CIVIC SERVICE
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Kiwanis Club of Ashland inducts new members
Handler explains life with a K-9 bloodhound in Sheriff ’s Office
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Vol. 2 No. 42| Richmond Suburban News | May 3, 2017
Board OKs FY18 initiatives
Waiting for the train Rail citizens committee set to begin discussions to arrive in Ashland By Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
H
ANOVER — County Administration Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. presented his version of the county’s wish list as he introduced his Fiscal Year 2018 initiatives to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors at last Wednesday’s regular meeting. Harris told the board that an update to many of the county’s outdated computer programs is in full swing. The county’s Comprehensive Plan is due for an update and that process begins in earnest this month. “The heavier lifting begins now,” Harris said regarding the extensive process that includes a citizens advisory committee, numerous community and stakeholder meetings and a series of public hearings. The process will include several local government entities, including the EDA (Economic Development Authority) and the Hanover County School Board, and will examine issues like current density, population growth and balance between rural and urban development. Harris also listed as a priority the start
Jim Ridolphi for The Hanover Local
County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. presented his version of the Fiscal Year 2018 initiatives at last Wednesday’s meeting of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors.
of the old Circuit Court building renovation. “We have that budgeted and planned and we are well underway,” he said. The Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer’s Office and Finance Department will occupy the space vacated when the new courthouse opened earlier this year. After five years, Harris said it’s time to review and update the county’s Strategic Plan, an outline that overviews the county’s human services, economic develop-
ment and stewardship. “We want to make sure the current plan is pertinent and relevant,” Harris said. In an effort to further increase transparency in government, Harris said the county is moving toward an online vendor payment tracking system. “Citizens will be able to see how we’ve spent their money,” Harris said. Recent upgrades to aging county software systems in many departments enabled the vendor payment system to be installed. After initially allocating $5.4 million for the school’s requested technology plan, Harris said those efforts will continue in 2018. For the past decade, Hanover County has conducted a citizens’ survey in threeyear intervals to gauge citizen satisfaction with county services. The survey allows county officials to monitor progress and determine whether the county is “progressing, standing still or dropping back.” “It’s time to do it again,” Harris said. New to this year’s survey will be three undetermined as yet questions specifically designed for Hanover County. The sursee FY18, pg. 5
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Cultural arts schedule for Randolph-Macon listed
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Submitted photo
The Kiwanis Club of Ashland recently inducted new members. Shown are, from left, President-Elect P.J. Edmonds, President Dan DiCandilo, sponsor Rich Holt, new member Wendy Yohman, sponsor Larry Ham and new member Jonathan Baulsir.
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The Hanover Local May 3, 2017
ASHLAND — President Daniel DiCandilo and President-Elect PJ Edmonds inducted two new members into the Kiwanis Club of Ashland at the April 17 dinner meeting at Estes Hall on the campus of Randolph-Macon College. The newest Ashland Kiwanians are Wendy Yohman and Jonathan Baulsir. Yohman is the owner of Jake’s Place in Ashland. Baulsir is a financial analyst with Edward Jones, also in Ashland. Their sponsors, respectively, are Kiwanians Richard Holt and Larry Ham. To date, the Kiwanis Club has added eight new members this year as it continues to seek individuals from the region who share its commitment to serving children and their communities. The Kiwanis Club of Ashland was established in 1923 and has been providing community service to Ashland, Hanover and adjacent communities ever since.
The Kiwanis motto is “serving the children of the world.” Kiwanis International includes 8,400 clubs with more than 270,000 members in 96 nations. Last year, Kiwanis clubs donated more than $100 million and almost 6 million volunteer hours for community service projects. The Ashland club actively sponsors Key Clubs at four area high schools (Glen Allen, Hanover, Lee-Davis and Patrick Henry), the CKI Club at RandolphMacon College and the Ashland Aktion Club (for Hanover adults with disabilities). Additionally, it has a Reading Mentors program at Henry Clay Elementary School and a Perfect Attendance Program for students at four area elementary schools. The club provides scholarships for qualifying, graduating Key Club seniors each year. Club service activities include Ashland’s annual Olde Time Holiday Parade, volunteers for Train Day, and installation of playground equipment at Pufferbelly Park in Ashland.
