The Goochland Gazette – 01/21/2021 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE Heard of this bird? Miracle chicken the star of this week’s Tell Me A Story > page 2

Volume 66 Number 3 • January 21, 2021

Family of teen killed by troopers wants video made public By Roslyn Ryan Editor

During an emotional press conference at the Goochland County Courthouse on Jan. 16, the mother of the teenager shot and killed by Virginia State Troopers begged anyone watching to help share her story. LaToya Benton, who lives in Northern Virginia, said she and several of her family members have seen the dashboard camera Hill video captured the night her son, Xzavier Hill, 18, was shot after allegedly leading state troopers on a high speed chase and then brandishing a weapon.

Thank you

NOTES BOS approves one-time bonus awards to show appreciation for county workers

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

In an effort to demonstrate their appreciation for the hard work and dedication of county employees, particularly during the ongoing pandemic, the Goochland County Board of Supervisors voted unani-

If the Goochland County had a motto for the past 12 months, it might consist of just three words: Full steam ahead. While much of the world has remained in a holding pattern due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Goochland County has continued to push forward on a formidable list of new projects and facility upgrades, ranging from completing new dog-walking trails to relocating the County Registrar’s office. To Goochland Stamey Deputy County Administrator for Operations Derek Stamey and his staff, the team tasked with shepherding these projects from the idea phase all the way through to completion,

see Bonus > 3

see Projects > 5

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

see Hill > 3

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Chicken, thy name is ‘Miracle’ Editor’s note: This week the Gazette continues with the new series we’re calling “Tell Me a Story,” in which we ask our readers to share with us a favorite story about something that happened to them or a family member

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By Wendy Popp Contributing Writer

A couple of years ago we decided to adopt a rescue dog and hoped she would someday be able to take over the role of our dog, Oki, as chicken protector. There can be lot of risk with keeping chickens due to fox, hawks, etc., and though we’d lost some over the years, it was never on Oki’s watch. Well, Winnie, the little black pit-mix rescue, turned out to be more of a chicken-killer than chicken-protector. One evening, my then 18 year-old

son, Sam, came home and let Winnie out. He didn’t know the chickens were free-ranging and carnage ensued. He and his sweet girlfriend from the suburbs were able to stop a complete massacre, but one chicken was dead and one might as well have been. We arrived about that time, and while the dead chicken was being buried, I checked on the nearly-dead one that Sam had put in back in the coop. Her eyes were closed, but I could see her feathers moving as she breathed. She was in bad shape, and I expected her to be gone by morning. The next day she was exactly the same: eyes closed but still breathing, same with the next day and the next. She hadn’t moved, but I didn’t see any indications she was suffering, so I waited, and waited, and waited. On day 8, she opened her eyes…well, sort of, one of

them was missing. She’d had nothing to eat or drink, so I started feeding her water with an eye dropper and gradually tried yogurt and wet chicken feed. At about 2 weeks,, she could move around the coop and was eating on her own. She recovered to about 80%, but rarely ventured out when the other two chickens were free- ranging. We started calling her “Miracle”. Sadly, he remaining chickens, as chickens often do, started picking on her. The weak member of the flock is considered a risk for predators, and is sometimes sacrificed. Her feet were left bloody, and even after two rounds of isolation and healing, those darn bullies kept at it. She became unable to walk, not because of her bloody feet, but something else was going on. She’d just see Miracle > 5

Calendar ................................ 5 Classifieds ........................... 14 Letters .................................... 6 Obituaries .............................. 4 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports ...............................9-10 TV Listings ......................11-13

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January 21, 2021

Hill continued from >1 According to information provided by the Virginia State Police, at just after 4:30 a.m. on the morning of Jan. 9, a Virginia State Trooper registered Hill’s 2003 Mercedes

“I’m not wrong, I know what I saw. They killed my son.” LaToya Benton Benz C230 traveling westbound on Interstate 64 in Henrico County at 98 mph in a posted 65 mph zone. When the trooper activated his emergency lights and siren, according to police, Hill refused to stop and sped away

Bonus continued from >1 mously on Jan. 5 to award onetime monetary bonus payments to both full and parttime county employees, constitutional officers and employees of constitutional officers. The payments — in the amount of $1,500 for all fulltime and $750 for all part-time employees in good standing as of Dec. 1, 2020 — come in the wake of an unprecedented shift in the way workers were asked to perform their duties. In March of 2020, when Virginia declared a state of emergency and county offices were shuttered, many county workers, including school employees, were suddenly tasked with finding new and creative ways to continue their work under a host of new

