12/08/2011 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE New School Board gets oriented > page 4

Volume 57, Number 49 • December 8, 2011

Goochlanders turn out for wrapping day

Thurston convicted on assault charge By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com

Photo by Ken Odor

Sheriff Jim Agnew wraps presents last Saturday morning at the Old Goochland Middle School, flanked by Kit Davison, President of the Christmas Mother Board, Christmas Mother Dale Agnew and Wrapping Day Chair Gloria Turner. See story and another photo on page 5.

District 4 recount set for Dec. 15 By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com

Rejecting attorney Bradley Marrs’ argument that a recount petition filed by Malvern R. “Rudy” Butler should be dismissed because his client R. H. “Bob” Minnick was not served within the proper time, Chief

INDEX

Calendar Classifieds Letters Obituaries

Judge John G. Berry set Dec. 15 as the date for a recount of the votes in the Goochland District 4 Supervisor election. Minnick was certified the winner of the election by just six votes, 842 to 836 but Butler asked for a recount in a petition filed Nov. 18. Marrs argued that his client

16 17-19 6 8

Opinion 6 Sheriff’s Reports 11 Sports 12-13 TV Listings 14-16

was not notified until Nov. 28. “We have a deadline that was not met,” said Marrs. But Berry, while agreeing with Marrs’ argument that Butler did not comply with the statute, citing the public interest, denied the motion to dismiss, subject to the review of the complete three-judge panel

which will convene Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. to go over procedures for the recount. The recount will be held Dec. 15 at 1 p.m., at Goochland Circuit Court. Berry instructed the two parties to pick two election officials see Recount > page 3

The assault charge against Betty Thurston, Supervisor of Transportation for Goochland County Schools, brought against her by school bus driver Tonya Gilman, was tried Dec. 5 in General District Court by Judge Edward Carpenter. Carpenter found Thurston guilty and fined her $250 plus court costs. “I feel vindicated,” Gilman said after the trial. “I’m pleased with the judge’s decision.” Thurston left the courthouse with family and friends and would not comment. The charges grew out of an incident Oct. 13 between Gilman and Thurston at the Transportation office where the two had words and then Thurston allegedly grabbed Gilman by the arm. “She had me by the arm and held on for over a minute,” Gilman testified. “I had to tell her two times to let go of my arm before she did.” The encounter led to Gilman filing assault and battery charges against Thurston. The case and verdict might have turned on a legal definition given by Goochland Commonwealth Attorney Claiborne Stokes as it applied to the case. He noted that any uninvited or unwanted touch, under the law, constitutes a battery. When questioned, Thurston admitted she touched Gilman, but denied grabbing her. Defense Attorney John Amos said the evidence didn’t support the charges and asked Judge Carpenter to dismiss them. After briefly reviewing his notes, Carpenter found Thurston guilty. Goochland County School Superintendent Linda Underwood, present for the trial, refused to comment after the verdict was delivered.

SPORTS

NEWS

Goochland aiming for perfect season

BES recognized for conservation efforts

> page 12

> page 10

Thursday

Want more? Visit us on the web at

PEOPLE: Personalities & Achievements

December 8, 2011

www.goochlandgazette.com

Christmas shopping - Will they spend? Service of Advent Lessons and Carols on December 18th a Service of Advent Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 PM. This admission-free event is a gift to the community to help “put Christ back into Christmas” and prepare us to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Donations will be accepted for the benefit of the Goochland County Christmas Mother Fund.

St. Luke’s Anglican Catholic Church 555 River Road West (Rte. 6),Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 (804) 784-6190 www.StLukesRichmond.org We are approx. 3 miles west of Rt. 288 where Rt. 6 changes from 2 to 4 lanes.

$ Gold and Silver $

S CITIZEN SENIOR an additional

ad Receive s with this 10% Bonu DES COINS) (EXCLU

ARMED SECURITY ON DUTY

We pay signed double for je • Tiffany • welry! • Van Cleef Cartier & Arpels •R • David Yurmoberto Coin • David W an • Judith Ripka • Gucci • D ebb • Lalaounis unay • • Maubouss Buccellati in

We are a Virginia company with 20 licensed and bonded locations in Virginia and a proud sponsor of keeping your business right here in our state.

BRING GOLD - GET CA$H TODAY Gold, Platinum, and Silver

chains, bracelets, rings and watches. We pay top dollar for your estate, broken or unwanted inherited jewelry. We Testh Dental gold, gold and silver coins. & Weig t In Fronu of Yo

Sterling silverware, sterling tea sets.

Clean out your jewelry box and storage! Visit NationalRedemption.com for a bonus coupon NEW LOCATION Holiday Inn Hampton Inn Koger Conference Petersburg Quality Inn & Center Southpark Mall Suites Airport 2458046-01

1021 Koger Center Blvd. Richmond, VA 23235

(Between Chesterfield Towne Center & Johnston-Willis)

Dec. 8-11 Dec. 15-18 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

$ $ $RECORD $ $ $ $HIGH $ $ $GOLD $ $ $PRICES $ $ $ $• RECORD $ $ $ $ $HIGH $ $ GOLD $ $ $ PRICES $$$$$$

403 E. Roslyn Rd. Colonial Heights, VA 23834 (95 S. off exit 53, merge left at fork, 1/2 mile on the right.)

Dec. 8-10 Closed Sun, Dec. 11 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

5203 Williamsburg Rd. Sandston, VA 23150 (64E Exit 195 Laburnum past White Oaks Mall. Left on Williamsburg Road. Hotel is 2 blocks on the right.)

Dec. 8-11 Dec. 15-18 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Bring extra $$$$ $ $ $this $ $ $ad $ $for $ $an$ $ $ $ $$5 $ $with $ $ $your $ $ $sale. $$$$$$

Harwood

Lange

Gardner

Lockhart

By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com

playoffs are my main focus,” he said. “Winning the state championship would be a great present for the boys. They’ve worked hard and deserve it.” Harwood said his wife had done some shopping, and he would do the shopping he needs to do when football season is over. “I’m just getting started with my Christmas shopping,” said Mary Lou Lange. “I do quilts and make a lot of presents. I’m making a quilt for my granddaughter.” Lange and her son own a small business named The Gold Spot. “We buy gold and silver

and have seen an increase recently,” she added. “With so many people out of work, they are selling gold and silver items to raise Christmas money. We had a lady in last week who made the comment as she left that now she could go buy her daughter the bicycle.” June Gardner works part time and hasn’t started shopping yet. “I’ll start soon,” she said. “I have grandchildren I will shop for and will probably go to the big stores. With the economy like it is, I probably will not spend as much this year as I did last year.” There was one holiday tradition that Gardner said she

would start soon. “Cooking! I’ll be doing some holiday cooking soon.” Tita Lockhart hasn’t started shopping yet and had an excellent excuse for not joining the throngs on Black Friday. “We were at the beach for Thanksgiving,” she said. ‘We were down at Duck and had a wonderful time. So, I haven’t shopped yet and wish I knew what to give people.” As for cyber shopping, Lockhart said that wasn’t an option. “We don’t have service where we live.” As for shopping in general, Lockhart had one thought for Christmas shoppers, “Merry Christmas.”