ASHLAND – The schedule of cultural arts events to be held this month at Randolph-Macon College has been released by Kathryn DiPasqua, marketing generalist. April 26 through May 26 — Perceptual Painters Art Exhibit – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday Pace-Armistead Hall, Flippo Gallery (211 N. Center St.). Perceptual Painters is a group of artists who share a common core of sensibilities. The group was formed in 2008 by Brian Rego and David Campbell. Since then, several other painters, including Virginians Philip and Elizabeth Geiger, have joined the collective. April 27-29 — Thyestes by Seneca — 8 p.m. Cobb Theatre, R-MC Center for the Performing Arts (205 Henry St.). In this gruesome tragedy,
Tantalus is summoned from the underworld to destroy his family, Directed by Theatre Arts Professor Janet Hayatshahi, and translated by R-MC classics students. (Note: Thyestes also will be performed May 4-5). Tickets: Box Office 804-752-7316. April 30 — Richmond Symphony Orchestra: Stravinsky, Beethoven, Mozart — 2 p.m. Pre-concert lecture: Brock Commons, Dollar Tree Community Room (304 Henry St.). Concert: 3 p.m. Blackwell Auditorium, R-MC Center for the Performing Arts (205 Henry St.). Chia-Hsuan Lin, conductor. Handel’s “Entrance of the Queen of Sheba” from Solomon, Stravinsky’s Danses concertantes, Beethoven’s Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Opus 43, Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 (“Jupiter”). Tickets: Richmond Symphony Box Office 804-7881212.
Shrimp & Suds set for May 11 DOSWELL – The Shrimp& Suds 35th Annual Fundraiser for Hanover Rotary Club’s Foundation to benefit deserving youth and charitable endeavors will be held from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Kings Dominion Pavilion in Doswell. Ticket purchases must be made before event. Prices are $35 per person or $150 for five.
The meal includes spiced shrimp and beverages. Music will be provided. For more information, go to www.Hanoverrotary.org or contact Bruce Perretz at 804550-3098. Tickets also are available at most Union Bank & Trust Hanover locations and Nuckols Road.
Patrick Henry High School holding joint reunion for 1960 to 1969 May 6 Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com SHORT PUMP — A joint class reunion for everyone who attended or graduated from Patrick Henry High School for the class years 1960 through 1969 will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. on
Saturday, May 6, at the Richmond Hilton Hotel in Short Pump. Graduates who have not received their invitation or have questions are encouraged to contact Larry Samuel at 804-3788788 or lsamuel@deloitteretired. com.
Two-vehicle crash claims county man A two-vehicle crash on Saturday claimed the life of a Beaverdam man. Sgt. James R. Cooper of the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office said 47-year-old Brian Scott Mahanes was driving a 1971 Chevy two-door traveling north on Taylor Road when he lost control and collided with a 2007 Ford pickup going in the opposite direction. Mahanes was pronounced dead the scene. A passenger in his vehicle was taken to a local hospital for treatment of nonlife-threatening injuries. According to Cooper, deputies responded around 6:48 p.m. to the 15000 block of Taylor Road in Beaverdam. “Investigators are still collecting information to determine the circumstances that led to this tragic incident,� he added. Col. David R. Hines, sheriff, said, “We extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Brian Mahanes during this difficult time.�
SHERIFF’S REPORTS | Crime, Accidents, Fire & Rescue the intent to commit larceny was reported in the 8100 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.
Driver did not report an accident with damages, $1,000, in the 9000 block of Pole Green Park Lane, Mechanicsville.
Grand larceny from auto was reported in the 14000 block of Canterbury Road, Montpelier.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 10300 block of Chamberlayne Road, Mechanicsville. Obtaining money, etc., false pretense, larceny, $200 conspiracy, was reported in the 10300 block of Avenel Place, Mechanicsville.
April 20
Credit card fraud, $200 in six months, was reported in the 10900 block of Air Park Road, Ashland.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 10000 block of Atlee Station Road/Deer Stream Road, Mechanicsville.
Credit card theft was reported in the 8200 block of Atlee Road, Mechanicsville.
Destruction of property, monument, was reported in the 9000 block of Dickey Drive, Mechanicsville.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 3400 block of Creighton Road, Mechanicsville.
Hit and run, personal injury, was reported in the 7400 block of LeeDavis Road, Mechanicsville.
Obtaining money, etc., under false pretense, larceny, $200 conspiracy, was reported in the 15200 block of Cypress Creek Lane, Doswell.