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

in excess of 120 mph. When the fleeing vehicle pulled onto the right shoulder and attempted to make a U-turn in the westbound lanes, it instead ran off the left side of the interstate, slid down an embankment and became stuck in the median. What happened next, Benton said Saturday, is that two troopers approached the vehicle and shot her son, despite the fact that he was attempting to respond to their demands. State police officials maintain that Hill had displayed a weapon. Benton said Saturday, however, that this isn’t true. Acknowledging that a gun was found in the car, Benton insisted her son had nothing in his hand when he was shot. “I’m not wrong, I know what I saw,” said Benton, who now wants the officers involved in her son’s death to be both fired and charged. “They killed my son.” Through tears, Benton

described her only child as a young man who had been a stand-out wrestler and football player at North Stafford High School, and a lifeguard at the local pool. He was not, she said, a child who had many opportunities to get into trouble. “I was a helicopter mom,” sobbed Benton, adding that her son had played a crucial role in helping her run the cleaning company she owns. What she and others want now, she says, is for the Virginia State Police to release the footage of the last few moments of her son’s life, a tape she insists will show that Hill was not holding a weapon as police has attested and was attempting to comply with their orders to exit the vehicle. Benton and several supporters bristled at questions regarding where Hill was headed that Sunday morning, insisting that he was a normal 18-year-old living his life. Her son may have made a mistake, Benton said, but that didn’t

mean he deserved to die. Benton was clear Saturday that she does not intend to stop sharing her son’s story in the hopes that others will continue to rally around the family and demand justice. She urged those in attendance to use the hashtag “justiceforxzavier” and to demand the release of the dashboard camera footage. Benton said during the press conference that even getting the accountability the family is seeking may still not be enough. “There is never going to be justice,” Benton said, “because they can’t bring my son back.” In accordance with state police policy, the two troopers involved in the incident remain on administrative leave pending the investigation. Neither trooper was injured. Once the state police completes its investigation, the investigative findings will be turned over to the Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for final review and adjudication.

restrictions. Back then, said District 5 Supervisor Ken Peterson, “we knew a whole lot less than we do know about how to stay safe, and it took a fair amount of courage for our employees to proceed into the unknown… we had to do things differently, but it all got done, and it was amazing to see the ingenuity [employees] displayed on behalf of the county.” Peterson also pointed to reports of many people coming to Goochland from other localities in order to conduct transactions because they were the only offices that were open and available to the public. “We’ve never done this before,” Peterson said of the bonus payments, “but we’ve never seen this before.” A budget amendment passed during the Jan. 5 meet-

ing authorized the allocation of $387,540 to cover the cost of the county employees’ bonus payments and a $661,240 transfer to the school divisions’ operating fund in order to offer the payments to full-time and part-time school employees. In addition, the county needed to add language to the county code allowing monetary bonuses to be awarded, a move also unanimously approved by the board. Supervisors and other members of county boards, commissions, or authorities are not eligible for the bonus, which will be distributed in a separate payment to employees on Feb. 5, 2021. In March, due to the unknown impact the pandemic would have on county revenues, supervisors made

significant cuts to the proposed FY2021 budget, including removing merit increases for employees. As Goochland Director of Financial Services Barbara Horlacher noted, the bonus payments are financially feasible in large part because the pandemic’s impact on county revenues has not been nearly as significant as initially predicted. District 2 Supervisor Neil Spoonhower agreed with Peterson’s comments, noting that he has been extremely impressed with the dedication, professionalism and capability of county staff since beginning his first term in 2019. “For those who might question how hard they work,” Spoonhower said, “all you have to do is walk for a day in their shoes.”

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Property Transfers 10 acres; Equity Trustees LLC to NYMT Loan Trust I, $320,351. 3 parcels, Section 2, Readers Branch; Readers Branch Partners LLC to Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC, $375,000. 8 Lots, Section 4, Parkside Village; ME PV4 LLC to Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC, $1,000,000. Parcels; Robert Alexander Harris III to WJL Properties LLC, $200,000. 110.09 acres; Virginia Estate and Trust Law PLC to R3 Farm Properties LLC, $540,000. 2 parcels; David M. Fitzgerald, trustee to Danny R. Queensbury Jr., $450,000. 3 lots, 22.106 acres;

Linda F. Merricks to Charles Stribling Jones, $390,000. 6.581 acres; Ann Louise W. Martin, trustee to Leo H. Suggs, $430,000. 9.464 acres; Danny R. Queensberry to Darryl Williams, $345,000. Lot 15, Tuckahoe Creek; Tuckahoe Creek LLC to Jeff Snyder, $255,000. Lot 23, Block C, Section 2, Breeze Hill; Krickovic and Ziegler LLC to Jeffrey Levin, $155,000. Lot 36, Creekmore Park; Russell Brock to Paul Dimartino, $557,500. Lot 6, Tuckahoe Creek; Tuckahoe Creek LLC to Ryan Glynn, $264,950. Parcel; Michael T. Gwaltney to Frank P. Nash, $605,000.

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Obituaries DAVID C. BUCHANAN David Campbell Buchanan, 86, of Goochland, Va., went to be with his Heavenly Father on January 14, 2021. David was born on April 6, 1934, in North Carolina, to his late parents, G.S. and Nita Buchanan. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Dee Buchanan; son, David Buchanan (Jenny); daughters, Donna Wolfe (Chris) and Dr. Patricia Lancaster (Luke); grandchildren, Mandy Wolfe, Andrew Lancaster, Melanie Lancaster and David Campbell Buchanan III; brothers, Andrew Buchanan (Patsy) and John Buchanan (Jackie); and sister, Betty Hull. There will be no visitation due to COVID-19. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at Augusta Memorial Park Cemetery in Waynesboro, Va. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to the Goochland Company 5 Volunteer Fire Department, 2710 Fairground

