Call of the WILD

ROSLYN RYAN Editor

INSIDE: Mt. Gilead Baptist hosts STEM night. SEE PAGE 9

See Page 5

Sheri : Man was shot after aiming gun at deputies

As current school board chair Sandra Barefoot-Reid noted during a Jan. 16 school board budget work session, the $4,950 annual salary for a Goochland County School Board member has been in place since 2006.

One look at the possum and Goochland resident Mark Busser knew something wasn’t right. Not only was the possum plainly visible during the daytime—unusual for the marsupials, which are typically most active at night—but it was also walking, as Busser would later describe it, “in small fast circles.”

Concerned that the animal might be sick and fearing his two Labrador Retrievers might try to approach it, Busser called Goochland Animal Protection for assistance and kept an eye on the possum while he waited. A short time later, Officer Shawn Rutledge arrived on the scene.

Barefoot-Reid

Barefoot-Reid added that, while she understood the need to keep the current proposed budget balanced and prioritize the critical needs of the school division, she felt the time had come to discuss a raise.

“None of us are here to make money, but there are expenses that we endure as well,”

Please see PAY BUMP, Page 3

A Goochland County deputy remains on administrative leave after a Feb. 2 shooting that occurred after o cers responded to a home in the 4600 block of Hodges Hideaway Lane.

Responding to a call from a resident about shots being fired in the area and a woman screaming for help, o cers with the Goochland County Sheri ’s O ce arrived on the scene and began their investigation.

According to a release issues by the Goochland County Sheri ’s o ce, o cers were questioning a male subject about his possible involvement in the incident when the man produced a firearm.

Despite repeated commands for the man to drop the weapon, he allegedly pointed it at the deputies and was subsequently shot. Deputies immediately rendered aid and called for rescue.

Please see WILD, Page 2

As Rutledge explained later, seeing a possum out in the daylight hours, while unusual, isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. Particularly during Goochland Animal Protection O cer Shawn Rutledge examines a possum after a resident reported that it had been exhibiting strange behavior.

The man was transported to VCU Medical Center, and his condition remains unknown.

Charges are currently pending against him.

Hodges Hideaway Lane is located o Three Chopt Road in the western part of the county.

At the request of Goochland County Sheri Steven N. Creasey, the Virginia State Police are investigating the incident.