The number of shopping days until Christmas will soon become a daily countdown as the last minute rush to get presents occurs. Around Goochland, some folks will get around to shopping when their schedule allows and still others will do it the “old fashion way,” they’ll hand make presents. For Edward Harwood, Christmas shopping is something he hasn’t given any thought to yet. “I’m an assistant football coach at Goochland High School and right now the

Goochland Forum Club installs officers Contributed Report The Goochland Forum Club installed its’ officers for 2012 on December 1, at a dinner meeting Elpis Christian Church in Maidens. The dinner was followed by a program of Christmas readings and music by Reverend Paul Simrell, Pastor at Elpis . The officers for 2012 are: Stuart Napier, President; Jeff Spence, Vice President;

Mary Katherine Sheppard, Secretary and Carroll Gilbert, Treasurer. The Goochland Forum Club, established in 1994, meets monthly in different locations around the county and invites speakers from local government and social agencies to discuss issues of interest to county residents. Anyone interested in joining can contact any officer Contributed Photo mentioned above for more information or call Stuart Rev. Paul Simrell, Pastor at Elpis Christian Church, plays the piano at the Goochland Forum Club December meeting. Napier at (804) 784-0175.

Thursday

December 8, 2011

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Want more? Visit us on the web at

www.goochlandgazette.com

Time to get your flu shot By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com

As warm breezes start to turn cooler with the arrival of the Christmas season, another season is also in full swing. Flu season is here, and while the miseries associated with the illness are not of great concern to most people, getting a flu shot should be. The flu is a viral infection of the lungs. There are two main types of influenza virus: A and B. Influenza occurs most often in the late fall and winter months in the United States. Anyone can get influenza, but it is most serious in young children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses like lung disease, heart disease, cancer and diabetes, or those with weak immune systems. Influenza spreads easily through discharges from the nose or throat. Symptoms usually appear one to three days after exposure. Influenza symptoms can include a sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, cough, sore throat and body aches. Most people are ill for less than a week but some people have complications and may need to be hospitalized. At the Goochland Free Clinic, two cases of flu have been treated. The clinic is giving out vouchers for flu shots at Walgreens and

CVS locations. So far, about 140 vouchers have been given out. “The Health Department hasn’t treated any cases of the flu recently,” said Dr. Brooke Rossheim, Acting Director of the Chickahominy Health District, which includes Goochland County. “Typically it runs from December to March. The only thing predictable about the flu season is that it’s unpredictable.” The Health Department has flu shots available for $30 each. The Center for Disease Control says while laboratory tests are available to diagnose influenza, doctors diagnose the flu from a person’s symptoms. Rest, liquids, and over-thecounter medicine are the usual treatments. Aspirin should not be given to children with fevercausing illnesses because of the possibility of a complication called Reye’s syndrome. Influenza can spread from one person to another, beginning about one day before symptoms appear through about a week after onset. All persons aged six months or older should be vaccinated against influenza each year since protection from the vaccine usually only lasts several months. Travelers to countries outside of the U.S. may also need to consider influenza vac-

vote count is what’s important. We’ll let the process unfold.” continued from > page 1 “I think the judge was fair,” plus one alternate each for their said Butler.. recount teams and have those names ready by the Dec. 8 hearing. He then had Goochland Registrar Frances Ragland turn over tapes from the voting machines and records of pro“Your Home is My Business” visional and absentee ballots to Clerk of the Court Lee G. Turner, who will safeguard them until the recount date. “We thought we had good grounds for dismissal,” said Minnick after the ruling.“But the

Recount

cination. Individuals can stop the spread of flu and other germs by covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and by washing their hands often. They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth and should stay home from work, school, and other activities when sick. They should also avoid contact with people who are sick. The Web site www.flu.gov has a flu shot finder where you can enter a zip code to find a location(s) giving flu shots.

BUGGY TOP BARNS 10%OFF upto $250in

FREE

options onallcustom built& instockbarns.

“Southside Virginia’s Oldest Storage Shed Manufacturer”

8'x8' ........................... $1,000 8'x12' ......................... $1,300 10'x12' ....................... $1,650 10'x16' ....................... $1,950 10'x20' ....................... $2,350 12'x16' ....................... $2,350 12'x20' ....................... $2,850 Price Includes tax, delivery and set-up on blocks. • Custom built to your specifications • All sizes available 8' x 8' to 12' x 32' • We also build garages, carports, pole buildings and horse sheds.

Highway 60, 1/2 Mile West of Cumberland Courthouse, Virginia

PHONE 492-4444 www.BuggyTop.com

MCV Campus, 1001 E. Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23219 Brook Road Campus, 2924 Brook Rd., Richmond, VA 23220 | www.chrichmond.org

Thursday

December 8, 2011

GOOCHLAND SELF-STORAGE

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Want more? Visit us on the web at

www.goochlandgazette.com

School Board - Elect attends class Orientation open to the public

Clean Storage Facilities at a Convenient Location • 6 sizes available • From $59 a month • On call 7 days a week • Conditioned units available

Oilville Business Park • 784-4949 Located at Oilville exit on Rt. 617

www.goochlandselfstorage.com

Semiprecious • Silver

GOOD TEA PARTY BAD

30% Off

Diamonds, Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds & Tanzanites

40% Off

Our

Second Century

— Established 1897 — Charles D. Morehead, President and General Manager

Bennett West • Henrico 11020 West Broad Street Henrico’s families have trusted Bennett Funeral Homes in their time of need for an entire century.