Rd., Goochland, Va. 23063. Arrangements are being handled by Norman Funeral Chapel in Goochland, Va. LARRY J. EGGLESTON It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Larry Jene Eggleston, 74, of Sandy Hook, Va., on January 7, 2021, after a brief illness from COVID-19. Larry was a great soldier for our Lord, showing love and compassion to all as he carEggleston ried on in his daily life. The love he had for his Lord was only surpassed by the love he had for his wife, Linda. This love was truly a love that most only dream of. Larry spent his childhood in Prince George County, Va., before moving to Hopewell, Va. After meeting and marrying Linda, he moved to Sandy Hook, Va. Larry was an electrician by trade and a

member of IBEW Chapter 666 of the electrician’s union. After retiring, he owned and operated Eggleston’s Tree Service. Larry was a lifelong power lifter. He competed and received many trophies, both local and worldwide. He taught weight lifting at Goochland High School. He also judged competitions across the United States, most enjoyable, the Special Olympics. Larry was an avid gardener, always giving away more than he kept. Larry was a member of Ragland Memorial Baptist Church for 30 years. Here, he was a member of the choir and too many committees to list. He participated in Carpenters for Christ, traveling to assist communities in need. Larry’s death will be a great loss to his family, his church, the community and anyone who ever came in contact with him. Larry was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Frances Kurnas; and his stepfather, Louis Emil Kurnas. Surviving are his devoted wife, Linda Grubbs Eggleston; three

daughters, Angelia Gargus, Nicole Hebbe (David) and Laura Eggleston (Joshua); stepson, Robby Grubbs (Sarah); five grandchildren, Scott Emerson, Austin Hebbe (Rebekah), Christian Grubbs, Simone Grubbs and Nicholas Walker; one great-grandchild, Athena Grubbs; two sisters, Darlene Novak (Werner) and Robin Redmond, all of Prince George County, Va.; one brother, Terry Kurnas (Wendy) of Williamsburg, Va.; and many nieces and nephews. Larry laid in state at Norman Funeral Chapel on Monday, January 11, 2021, from 3 to 7 p.m. A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at Ragland Memorial Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a charity of your choice or Ragland Memorial Baptist Church. Masks and six-foot distancing will be observed due to COVID-19. May he sing with all the choirs of angels in Heaven until we meet again.

Legislation signed by Trump paves way for park commemorating Rosenwald’s efforts Contributed report

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Have an idea for a community news story? Send news tips to Roslyn Ryan at rryan@goochlandgazette.com or call (804) 339-7956.

The Campaign to Create the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park announced last week that President Donald Trump has signed The Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools Act of 2020. The new law requires the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a special resource study of the sites associated with the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald, with a special focus on the Rosenwald Schools. One such school in Goochland, the Second Union Rosenwald School, now serves as a museum dedicated to preserving the story of the schools that offered an educational lifeline to Black students when segregation barred them from educational institutions reserved for white

children. Sponsored by Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-7) in the House and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) in the Senate, the legislation was adopted by both Houses of Congress in December with overwhelming bipartisan support. Late Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights leader who attended a Rosenwald School in Alabama, was one of the eight lead sponsors of the House Bill. His name is on the final law. “It took a real team effort to gain passage of The Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools Act of 2020, from members of Congress and their staffs to our partner organizations,” Rosenwald Campaign President Dorothy Canter said. “We are thankful for all of the support that led us to this point. Now, we can

concentrate on the next steps to make the Rosenwald Historical Park a reality.” Two of the partner organizations that played pivotal roles in passage of the legislation were the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Passage of H.R. 3250 is the critical first step towards commemorating the legacy of a true American hero, Julius Rosenwald,” said Alan Spears, Senior Director of Cultural Resources at NPCA. “His philanthropy, guided by his faith, helped make a way out of no way for many, especially for African Americans during a period of intense racial inequality.” see Rosenwald > 5

Thursday

January 21, 2021

held from 11 to 11:45 a.m. and is intended for children in grades 3-5. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7373815. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom. For more information, or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.

The Chickahominy Health District will explain COVID-19 vaccine distribution during an update from 2 - 3 p.m. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7453878. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before Monday, Feb. 8 the event occurs.For more information, or if you have a special physical or comThe Virginia Poison Center will munication need, please contact ask@ present information on disinfectant pamunkeylibrary.org safety during a presentation from 11 a.m. to noon. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ Saturday, Feb. 6 Grades 3-5. Do you know all about event/7439629. This program is hosted Greg Heffley? Test your knowledge of the virtually through Zoom and the meeting “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series in link will be sent to the email registered this fun trivia game! This program will be one day before the event occurs. For more information, or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org.

continued from >2 Wednesday, Feb. 10

This month’s Atlee Virtual Book Club selection is “The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder” by Joanna Fluke. Stop by your local branch library to pick up a copy or place one on hold, or download it from hoopla as an ebook or audiobook, or OverDrive as an ebook. The meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to noon and registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7438285. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. For more information or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@ pamunkeylibrary.org. Friday, Feb. 12 Get ready for Family Trivia Night! Have a pencil and paper ready to answer questions and get ready to use your knowledge. This event offers fun for the whole family, and is intended for children in grades 2-5. Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/ event/7365994. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom. For more information, or if you have a special physical or communication need, please contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org. see Calendar > 13

