DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Vol. 29, No. 4 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | May 30, 2012
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
PATRICK HENRY 12 p.m. June 16 VCU Siegel Center
Pearson, Kavanagh lead PHHS ’12 class
By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com
L
aura Pearson leads the 2012 Class of Patrick Henry High School as valedictorian with a grade point average of 4.73. Salutatorian is Kaitlin Kavanagh, who has a 4.67 GPA. The daughter of James and Peri Pearson of Montpelier, Laura serves as secretary of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Latin Club and captain of the soccer and volleyball teams. She also is a member of the Beta Club and Student Organization for Developing Attitudes (SODA). Laura is a concert master with the Patrick Henry orchestra and an educa-
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Photos courtesy of John Herzog and Jessica Robertson Photographic Artistry
Laura Pearson, left, and Kristin Kavanagh, with grade point averages of 4.71 and 4.67, have been named valedictorian and salutatorian at Patrick Henry High School for the Class of 2012.
tion officer/tutor with the NJROTC. She has been concert master with the All-County
see PHHS, pg. 4 `
Photo courtesy of Hanover County Sheriff’s Office
Col. David R. Hines, left, sheriff of Hanover County, receives an award from John Walsh, host of “America’s Most Wanted,” for his department’s efforts in locating a missing 8-year-old autistic boy last fall. The award was presented on May 23 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
HCSO honored for rescue efforts By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com
The Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office, under the leadership of Col. David R. Hines, sheriff, was honored last Wednesday by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for their work in locat-
ing a missing child last fall. Eight-year-old Robert A. Wood Jr., who is autistic, got lost on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, at the North Anna Battlefield Park and was located on Friday, Oct. 28. He was found in what was described as “remarkably good see HCSO, pg. 4 `
Awards honor late economic director
Teacher of Year hails from Atlee High
By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Brennan Sigel, a modern global studies and International Baccalaureate (IB) psychology teacher at Atlee High School, has been named the Hanover County Public Schools 2013 Teacher of the Year. see TEACHER, pg. 8 `
Orchestra and participated in the Senior Regional Orchestra and All-State Orchestra. In the fall, she will be
attending Yale University, where she will study biology and, she said, “eventually immunology/epidemiology.” When she talks about her high school years, Laura said, “I appreciate the opportunity Patrick Henry has given me to participate in a wide variety of activities while getting a great education rom wonderful teachers. I will miss high school but am very excited to continue my adventure at Yale next year.” Looking ahead, she said,”I hope someday to work for the World Health Organization or as a world health analyst for the CIA and travel the world studying diseases and outbreaks.” Kaitlin, the daughter of Sean and Jennifer Kavanagh
BRENNAN SIGEL
Serving as Hanover County’s economic development director, the late Marc Weiss left an indelible mark on the Hanover business community. On Tuesday, May 22, RandolphMacon College, the Community College Workforce Alliance, the Greater Richmond
Partnership and the Greater Richmond Chamber’s Hanover Business Council hosted the first annual Marc Weiss Hanover Workforce Awards and Forum at the Ashland campus. The event recognizes and celebrates excellence in workforce development and featured several prominent speakers who addressed current and important issues
facing businesses in Hanover County. “Our goal for this event is to connect the companies to the workforce resources that are available in our region,” Hanover Business Council president Owen Matthews said. Hiring and retaining good employees is the key to success in local business, see AWARDS, pg. 5 `