DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 30, No. 33 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | December 18, 2013
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Tax base up since ’09 Citizen questions public from this year’s assessment is By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local positive with a small increase in the county’s tax base of 2.1 Hanover County real estate percent. assessor Richard Paul said New construction account2014 reassessment figures are a ed for 1,115 building permits mixed bag for county property totaling $172,215,520, a 1.4 owners with some properties percent increase in the tax gaining value and others still in base. a downward pattern. The increase in the number ANGELA KELLY-WIECEK “We still have a-ways to go of building permits, up from Median new home price in to get back to where we were in 841 last year, is a positive indiHanover County was $300,000. 2009,” Paul said. cator that the economy is turnsee TAX, pg. 22 But, the overall picture ing around but slowly.
record policies in county By Jodi Deal jdeal@mechlocal.com After Hanover County received its first ever public records request for any and all emails pertaining to a particular topic, County Attorney Sterling Rives has said the county is making changes in how electronic record-keeping is handled. A recent request for public documents that grew out of a community effort to fight a now
withdrawn proposal to build a movie theater on the Mechanicsville Turnpike left resident Deborah Wetlaufer, who lives near the theater site, feeling as though it might be tougher for Hanover County citizens to access public information and government records than it should be. Wetlaufer made her Oct. 11 request for documents under the Virginia Freedom of see POLICIES, pg. 24
HCSB mulls changes to SOL testing schedule Calendars share history By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Last week’s meeting of the Hanover County School Board had a festive atmosphere as members enjoyed a holiday themed concert from Atlee High School a capella group Dissonance. Following the short concert, the aura
was more serious as several local education leaders listed priorities for the upcoming budget year. While salaries are the assumed top priority on the wish list of local educators, it’s not the only issue on their agenda. After conducting a survey among the members of her organization, Hanover Professional Educators (HPE) chapter
They are the champions!
president Angela Downer said a 6 percent salary increase was the number one priority on an employee wish list. “Employees are struggling to do more with less, and the raise is very much needed,” Downer said. Due to the salary increases and calls see SOL, pg. 18
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
The Hanover County School Board honored members of the Atlee High School girls volleyball team during the Dec. 10 regular meeting. The Raiders captured the Virginia High School League Group 5A state championship on Nov. 23 at the Siegel Center in Richmond by defeating Stone Bridge in five sets. Joining the girls, shown with their commendations, are Robert Hundley, School Board chairman; coach Curtis Carpenter and Jamelle Wilson, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools.
and bring scholarships President Virginia Darnell, who assumed responsibility of working or 30 years, the with the owners of the counPamunkey Woman’s ty’s many rich-in-history Club has bringing houses 26 years ago, is proud Hanover County his- of the work her club does in tory into homes and, more making the calendar a must importantly, providing schol- on many Christmas gift lists. arships for local high school see CALENDARS, pg. 24 seniors.
By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com
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Jodi Deal/The Local
Virginia Darnell, president of the Pamunkey Woman’s Club, is shown with the first, 10th, 20th and 30th editions of the calendars.