DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Vol. 36, No. 11 | Richmond Suburban News | August 5, 2020
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Return to Learn plan addressed in town hall
Voter registrar, staff ready for Nov. 3 election Staff Report news@mechlocal.com
a reason to vote absentee. Starting on Sept. 18, you can cast your ballot in person by visiting our office. We will be open for in-person voting from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 and 31. Oct. 31 is the last day to vote early.
HANOVER – Hanover County Director of Elections/ General Registrar Teresa F. “Teri” Smithson and her staff are prepared to help all eligible registered voters maintain the ability to cast a ballot in the Nov. 3 General Election. In their comVote by Mail mitment to serving You can visit the voters, she said, v o t e.elections. “For your safety virginia.gov/ and to minimize VoterInformation risk of exposure to to apply online or COVID-19, you request an appliare encouraged to cation by calling/ request a ballot and emailing or visit vote by mail.” us. We will begin Smithson proSMITHSON to mail the ballots vided information starting on Sept. 18. for various aspects Friday, Oct. 23, by 5 p.m. is of the voting process.They are: the deadline to request a vote by mail ballot to be mailed to Voter Registration Deadline to register to vote, you. Monday, Nov, 2, at 2 p.m. is or update an existing registrathe cut-off for voting an emertion is Tuesday, Oct. 13. You gency-only ballot in the Voter may go online to vote.virginia. Registration and Elections gov and click Registration; request an application by call- Office. The Hanover County ing/emailing our office or visit Voter Registration and us in the office. Elections Office is located in the Wickham Building, Room
Early Voting
Virginia no longer requires
see VOTER, pg. 3
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Photo submitted by Laura Maxey-Nay
CJ Isbell and Keenbell Farm have been named 2020 Virginia Farmer of the Year. Shown are, from left, Rachel Henley, VCE-Powhatan County; Laura Maxey-Nay, VCE-Hanover County; Jessica Isbell, Landon Isbell, Faith Isbell and CJ Isbell.
Virginia Farmer of Year: hard work, family tradition pay off Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com
C
harles Edwin (“CJ”) Isbell Jr. is carrying on a 70-year family tradition at Keenbell Farm in western Hanover County. His grandparents, Joe and Kathleen Isbell, purchased the original 175 acres in 1951. Today, at 340 owned and leased acres, the farm specializes in grass-fed beef, pastureraised pork, free range poultry, turkeys, eggs, and specialty non-GMO grains. “All that was on the property back in the early ’50s was a two-story wooden house with daylight showing through the boards and an old corn crib,” Isbell said. “Without the steadfast support, hard work and determination of my father and wife, the realization of our farm’s vison would not be
possible,” he said. Starting out with laying hens, Keenbell Farm expanded into a feeder pig and cattle operation and eventually branched out into production of hay, corn, wheat, barley and soybeans. Isbell’s grandfather retired in the 1990s after selling most of his operation. But his grandson continued to study and explore agricultural methods to bolster his dream of creating a viable and sustainable family farm. Following a business plan he developed with his father Eddie -- and equipped with just one heifer and $250 in savings -- he and his dad began renovations on a couple of acres in 2006. As Isbell said, “Financially speaking, my dad hadn’t been able to have a farming career but worked full-time in the construction see FARMER, pg. 4
ASHLAND -- A plan passed earlier this month by the Hanover County School Board that returns the majority of students to the classroom this fall is receiving a myriad of reactions from parents and teachers. A procession of more than 80 cars recently paraded past the Hanover County Public Schools Central Office, honking horns and displaying signs that expressed their opposition to the proposed in-classroom opening. Days later, two county professional education groups urged officials to consider a fully virtual opening for the first nine weeks of school, and a number of citizens questioned details of the plan at a town hall meeting held last week. On the day of the virtual town hall, about 70 parents and students arrived at the Central Office in Ashland to show support for the plan that allows parents the choice of sending their kids back to school in faceto-face instruction or opting for virtual instruction at home. Parents of Hanover County Public Schools students were facing tough choices as officials see RETURN, pg. 3