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Vol. 35, No. 24 | Richmond Suburban News | October 17, 2018
Optimism abounds in EDA report By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
LT. BRAD CLARK
Fallen firefighter’s memorial set today By Melody Kinser Managing Editor MECHANICSVILLE – Funeral services for a Hanover County firefighter who was killed while responding to an emergency call on Thursday, Oct. 11, are scheduled this afternoon. Lt. Bradford Turner “Brad” Clark, 43, of Mechanicsville, was “doing what he loved,” as he joined with three fellow Station 6 crew members on Interstate 295 north of exit 38B in Mechanicsville. Clark’s memorial service will get underway at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday, Oct.17) at the Farm Bureau at Meadow Event Park at 13191 Dawn Blvd. see MEMORIAL, pg. 5
HANOVER — “Everybody who wants a job, for the most part, has a job in Hanover,” Economic Development director Linwood Thomas said during last Wednesday’s meeting of the .Hanover County Board of Supervisors. He was quoting County Administrator Rhu Harris from a State of the County speech delivered earlier in the week. Thomas told supervisors that a 2.6 percent unemployment rate is good news for those seeking employment, but presents challenges for Hanover businesses seeking
qualified employees. 2018 report. “It’s a blessing to have that. Thomas credited the board From an economic for efforts like the development standstrategic rezoning point, we have to initiative and speculook at a wider net lative site selection when companies that have opened come in and say we more sites for potenneed 200 employtial businesses. ees. We now have In presenting to look out in a 20his annual report, to 30-mile radius Thomas said the search as opposed presentation serves THOMAS to a 10 or 15,” he as more than just an said. information tool for The low unemployment local officials and businesses. rate was only a small portion of “We don’t want to use this the good news Thomas deliv- just as an annual report to stick ered that all adds up to positive on a website,” Thomas said. economic development envi- “We want use this as a marketronment outlined in his 2017- ing piece when meeting with
site consultants and brokers.” Thomas said a well-diversified industry base has insulated the county from shortfalls affecting other counties that depend largely on one source like defense spending. “I am proud to announce that this year we grew our business and professional services sector by 6 percent,” Thomas said. “Falling into that category are science and technology industries.” Those industries correlate nicely with the department’s goal to attract well-paying jobs to Hanover that provide residents with competitive salaries. see EDA, pg. 7
Clay closing, Gandy to be rebuilt in long-term plan By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local ASHLAND — Last May, a group of consultants presented results from a study conducted regarding Hanover County Public Schools’ facilities and the need for renovation or replacement of some of those aging campuses. The presentation included a list of the 10 facilities in the most need of attention, but prioritizing that list fell to the Hanover County School Board. Board chair Bob Hundley
said that process involved community input, consultation with the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, and workshop sessions. At the supervisors insistence, the panel worked to establish a prioritized list, and decide a starting point for the long-term improvement project. Last year’s Capital improvement Plan (CIP) included plans to build a new school in 2022 and funding was dedicated for that purpose.
Photo courtesy of Hanover County Public Schools
John M. Gandy Elementary School in Ashland is included in a long-term plan of rebuilding.
After that long and detailed process, Hundley confirmed previously reported news that the first step in the process involves the closing of Henry Clay Elementary School and its merger with
John M. Gandy Elementary School, a campus identified for replacement. “Our primary goal during the planning retreat was to prioritize our long-term facilsee CLAY, pg. 5
Deaths of father, son investigated by HCSO By Melody Kinser Managing Editor MECHANICSVILLE – A father and son lost their lives last week in what the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office determined was a murder-suicide. Sgt. James R. Cooper, public information officer for the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office, said William Louis Simpson, 84, reportedly took the life of his son, William Louis Simpson, Jr., 59, and then his own on Tuesday, Oct. 9, in the 7500 block of Cold Harbor Road in Mechanicsville. He also said that a handgun was used to kill the two. Cooper did not comment on any motive. According to Cooper, deputies responded to the residence for a 9-1-1 hang up. After entry was made, deputies found the two men dead from what the sergeant called “obvious signs of trauma.” A graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. today for the elder Simpson in Greenwood Memorial Gardens at 12609 Patterson Ave. in Richmond. The complete obituary may be found on page 12.