INSIDE Luck Stone’s Denise Baddour named PRSA president > page 5
Volume 57, Number 14 • April 8, 2010
Larceny prompts school lockdown By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com
Photos by Ken Odor
Above, at the March 30 public hearing Jason Chavis protests proposed tax increases, calling education a sacred cow in need of castor oil. “Don’t’ take anymore of my money, you’ve get plenty,” said Chavis. “You have $23 million and you can’t educate these children?” Below, Board of Supervisors Chairman William Quarles responds to citizen concerns.
Citizens speak out on taxes By Amy Condra acondra@goochlandgazette.com
Goochland’s Board of Supervisors hosted a public hearing last week on a wide range of issues affecting the county, including its recommended county and school budgets, capital improvement plan, tax rate, and water and sewer charges.
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Calendar Classifieds Education News Letters
15 13-15 3 2 6-7
Feature Opinion Sports TV Listings
4 6 8-9 10-12
Revenue generated from higher rates would prevent the county from making deeper cuts to a County Administrator Rebecca Dickson’s revised recommended budget for 2011, one that, at $40.8 million, is 6.3 percent lower than the current year’s plan. Contributing to the budget’s
SPORTS Collegiate softball off to strong start. > page 8
see Budget > page 2
A larceny at the China King Restaurant Thursday afternoon caused school officials to lock down three schools for an hour until officials determined there was no danger to students. Goochland Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chad Hatton said deputies responded to the restaurant in the 1900 block of Sandy Hook Road at around 2 p.m. Two males thought to be in their teens took money from a tip jar on a counter and fled on foot, according to restaurant employees.
No weapons were displayed and no one was injured, said Hatton. Sheriff’s deputies set up a perimeter with the help of Virginia State Police officers but the suspects remained at large. Because of the proximity to several county schools, Goochland Elementary, Goochland Middle and Goochland High Schools were locked down from 2 to 3 p.m., causing disruption in bus schedules. Hatton said the Sheriff’s Office has leads on the identity of the two suspects and hopes to make arrests soon.
Second Union restoration begins School building damaged by vandals last summer
which stands in the parking lot of Second Union Baptist Church, was damaged by vandals last August, as was the church. By Ken Odor Every window in the school jodor@goochlandgazette.com was broken, along with four of the church’s stained glass winWork has started to restore dows. No arrests have been the historic Second Union made in the incident. School on Hadensville-Fife Road in western Goochland County. see Restoration > page 4 The old school building,
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west SERVING EASTERN GOOCHLAND AND WESTERN HENRICO
Laurel Skate Park opens