Assault and battery of a family member was reported in the 8700 block of Hughesland Road, Mechanicsville.
Grand larceny, $200 or more not from a person, was reported in the 7800 block of Creekbluff Lane, Mechanicsville.
April 21
Entering a bank armed with
Petit larceny from auto was reported in the 8200 block of Skirmish Lane, Mechanicsville.
Breaking and entering at night with the intent to commit felony was reported in the 11100 block of Elmont Road, Ashland.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 10100 block of Kings Dominion Boulevard/Caroline County, Doswell.
Grand larceny building was reported in the 15200 block of Mountain Road, Montpelier.
Destruction of property, monument, was reported in the 8000 block of Water Way Drive, Mechanicsville.
Possession of marijuana, first offense, was reported in the 10300 block of Chamberlayne Road, Mechanicsville.
Possession of Schedule I and II controlled substances was reported in the 7300 block of Pole Green Road, Mechanicsville.
Grand larceny, $200 or more not from a person, was reported in the 11000 block of North Washington Highway, Ashland.
Assault and battery of a family member was reported in the 10300 block of Brickerton Drive, Mechanicsville.
Concealment, price altering merchandise, $200, was reported in the 7400 block of Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville.
April 22
Destruction of property, monument, was reported in the 12400 block of West Patrick Henry Road, Ashland. Manufacture, sale, possession of a controlled substance, Schedule I and II, were reported
Carrying a concealed weapon, first offense, was reported in the 7200 block of Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.
Assault and battery of a family member was reported in the 7000 blofck of Claybird Lane, Mechanicsville.
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Ashland’s EDA approves interest rate change for college By Logan Barry for The Hanover Local ASHLAND — Ashland’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved a resolution to an amendment of Randolph-Macon College’s bond, allowing the college to take advantage of a lower interest rate. On Thursday, April 27, the college asked to refund the Series 2011 Note that it has from the EDA, so that the interest rate will decrease from 3.21% to 2.44% and push out the bank’s put option date from 2021 to 2027. The put date is a provision that allows R-MC to pay back the loan early. Joe Topham, business retention and expansion manager for the town, had said on April 18 about the request that the amendment process won’t increase the principal amount or extend the final maturity of the bond. “At the direction of the chair, I informed our bond attorney that we would be willing to do this, understanding that it will not make any impact on the bottom line of the EDA,” Topham said. Stephen Johnson, bond attorney to the EDA, attended the meeting to answer any questions, as well as provide any advice to authority members as the request was being considered. Earlier in April, Johnson approached town staff to determine whether the authority would be amendable to the amendment R-MC was seeking. Paul Davies, certified public accountant and vice president of Administration and Finance for the university, attended the April 27 meeting to answer any questions that authority members had about the bond, and the process that is tak-
ing place. Davies was accompanied by RandolphMacon’s bond counsel, attorney Martha A. Warthen, an associate with Hunton & Williams LLP. According to the law firm’s website, Warthen’s practice focuses on tax-exempt transactions. Additional services she provides in her practice include counsel for special disclosure, bank counsel, borrower’s and underwriter’s counsel. In a staff report concerning the financial impact of the matter, it stated that the amendment as it was proposed would have no negative or positive fiscal effect on Ashland’s Economic Development Authority. Prior to the April 27 meeting, town staff had deferred the amendment request to the recommendation of Johnson. Authority members voted unanimously to approve the resolution of the requested amendment to refund the bond. Later in the meeting, they listened to an economic development update for the Town of Ashland given by Topham. Resulting from the town’s issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for a Wawa to occupy an underutilized property to operate a fueling station and convenience store that sits at the corner of Washington Highway (U.S. 1) and England Street (U.S. 54), he explained that a couple of businesses in that vicinity will have to be “pushed over.” Council voted 4-1 to approve Wawa’s CUP on March 7. Virginia Barbeque, located at 600 England St. and Tompkins Jewelers at 266 N. Washington Hwy. are having to relocate their businesses else-
Logan Barry for The Hanover Local
Martha A. Warthen, bond counsel for Randolph-Macon College, addressed the Ashland Economic Development Authority during last week’s regular meeting. EDA members shown are, from left, Marnie Triscari, Jack Zemp, Tim Shelton, Chairman Darrell Leftwich, Thomas Russell, Stacey Woodbridge and “Upton” Charlie Martin.
