INSIDE Discussing discrimination in Goochland
> page 5
Volume 57, Number 6 • February 10, 2011
County shocked by treasurer’s arrest State police begin investigation into embezzlement charge By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com
Virginia State Police have begun their investigation into an embezzlement charge filed last week against Goochland Treasurer Brenda Grubbs. Grubbs was Arrested by the Goochland Sheriff’s Office Feb.2 and freed on $20,000 bond. At her arraignment Monday in Goochland District Court a preliminary hearing date was set for March 14. Goochland Circuit
Court Judge Timothy K. Sanner has named Fluvanna Commonwealth’s Attorney Jeffrey W. Haislip as special prosecutor to handle the case. Grubbs was arrested after investigators from Wachovia Bank contacted Goochland CountyAdministrator Rebecca Dickson last week to report that Grubbs had attempted to cash a $14,000 check on a county account. Wachovia Bank had previously contacted the Sheriff’s Office Jan. 24 “to
report unusual bank transactions with a county account,” said Goochland Sheriff James L. Agnew. When confronted by Agnew, Grubbs admitted to attempting to cash the check, according to an affidavit to a search warrant issued for her vehicle and “she confessed cashing other checks since August 2010. She believes these check could amount to$135,000,” continued the affidavit.
Grubbs also told Agnew that she had wired money to Dubai by means of Western Union. Agnew said that while permission from the attorney general is needed for the state police to investigate a constitutional officer, he acted “in order to ensure the integrity of the county financial system and to prevent any further attempts to withdraw cash.” see Grubbs > page 2
BRENDA GRUBBS
Supervisors greet school budget with skepticism But speakers give it support By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com
Photo by Ken Odor
School Board Chairmen Ivan Mattox and Goochland School Superintendent Linda Underwood present the approved schools budget to the board of supervisors at last weeks meeting.
INDEX
Calendar Classifieds Education Letters
12 13-15 4 6
News Opinion Sports TV Listings
3 6 8 10-12
The big item on last week’s evening session at the Goochland Board of Supervisors meeting was the presentation of the School Board Approved Budget, which asks for a county transfer of just over $18 million, about
SPORTS There’s a buzz in the air with R-MC baseball. > page 8
$1.4 million more than the suggested transfer made by the county administrator last fall. According to budget figures prepared by the School Board, the $23,696,456 figure requested by the schools represents a $742,911 increase over fiscal year 20102011, with $444,214 accounted for by a VRS rate increase, which the School Board hopes to pay for with money from the VRS reserve fund established by the county. The remaining $287,399 represents a request for more
funding from the county. Nine speakers availed themselves of the mike during the citizens’ comment period just before the presentation. Seven urged the board to support the schools budget, some urging the supervisors to consider raising the tax rate, if necessary. First to the mike was Kevin Heff, who encouraged the board to maintain the current real estate tax rate, or even lower it. He also asked the board to “hold the School Board accountable.”
T H E
But speaker after speaker that followed took the opposite side. “I am more than happy to pay more taxes,” said Carolyn Elliot. “If something isn’t done, the schools will go down.” “I truly feel we are at the breaking point,” said Beth Hardy. Ken Stern said he was in favor of fully funding the school budget request and agreed raising property tax rate should be an option. see School > page 4
L O C A L
west SERVING EASTERN GOOCHLAND AND WESTERN HENRICO
Arts Center planning their biggest event ever