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Vol. 37, No. 44 | Richmond Suburban News | February 16, 2022
Concerts aid law enforcement families Board approves proposed budget, defers action on speaker revisions By Jim Ridolphi For The Mechanicsville Local
Contributed photo
The Five-O’s Tiki Foundation presents a $1,000 donation check to the family of Louisa County deputy Chris Hockman. The family lost their Hanover home and all their belongings in a fire in April 2019.
By Christina Amano Dolan Editor The Five-O’s Tiki Foundation is kicking off its second annual Hart Nissan Concert Series in April, featuring a variety of performances by national country and rock artists including Kameron
Marlowe, Alexandra Kay, Heath Sanders, Matt Stell and more. The outdoor series will be held at Richmond Harley-Davidson from April to June and is currently hosting nine different shows. The first concert is scheduled for April 9 and will feature Kameron see CONCERT, pg. 17
The Hanover County School Board has deferred action on revisions to current public speaker guidelines that would have prioritized some groups above others for available speaking slots. Under the proposed changes introduced by Beaverdam representative John Axselle at last month’s meeting, county residents with children in Hanover schools would receive first consideration for time during the public comment period. The current policy is more of a first come, first served approach, a plan that has been strained by overflow crowds at several board meetings that addressed controversial subjects such as mask mandates or transgender policies. Axselle explained at last week’s regularly scheduled meeting that his proposal was not an effort to limit the access of certain individuals, but instead, to recognize Hanover taxpayers first. “The intent behind the motion was more to favor Hanoverians, and I still like that because I think we lose sight some-
File photo by Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Hanover parent Jody McMaster addresses the school board regarding parental access to Hanover schools at last week’s meeting.
times of who really owns the school system. Without our community and taxpayers, we wouldn’t be here, and that’s the main point behind this,” he said. The board was scheduled to vote on the amended policy at last week’s meeting, but vice chair Bob Hundley opened the discussion with a request to postpone action until further adjustments can be made to the revisions. see BUDGET, pg. 16
Hanover citizens voice concerns over pipeline, school book banning By Christina Amano Dolan Editor All seats were occupied during last week’s Hanover County Board of Supervisors meeting, with Allen Davidson holding the previouslyChristina Amano Dolan/The Local vacant Beaverdam seat for the first Cold Harbor Supervisor Michael Herzberg time. Davidson succeeds the late addresses concerns regarding his recent Aubrey M. “Bucky” Stanley, who dedFacebook post that called for the removal icated 38 years to representing the of ‘controversial materials’ in schools.
Beaverdam District. “We welcome you, Mr. Davidson, and we’re glad that you are here,” said Chair and Chickahominy Supervisor Angela Kelly-Wiecek. “We are thankful that you have offered to serve us and the residents of our fine county.” During the public comment period, various residents stepped to the podium to express concerns regarding the proposed Chickahominy Pipeline
project, inclusivity in the community and recent social media discussion over book banning in schools. Two speakers voiced their disapproval over a natural gas pipeline project proposed by Chickahominy Pipeline LLC (CPLLC). The pipeline would run through five counties, including Hanover County, in order to serve a proposed natural gas power plant in Charles City County.
CPLLC spokesperson Beth Minear appeared in a Jan. 12 board of supervisors meeting to provide an overview of the project and answer commonly submitted questions. Minear said landowners have the right to refuse requests from project officials to survey their property and that officials would consequently seek an alternate route. see CONCERNS, pg. 4