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Incident Reports
HANOVER – A 21-year-old Mechanicsville man died last week after the motorcycle he was driving collided with another vehicle.
On Wednesday, Feb. 16 at approximately 6:01 p.m., deputies responded to the intersection of Lee Davis Road and Laurel Meadows Drive for a twovehicle crash involving a motorcycle.
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The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2003 Suzuki motorcycle was traveling northbound on Lee Davis Road when a 2017 Acura SUV made a left turn from Laurel Meadows Drive onto Lee Davis Road colliding with the motorcycle.
The driver of the 2003 Suzuki motorcycle, Noah D. Smith, 21, of Mechanicsville, was pronounced deceased at VCU Medical Center as a result of injuries sustained from the crash. There were no other occupants on the motorcycle.
The driver and sole occupant of the 2017 Acura did not sustain any injuries.
Investigators are still collecting information.
Information submitted by Lt. James R. Cooper, Hanover County Sheriff’s Office public information officer.
SHERIFF’S REPORTS
| Crime, Accidents, Fire & Rescue
Jan. 10
Causing a computer malfunction was reported in the 7100th block of Studley
Road, Mechanicsville.
Credit card theft was reported in the 7300th block of Bell Creek Road,
Mechanicsville.
Credit card fraud, $200 or more in six months was reported in the 9500th block of Kings Charter Dr,
Ashland.
Concealment of pricealtered merchandise, less than $500 was reported in 7400th block of Bell Creek
Road, Mechanicsville.
Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 9000th block of Fayemont Drive,
Mechanicsville.
Petit larceny from auto was reported in the 9200th block of Dentons Tavern Way,
Mechanicsville.
Identity fraud, use of identifying information to defraud was reported in the 11200th block of Old
Scotland Road, Glen Allen.
Driver not reporting accident with damage up to $1,000 was reported in the 8100th block of Atlee
Road/Meadowbridge Road,
Mechanicsville.
Conspiracy to obtain money, etc., by false pretenses; larceny, $200 was reported in the 8400th block of Prospect Lane, Ashland.
Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 10200th block of Kestrel Drive,
Ashland.
Jan. 11
Computer Fraud: Embezzle
Or Larceny <$1000 was reported in the 7100th block of Lereve Drive,
Mechanicsville.
Identity theft with intention to defraud, up to $200 was reported in the 10000th block of Wintercrest Drive,
Ashland.
Petit larceny, less than $500, not from a person was reported in the 7100th block of Mechanicsville
Turnpike, Mechanicsville.
Obtaining money or signature by false pretenses was reported in the 10200th block of Timber Ridge
Drive, Ashland.
Destruction of property, monument was reported in the 11200th block of
Gwathmey Church Road,
Ashland.
Perjury was reported in the 7500th block of County Complex Road, Hanover.
Driver not reporting accident with damage less than $250 was reported in the 7800th block of Compass Point Lane, Mechanicsville.
Simple assault was reported in the 7000th block of
Mechanicsville Turnpike,
Mechanicsville.
Jan. 12
Petit larceny, building was reported in the 12400th block of W Patrick Henry
Road, Ashland.
Petit larceny, building was reported in the 8200th block of Meadowbridge Road,
Mechanicsville
Possession of a Schedule
I or II controlled substance was reported in the 8100th block of Mechanicsville
Turnpike/Edgeworth Road,
Mechanicsville.
Grand Larceny Parts was reported in the 11500th block of Sun Shade Lane,
Ashland.
Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 11200th block of Elmont Crossing
Lane, Ashland.
Assault and battery on a family member was reported in the 7300th block of Ford Avenue,
Mechanicsville.
Jan. 13
Public swearing or intoxication was reported in the 9600th block of Chamberlayne Road/ Crown Colony Parkway, Mechanicsville.
Damaging public buildings, library materials less than $1000 was reported in the 7000th block of
Mechanicsville Turnpike,
Mechanicsville.
Concealment of pricealtered merchandise, less
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Do you have a news tip, story idea or photo to submit? E-mail Christina Amano Dolan at cdolan@mechlocal.com
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Zoe Raba named to Hollins University Fall 2021 Dean’s List
Hollins University congratulates Zoe Raba of Ruther Glen on earning Dean’s List honors during the fall 2021 semester. To attain this distinction, students must earn at least a 3.5 average on a 4.0 grading scale.
Hollins is an independent liberal arts university offering undergraduate education to women, selected graduate programs for men and women and community outreach initiatives. Its distinctions include a nationally ranked creative writing program, one of the oldest study abroad programs in the country and extensive internship opportunities. .
