ROAD TO RECOVERY
0Swift Creel Mill Theater, a beloved 200-seat theater, dinner destination, and professional troupe are recovering from flash floods in the wake of heavy down pours that hit on August 15. Housed in a historic gristmill dating to 1663, the nearly 55-year-old playhouse and its structure lay in the path of a swollen Swift Creek brought on by the 10-inches of rain the area received on Aug. 15. Water filled the basement and more than a foot rose into the main floor destroying all fixtures, furniture, and permanent art. ”I have been through many floods during my 44 years at the…
Art center nears completion, board in search of new director
0Over the last 14 months, the Baxter Perkinson Center for the Arts has sprouted from the ground that has been patiently waiting for its arrival for nearly two decades. The theater that will host a bevy of artistic programs for Chester and the surrounding area is expected to be completed in the next five to six weeks. And according to the Chesterfield Center for the Arts Foundation (CCAF), it’s like something Chester has never seen before. “It’s the type of facility that people will come to regardless of what show is playing,” said Hugh Cline, chairman of CCAF board. “It’s…
School board approves metrics for reopening schools
0Metrics to gauge and allow a phased-in return to in-person learning for students were adopted by the Chesterfield County Public Schools Board during its Aug. 11 meeting. If health data related to COVID-19 keeps improving, all students — or those who want to — could return within a seven-week period, a Project Restart board document states. The metrics would use a seven-day average of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people, the positivity test rate and the rate of hospitalizations. In the document, superintendent Merv Daugherty said, “This is a dynamic plan that will change as guidance does.” Noting Chesterfield is one…
More flood, more often
0To the Editor: Flooding at Chester Road and Centralia has occurred twice in recent weeks. Run-off on the Great Branch Creek on the lower part of my property in Wellington Farms has doubled since the construction at Iron Mill. This month another large development on Womack Road of at least 70+ single family homes (with future potential of many more) is coming before the PC, which could lead to additional runoff into the Great Branch Swamp area. One home that backs up to this swamp has lost most (96% RPA) of its lot to the increased water levels. How can Environmental improve controls…
Chesterfield names new deputy county administrator
0Parks and recreation director to oversee county’s Division of Human Services Chesterfield County announced today James D. Worsley as its new deputy county administrator for Human Services. Worsley currently serves as the county’s Parks and Recreation director. The Board of Supervisors is expected to appoint him at its Aug. 26 meeting, and he will begin his new role effective Oct. 1. In his current role, Worsley leads the county’s Parks and Recreation Department serving as a key advisor to the county administrator and the Board of Supervisors. Responsible for maintaining more than 180 parks, playgrounds, and athletic facilities and leading…
Russell challenges students to dream big
0When the Chesterfield County School Board announced a virtual start for the 2020-2021 school year, Heather Russell was excited for the challenge. The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathmatics) teacher immediately started seeking donations to put together engineering STEAM take home bags for every student at Ecoff Elementary, which they will contain consumable building supplies and a STEAM journal for students to complete the first nine weeks of school. Russell has been a teacher at Ecoff for nine years and in her four years as a STEAM teacher she created STEAMtastic Academy, Ecoff’s first before school program, it won the…
Bird’s Trinidad up to 13 offers
0One of the hottest names in the area for recruiting, Kris Trinidad’s of L.C. Bird has attracted 13 scholarship offers, with the University of Richmond and Sacred Heart being the latest. Trinidad, praised by coach Troy Taylor for his work ethic, offers a huge, expandable frame at 6-6, 210 pounds and has an excellent “old school” mentality. In fact, the rising senior is so “old school” that he didn’t even have a social media account until he began getting recruited this past spring. As for the other eleven schools on his list thus far, they include Air Force, Army, Bryant,…
Former Warrior commits, three other Matoaca standouts get new offers
0Four Matoaca football players made waves on the recruiting newswire over the past week. The headliner was a commitment from Jalen Bailey to Virginia State after a successful prep year at Fork Union Military Academy. While the season for Virginia State is uncertain with COVID-19, Matoaca football coach said that Jalen would be physically ready after a year of prep at Fork Union. Jalen’s path to college football took an unexpected turn as he tore his ACL prior to his senior season. After a successful rehab of the injury, he completed a year at Fork Union and earned a scholarship.…