He was elected to the state House in 1989 and began serving in 1990 when the Republicans were “way in the minority.” At that time, serving as speaker was “not on my radar,” he said last week following an evening presentation before the Chester Lions Club. The former government and history teacher replaced Bill Howell,…
Re-entry program one of many offered by sheriff’s office
1April Hutchison loves helping people. She got the opportunity to do just that when the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office decided to hire a re-entry coordinator over a year ago. Hutchison, who had been a stay-at-home mom for a year and a dispatcher and customer service rep for a local trucking company for 14 years before that, jumped at the chance. A friend who was then an employee of the sheriff’s office told her about the new position. Since her dad, Rusty Hutchison, had worked as a police officer in Chesterfield for almost 30 years, she was somewhat familiar with law…
Residents protest megasite, others object to utility rate increases
4Some 85 people rallied outside the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors meeting March 28 to protest a proposed megasite in the southern part of the county. Inside, the supervisors took public comment about a proposed 3.5-percent increase in water and sewer rates and about a $711 million budget that represents a 3.3-percent increase. The budget would cut the real estate property tax rate 1 cent to 95 cents per $100 of assessed value. But even with a 1-cent rate cut, county officials predict they will pull in an additional $15 million in local real estate tax collections over the next…
Audit reveals $99M in unfunded liabilities
0Unfunded liabilities in a supplemental retirement plan for Chesterfield County Public Schools’ employees accumulated to nearly $100 million over more than two decades, according to a report recently issued by the county’s internal audit director Greg Akers. Akers, who presented his report to the county’s Audit and Finance Committee on March 12, said trustee investment services and the retirement plan were not actively managed from 1995 to 2017. A chart in the report shows that net pension liability was at $99 million in early 2016. By mid-2017, the figure had declined to just over $80 million. Akers said the Chesterfield…
CCPS approves year-round school at Bellwood Elementary
0Year-round school is a go at Bellwood Elementary School beginning in July. During a special meeting on March 23, the Chesterfield County Public Schools board voted unanimously to approve a proposal for a pilot program at Bellwood. School board member Carrie Coyner said the school held two additional meetings with parents following the regular March 13 meeting that resulted in the vote being postponed. The district also called 262 homes of students who attend Bellwood, and 75 percent of those who answered or responded to phone messages supported year-round school, she said. Eleven percent were unsure but supportive, and 13…
Matoaca’s Pencile breaks VHSL record
0“If you don’t at first succeed, try, try again.” That adage is applicable to all aspects of life, but especially to Matoaca High School soccer forward Maiya Pencile in the Warriors’ 8-3 win over L.C. Bird last week. On her run to the goal, Pencile kicked the ball toward the back of the net and saw it deflect off the Skyhawks’ goalie. However, the 5-5 senior was able to control the rebound, kicking it over the goalie’s head for a goal. It was the 127th of her career, setting a Virginia High School League record for goals scored. “I knew…
Recently deceased
0Anderson, Mr. Lloyd “Wes,” 80, of Chesterfield, husband of Delores Anderson. Atkinson, Mr. Brent Temple, 50, of Chester, fiance of Diane Bro. Fariss, Mrs. Dorothy, 87, of North Chesterfield, widow of Edward Richards Fariss. Ferguson, Mrs. Doris Wiglesworth, 88, of North Chesterfield, wife of Rupert S. Ferguson. Mallory, Mr. John Edgar “Hollywood,” 60, of Chester, husband of Gail Lee Mallory. Morgan, Mr. Christopher Lee, 58, of North Chesterfield, husband of Catherine Morgan. Mayo, Mr. Howard A. III, 76, of Chesterfield, widower of Bertha Vermelle Mayo. Wingo, Mr. Jeremy Wray, 38, of Chesterfield, fiance of Georgette Waytes.