359-4481 • www.bennettfuneralhomes.com

By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com

Goochland’s five new School Board Members-elect invited the public to a meeting last Tuesday afternoon, so both they and county citizens could get a better idea of how the board functions. “We wanted to manage expectations for the meeting,” said Beth Hardy, who the new group has indicated will be the new School Board chair come January. Hardy called the meeting an orientation for both the members and the public. About 30 people came to observe, including a number of school personnel. Goochland Schools Superintendent Linda Underwood spent much of the more than two-hour meeting explaining to the members-elect the current policies of the School Board and going through the organizational chart of the county school system. Periodically one of the members-elect would interject a question or a member of the school staff would be called on to make a point. Hardy asked when the last policy review had been done and Underwood explained that policies are regularly changed in responses to legislative mandates from the General Assembly and the federal government. Kevin Hazzard asked if workflows are documented and was assured that they were. John Lumpkins asked several questions in an attempt

Photo by Ken Odor

Goochland School Superintendent Linda Underwood speaks before an orientation meeting for the School Board members-elect last week as Kevin Hazzard and Beth Hardy listen.

to identify who were the cost center managers. Later in the week Hardy spoke about the meeting and the challenges facing the incoming School Board members, who must approve a budget by Jan. 31. “We need to rely on the administration to explain to us how the budget is put together,” said Hardy, who said the incoming members would meet with Goochland County Administrator Rebecca Dickson next Monday, when they hoped to get an idea of the likely county transfer to schools for FY2013. “It’s a little nerve wracking not knowing what the numbers are,” admitted Hardy. “The timing is so difficult.” Member-elect John Wright, who is expected to be School Board Vice-Chair, said Monday that the budget proposal delivered to County Administration on Feb. 2 would of necessity be a “working document,” as it will be based on numbers that are likely to change as the process evolves. For example, the county

will learn on Dec. 19 what the governor’s proposed budget is, thus determining what Goochland might expect from the state, a number which will only be determined later after the General Assembly session. Both Hardy and Wright stressed that, despite the compressed time frame, their goal was to provide the public ample opportunity to give the new School Board input on the budget. “While we cannot change the budget timeline itself, we are planning to tweak the focus of each of our meetings to maximize public conversation,” said Hardy at the beginning of the meeting. The schedule calls for the superintendent to present a budget proposal to the School Board at its first meeting, Jan. 3, after which the School Board will meet each Tuesday of the month, with approval of the budget expected on Jan. 31. While a public hearing on the schools budget is set for Jan. 24, Hardy said that the public would be able to comment on it at the Jan. 10 and Jan. 17

budget work session meetings as well as the public hearing. Hardy called Tuesday’s meeting an opportunity for the public to find out what the School Board does. “We don’t manage the day-to-day operations of the schools. We hire the superintendent and set policy,” she explained. She said last week’s meeting plus meetings with Dickson and Underwood would lay the groundwork so the new School Board could hit the ground running in January. Last year the county provided just over $23 million for the county school system operating fund. Hardy said she expected about the same amount this year but that remains to be seen. Last year the Board of Supervisors imposed additional reporting requirements on the school system, expressing their frustration with the schools budget preparation process. With essentially two new boards, the next budget process could be much different.

Thursday

December 8, 2011

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Community turns out to help on Wrapping Day

Brown Motor Parts, Inc. Rt. 6 & 45 at George’s Tavern

5285 River Road West Goochland, VA 23063

(804) 457-4495 Hours: M-F 8am-6pm • Sales after hours by Appt.

AUTO PARTS

SALES & SERVICE

• All Makes & Models of Auto,Truck & Tractor Parts • Hydraulic Hose • Lawn Tractors • Compact and Utility Tractors, up to 75 hp • Saws and • Trimmers

Full Service Department VA State Inspections

www.goochlandgazette.com

Get Christmas

CASH

By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com

They got up early and by 8 a.m. they were wrapping gifts and boxing them up for the more than 300 families on the Goochland Christmas Mother’s list. More than 100 volunteers filled the Old Goochland Middle School gymnasium with the Christmas Spirit, wielding scissors, wrapping paper, ribbon and scotch tape. “More than 100 people showed up to wrap,” said Gloria Turner, Goochland Christmas Mother Wrapping Chairperson and a former Goochland Christmas Mother herself. “A lot of people brought their own wrapping materials. We finished early because we had so many volunteers,” she said. Shopping Day was last Tuesday at the Short Pump WalMart. “We had good participation,” said Turner. Wrappers could take a break for hot dogs and drinks after they worked up an appetite, in the same room where Doris Brooking proudly displayed the 33 new bicycles the program will distribute this season. “These are brand new bikes,”

Want more? Visit us on the web at

GOLD

8101 Staples Mill Road • Wistar Center • 266-0600

Powhatan County

20 Acres on James River

Photo by Ken Odor

Long-time Christmas Mother volunteer Doris Brooking with some of the more than 30 bicycles that will brighten a youngster’s Christmas morning, thanks to the Christmans Mother program in Goochland.

said Brooking. “No second hand or used ones.” Brooking said 24 of the bikes were donated by the Richmond Bicycle Association, along with helmets for the young riders. Nancy Gottwald said that 137 families have been adopted, a large increase over last year. When an organization adopts a family, they take over

the whole operation from the Christmas Mother program, providing a package of food and gifts. That allows the Christmas Mother program to help even more people. This coming Saturday is Pick Up and Delivery Day at the Old Goochland Middle School. But the Christmas Mother program is a year round operation and

those who would like to support it may contact the organization at any time at info@ goochlandchristmasmother.org or may mail a donation to the program at:

4206 Michaux Grant Rd. Transitional Home w/basement, 8 stall barn, pastures, 30 minutes to Richmond, beautiful views

$649,940

VENTURE REAL ESTATE

Debra Hoffman, Principal Broker OFFICE: 784-2772 FAX: 784-2773 debra@venturerellc.com

Goochland Christmas Mother P.O. Box 322 Goochland, VA 23063

Rhonda’s

Barbershop 1589 Hockett Rd. Manakin-Sabot, Va. 23103

Train For a Career In Health Care!

804-708-0253 Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Rhonda Raymond, owner

Goochland County Historical Society 2012 Calendar

The Perfect Gift

Goochland County’s unique wall calendar featuring sepia-toned vintage photographs of people and places in the County is on sale for $8 at the Goochland County Historical Society and the Goochland County Administration Building. Call (804)556-3966

Medical Assisting Practical Nursing Medical Billing & Coding 7914 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond

800-494-5809 Day and Evening Classes l Job Placement Assistance | Financial Aid if Qualified Accredited School, ACCSC | Additional Certification May Be Required.

Thursday

Want more? Visit us on the web at

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

December 8, 2011

www.goochlandgazette.com

Recount goes forward We sat in Goochland Circuit Court last Friday afternoon and got a gratifying lesson in how democracy works in this country and especially Goochland County. The issue at hand was whether or not to grant a petition filed by Rudy Butler for a recount in the District 4 Board of Supervisors election, where Butler lost to Bob Minnick by a mere six votes, it turns out, after the votes were tallied a second time by the Registrar. Chief Judge John G. Berry agreed with Minnick’s attorney that Butler, who was not represented by counsel at the hearing, had failed to adhere to the letter of the law by not having a summons served on Minnick within the prescribed 10-day period, although Butler had filed his petition within the required time. Nevertheless, Berry ruled that the recount could go forward. He cited the public interest and several times referred to the concept of an “automatic recount” when the difference in vote totals is so close. We agree. In an election of this importance, it’s absolutely necessary to make sure that the results are confirmed and accepted by all the citizens. It’s worth the time, effort and yes, the cost to make sure that whoever is sworn in Dec. 22 is for sure the winner in District 4. The new Supervisors will face vexing problems in this weak economy and will likely have to make painful budget decisions. Any and all doubt as to who the victor is any district

should be resolved and the recount will accomplish this. Judge Berry’s ruling was the right one.