where in Ashland. Topham said the town has been working with Virginia Barbecue and Sheila Tompkins, the owner of the jewelry store to find properties in town for them to move their establishments. He told members at the meeting that it looked as though there might be an opportunity on Washington Highway for the jewelry store to relocate, but noted they were continuing to work on that. In addition, Topham also said that they’ve been introduced to some great opportunities along U.S. 54 from certain prospects that would be new to the town. “[I have] nothing solid to report on yet, but we have gotten some encouraging interests. Our
staff on the planning side has been working with these people,” he said. Topham also told the EDA members that grocery retail has been a high-level of importance to his team the past several months. “We feel like we’ve been making a little bit of progress in that area; we’ve been reaching out to those who do any kind of grocery, whether it’s a small operation or a larger one here in our region. We would like to see Ashland not lose the three stores that it has now – [as in] not go below that number if you count Walmart, Food Lion, and Martin’s.” Topham also said this is an especially important part of what staff in the town’s economic development department is pursuing.
Symphony executive director gets new contract; R-MC honors achievement RICHMOND – The Richmond Symphony Board of Directors has announced
a new contract for David J.L. Fisk as executive director. This agreement extends
VOTING BEGINS MAY 17
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The Hanover Local May 3, 2017
Fisk’s contract through 2020 and carries the Symphony though its 60th Anniversary Season and the completion of its current Strategic Plan. During Fisk’s tenure, the Richmond Symphony has grown to be one of Virginia’s premier performing arts organizations with a $6 million budget. Recent accomplishments by the Symphony have included sold-out concerts with world renowned artists such as Joshua Bell and Itzhak Perlman, the creation of the
innovative Rush Hour Series at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and the Symphony’s “Big Tent” initiative. Both the Rush Hour Series and the Big Tent have been nationally recognized as models for audience building and community engagement for orchestras. “David Fisk is an incredibly innovative, dedicated, and effective leader of the Richmond Symphony and important advocate for the arts generally in the Richmond region” Rebecca Horner,
Richmond Symphony Board chair, said. She added, “His excellent management skills, ceaseless creativity, and collaboration across the Richmond community benefit the symphony, our partners, and the cultural offerings of RVA and surrounding counties. The Board is delighted that David will be a part of the symphony’s continued growth and success in the years to come.” The first year of his new contract coincides with the
launch of the Symphony’s 2017-2018 60th Anniversary Season opening on Sept. 14, with world-renowned pianist, Lang Lang. In addition, Fisk was honored on Sunday April 30, by the Arts Council of Randolph Macon College with its Award for Achievement in the Arts. The concert was part of the Symphony’s Metro Collection Series, featuring works by Handel, Stravinsky, Beethoven and Mozart and conducted by Chia-Hsuan Lin.
Scout has a nose for helping the HCSO HANOVER – Scout is sweet and loving, but she also is a bloodhound on a mission as a K-9 member of the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. With those big eyes, floppy ears and constantly wagging tail, it’s easy to lose sight of the skills she possesses – and that’s because of her relationship with her handler, Deputy S.J. Mahler. The two have formed an unbreakable bond and the affection is mutual. “I got her in December of 2015 when she was 8 weeks old,” Mahler said. “I got her on a Saturday and she started training on Monday.” Scout and her brother Cojak were introduced on The Local’s Facebook page on Jan. 13, 2016. Cojak’s handler is Deputy Braxton Reed. Now 18 months old, Scout still has some
FY18 Continued from pg. 1
vey will be distributed to 1,500 Hanover households. Harris also updated the board regarding the status of his FY 2017 initiatives, including the successful transition from the old court buildings to the new courthouse. “We built it, we opened it, and we’ve even shaken out the bugs,” Harris said. He also addressed another item on his FY17 list, a plan to review long-term road improvements and funding. Last month, the board decided to contact neighboring locales to establish coalitions to enhance state road funding. In what comes as a relief to many Hanover residents, the Atlee Station Road extension is moving forward with selection of a bid to compete the project. “This is a major project for us and we are well underway,” Harris said. Another item checked off from the FY17 was the board’s efforts to support the school
Melody Kinser/The Hanover Local
Deputy S.J. Mahler serves as the handler for Scout, an 18-month-old bloodhound.
