Chase reflects on session; decries ‘assault on 2nd Amendment’
0Although Democrats dominated the recently-completed legislative session, state Sen. Amanda Chase was in favor of some bills that passed and wait Gov. Ralph Northam’s signature. Chase, a second-term legislator, co-sponsored a bill — SB 95 — that requires “balanced emergency billing.” The bill, she explained, will require insurance companies to work together to ensure that patients don’t get stuck paying for out-of-network doctors. Chase said that sometimes a person goes to an in-network hospital emergency room, but gets treatment from out-of-network medical service providers, which can result in financially devastating bills. The Chesterfield County Republican said she also supported a…
Compromise on Chesterfield judges fails
0Although a compromise was offered to get through a disagreement over appointment of two judges to Chesterfield courts, the effort failed last week before the Legislature finished its session. Joe Morrissey, a Democratic first-term state senator who represents eastern Chesterfield County, said that he and six other legislators agreed to replace retired Circuit Court judge T.J. Hauler with Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge Jayne Pemberton and appoint Travis Williams, a black attorney, to fill Pemberton’s seat. Williams is a Chesterfield resident and has served 17 years as a substitute judge in Chesterfield General District Court, Morrissey said. The compromise…
It’s all about quality time for Davis-Kelley
0Renita Davis-Kelley’s mother always told her “When you’re nice and kind to people, that will always show up,” and that has been Davis-Kelley’s motto ever since. The teacher believes being nice and kind and showing students that she cares goes a long way and it will make the environment safe to learn. Davis-Kelley is an economics and personal finance teacher at the Chesterfield juvenile detention center and has been there for 18 years (she has 25 years in education overall). She said her courses are in relation to what the market demands, and personal finance, a state requirement for students…
Community meetings focused on county budget
0The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors and School Board members will cohost community meetings focused on the proposed FY2021 budget. The meetings, which are being held in each of the county›s magisterial districts, will follow County Administrator Joe Casey›s presentation of the proposed budget during the Board of Supervisors work session March 11. Residents can attend any of the meetings regardless of where they live in the county. Each meeting will give attendees the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the Board of Supervisors and county administrators about the budget process, and learn how taxpayer money is being allocated. …
Burn ban in effect, fines imposed
0The statewide 4 p.m. burn law went into effect Feb. 15. This law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day between Feb. 15 and April 30 if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brush, or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials. Violation of the 4 p.m. law is a Class 3 misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500. “The 4 p.m. burn law is one of the most effective tools we have in the prevention of wildfires,” said John Miller, director of fire and emergency response at the Virginia Department of Forestry. “In…
New fire boat coming to Chesterfield
0Chesterfield Fire & EMS has a new secret weapon for battling fires by waterway a state of the art fire boat, a 2020 SAFE 31Special Purpose EMT. The emergency response vessel has an enclosed, all-weather cabin to allow the vessel to respond in all types of weather and water conditions to individuals or vessels in distress. It is equipped with a 600 gallons-per-minute fire pump, radar, thermal imaging camera, sonar, and EMS/rescue equipment, said Lt. Jason Elmore of Chesterfield Fire & EMS. The emergency response vessel was purchased through the Port Security Grant Program with support from The Port of Virginia and…
Key legislation
0By Del. Carrie Coyner As I am writing this week’s update, it is Sunday, March 8 at 1 p.m. and the General Assembly is still in session. We left here last night around midnight and returned this morning to address the large number of bills that have still not been agreed to between the House and Senate, as well as final adoption of the state budget. Next week’s column will provide you with details of the budget and major bills that passed from the General Assembly. The majority of bills I patronized passed out of both the House and Senate…
Weekly Calendar
0WEDNESDAY MAR 11 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING – Noon to 9 p.m. Budget Work Session in Afternoon; Regular Evening Session with Zoning Requests. Afternoon sessions break at 5 p.m. for dinner, and then resume at 6 p.m. Public Meeting Room, 10001 Iron Bridge Road. CHESTERFIELD NEEDLEWORK FRIENDS – 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Central Library, Chesterfield Business Suite Conference Room. Knit, crochet, socialize, and share your techniques. All skill levels welcome. MAKERSPACE OPEN HOURS – 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Central Library MakerSpace. The MakerSpace in Central Library has open hours each week. No appointment is necessary to visit during…