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PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 30, No. 9 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | July 3, 2013
Chimps get Lone Star reprieve By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Jodi Deal/The Local
County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. told the Hanover Business Council about development and economic recovery.
Curtis Shepperson and his wife Bernice were not present at last week’s meeting when the Hanover County Board of Supervisors endorsed a plan that would resolve an ongoing issue regarding the couple’s six
chimpanzees. Originally permitted to keep two primates at their Windy Oaks site, the Sheppersons have been at odds with the county for three years over the animals since several escapes raised alarms with some neighbors. In a unanimous vote, the supervisors voted to partici-
pate in an agreement among the Sheppersons, the Houston Zoo and Hanover County that would transfer ownership of all six of the chimps by the end of the year. The Houston Zoo has agreed to accept the chimps as a family and house them in their natural, state-of-the-art
Harris: Pageant brings mix of cute, humor more jobs, rising wages By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com
By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com Hanover County’s jobless rates are falling, wages are going up, and plenty of development is in the works, including a proposed new movie theater in Mechanicsville. That’s what County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. told members of the see HARRIS, pg. 15
A
s Lynn Watson warmed up the crowd for the annual Little Miss and Tiny Miss Tomato Festival pageants Sunday afternoon, she aimed a camera at the audience gathered at the East Hanover Volunteer Rescue Squad in Mechanicsville. “I never get to do this,” Watson said, noting that the cameras are usually pointed
facility in Texas. The delay is due to ongoing construction of the facilities in Houston. Pending an examination by zoo veterinarians, the deal appears to bring the conflict to an end. Supervisors acknowledged the efforts of assistant county administrator Jim Taylor, the Sheppersons and the Houston
Zoo in reaching an agreement that avoided some difficult decisions for county officials regarding the chimps. “All of the chimps are going to a happy and healthy place for them and that’s going to be good for the county, the neighsee CHIMPS, pg. 7
phones and digital cameras, recording both still photos and video of their daughters. The girls, ranging in age from 3 to 7, were photographed and videotaped as they participated in an interview session with Watson. “We have the cutest little girls in Hanover,” Watson told the audience. Then, to the girls, she issued direction. Jodi Deal/The Local in the other direction. “But it’s “Practice your princess waves, Pageant contestants and attendees enjoyed tomato cupcakes the 35th anniversary!” everybody!” and other goodies at the Tiny Miss and Little Miss Hanover As it is each year, the event The winner wasn’t Tomato Festival Pageant on Sunday at East Hanover Volunteer was well documented by proud parents armed with cell
see PAGEANT, pg. 7
Rescue Squad.