Football fever Will Goochland be a ghost town this Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to Salem to battle for the state championship? It’s been an amazing run for the Goochland High School football team this season. Undefeated so far, they’ll battle Gretna, a team they defeated in 2006 on their way to a state championship, in their quest for yet another state crown. Let’s hope for good weather and a spirited game and keep our fingers crossed that the Bulldogs come home victorious.

Christmas play at GHS But if you stay home, there’s theater at GHS The Goochland Education Foundation is presenting“A Christmas Carol for Two Actors” at 6 p.m. in the Goochland High School Auditorium. Proceeds from the production go to the foundation, which will use them to support Goochland students and teachers with a variety of programs and scholarships. If you’re not traveling to the football game, consider attending this production to celebrate the holiday season and support public education in the county.

www.goochlandgazette.com news@goochlandgazette.com sales@goochlandgazette.com For Classifieds: cgrant@mechlocal.com © 2011 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 8,500

On behalf of the Goochland Christmas Mother Board I want to thank you for your editorial comments and article in the November 24th paper. Our all volunteer Board has been truly challenged by the many requests for help this year. As a response to your comments, we had an additional 13 adoptions of needy families. We had a record number of shoppers at Wal-Mart and we anticipate an energized group of wrappers on December 3rd. We have also experienced a positive increase in monitory donations. We thank you for putting your readers and our various activities together in a very positive way. Kit Davison President, Goochland Christmas Mother Board

- Ken Odor

Joy Monopoli Publisher Ken Odor Editor Charles Leffler Sports Editor Jim Fields Senior Staff Writer Pam Sanders Sales Manager Stephanie Childrey Advertising Sales

Letters to the Editor

Thanks for the good press!

The Gazette welcomes your signed letters to the editor. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Goochland Gazette. Send letters to: The Goochland Gazette, 6400 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 E-mail: jodor@goochlandgazette.com Fax: 730-0476

CONTACT THE GOOCHLAND GAZETTE Joy Monopoli Ken Odor Charlie Leffler Jim Fields Pam Sanders Stephanie Childrey Cindy Grant

Publisher Editor Sports Editor Senior Staff Writer Sales Manager Sales Executive Classifieds

(804) 239-2280 (804) 627-3249 (804) 543-9201 (804) 971-8696 (804) 746-1235 (804) 814-7780 (804) 746-1235x16

Fax: (804) 819-5529 Fax: (804) 775-4066 Fax: (804) 775-4082 Fax: (804) 730-0476 Fax: (804) 775-4051 Fax: (804) 730-0476

Contact us Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 • Office - (804) 746-1235 ext 0 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 1118, Mechanicsville, VA 23111

CLIP AND SAVE

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1118, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 (804) 746-1235 • TOLL FREE (877) 888-0449 FAX (804) 730-0476

Letters to the Editor

Thursday

Want more? Visit us on the web at

December 8, 2011

www.goochlandgazette.com

Introducing...

Invisible* Hearing Solutions OUR HEARING AID TECHNOLOGY IS DESIGNED TO: gatherings, in the car and outdoors MiniRicâ&#x201E;˘ Smallest & most discreet RIC ever made

Miniscopicâ&#x201E;˘ Custom molded, sits deep in the ear, completely invisible*

Imagine 2â&#x201E;˘ CIC Custom molded, sits inside the ear, nearly invisible*

LOOK 2â&#x201E;˘ Sits behind the ear, extremely discreet

â&#x20AC;˘ Reduce background noise with noise cancellation technology â&#x20AC;˘ Match your needs with a variety of hearing aid styles available

Available Exclusively at

NEW

4100 W. Hundred Rd.

Call 739-0031

Ashland

West Point

Powhatan

West End

Mechanicsville

Midlothian

130 Thompson Street

621 Main Street

2144 Plainview Center

9738 Gayton Road

7342 Bell Creek Road

4920 E. Millridge Pkwy.

Call 752-7611

Call 843-2300

Call 598-0077

Call 359-5851

Call 559-4625

Call 739-0031

LIMITED TIME SAVINGS

$500 2480009-01

FREE

Clean & Check

off a set of NuEar Hearing Instruments featuring Imagine VS.

on your current hearing instruments.

Limit Limit one one coupon coupon per per customer. customer. Not Notvalid valid with with any any other other offers offers or or promotions. promotions. Couponexpires exipres10 12/23/11. Coupon /11/11.

Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Coupon expires exipres 10/10/11. 12/23/11.

Financing available for qualified customers. See store for details. Call for an appointment. 01658-11 R0 ÂŠ2011 NuEar

Thursday

December 8, 2011 Holland

Harry Russell Holland Jr., “Butch”, 64, of Richmond, departed this life Monday, Nov. 28, 2011. He was preceded in death by his father, Harry R. Holland Sr.; and brothers, Lander, Ronald and Bruzzell Holland, Demetrius and Alex Reid White. He is survived by his loving mother, Ella A. Holland; 13 children, Angela, Harry III (Denise), Lynn H. Parchment (Paul), Rhonda Holland, David Russell (Amy), Lelia Russell,Tijuan,Derek,Kenny, Ronald, Aaron, Cheyniqua and Jeffrey Holland; 24 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a host of aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends, one devoted, Lenora

Want more? Visit us on the web at

OBITUARIES: Death Notices

Carter; and former wife, Willette Joyner. Family received friends at the Robert Mealy Funeral Home, 2530 Dogtown Rd., Goochland, Va. 23063. Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 at the County Line Baptist Church,4070 County Line Rd., Kent’s Store, Va. 23084, Rev. Walter Jones, pastor. Graveside services were held at the church cemetery.

fiancé, Gwendelyn Middlebrook; son, Roger Horton Jr.; stepdaughter, Cornelia Reese and her husband, Thomas; mother, Lantie Mae Akers; sister, Patricia King; brother, Danny Akers and his wife, Karen; brother, James Akers Jr. and wife, Nancy; nieces; nephews; and several grandchildren. On Friday, Dec. 9, 2011 at 2 p.m., the family invites you to a service to celebrate Judy’s life Horton at Goochland Baptist Church at 2454 Manakin Road, ManakinJudy Horton, 47, departed Sabot, Va. 23103. this life on wings of Angels to be with the Lord on Saturday, Dec. 3, Marks 2011. She is survived by her husband, Roger Horton Sr.; daughMichael Thomas Marks Sr., ter, Krystal Souther and husband, “Tommy”, of Goochland, lost his Joshua; son, Robert Horton and battle with cancer on Nov. 29, 2011. He was preceded in death by his father, Herman L.; and brother, Steve. He is survived by