Fall in love with landscaping during the library’s landscape design workshop on Feb. 13. Projects continued from >1 the fact that a worldwide pandemic has not slowed them down remains a point of pride. Among the many projects completed last year were the creation of a new Goochland County Business Center, home to both the Goochland County Economic Development office and the Goochland Chamber

of Commerce; the opening of a new Goochland History Center; and the opening of the county’s long-awaited new animal shelter and pet adoption center last June. They have also opened the Hidden Rock Dog Park and completed the phased renovations of the County Commissioner of Revenue and Treasurer’s offices. The goal through it all,

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Stamey said, has been to maximize the resources available to meet the county’s growing needs and improve facilities for residents in the most efficient and economical way they can. In other words, find a way to do as much as possible with what they have. This philosophy can easily be seen in projects such as the relocation of the Registrar’s office from its former

cramped home in the County Administration Building to the nearby building that once housed the Goochland County Extension Office. Without having to construct a new facility, Stamey explained, staff was able to provide much-needed space and efficiency upgrades for the Registrar’s Office and an improved experience for residents visiting the office.

stand there. Or, she’d try and walk and just fall over, or move one leg and one wing oddly as if her brain and body wouldn’t connect. It was so pitiful, but I just couldn’t put her down. She couldn’t live in isolation (an old dog crate) forever, but I’d put so much time and energy into this bird, and her will to survive was so remarkable. Then something truly amazing happened! I was complaining to my friend, Christy, about the situation, describing all that Miracle, and I, had been through. She suggested Miracle come live with her two new baby goats in a stall in her barn. She’d be protected from predators, and bully chickens, have room to move about, and have the company of new friends. She moved in the next day, and in

Rosenwald continued from >4 Rosenwald, leader of Sears, Roebuck & Company and noted philanthropist, contributed to the construction of 5,357 African American schools and related buildings in 15 Southern states in the early part of the 20th century. He also created the Julius Rosenwald Fund, which made substantial contributions to improving African American life. Of course, relocating that office was just one piece of a complicated and multilayered project: Stamey noted that many of the improvements made to county facilities involved a domino-like line of tasks that each needed to be completed in sequence before the next could move forward. It’s a lot of moving parts, he admitted, and each step typically involves at least

just a few week’s time, “babygoat love” healed that chicken. She could walk normally and even began laying eggs again! She and the goats shared a heat lamp and a feed bucket and the love and attention of Christy’s family, and Miracle earned her name once again. Love really does conquer all, and if hope is all you have, hang onto it! * * * P.S. Winnie, the rescue dog, can now be fully trusted in the presence of free-ranging chickens, proving that anything is possible! Do you have a story you’d like to share? Please send your contribution to rryan@goochlandgazette.com. Submissions must be 600 words or less, and feature the story of something that happened to you or a family member. For more information, contact Gazette editor Roslyn Ryan at (804) 3397956. The Campaign envisions a National Historical Park with a visitor center in Chicago that would interpret Rosenwald’s contributions to Sears, Roebuck as well as highlighting his innovative and important philanthropic activities. The Park also would include a small number of Rosenwald Schools in their original locations in the South, to be selected by the NPS. For more information, visit the campaign’s website at www.rosenwaldpark.org. one unforeseen challenge or snag. Concerning the many headaches that come along with each project, Stamey insisted it doesn’t bother him — in fact, he says, he enjoys the challenge. “It’s always fun to look back and see how far you’ve come,” Stamey said, then laughed. “It’s the best job in the world.”

Thursday

January 21, 2021

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

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When the going gets tough, the tough keep on working By Roslyn Ryan Editor

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Two men, center, who had been marching with a group demonstrating for justice and racial equality last June place themselves between fellow marchers, right, and a counter demonstrator, left, carrying an AR-15 rifle. The march was timed to coincide with the Juneteenth holiday, which marks the end of slavery in the United States.

Racism in America: Where do we stand today? By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

As we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his life and legacy, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a personal inventory of

our personal and public attitudes toward racism in America. Where exactly do we stand when it comes to racial harmony, and how far have we come? More importantly, it’s a chance to evaluate just how far we have to go as a

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nation when it comes to equality and fairness. As a child, I grew up in a city where racial lines were clearly drawn, and there was a separate but unequal status quo that seemed impenetrable.

In the early 1950s, that mood changed in Montgomery, Alabama, and the city became a focal point for racial inequities. The driving force behind that movement was a see Honoring King > 7

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Goochland residents. 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 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@goochlandgazette.com © 2021 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: 8,014.