“puppy” type tendencies – that is, until it’s time to go to work. Mahler said she knows the difference in when they’re staying at home and when they’re leaving for work.
board in its efforts to upgrade technology for county students and teachers. Harris pointed to programs like the recent Governor’s School for CTE, the College Academy and the opening of the Specialty Center as major accomplishments in that area. With the first meeting scheduled for May 24 at Randolph-Macon College, the board also achieved its goal of establishing a plan to update the county’s current Comprehensive Plan. In other news, Aubrey “Bucky” Stanley, Beaverdam District, and Harris will represent Hanover on the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) citizen advisory committee formed to study alternatives to the planned high-speed rail route through western Hanover County. Citizens Linwood Atkinson and Harry Carlisle also will represent the county on the panel. The committee will make recommendations to the DGRT, which, in turn, will forward those sentiments to the federal Rail Department,
She notices his attire, and, if he’s in uniform, she heads to the vehicle and the door she always enters. While Scout is a part of the Mahler family, she has a kennel outside. The training instructions explain that bloodhounds, which are trained to be scent specific, need to remain outside of a home. When Mahler and Scout first met, the two trained for a year to become state certified. With a smile, Mahler immediately said, “Dec. 15, 2016, was when we got certified.” The training is in phases, starting with a runner or the person who’s going to hide. “We would take someone that has a lot of scents, like a baseball cap that he wears and put it 10 feet in front of Scout.” To entice her, Mahler said, Vienna sausage or a hot dog would be waved in front of her. Once the harness is put on her, she knows it’s time to go to work. Mahler said
which is tasked with making the final decisions regarding what path the proposed rail line will follow. There has been substantial opposition to both routes initially proposed for the Hanover segment of the project. Both Ashland residents and stakeholders who live along the western by-pass alternative have formed citizens action groups in opposition to the project and its route through Hanover. Ashland will have three representatives on the committee and Randolph-Macon College also will seat three representatives. CSX will have two slots on the 12-member board. The panel is expected to have monthly public meetings for the next six months to gather citizens’ input regarding the project. Stanley said he expects those meetings to be well attended, and Harris said there is discussion of recording the sessions for public air. “Four citizens from Hanover County are to be appointed to this committee,”
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Stanley said. “The purpose is to review project alternatives to the Ashland-Hanover County area.”
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CALENDAR | News, & Listings Thursday, April 6 The Ashland Beekeepers Association will meet at 7 p.m. at The Family Life Baptist Church at 206 South Washington Highway in Ashland. Anyone interested in honeybees and beekeeping is welcome to attend. For more information, visit http://ashlandvabeekeepers.org or email mail@ashlandvabeekeepers. org .
Saturday, April 8 An all-you-can-eat Salt Fish Breakfast, hosted by the Independence Ruritan Club, will be held from 6:45 to 8:45 a.m. to benefit Wings of Hope Ranch. Breakfast includes salt herring fillets, scrambled eggs, bacon, spiced apples, cornbread, grits, coffee and orange juice only $9 for adults. The Ruritan Club Community
House is located behind the Independence Christian Church at 14033 Independence Rd (off U.S. 54, west of Ashland). For more information, call 804-798-6579.
Sunday, April 9: Bobbie Street of Ashland will present her Women’s Club paper on longevity, focusing on those “blue zone” communities, where people
enjoy extraordinarily long life spans at 2 p.m. in the Ashland Library at 201 S. Railroad Ave. in Ashland. Her program will examine “how DNA isn’t necessarily destiny.” The event is sponsored by At Home in Ashland (AHA) and admission is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended to ensure adequate seating. For reservations, email jrshalf@ gmail.com or call 804-399-1844.