Sunday on Sale!

his wife of 20 years, Allison; mother, Billie; three children, Kimberly Marks Moreno, Angela Marks Snoddy (Keith) and Michael Thomas Marks Jr.; three stepchildren, Melody Newman (Nick), Wendy Morrison, Nicholas Morrison; 14 grandchildren; sister, Jane Marks Martin (Ty); brother, Robert “Corky” Marks (Terri); and many nieces and nephews. He was a 1967 graduate of Powhatan High School. Tommy was being scouted by the Pittsburgh Pirates during his junior and senior years, where his pitch, “The Tommy Marks Curve Ball,” is in use to this date. His dreams of pitching in the Major League were shattered due to injuring his pitching arm in a car accident. He had a strong passion for the outdoors and loved hunting and fishing. The fam-

www.goochlandgazette.com ily received friends at Norman Funeral Home, Goochland, Va., on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. Funeral services were held on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011 at Smyrna Baptist Church. Graveside services were held at the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Poe Helen Ragland Poe, 95, passed away on Dec. 2, 2011. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence R. Poe. She is survived by her son, Lewis R. Poe of Hampton; granddaughters, Patricia P. Hutchinson of Goochland, and Donna M. Poe of Mechanicsville; and her sister, Nellie Tapscott of Scottsville. She was born in Fluvanna County to

the late Alco and Walker Ragland. After getting married, she moved to Buckingham County, and later to Richmond in 1941. She was a member of Mechanicsville Baptist Church since 1942, and was employed by Everett Waddie Printing Company and Liggett-Meyers Tobacco Company. For the past six years, Helen has been in the Beaufont Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. The family received friends on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 and Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 at the Parham Chapel of Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Road, Richmond. Services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at the funeral home. Graveside services to be held at Westhampton Memorial Park. Condolences may be left at woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.

Only at Walgreens

Goochland dentist opens expanded office Contributed Report

Sunday, July 31, 2011

ONLY

$1.25!

Just $1.25 per copy at your local Walgreens! *Metro Richmond area stores only.

opened a newly expanded The new location is four room, with a sturdy and fun office at 115 Broad Street times larger at 2,400 square kids-nook. Goochland Dentist, Dr. Road, Suite C, in Manakin- feet of state-of-the-art equipNew cutting edge autoPeter Murchie, F.A.G.D. has Sabot. ment and ample size waiting matic sterilization tools, the Midmark M11, UltraClave, equips the dental assistant and hygienist to minimizing appointment times. A new digital x-ray machine, Soredex/Cranex Novus, which takes panorex films, enables the clinical staff to have a panoramic view that shows the full jaw joint, sinuses, bone density and aids in detection of any oral cancers. The patients will enjoy the Elevance, the new massaging dental chair with heat and rolling, relaxing gentle massages as the dental treatment is being completed. The Goochland Chamber of Commerce, members of the Manakin-Sabot Marketing Group and several patients were on hand to tour the new facility. see Dentistry > page 11

Thursday

December 8, 2011

Christmas play coming to GHS Saturday Contributed Report “A Christmas Carol for Two Actors” will be performed by the Richmond Shakespeare company on Saturday, December 10th starting at 6 p.m.. in the GHS Auditorium. Proceeds will be used by the Goochland Education Foundation to benefit

Goochland students and teachers through a variety of supported programs and scholarships. This production, also performed at Richmond’s Center Stage, has been acclaimed as one of the best written, best produced and most entertaining shows of the season. Tickets for this first-class pro-

OUR PRODUCTS:

OUR SERVICES: • New Installation • Change Outs • Repair • Preventive maintenance • Leasing • Financing

duction, a bargain at $14 for adults and $7 for children, will be available at the box office prior to the show. Community members may also purchase tickets online at http://conta.cc/ CarolGEF beforehand. Audience members may mingle with friends after the show. Cocoa and cookie pur-

chases are also available online for $1 each. Audience members are encouraged to arrive 15 to 30 minutes early because the show will begin promptly at 6 o’clock. As always, the Goochland Education Foundation thanks you heartily for supporting our students and teachers.

www.goochlandgazette.com

WOOD HEAT Outdoor Wood Gasification Furnace • Heat your entire home and more with wood. • 97% efficient, E-Classic 3200 burns 50% less wood than conventional wood heating. • EPA Phase 2 qualified.

Ellis Contracting Inc. • www.vawoodheat.com 12730 Old Telegraph Rd. • Providence Forge, VA Earthquake chimney damage? Call today, we have solutions. 804-366-9530

Roofing 784-7027

Call us at: 804-457-2730 or Email: fifemechanical@netzero.net Visit us at: Fifeinc.com

Want more? Visit us on the web at

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

10 Cu 0% Sati stomer sfa on ction SystNew ems

Serving the entire Richmond area, call (804) 784-4354

No job too small - all types of roofing

Sales • Installation • Service www.hh-heatingcooling.com Winter Preventive Maintenance $

49.99

GORDON’S PAINTING INC. Your 1 stop shop for all Restoration

■

Call Tom Tye at www.tyesantiques.com Email Tom at luvitold@verizon.net

We Accept

John P. Black, Inc. DESIGN/BUILD CONTRACTOR

Since 1971

Responsive, Courteous, On-time, Fairly Priced Licensed & Insured

2502875-01

Remodeling Electrical Plumbing Carpentry Water Damage Decks Structural Repairs Termite Damage Handy Man/Home Maintenance Painting Honey-Do-Lists www.jpblack.com 804-266-9601

Vinyl Screen Porch ■

Crowder’s Buildings Inc.

hh 5 miles east of Mechanicsville on Route 360 towards Tappahannock hh

804-746-4809

5525 MECHANICSVILLE TURNPIKE OVER 80 BUILDINGS ON DISPLAY

Vinyl • Wood Barns • Cottages Built by the Pennsylvania Amish WE ALSO MOVE BUILDINGS Hours: Tues.-Fri. 9:30-5:00, Sat. 9:30-1:00 www.crowdersbuildings.com

Backyard Buildings and More • Sheds and Play Systems built ON SITE • Value Sheds starting at $799 installed

FINANCING AVAILABLE 8502 Brook Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060

804-266-2996

■

Residential Interior & Exterior Painting New Construction Commercial Powerwashing Deck Sealing ■

804.556.5988

Serving Goochland and surrounding counties since 1996

LICENSED & INSURED

Advertise in the Business & Professional Directory Today!