As most of us learn early on, finding a way to put off a tough task is rarely a challenge. From avoiding exercise to not tackling a growing stack of unopened mail, the plentiful tree of excuses rarely fails to bear fruit. “I’m tired.” “It’s so hot/cold/wet/humid outside.” “I need to eat first.” “The Masked Singer is on.” “Mercury is in retrograde.” And so on. Fortunately, there are some among us who don’t seem to mind attacking a challenge headon, those who, in the words of President John F. Kennedy, chose to wade in and get things done, “not because they are easy but because they are hard.” Case in point, even during a pandemic, those tasked with ensuring that Goochland County continued to make progress on the many projects and facility upgrades it had slated for 2020 still managed to get a significant number of those projects not just moved forward but completed. Despite the many challenges — most of them unprecedented — posed by COVID-19, county staff continued to chip away the sizable to-do list, which included building trails in Hidden Rock Park, opening the county’s new Visitors Center and getting the Registrar’s Office relocated to its spacious new quarters. None of it was exactly what see Tough > page 7

Thursday

January 21, 2021

Health officials: Remain on guard Coronavirus vaccine roll-out is underway, but danger remains Contributed report

Local health officials are still urging citizens to practice social distancing and mask wearing as businesses and schools slowly reopen. COVID-19 spreads primarily through respiratory droplets. To lower the risk of spreading respiratory infec-

Honoring King continued from >6 young minister named Martin Luther King Jr., who called for change from his Dexter Avenue pulpit. Even with the frequent marches on weekends, and limited boycotts, life went on in Montgomery and the strife of the day had little influence on our daily lives. On some Saturdays, we gathered as a group of curious children and made the short trek to downtown Montgomery and stood on Dexter Avenue as the protest marches continued. An occasional firecracker would interrupt the unified voices of the protest, but the mood was largely non-confrontational and forgiving. I took special note of the nuns and priests who marched with the protesters signaling their solidarity in the fight. “Wow, there are nuns from church in the march,” I quietly exclaimed to my cousin. An angry man standing directly behind us made a hasty and stern reply as he looked directly in my eyes. “Those aren’t real nuns.

tions, including COVID-19, VDH encourages the following effective behaviors: Stay home when sick. Avoid contact with sick people. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

They are protesters dressed up like nuns,” the man said in an agitated voice. For years, I never questioned his assertions, but the statement always remained in my mind as I watched other protests in other venues over the years. As I listen to my children, I realize that time, indeed, is the great equalizer, and the years between today and those Saturdays in Montgomery have erased or hidden much of the hatefulness … but not all. It’s reassuring when I hear my children speak of their classmates, never reverting to racial descriptions or stereotypes to describe their classmates. Their evolving minds are absent the misguided stereotypes I grew up with as a child, and watched personified by adults for most of my life. It’s a wonderful evolution to witness, as a silent observer who takes some pride in their attitudes and lack of natural racism. Different is not a negative concept to them, and discrimination is something they don’t know exists in America. Sadly, not everyone got the memo, and the advances of Civil Rights and equality for all Americans still evokes hostil-

Serving Goochland County

OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Get your seasonal flu shot. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have it, follow the steps from the CDC website to help protect other people in your home and community. The Chickahominy Health District is working to pro-

ity and resentment in some minds. Even more devastating is the way these hatreds are passed down through generations, a learned behavior that perpetuates of atmosphere of inequality and racial tension. And while many consider that racism in America was a problem long ago solved, the simple reality is that equality in America still has a long way to go. For years, I’ve heard folks from my generation justify their racism by claiming they are victims of a generational phenomenon making them incapable of true change. Some minds won’t be changed, but equality is a vision that has no beginning or end and represents a battle that is ongoing in our nation. And one day, that vision of equal rights for all Americans will be a reality, and the ignorance of racism and bigotry will only survive in the minds of a few. But, the mission of racial harmony is an ongoing assignment that requires constant vigilance to prevent situations like the ones many of us witnessed in the all-too-recent past. Unrest on American streets

vide up-to-date guidance. The following resources have been established to answer COVID-19 questions: For the district’s COVID-19 hotline, call (804) 365-3340 Monday-Friday (voice message are checked and calls are returned between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), email questions to chickahominycovid19@vdh. virginia.gov or call VDH’s hotline at 877-ASK-VDH3 (877-275-8343). For the latest on COVID19, visit: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus or www.vdh.virginia. gov/coronavirus/.

reminds us all there is still work to be done. For many Americans, real racial harmony and equality can’t come fast enough. In the meantime, many of us will continue to keep our eyes on the prize.

Since 1955

Tough continued from >6 one might call easy, but while many people might have cried “COVID” and hit the

While many people might have cried “COVID” and hit the pause button, Goochland’s staff was doing no such thing. pause button, Goochland’s staff was doing no such thing. Were there disappointments and setbacks? Yes. The long-awaited new animal shelter finally opened in June but without any of

H G U O , N E RE! A BIG SERVTE C O TO GH NOU

L SMA

the fanfare or public celebration that such a milestone deserved. Various facilities improvements had to be done in stages so that the work in those offices could continue uninterrupted, so any issue that cropped up in one project had the effect of delaying a whole host of other steps. Add in all the other headaches and challenges inherent in any kind of undertaking — even when there isn’t a worldwide pandemic — and it becomes all the more clear that Goochland is fortunate to have a group with this kind of can-do attitude on its payroll. As you see progress continue across the county, know that a significant amount of that is due to a small but committed core group of county employees. Even when the going gets tough they find a way to get things done, and we are thankful for their efforts.