OPINION
LETTERS
| The Local Views
| Reader Views
From the editor
Message remains the same: say I love you By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
T
here were about 400 of us who crossed the stage at what was then known as Logan Memorial Fieldhouse when we accepted our diplomas as members of the Logan High School Class of 1974. Sadly, that number has dwindled with a loss of about 70 in nearly 43 years. We lost two classmates a day apart — Friday and Saturday, April 21-22. One was in my homeroom for three years in high school and the other had been a good friend since 7th grade. Their sudden deaths awakened emotions in what seemed to be the majority of our class. I have seen posts and received phone calls all
with the ending “I love you.” We share a special bond and as the years have passed it has strengthened. I think it was last year when I wrote about the importance of telling people you love them. You never know if it will be the last opportunity you have to say those three words. As I left my father’s hospital room — and what would be the last time I would see him alive — I told him I loved him. He said he loved me too. My sister was in a coma with hospice care at her home but I kept talking to her about our childhood, becoming closer as we aged (I was the one who had to finally decide to be a mature adult), and how thankful I was that we were sisters. I tell my mother several times a day that
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I love her. I end phone calls, emails and texts with family and friends by telling them. “The last time will come and go and we will not know it was the last time.” That’s the inscription my brother-in-law had placed on the tombstone at the grave he will one day share with my sister. It was her quote. They, like my parents, had a great love. I still mourn my two classmates and grieve for their families. Both were loved and knew it. That’s our only hope for a better world — letting people know how you feel about them. Those three words — I love you — will bring joy, ease pain, and remind us of what’s important. All you need is love . . .
WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Hanover residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Hanover Local. Send letters to: The Hanover Local 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 730-0476 E-mail: editor@mechlocal.com © 2017 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 13,776.
Dodd’s widow: farm will continue as he wanted (Editor’s note: The following was addressed to “Open Letter to Hanover County and Beyond.”) My name is Jane Dodd and March 20 was the darkest day of my life. That afternoon, my husband Robby passed away suddenly. At 1 p.m., he was with friends enjoying himself; at 3 p.m., he was gone. He was where he wanted to be, doing what he wanted to be doing, and he didn’t suffer. GOD IS GOOD. By Thursday word had spread of his death. Someone (we don’t know who) put a large cross in front of the packing shed. I didn’t know the extent of his influence. Thursday, if you were part of the more than 450 people who came to the church, you know. People came from New Jersey, North Carolina, Eastern Shore, Northern Neck, South and Southwest Virginia and all places in between. The family would like to THANK each of you for your love and concern for us. A big thanks to our church family for all they did that week and are still doing for us today. Dodd’s Acres Farms will continue to have things just as Robby would want us to. Tomatoes and all the other things are in the field doing well. Thanks again for everything. Jane Dodd Mechanicsville
OBITUARIES | Death Notices & Funerals ROBERT ANDERSON JR. Robert Bradford “RB” Anderson Jr., died April 24, 2017, after a brief illness. He was a resident of both Bland and Shacklefords. RB was born December 6, 1947, and was preceded in death by his parents, Robert B. Anderson ANDERSON a n d Margaret Funk Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Beavers Anderson of Bland and Shacklefords; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rath and Michelle of Bland and Dane and Mandy of Montpelier; five granddaughters, Virginia (Ginny), Aeryie Grey, Rill, Juliet and Isadora; a brother, Chuck Anderson of Virginia Beach; a sister, Peg Monahan of Williamsburg; and also a very special niece, Melanie Batholomay and her children, Veronica, Heidi and Rex, of Knoxville, Tennessee. RB enlisted in the U.S. Army in
June 1967 and volunteered to serve two tours in Vietnam, the first as an E-5 Squad Leader in Charlie Company C-75 Rangers, the second as the door gunner on extraction missions. He returned to graduate from Marshall University to be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He received an M.Ed. From Virginia Tech and served as an ROTC instructor and led the Ranger program there. He was Airborne (Jump Master), Ranger and Special Forces, serving throughout the Middle East and Asia, including Operation Desert Storm. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1991. After military retirement, RB’s second career was in education. He taught JROTC at Hopewell and Carroll County High Schools, was a counselor at Wilderness Leadership Academy and also served as principal of The Presbyterian Children’s Home of the Highlands. RB’s third career was a calling to be a prison chaplain, serving first at River North Correctional Center in Grayson County and then Bland Correctional Center, near his home. Throughout all of his various careers, RB also was a passionate farmer, who
always believed in sustainable agriculture. He passed with grace and the assurance that his faith sustained him. A light to many, he “Leads the Way.” Graveside rites were held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 28, 2017, at Shackelfords Chapel, United Methodist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation payable to the “USO,” USO Department WS, P.O. Box 96860, Washington, DC 200906860. Tributes may be posted at www.vincentfh.com.