Thursday

December 8, 2011

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

Want more? Visit us on the web at

www.goochlandgazette.com

Byrd Elementary School recognized as Virginia Naturally School port, staff development and curricular integration, resource conservation efforts, and school/ community based projects. Additional requirements for schools qualifying beyond the first year include: documentation of efforts to secure library materials/equipment to help students learn about the environment and to enhance field studies’ developing instructional settings/outdoor classrooms; and developing community partnerships with area businesses, parent teacher organizations, and area civic groups. Schools entering the program for the first year receive a plague, while schools continuing their efforts receive a pennant imprinted with a symbol of our Commonwealth. One of the hallmarks of Byrd Elementary’s environmental program is the Outdoor Learning Lab. The Outdoor Learning Lab has provided students with an outdoor enviContributed Report ronment for learning about plants, pond Glenda Hawk, left and Zoe Parrish hold the life, composting, conservation, and animal plaque BES received for being named a habitats. Virginia Naturally School recently. For more information about the Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program for Contributed Report schools K-12, visit the Virginia Naturally The Virginia Department of Game and website at www.VaNaturally.com. Inland Fisheries’ Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program is proud to recognize Byrd Elementary School as a Virginia Naturally School. Only 48 schools in the state of Virginia received this honor. Schools currently receiving this recognition have demonstrated exemplary efforts to promote good stewardship of Virginia’s natural resources during the 2010 – 2011 school year. In addition, Virginia Naturally Schools work to promote civic pride through knowledge of the community history in the area in which they reside. Virginia Naturally Schools must meet specific requirements which increase with each successive year a school achieves this recognition. This is the first year Byrd Elementary School has received this honor. On Oct. 27, Tom Wilcox from Game and Inland Fisheries visited Byrd Elementary to present the award for this recognition. Contributed Photo All schools meeting first year require- The lake in the courtyard at Byrd Elementary ments as a Virginia Naturally School have School contributes to thenatural atmosphere. qualified in four areas; administrative sup-

Contributed Photo

From left are Robotics team members: Kindrick Braxton, Courtney Williams, Patrick Dewey, Ray Henley, Cooper Thrasher, Deion Harwood, Sophie Summitt, Madison Lee Standing: Quintin Mills and Justin Peck

Goochland Elementary School Robotics team wins Core Values trophy Contributed Report

Ten students from Goochland Elementary School, the Food Doctors, spent November 19 battling against 13 other teams in a quest to improve global food safety. This challenge was a part of the 2011 Food Factor Challenge sponsored by First Lego League (FLL). In the 2011 Food Factor Challenge, over 200,000 9-16 year old students from over 55 countries are exploring the topic of food safety and strove to find a way to keep our food from contaminates or spoilage. The First Lego League’s mission is to inspire our world’s youth to be science and technology leaders while learning to be selfconfident and innovative. In this competition, teams of children explore a real-life problem that today’s engineers and scientists are attempting to solve and share their findings. As they do this, teams build 21st century

skills of cooperation and communication, which are fundamental elements that distinguish FLL from other programs of its kind. Another part of the program includes building an autonomous robot using Legos to complete missions in two and half minute matches. The Goochland Elementary School not only competed in the Maggie Walker Regional tournament, but the students won the prestigious Core Values trophy. The primary principles of the FLL program are its Core Values, which emphasize contributions of others, friendly sportsmanship, learning, and community involvement. In its seven years of participating in the FLL program, GES has been presented with this award twice said coach Lisa Brown. Principal Tina McCay said, “They were all so positive and truly showed the characteristics of a great team. It was so exciting to see them in this element.”

Thursday

larceny at location on Martin Glen Terrace.

Suspect committed grand larceny at location on Rock Castle Rd.

November 29 X

Suspect was driving under the influence of alcohol at location on Broad St. Rd.

Suspect was in possession of controlled substance on River Rd. W.

Suspect was in possession of marijuana at location on Cartersville Rd.

Suspect broke into location and stole items on Hadensville Fife Rd.

Suspect committed grand larceny at location on Incline Ct.

Suspect was driving under the influence of alcohol at location on Macalpine Ct. Suspect committed grand

Dentistry continued from > page 8 “It is terrific to see a localfamily owned business, succeed and grow to better serve its neighbors, surrounding community while bringing them to optimal dental

Suspect assaulted victim at location on Cedar Plains Rd.

suspended license at location on River Rd. W.

Open Year Round Fri 11-6, Sat & Sun 9-5

Antiques, Handmade Items, Direct Sellers

Suspect burglarized location on Rock Castle Rd.

FARMERS & FLEA MARKET

Suspect broke into location and stole items on Haskin Rd.

Suspect committed petit larceny at location on River Rd. W.

“Something for Everyone – including the kitchen sink”

Suspect broke into location and stole items on Ada Ash Lane.

Suspect was driving under the influence of alcohol at location on River Rd. W.

Suspect was in possession of marijuana at location on Manakin Rd.

Suspect was driving under the influence of alcohol at location on Horsepen Rd.

Person was dead on arrival at location on Bear Ct.

Person was dead on arrival at location on Haskin Rd.

Suspect committed petit larceny at location on Broad St. Rd.

Suspect was swearing in public or intoxicated at location on Bradshaw Rd.

Suspect was involved in domestic dispute at location on Pryor Rd.

For More Information • 434-906-4138

WINDOWS • DOORS • SIDING • GUTTERS DECKS • SCREENED PORCHES • ADDITIONS OUTDOOR KITCHENS • FIREPITS & FIREPLACES Free In-home Estimates No Pressure Consultations & Sales

Suspect committed petit larceny at location on River Rd. YEAR END-OF& SIDING W O D IN W T SALE BLOWOU

Ask about our School Giveback Program 10% – up to $1000, goes to a school of the customer’s choice. The donation is made to the school in the name of the customer.

Suspect was driving with

health,” said Dr. Eric Carlsen, Family Chiropractic Center of Richmond. Dr. Peter Murchie has been serving the ManakinSabot, Goochland area for more than eight years and has earned his Fellowship to the Academy of General

Located behind BIG SAWMILL off Rt 25O, East of Zion Crossroads

December 4 X

Person committed suicide at location on Rock Castle Rd.

Suspect broke into location and stole items on Jackson Shop Rd.

Suspect was swearing in public or intoxicated at location on River Rd. W.