Aidan Ford named to University of Delaware Fall 2021 Dean’s List
Aidan Ford of Mechanicsville was named to the University of Delaware Dean’s List for the Fall 2021 semester. To meet eligibility requirements for the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled full-time and earn a GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for the semester.
Lane Johnson of Mechanicsville was named to The Citadel’s Fall 2021 Dean’s List and is among more than 1,300 cadets and students recognized for their academic achievements during the fall 2021 semester. The Dean’s List is a recognition given to cadets and students who are registered for 12 or more semester hours and whose grade point average is 3.20 or higher, with no grade of I (Incomplete) and no grade below C for work in a semester. Cadets who are named to the Dean’s List receive a medal, which is worn on their uniform during the semester following their academic achievement. Non-cadet students on the Dean’s List are presented a certificate; veteran and active duty students are also awarded challenge coins. Academics at The Citadel are divided between five schools: the Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business, the School of Engineering, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics and the Zucker Family School of Education.
| Student News & Announcements
James Madison University is pleased to announce that the following Mechanicsville students made the Dean’s List for the fall 2021 semester. Students who earn dean’s list honors must carry at least 12 graded credit hours and earn a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.899.
Mechanicsville: Katherine
Jensen, Justine Baltor, Haley Smiley, Sidney Norman, Jordan Ellett, Dana Nannery, Connor Carlisle, Jack Marsh, Laura Bessellieu, Shelby Walker, Madison Gilleland, Carter King, Grayson Parker, Olivia Allen, Michaila Latore, Grace Lysek, Emma Lewis, Claire Davis, Mikaela Jones, Logan Lewis, Cassandra Martin, Jason Brown, Lillian Walker, Layla Abbud, Callen MacDougall, Michael Boswell, Nicholas Klesat, Kennedy O’Hanley, James Owen, Mia Porter, Alexandra Whiteside, Hunter Goodman,
see EDUCATION, pg. 23
PIPELINE
Continued from pg. 1 tricity through 12 east coast states including Virginia and the District of Columbia. The Chickahominy Project had been in the PJM project queue since October 2016 and entered into an Interconnection Service Agreement (ISA) on Sept. 3, 2019. Chickahominy Power suspended the project on Dec. 20, 2019, and ended suspension one year later.
In a January FERC filing, PJM requested the commission to accept its cancellation of the Chickahominy ISA for “failure to meet milestones” and “proposing no viable path forward.”
According to the filing, PJM notified Chickahominy Power of its failure to meet its milestone to complete at least 20% of project site construction by Nov. 1, 2021. With the company’s failure to cure the breach, PJM issued a notice of cancellation to the agreement on Dec. 14.
“PJM declined to extend those milestones because Chickahominy has demonstrated no diligence or meaningful progress since entering the queue,” the filing stated.
In addition, the filing stated that PJM “exercised its reasonable discretion” not to extend the milestone dates because it would have been “unreasonable and contrary to the public interest under the circumstances.”
The roughly 85-mile natural gas pipeline was set to run from Louisa County through Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Charles City counties in order to feed a proposed Chickahominy Power plant.
The proposed pipeline struck heavy opposition from landowners of the affected counties and has faced similar project setbacks in the past, including a State Corporation Commission (SCC) December 2021 ruling that Chickahominy Pipeline is a “public utility” and subject to Commission regulation.
As expressed in previous Hanover County Board of Supervisors meetings by board members and citizens, lack of transparency by project officials contributed to lingering opposition to the proposed pipeline.
During last week’s Hanover County Board of Supervisors meeting, county administrator John Budesky said he spoke to some “very pleased residents” following the announcement of the project’s suspension.
During the meeting’s Citizen’s Time, two Beaverdam residents expressed their gratitude to board members and Budesky for diligently working to find more information on the project, answer questions and listen to community concerns.
Chickahominy Pipeline issued an official online statement on Monday, Feb. 14 announcing the halt to the project.
“Although Chickahominy Power may reenter the PJM queue in the future, in light of this regulatory setback as well as the uncertainty remaining with the SCC, Chickahominy Pipeline needs to press ‘pause’ on its pipeline efforts until its sole end-user, Chickahominy Power, is in a position to move forward,” the release states.
The release further expressed Chickahominy Pipeline’s appreciation for its supporters and government officials who offered the project an “open mind and fair shot.”
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Shown is a citizen in attendance at a Jan. 12 Hanover Board of Supervisors meeting, during which CPLLC spokesperson Beth Minear offered discussion and answered questions on the Chickahominy Pipeline project. Many citizens held up signs in protest of the pipeline during the meetin g.