KENNETH SMITH SR. Kenneth S. Smith Sr., 67, of Ashland, entered eternal life on Friday, April 21, 2017. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary B. and Alfred B. Smith. Kenneth is survived by his loving wife, Martha H. Smith, his sons; Kenneth S. Smith Jr. (Young),
and Kevin S. Smith (Gail), daughters; Kelley R. and Kristin N. Smith, a sister; SMITH Robin S. Thomas (Mickey), his grandchildren; Lexington and Kensington Smith, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Kenneth was the owner and operator of K.S. Smith Hauling. He touched the lives of many friends, co-workers and any others he encountered. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at Monaghan Funeral Home at 7300 Creighton Parkway in Mechanicsville. Interment followed at Hanover Memorial Park.
OLLIE THOMPSON Ollie H. Thompson, 59, of
Montpelier, departed this life, April 21, 2017. Ollie retired from Truck Stop of America after 25 years of service. Left to cherish his memory are his mother, S ar a h ; THOMPSON brothers, Joseph (Vicky) and Vincent (Sharonette); sister, Pattie
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Murphy (Thomas); aunts, Harriet Banks (Harvey) and Mary Wyatt (John); uncle, Henry Coleman; devoted friend, Cathy Wyatt; along with other relatives and friends. Homegoing service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Beaverdam, with the Rev. Dr. John Kinney, pastor, officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. F.E. Dabney Funeral Home in Ashland was in charge of arrangements.
The Hanover Local May 3, 2017
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Logano goes from last in line to Victory Lane By Billy Fellin Richmond Suburban News HENRICO – Thanks to a transmission change, Team Penske’s Joey Logano had to start at the back of the pack for the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. It took more than 300 laps, but Logano worked his way to the front and grabbed the checkered flag in his 300th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start. “Coming from the back and it being my 300th start, it feels really good,” Logano said in Victory Lane. “I was driving my guts out there. It’s something to be very proud of with our team’s execution there. We had a good restart to get a good enough cushion.” Logano is the fifth driver in series history to win his 300th start. The win is Logano’s second at RIR and his first in 2017. After stage one winner Matt Kenseth, who dominated the early part of the race, cut a tire on Lap 366 to bring out a caution, both Logano and teammate Brad Keselowski stayed out on slightly older tires. Chesterfield native Denny Hamlin thought that was his
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr., David Ragan and Cole Whitt, the six cars that stayed out. On the restart on Lap 382, Larson got away from the gaggle of cars behind him, but Logano was able to clear the slower cars and caught Larson on Lap 384. Keselowski worked his way through the traffic, passing Hamlin with 10 laps remaining. But, by that time, Logano had opened up a large gap on his teammate and while Keselowski was able to shrink the gap, there were not enough laps to attempt a pass. “It was disappointing not to bring (the win) home, but that’s how these things shake out,” Keselowski said. “I got behind two or three cars that I lapped six or seven times today. We were bottled up on the restart. We were a little faster than Joey but he had a straightaway on us. Hamlin finished third, Dave Lawrence/The Local Stenhouse finished fourth and Above, Joey Logano and crew celebrate his last-to-first win in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway Sunday. Kevin Harvick finished fifth. “We didn’t have the speed tion and that screwed that up.” however, as Ryan Blaney hit Busch was caught for a comchance at a win. Logano got out ahead on the wall after contact with mitment line violation, ending the other cars had,” said Hamlin, “We knew we had to do something different to beat the ensuing restart and was able Kurt Busch on Lap 375, which what could have been a good who led 57 laps. “We optimized our day the best we could. We those guys,” he said. “We had to keep Keselowski, Kyle Busch brought the leaders down pit finish for him. Logano won the race off pit road, while six cars stayed out. to hope they didn’t pit, and they and Kyle Larson behind him. Coming to pit road, Kyle road, but was behind Larson, The cautions were not done, didn’t, but we had another causee LOGANO, pg. 10
Late lead yields Larson Xfinity victory By Billy Fellin Richmond Suburban News
Nick Liberante for The Local
Kyle Larson does a burnout after winning the ToyotaCare 250. He took his first and only lead with eight laps to go in the race.