December 1 X

December 2

November 30 X

www.goochlandgazette.com

December 5

Dentistry. For additional information please visit the new location or click on www. goochlanddentist r y.com or https://www.facebook. com/#!/pages/GoochlandDentistry/147016077761

THE HANOVER SERIES Energy-Efficient Replacement Double Hung Vinyl Windows with PVC Exterior Wrap = $205.00 / installed (R-3 rated) (includes Vinyl Window, 1” insulated assembly, fusion welded, Low-E, Argon, Tilt-In, Caulking, Removal of old windows and trash removal - NO DUMP FEES) THE BRANDERMILL SERIES Energy-Efficient Replacement Triple Pane Double Hung Windows with PVC Exterior Wrap = $325.00 / installed (R-5 rated) includes Triple Pane Window, 1” insulated assembly, fusion welded, Double Low-E, Argon, Tilt-In, Caulking, Removal of old windows and trash removal - NO DUMP FEES) THE CAPITAL SERIES - CompositWood - ORE’s Premium Window Our Premium Energy-Efficient Replacement, Engineered Composite Triple Pane Double Hung Window with PVC Exterior Wrap = $405.00 / installed (R-7 rated) includes Triple Pane CompositWood, 1” insulated, fusion welded, Double Low-E, Krypton gas, Tilt-In, Caulking, Removal of old windows & trash removal - NO DUMP FEES) Vinyl Siding & Trim Projects - complete siding projects up to $2,500.00 off (restrictions apply)

OLD RICHMOND EXTERIORS, LLC Family Owned & Operated 2473990-01

November 28

Want more? Visit us on the web at

SHERIFF’S REPORTS: Incidents

December 8, 2011

804-253-7897 www.oldrichmondexteriors.com

Prodigy Insulated Siding & Trim Projects - complete siding projects up to $3,000.00 off (restrictions apply) Hardi-Plank Siding & Trim Projects - complete siding projects up to $4,000.00 off (restrictions apply) Insulated Sliding & In-Swing Patio / French Doors - 30% - 50% off selected models

Holiday Savings are inside The Times-Dispatch Gift ideas for everyone on your list • Sales at all your favorite stores Coupons to save even more

Right now pick up the Sunday Times-Dispatch for only $1.25 at Walgreens

Thursday

December 8, 2011

more? Visit us on the web at SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional Want www.goochlandgazette.com

Goochland coasts into title game Bulldogs score on six of eight possessions By Weldon Bradshaw Media General News Services

Take the initiative. Set the tone. Control our destiny. That approach, enacted with aplomb Saturday, enabled the Goochland Bulldogs to defeat Wilson Memorial 4721 in the Group A, Division 2 semifinals. “We sometimes tend to get conservative on offense,” Coach Joe Fowler explained as he stood in the gathering twilight. “That’s the nature of our game. “Today, we played loose, used our speed, got on the edge a little bit.” On this seasonably cool, clear afternoon, Fowler’s crew, which meets Gretna on Saturday in Salem for the state championship, ran eight offensive series. Six resulted in touchdowns. Two (to close the second and fourth quarters) ended with the “victory formation” in which quarterback

Photos by jim Ridolphi

Above: Goochland’s Andrew Gee (45) and Dasheem Norris (15) help smother a Green Hornet running back. Top right: Running back Patrick Clore (30) made his first appearance in three weeks due to injury and scored a Bulldog touchdown. Right: Dasheem Norris (15) returns an interception all the way to the end zone to seal the Hornet’s fate in the second half.

Cody Johnson took a knee. “We were relaxed,” said Fowler, whose team converted 10 of 11 third-down situations. “We had fun. We were confident we could move the ball whenever we wanted.” Though Mitchell Brice’s

51-yard touchdown run two minutes into the game gave the Bulldogs the advantage, Wilson Memorial (11-3) refused to be intimidated. Known for their grind-itout, wing-T attack reminiscent of a rugby scrum, the Green

Bulldogs face familiar foe in Gretna Season will end this Saturday, but memories will last a lifetime BY JIM RIDOLPHI Special Correspondent

Just three weeks before Christmas and holiday shopping is the last thing on the mind of Goochland head football coach Joe Fowler. All but twelve high school coaches in the state of Virginia have folded the uniforms and closed up shop for the 2011 season. But unlike the majority, Fowler is still busy game planning. He is preparing the Bulldogs for a Group

A, Division 2 state championship match-up with Gretna this Saturday at Salem City Stadium in Roanoke. The Bulldogs earned that slot with a 47-21 win over Wilson Memorial last weekend, placing Goochland in the state finals for the first time since winning the title in 2006. Next week’s foe is not an unfamiliar opponent. Although most of the current squad haven’t encountered the perennial powerhouse, the schools do have a history. On their way to the 2006 championship, the Bulldogs defeated a previously undefeated Gretna team 6-0. The Hawks ended

Goochland’s playoff run the next two seasons by convincing margins and Fowler has a healthy respect for this year’s 12-2 finalists. The Bulldogs enter the contest with a perfect 14-0 mark but Fowler said all of that won’t matter if they don’t complete the mission against the Hawks. “We’re really excited to get there, but it will be a hollow thing if we don’t win it,” Fowler said. “We want to make sure we do everything possible this week to prepare to be successful next Saturday. I don’t want to be the state runner up.” see Bulldogs >page 13

Hornets went up 7-6 when Malik Rucks scored from the 9 and Grant Sauer nailed the point-after. The 22-play, 80-yard drive consumed 12:02 and included three fourth-down conversions. “They’re a true 3-yardsand-a-cloud-of-dust team,” Fowler added. “It’s like a dogfight. We needed to stop them on first and second down, get them behind the chain, hope they made a mistake.” Goochland responded with a 10-play, 69-yard possession that ended when Patrick Clore blasted in off the left side 5:42 from halftime. Capitalizing on two key penalties, the Bulldogs stopped the visitors from Fishersville on the ensuing drive, then went up 19-7 when Johnson scored from a yard out at 1:18 and Colby Cooke drilled the first of his five PAT attempts. The highlight of the series was a 44-yard Johnson-to-Jake

Martin pass. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior later connected with Martin (21 yards), Brice (18), Nathan Adams (5) and Zakell Johnson (18, on fourth and 3) to sustain drives. Goochland amassed 355 total yards on 50 plays. WM used 58 snaps to gain 313. To counter the Hornets’ relentless ground game, the Bulldogs scrapped their base 3-5 and alternately used 5-4 and 6-4 alignments. “They brought three or four linemen at you every time,” said Jess McLaughlin, a 6-0, 195-pound senior linebacker. “They hit you low and made sure you were on the ground, which gave the running back tons of time. “They were big boys. You have to hit ’em back, pretty

hard.” Wilson Memorial.... 0 14 0 7 — 21 Goochland................ 6 13 7 14 — 47 G – Brice 51 run (kick failed) WM – Rucks 9 run (Sauer kick) G – Clore 4 run (run failed) G – C. Johnson 1 run (Cooke kick) WM – Cullen 20 pass from Swift (Sauer kick) G – C. Johnson 1 run (Cooke kick) G – Z. Johnson 15 run (Cooke kick) WM – Swift 3 run (Sauer kick) G – Martin 1 run (Cooke kick) G – Norris 37 interception return (Cooke kick) RUSHING WM – Swift 25-104, Rucks 18-84, Sauer 4-27, Deacon 6-19. G – Martin 13-89, Brice 6-80, Clore 7-45, Z. Johnson 6-21, Dyer 6-13, C. Johnson 6-3. PASSING WM – Swift 2-3-1 79, Sauer 0-2-0 0. G – C. Johnson 5-6-0 104. RECEIVING WM – Walker 1-59, Cullen 1-20. G –Martin 2-65, Brice 1-18, Z. Johnson 1- 16, Adams 1-5.