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PUZZLES AND GAMES

January 21, 2021

Since 1955

FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT CROSSWORD PUZZLE

01/20-01/21

WINTERTIME WORD SEARCH

HOROSCOPES

secreted by certain insects 44. Touch lightly 45. Toyota SUV 48. __ and Andy, TV show 50. Made less dangerous 52. Assets under management (abbr.) 53. Nostrils 55. Moved quickly 56. Thai isthmus 57. TV personality Roker 58. Honors anew 63. Rags 65. One who obtains pleasure from inflicting pain or others 66. Marketplaces 67. Dark brown or black CLUES DOWN 1. Nowhere to be found (abbr.) 2. Not new 3. Brew 4. Stain with mud 5. Chief or leader 6. Luke Skywalker’s mentor __-Wan 7. Type of sauce 8. Sharpens 9. Priestess loved by Zeus 10. Jean Henri __, French

entomologist 11. Regulates supply of fuel 13. Disturbing and horrifying 15. Equal (prefix) 17. Hosts film festival 18. Tattered piece of clothing 21. Rich desserts 23. Unique motor (abbr.) 24. Disfigure 27. Chemical substance 29. Slang for famous person 32. Department of Labor 34. The A-team rode around in one 35. Beach cabin 36. Living things 39. Gun (slang) 40. Disconsolate 43. Stroke gently 44. Actress Richards 46. ‘Cletus Hogg’ actor 47. Returned material authorization (abbr.) 49. Brazilian mountain range 51. Upset 54. One with supernatural insight 59. Insecticide

$"/$&3 t +VO +VM Cancer be careful with the way you behave and present yourself this week. You just don’t know who may be watching what you do. Keep a low profile.

-*#3" t 4FQU 0DU Libra, as soon as things get serious this week, you may be ready to make a fast exit. It’s better if you stick around and lend your opinion to the situation at hand.

$"13*$03/ t %FD +BO Don’t try to rationalize the feelings that are moving through you this week, Capricorn. There is no right or wrong way to feel. Acknowledge the emotions as they come.

5"6364 t "QS .BZ Take care of yourself this week, Taurus. Practicing self-care may mean booking a spa treatment or simply catching up on a little rest and recuperation.

-&0 t +VM "VH Receiving mixed messages, Leo? Enlist a trusted advisor to help you sort through the hazy level of communication that is coming your way. Another perspective is handy.

4$031*0 t 0DU /PW A lot of unknown factors have been slowing you down over the last few weeks, Scorpio. Now that you are no longer impeded, you can put a plan in motion.

"26"3*64 t +BO 'FC Aquarius, do not hide your feelings in a particularly moving situation. Others will empathize with you and appreciate your emotional honesty.

(&.*/* t .BZ +VO A few different scenarios may play out in the days to come. They may be greatly influenced by how you interact with other people, Gemini. You are the catalyst for action.

7*3(0 t "VH 4FQU Virgo, this week the stars may be playing tricks on you. You may stumble though a few things, but it won’t take long to get back on the right path.

4"(*55"3*64 t /PW %FD You may get caught up in some conflicts that you’re either not ready for or have no interest to deal with, Sagittarius. Take it all in quietly for now.

1*4$&4 t 'FC .BS This week you may want to get away from it all to have a different perspective on your life, Pisces. You may travel even further than first imagined.

THIS WEEK’S ANSWERS

CLUES ACROSS 1. Ancient kingdom near Dead Sea 5. 2014 Winter Olympics host 10. Soft fabric 12. Covered in flowers 14. Works at a college or university 16. Keeps us cool 18. Corpuscle count (abbr.) 19. Similar 20. Birthplace of Muhammad 22. They __ 23. Preamble to a book 25. Southern China people 26. Hair product 27. The woman 28. Partner to cheese 30. One point north of due east 31. Round Dutch cheese 33. Be in awe of 35. Christmas song 37. Emits coherent radiation 38. Something that is comparable to another 40. Monetary unit 41. The cutting part of a drill 42. Resinlike substance

"3*&4 t .BS "QS Aries, you will get great satisfaction from various activities this week. Therefore, fill your schedule with plenty of things. Take initiative and invite friends along for an adventure.

Thursday

January 21, 2021

SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Bulldogs fend off Dragons for unbeaten week By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

RICHMOND -- A strong defensive first half and a momentum-shifting 6-0 burst from senior Jack Hoffler in the fourth quarter helped Goochland fend off hosting Maggie Walker Governor’s School 45-35 on Friday. The win capped an unbeaten week for the Bulldogs and lifted them to a winning 3-2 record with which to open the 2020-21 season. “It just shows what we can do as a team and what we can do when we play together and all believe in each other,” said senior Kameron Holman, who scored 11 points and had five rebounds for Goochland. “It was good to get on a little winning streak because we were kind of going loss-win, loss-win,” said Hoffler, who led Goochland with 16 points and six rebounds. “Hopefully we can get something rolling now.” “I’m just proud of our guys,” said Goochland head coach Preston Gordon. “We hung in there and we didn’t give in. We kept fighting.” Maggie Walker was fueled by a 14-1 run in the third quarter, as well as by a couple of fourth-quarter layups off of steals from three-year varsity starter Austin Flock. The Dragons tightened the Bulldogs’ lead to 36-34, but Hoffler responded with a jumper off of the step inside from the corner, then made one of his two tries from the free-throw line following teammate Omarion Quarles’ rebound. He capped his 6-0 run by parlaying a Maggie Walker turnover into a threepointer to widen the Bulldogs’ lead to 42-34 with less than 3 minutes to play. “It was big to stretch the

Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

From left: Goochland High School senior Jack Hoffler looks to make a pass in his Bulldogs’ varsity basketball game at Maggie Walker Governor’s School on Friday; Goochland senior Kameron Holman (24) goes for a layup while facing pressure.

lead back out and get us kind of comfortable and not so tight on defense,” Hoffler said. “I just tried to look for my shot, because I knew that we needed to score.” A couple more turnovers by the home team and 3-for4 combined shooting at the free-throw line from Holman and J.D. Mills cinched the game for Goochland. “We just stayed composed at the end, didn’t let them get too close,” Hoffler said. “We’ve done a very good job of shooting free throws this year,” Gordon said. “We’ve been trying to stress those a lot in practice. Proud of them.” In addition to the speed and experience brought by the Dragons – including Flock, who netted 21 points

on Friday – Goochland also had to contend with the home team’s comparative height, with Uzair Bhatti and Thomas Johnson among the home team’s players going after boards. But despite being smaller overall, Goochland rebounded well in the first half, with Hoffler, Holman, Quarles, Kyle Goff, Gabe Liptak and De’Andre Robinson all grabbing at least one board in the stretch. “We definitely had to rebound as a team – guards, everyone – and our main thing was holding our boxout,” Holman said. Liptak and Hoffler also mixed in some early steals, and after Flock netted the first points of the game, Robinson

in the first quarter knocked down a layup and a jumper to push the Bulldogs into the lead, where they would ultimately stay despite the Dragons’ second-half charge. In addition to his free throw at the end, Mills energized his team with a key pair of 3’s in the game – one off of a web of airtight passes from his teammates to follow-up Robinson’s go-ahead jumper, and the other in response to the Dragons tightening Goochland’s lead to 33-30. He also had the assist on Robinson’s first-quarter jumper. The second quarter was also huge for the Bulldogs, as Hoffler made his first 10 points in the game, including two 3’s, and Goff and Holman

netted 4 points apiece in the stanza alone. The Bulldogs went into the half up 28-14. “I thought we got off to a great start,” Gordon said. “I’m proud of us putting two consecutive (quarters) together in a row, and that’s good.” Gordon also praised his players’ resiliency following their successful efforts in fending off the Dragons’ second-half rally. After Friday’s game, Holman spoke to the importance of not getting comfortable. “We had a lead, but it wasn’t a big lead and they started to chip away,” Holman said. “Just keep playing like it’s 0-0 from the start of the second half.” Goff added five rebounds

and Robinson contributed three. In Goochland’s 49-39 win over Amelia earlier in the week, Hoffler shot 10 for 11 in free throws and led his team with 15 points while adding four rebounds. Liptak netted 10 points and chipped in three steals. Holman scored nine points and added three rebounds, and Robinson added two points to go along with a team-leading nine rebounds. Goochland was slated to hold its Senior Night game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. versus West Point, whose head coach, J.R. Montgomery, was a senior in Gordon’s first year as the freshmen coach at Pulaski. Two of the players on West Point’s team are sons of Geoff McCulloch and Drew Layne, with whom Gordon coached while at Pulaski. As the schedule continues to shift due to cancellations and postponements in this ongoing pandemic, the Bulldogs will next host Charles City, a new addition to the schedule, on Friday at 6 p.m. and then rematch Fluvanna at the Flying Flucos’ place on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Goochland also is scheduled to host Windsor next Monday at 7 p.m. and play on the road in West Point on Wednesday at 7 p.m. For the latest scheduling updates, visit http:// GoochlandBulldogs.com. “It’s been crazy. Once again, thankful and blessed to be here. I know so many other... players don’t have this opportunity,” Gordon said. “I try to refresh that with our guys every so often. Sometimes we get upset about this or that, but we just need to be thank-

see Bulldogs> 10

Thursday

January 21, 2021

SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional

Serving Goochland County Since 1955

Monster 4th quarter propels Goochland to victory By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

GOOCHLAND -- Steal the ball. Sprint to the basket. Score the bucket – or at the very least, draw the foul for the freethrow chances at the line, and then make both shots. Deep in the fourth quarter of last Tuesday’s home game versus Amelia, Goochland High School’s Gabby Ragone was showing she had mastered that formula. When her team held a slim 2-point lead with less than 3:06 remaining in regulation, the senior got the takeaway and the layup on a fast break. Her play sparked a 7-0 run that cemented the momentum in the Bulldogs’ favor in the final stretch. After Amelia led Goochland by 1 point in the first three quarters, the Bulldogs’ fiery showcase in the fourth quarter, paced by Ragone’s 15 points in the stanza alone, propelled them to their first victory of the season, 50-40 over the Raiders. “It’s the beginning of the season, a lot of us haven’t played together before, so I think we just needed that jumpstart play to just get us

