INSIDE NAACP honors two at annual banquet > page 2
Volume 56, Number 38 • September 23, 2010
Field Day of the past breaks attendance records
New federal money means more school jobs By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com
Photo by Ken Odor
Dennis Gammon and Louise Holland cut lumber into two-inch sections so that Thomas Cozart can turn them into broom handles at last weekend’s Field Day of the Past. It was the 19th year for the Rockville event. Field Day organizer Melinda Gammon said attendance broke all previous records, exceeding the 34,000 who attended last year, although a final count was not yet in at presstime.
Goochland teen’s death still under investigation By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com The Goochland Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in determining what led to the death of Billy Lee Maxwell III, 17, who was found in the middle of Broad Street Road just east of Maidens Road early Saturday morning. Goochland Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chad Hatton declined Monday to call the incident a case of hit and run. “It’s too early in the investigation,” said Hatton. “We are trying to find out exactly
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what happened.” Hatton said it does appear a vehicle was involved. Unresponsive but still breathing, Maxwell was found “in the middle of Broad Street,” according to Hatton. He died around 3:30 a.m. at the scene. His body has been taken to the Richmond Medical Examiner’s office where toxicology tests will be performed. Authorities said there was no one at the scene when the incident was reported or when authorities arrived. Investigators want to hear from persons who may have seen anything in the area
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of Broad Street Road between Oilville and Maidens Roads from 1:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday morning. Hatton said the Sheriff’s Office is working closely with Virginia State Police and reminded the public that any information is wanted. “We are looking to talk to anyone,” he said. “They can always call Crime Stoppers anonymously,” said Hatton. Anyone with information can contact the Goochland Sheriff’s Office at 804-5565349 or Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
SPORTS Runners make strides at Collegiate Invitational > page 9
Goochland County schools will benefit from a newly passed federal program to the tune of more than a quarter of a million dollars, said superintendent Linda Underwood at last week’s school board meeting. “We expected to get maybe $60,000,” said Underwood. The money comes from the Education Jobs Fund Act, passed by Congress in August. “Much to our surprise, we got $260,000,” Underwood told board members. Nationally the legislation provided $10 billion for education jobs. Underwood said Goochland will use half the money this year and save half for next year. Five jobs will be funded with this money, said Underwood: one middle school teacher, three classroom assistants (one for each elementary school) and a classroom assistant at Goochland High School. Earlier in the meeting Underwood produced a summary of positions reduced in the current budget. All told 18 positions were reduced in the current budget: nine teaching or instructional support positions, three instructional assistant jobs, one clerical
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position at the high school and one at the middle school and three central office positions. In addition, the new budget reduced hours for contract cleaners and instituted four furlough days, said Underwood. The board also discussed plans for an all-day retreat in the first half of October to begin discussion of a revision of the school board’s comprehensive plan. A date for the retreat, which will be held locally, has not yet been set. One topic of contention was a request for approval for a Spring Break trip by the Goochland High School baseball team to Disney World. Although no school funds are being requested, board member Raymond Miller balked at approving the trip. “I would prefer this request be included in the September 28 presentation,” said Miller, referring to the scheduled presentation of by GHS and GMS will present the board with a proposed budget for the athletic department. In other news, Underwood announced that two empty positions in central office have now been filled. Shannon Lacy has been named Testing Coordinator and see Federal > page 3
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