DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 28, No. 18 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | August 31, 2011
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
After the storm: regrouping By JimFields jfields@mechlocal.com Like a bad country song, Irene came calling Saturday, and when she said “Goodnight,” she left property damage not seen since her first cousin Isabel visited in
September 2003. Power lines came down, trees fell, and roof shingles and siding flew off homes. As of early Monday afternoon, Dominion Virginia Power had restored power to 600,000 of the 1.2 million customers that
lost power. “We have 6,000 people working to restore power and expect to have 90 to 95 percent of those who lost power back on by Friday,” said Rodney Blevins, vice president see IRENE, pg. 4
Melody Kinser/The Local
A tree was split in the front yard of a home on Atlee Road.
AAA bond rating Safety No. 1 priority on Tuesday may be at risk HCSO focus will Superintendent By JimFields jfields@mechlocal.com
Hanover County’s AAA bond rating may be in jeopardy. That’s what members of the Hanover Board of Supervisors learned last Wednesday. Deputy County Administrator Joe Casey reported that last month Moody’s listed Hanover AAA rating as under review for a possible downgrade. “Earlier this month, Moody’s modified the county’s rating status to negative outlook, which means it could be downgraded over the next one to two years,” Casey said. Every AAA county in Virginia, including Henrico, as well as the state, got the same
bond rating notice Hanover did. “All of this is happening because of the federal government’s debt/budget crisis,” Casey said. He said one of the reasons Hanover has a AAA rating is the county is not that dependent on the federal government. Casey cited several reasons for Hanover not being dependent on the federal government, including: ❍ Only 170 federal workers live in Hanover (.4 percent of our workforce). ❍ Few Hanover employers rely heavily upon federal contracts.
be on bus stops By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com When Hanover County Public Schools students head to the bus stop on Tuesday, the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office will be out in full force to ensure their safe arrival at school. “Getting them there safely to a good, safe learning environment” is the goal of the Sheriff ’s Office, according to Capt. Michael J. Trice. “Our main area of concern is the school bus stops. We want to make sure peo-
Letter from sheriff — Page 2 Bus routes — Pages 28-45
extends welcome
(Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Dr. Jamelle S. Wi l s o n , superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools.) WILSON Dear Photo courtesy of Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Patrols will be increased on Tuesday as Hanover County Parents Public Schools children begin the 2011-2012 school year. and Community Members: As the new superintendent ple don’t pass the school he added. Trice said motorists need of Hanover County Public bus. Blinking lights will start see HCSO, pg. 17 see WELCOME, pg. 14 shortly around school zones,”
see BOND, pg. 4
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