in a groove to keep going,” Ragone said. “Once we got that, then we played together as a team. It was good.” Ragone double-doubled in Tuesday’s game, netting 25 points total and nabbing a whopping 11 steals. She added six rebounds and three assists, and she shot 9 for 11 from the free-throw line. She previewed what was to come in the game when, in the second quarter, she pounced on back-to-back passing miscues committed by the Raiders and turned both steals into two points from the line and a go-ahead layup. Last year’s James River District Player of the Year also set the tone in the fourth quarter when, getting the ball to start, she walked it from the sideline to the top of the key and let it fly on a shot straight down the middle. It swished through the net for 3. As it’s still early in the season, Ragone said she’s still trying to get into the groove of things, “but as soon as you get familiar with just shooting one of them,” she added, “it kind of just falls back into muscle memory.” Amelia afterwards returned

to the point, going ahead with the help of two free throws. But Goochland junior Jenika Carter hauled in a defensive rebound, drove the length of the court and sent the ball out to Ragone, who knocked down yet another money shot from behind the 3-point arc to push her team back into the lead. The Bulldogs never relinquished it from there. Carter chipped in 8 points and three assists, and while they were facing significant height from Amelia, whose rotation featured 6-2 Loren Cox, the Bulldogs rebounded well, with Erla Thorkelsdottir bringing down 10 boards, Emmy Paulin hauling in eight and Rayanna Tibbs grabbing six. Paulin added three steals. For the guard-heavy Bulldogs going against the taller Raiders, Goochland head coach James Harris spoke to the importance of fundamentals and boxing out. “It takes five,” Harris said. “Everybody has to help out and box out as well.” Ragone also saw that as soon as Cox would cut into the middle, the outsides of the floor would open up, creating

Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

Goochland High School senior Gabby Ragone (right) and Amelia’s Lauren Williams (11) go after a loose ball during the fourth quarter in last Tuesday’s game in Goochland. Ragone would get the steal and the layup on a fastbreak, sparking a 7-0 run that helped give Goochland late-game momentum in its 50-40 win over the Raiders.

opportunities for the Bulldogs. Harris observed better ball movement and more made shots from his team in the second half, and the team chemistry, he noted, is getting there. He added that his players had to overcome the hurdle of not practicing the day before. The win was a highlight for the Bulldogs in an otherwise tough week. They fell to

Fluvanna 66-46 on Thursday and to Maggie Walker Governor’s School 48-31 on Friday. Against Fkuvanna, Ragone had 16 points, six steals and eight assists. Paulin netted 11 points and led the team with nine rebounds. Senior Taylor Whitfield scored 10 points. Facing Maggie Walker, Ragone had 16 points and seven

steals, and Paulin chipped in nine points and five rebounds. No matter how the rest of this season ends up going, Ragone can say she was able to play on the high school basketball court in her senior year. “It’s so exciting,” she said. “I’m so happy that it’s still on...a lot of teams have dropped out, but I’m just excited to have a senior season this year.”

VARSITY CORNER

Bulldogs continued from >9 ful that we’re here playing basketball.” As Goochland’s young team continues to grow, this 3-2 start to the year can build momentum and confidence, Hoffler noted. “I think it just shows that we’re getting better as a group,” Hoffler said. “That can help us in the long run.” “It definitely shows that we have our confidence,” Holman said, “and that we can hang with just about any team that steps on the floor with us.”

Goochland football’s Doczi receives roster spot offer from CNU Goochland senior Ayden Doczi has received another roster spot offer for football. The three-sport standout on Jan. 14 announced that he had received the roster spot offer from Christopher Newport University. CNU in 2019 competed as footballonly members in the New Jersey Athletic Conference of NCAA Division III.

Doczi has also received an offer from NAIA Division II school McPherson College, as well as a roster spot offer from NCAA Division III college Bridgewater. Doczi in 2019 was named to Second Team All-Region at the center position in football. He contributed to the Bulldogs going 12-2 in 2019, winning the Class 3, Region B championship and reaching the Class 3 state semifinals. For Goochland, Doczi is a center and long snapper in football, a pitcher in baseball

and a heavyweight-division GIRLS BASKETBALL competitor in wrestling. Saturday, Jan. 9 Saint Gertrude 77, SCORES S3 Academy 42 WRESTLING Highlights (STG): Erin Saturday, Jan. 16 Woodson 24 points, Kate Courtland 57, Goochland 24 Samson 22 points, Cherese Highlights: (GOOC) 132- Lampkins 10 points John Summitt p. Dalton Best, 152-Max Moreno p. Niveck Tuesday, Jan. 12 Waters, 170-Riley Hite p. Saint Gertrude 67, Liam Wojciechowski, HWT- Virginia Academy 47 Ayden Doczi p. Armond Highlights (STG): Erin Young, (COU) 145-Morgan Woodson 23 points, 6 rebounds, Lehocky dec. Grant Heidel 6 assists, 5 steals, Kate Samson 3-2 19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks,

3 assists, Cherese Lampkins 12 points, Sam Smith 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists Thursday, Jan. 14 Saint Gertrude 68, Central Virginia Homeschool 30 Highlights (STG): Erin Woodson 25 points, 9 rebounds, 7 steals, 3 assists, Sam Smith 13 points, 8 rebounds, Kate Samson 11 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, Cherese Lampkins 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks Record on Jan. 18 (STG): 8-0

Thursday

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TV LISTINGS: Find Local TV Shows and Movie Schedules

January 21, 2021 THURSDAY EVENING 4 PM 4:30 5 PM

Since 1955