Hanover NAACP celebrates Black History Month with county heroes
By Christina Amano Dolan Editor
HANOVER – In celebration of Black History Month, Hanover NAACP has launched its newest initiative of sharing the countless stories of the county’s African American community.
The new series “Not All Heroes Make the History Books” spotlights a few of the county’s most influential figures throughout history with a collection of brief memoirs and photos. The series has been shared through the Hanover NAACP Facebook page and The Local editions throughout the month.
Hanover NAACP President Pat Hunter-Jordan says while the series is partly based on various articles and other historic accounts, many of the stories are commonly known and shared among local communities of color.
Hunter-Jordan says some stories are shared by neighbors and fellow church members who have lived through and participated in significant movements throughout history, including the desegregation of schools in Virginia.
The series highlights the influential leadership of black Hanoverians during some of the country’s most tumultuous times, with one of its first entries telling the story of Burwell Toler and his extensive involvement in state affairs following the Civil War.
Toler, most likely born a slave, became an ordained minister in 1865 and helped organize churches in Hanover, Goochland, Caroline and King George counties. He served as the first minister at Shiloh Baptist Church in Ashland and Abner Baptist and Jerusalem Baptist churches in Hanover.
In addition, Toler represented Hanover and Henrico counties in the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1867 and 1868, which aimed to rewrite the state constitution in accordance with Reconstruction Acts. Toler served on the prestigious Committee of Thirteen, which established procedures for the convention, and served on various other committees. He later fought for a seat in the House of Delegates, but his efforts were halted by a canceled election and eventual lost bid the following year.
Lucian A. Hunter was spotlighted in the series for his accomplishment in acquiring Hanover County’s first school bus for black students in 1934. Predating the desegregation of schools, Hanover County did not provide transportation to its schools that served black students, resulting in some students walking 10 miles or more to get to school. Hunter took the initiative of purchasing his own bus and transported students to schools across the county every day.
In 2017, the Virginia Department of Historical Resources honored Hunter’s legacy by dedicating a Highway Historical Marker to his accomplishment in securing black children transportation to schools.
The series additionally recognized Hanover native the Rev. Dr. Leroy Bray Jr. as one of the renowned Richmond 34, which was a group of Virginia Union University (VUU) students who were arrested after involvement in a nonviolent sit-in during the Civil Rights Movement.
Bray was among over 200 VUU students who marched to downtown Richmond on Feb. 22, 1960, to peacefully protest enduring nationwide segregation. Bray and 33 other students were eventually arrested and sent to jail after participating in a sit-in at the segregated lunch counter of Thalhimers department store. Bray was the first of the Richmond 34 to be arrested.
In addition, the series recognized Leon Brooks, a retired sergeant with the Virginia Air National Guard (VA ANG), and his role in eliminating a VA ANG policy and practice that allowed the Confederate flag to be used on its fighter jet and uniform emblems.
In July 1992, the Richmond Free Press published an article revealing the emblazoned flag on 149th Fighter Squadron planes of VA ANG after an anonymous black airman voiced his complaints. Former Gov. L Douglas Wilder promptly issued an executive order to replace the flags with the United States flag on all equipment and uniforms of the unit.
Brooks openly voiced opposition to the symbol’s use by squadron and was later fired without cause, followed by a reinstatement by Wilder. After retiring, he served as the King William County NAACP president for 10 years. He now sings with The Soul Seekers gospel group based at First Union Baptist Church in Hanover County.
“So we have lots of stories… that’s why we titled it local heroes that don't make the history books,” HunterJordan said. “All of these are Hanoverians, so we chose to tell their stories for Black
Contributed photo
Lucian A. Hunter who acquired the fi rst Hanover County school bus for black students in 1934. With the help of family and community members, Hunter drove students across the county every day to school to ensure they had a proper education.
Contributed photo
The Virginia Department of Historical Resources unveiled the Highway Historical Marker shown above in 2017 to honor Lucian A. Hunter. Hunter acquired the fi rst Hanover County school bus for black students in 1934.
Contributed photo
Shown is the Rev. Dr. Leroy Bray Jr., pictured right, with Dr. Quentin Ballard. Bray visited Bell Creek Middle School to speak with students about his experience as a member of the Richmond 34.
2018 File photo/The Local
Leon Brooks is pictured front left with his brothers who have all served in the military. Leon was recently spotlighted by the Hanover NAACP for his part in eliminating a VA ANG policy and practice that allowed the Confederate fl ag to be used on fi ghter jets and uniform emblems.
see NAACP, pg. 9 The Mechanicsville Local February 23, 2022 5