Thursday

December 8, 2011

more? Visit us on the web at SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional Want www.goochlandgazette.com

Trinity tournament shows potential and flaws Goochland splits games in early season event BY JIM RIDOLPHI Special Correspondent

After dropping their season opener to Fluvanna, the Goochland girls’ basketball team traveled across the James River to compete in the E. Dale Travis Invitational Tournament at Trinity High School. The Bulldogs utilized an aggressive defense to force the action in the opener against Pope John Paul the Great. The pressure resulted in numerous turnovers for Pope John and allowed the Bulldogs to mount an early 10- point lead. John Paul crawled back and got it close at 17-11 in the second quarter but couldn’t overcome the Bulldog defense. Goochland protected that lead in the second half and recorded their first win of the season, 36-22. “It was a little sloppy but we came out much more aggressive than we did Tuesday night (Fluvanna),” said Goochland coach Sarah Voyack. “When

Bulldogs continued from >page 12 For the players, a chance at the state title is well-deserved reward for a season of hard work and most said having that opportunity is the chance of a lifetime. “It’s hard to process right now but it’s a great honor to have a chance to go all the way this year,” said running/ defensive back Jake Martin. “This is a team I’ve grown up with and played on all of my life.” Regarding the opponent, Martin feels the reputation is well established. “I’ve never played against Gretna but I know they are a hard-nosed football team, so it should be a

we can set up our defense, it makes everything a lot easier for us and gives us opportunities.” Voyack said it’s always good to get that first victory, but realizes her team is still a work in progress. “I told them in the locker room that it’s good to get a win, but there’s a lot of room for improvement.” The coach felt the win over John Paul was a team victory and most of her squad saw playing time. “We have some girls we can play this year off the bench. Some of them are not scoring threats, but solid defensive players,” she said. “It’s nice to have that luxury this year.” Tammara Taylor had 13 points, and Chakiryn Jackson added eight points and eight rebounds. Khayla Leabough had six points and six steals in the victory. Both Taylor and Jackson were named to the AllTournament team. The Lady Bulldogs have participated in The Trinity Tournament in the past but missed the last two editions due to scheduling conflicts in the Jefferson District. Their return to

quarter and were only down one,”Voyack said. “They took off their press in the second quarter and we seemed to fall apart.” The upcoming schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Bulldogs. “We have three tough games again this week with Fluvanna and Powhatan on Tuesday and Wednesday and then we travel to Central on Friday (who won the district last year),” the coach said. Voyack used the first week as a learning experience and an opportunity to pinpoint issues that need to be corrected. “We certainly saw where our weaknesses are in the first week and know we need to work on Photo by Jim Ridolphi ball fakes, boxing out and getting back in transition,” she said. “It Goochland’s Tammara Taylor (23) fights for a rebound in the second half of the Lady Bulldogs’ victory over Pope John Paul the Great. Taylor along with Chakiryn Jackson were named to the was apparent in all three games All-Tournament team. that these are three issues we the James River District allowed us a chance to work some of the want to be successful, we have to need to take care of quickly if them to return to the competi- kinks out.” push each other and work hard we want any chance to be comtion. The coach saw some positives in practice. I think we are willing petitive in the district.” “We’ve always liked play- in the team’s first week of compe- to step up and do that.” ing in this tournament, so it’s tition and some things they need A tournament title was not Correction: The photo nice to be back after two years,” to work on. “I definitely see the in the making as host Trinity in last week’s Goochland Voyack said. “It’s a chance to go talent we have and I see potential, defeated the Bulldogs in the final, Gazette girls basketball for a championship early in the but it’s a matter of whether we 50-30. preview was not Tammara season and we get to see some play up to our potential and “We handled their pressure Taylor. good competition. It also gives work hard,” Voyack said. “If we without a problem in the first

great game.” Senior Chase Nuckols knows Goochland’s history with the Hawks, but thinks the key to victory is simple. “Whoever hits the hardest will come out as state champion,” he said. For quarterback Cody Johnson, the state final appearance is confirmation of the team’s tenacity and ability to believe in itself. “We had a lot of confidence coming in, but there were a lot of people who doubted us and now we’ve proved those doubters wrong,” he said. Johnson feels making it to the state finals is the culmination of a lifelong dream. “It feels great and it’s emotional for all of us,” he said. “I’ve been waiting since I was five years

old to play with my boys in a state championship and now it’s finally here.” Bulldogs defensive leader Jess McLaughlin is also fulfilling his personal goal of playing for a title. “It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since I began watching this team when I was little.” McLaughlin said that there it’s a dream that seemed distant back in the dog days of summer practice, but the thought of going all the way seemed possible to him. “I had hopes and I believed in my team mates,” he said. McLaughlin and his teammates will try to finish off a perfect season and turn those dreams into reality this Saturday in Salem.

Football team send off on Saturday morning Even if you are unable to make the trip to Salem, Va. for the Group A, Division 5 football championship game, you can still cheer the Bulldogs on. Goochland will hold a Spirit Sendoff on Saturday morning along Bulldog Way (between the rear school parking lot & 522) to cheer the football team on as they depart the school. They team will be departing by 11:30 a.m. And fans are asked to stand along Bulldog Way (park at school) and waive flags, pompoms, hold posters, etc. the cheer the Bulldogs on.

Bulldogs could be on the move again By Eric Kolenich Media General News Services

The VHSL released its initial proposed alignment plan for the 2013-14 and 201415 school year Wednesday. The only Metro-area school affected is Goochland, which is slated to move to the Group AA Jefferson District. This would be Goochland’s third move in five years. Two years ago, the Bulldogs switched from Group A to the Jefferson District. This year, they moved back to A. The change has benefitted the football team, which currently is going for a state title and the girls volleyball

squad that reached the state tournament. Should Goochland reenter the Jefferson District — Orange and William Monroe are slated to join, as well — it would be the smallest school in the district. Its listed enrollment is 719. The VHSL plan can be appealed. Powhatan, which moved to the Jefferson District in 2011, is scheduled to remain in its place. Powhatan has the district’s second largest enrollment, 1,367. The Central Region is considering a redistricting of its own, but no plans are expected to be in place until February.

Thursday

THURSDAY EVENING 4 PM 4:30 5 PM

Want more? Visit us on the web at

TV LISTINGS: Find Local TV Shows and Movie Schedules

December 8, 2011

www.goochlandgazette.com