HENRICO – Kyle Larson led just eight laps under green during the ToyotaCare 250 NASCAR XFinity Series race at Richmond International Raceway Saturday. But, thanks to crossing the overtime line in first during overtime with Ryan Reed crashing behind him, Larson grabbed
the win over Justin Allgaier. “I was glad to see them wreck behind me,” Larson said. “I didn’t want to go another lap as Justin had the dominant car. I didn’t expect to be the winner. I ran better than I thought I would. I know I won, but I feel like I still struggle (at Richmond). I’ve got to get better, but all-in-all a good day for us.” Allgaier led 157 laps and was the dominant car on the day. He
won the second stage of the race and was cruising in the third stage with his teammate Elliott Sadler trying to run him down on fresher tires. Sadler had almost caught Allgaier with 15 laps to go before B.J. McLeod spun on the backstretch on Lap 238 to bring out a caution, which Sadler did not want to see. The field pitted for new tires and Ty Dillon won the race off
pit road. Then, the madness began. On the restart, Dillon jumped ahead of Allgaier and the rest of the field. In turn four, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Benjamin, William Byron and Brennan Poole were all caught in a crash that brought out the red flag on Lap 246. When the race went back see LARSON, pg. 10
The Hanover Local May 3, 2017
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Prep baseball: Lee-Davis at Patrick Henry 6:00 p.m.
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Prep softball: Lee-Davis at Patrick Henry 7:00 p.m.
| Youth, High School, College, Recreational & Professional
Hanover pitchers win duel against Patriots By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor MECHANICSVILLE – You could call it a multi-armed pitcher’s duel. When Patrick Henry traveled to Hanover for a cross-county baseball game Friday night, both teams threw three pitchers. Both sets of pitchers yielded few hits. Both sets of pitchers yielded roughly the same number of walks. Both sets of pitchers yielded roughly the same number of runs. But Hanover’s pitchers got a wee bit more offensive support than their Patriot counterparts as the Hawks squeaked away with a 2-1 victory. A big factor in the differences between the offensive support may result from the strikeout column. Hanover’s pitchers – Josh Plummer, Antonio Balducci and Camden Grimes – struck out 13 Patrick Henry batters. “It was close. … They had two hits, we had one hit,” said Patrick Henry head baseball coach Sam Hart. “We’ve got to be able to put the ball in play against quality pitching. Obviously, they have quality pitching.” All three of Hanover’s pitchers had multiple strikeouts. Plummer had six in 32/3 innings of work. Balducci had four in 2-1/3 innings, and Grimes struck out the side as he closed the seventh inning for
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PH falls in OT By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor
Nick Liberante for The Local
Patrick Henry third baseman Parker Shaffer tags Hanover’s Parker Chenault to end a Hawk scoring threat in the third inning Friday.
the Hawks. While Patrick Henry’s pitchers did not tally as many strikeouts, they got Hanover batters to put the ball in play. “Their pitchers threw great,” said Hanover head coach Charlie Dragum. “They did a great job of keeping us off balance throughout the course of the night.” The Patriot pitchers also had the defense behind them to get the outs they needed
The Hanover Local May 3, 2017
– especially when Hanover runners tried to steal. Patrick Henry caught five Hawks in the attempt. “We try to be aggressive, and if you’re going to try to steal bases, you’re going to get thrown out,” Dragum said. “I wish we had done a better job – we weren’t particularly smart – but I’m not worried about getting thrown out because a lot of times the aggressive style helps us. We’ve got to take the
good with the bad. … You can’t steal second with a hand on first.” Hart was hoping to be conservative with his pitching staff – the Patriots have a busy week this week with a busy calendar of regularly scheduled and makeup games. “We accomplished what we wanted to pitching-staff wise,” Hart said. “It’s been 10 days since we’ve played. We have four games next week –
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. Three guys got in work [tonight]. “It wasn’t like we had run someone out tonight and he’s wasted for next week. We’ve got three guys ready to go early in the week and whatever shakes out at the end of the week, we’ll worry about that at the end of the week.” Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@mechlocal.com.
MECHANICSVILLE – The Patrick Henry and Hanover boys soccer teams battled through 80 minutes of regulation play on the Hawks’ home pitch Friday night without either team giving up a score. Unfortunately for the Patriots, they committed penalties inside the box in both five-minute overtime periods, and the Hawks converted each kick into goals for a 2-0 victory. I think we just had that last little push at the end in extra time,” said senior captain Connor Gilchrist, who scored one of the two goals. “We just kept going.” Carson Harris scored the other goal. “It was a hard-fought game. I thought it was great both ways,” said Patrick Henry head coach Daniel McGraw. “Both teams possessed well. Both teams put the ball in danger situations.”
County athletes shine in track meet at Atlee By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor MECHANICSVILLE – County track and field athletes were outdoing themselves at a meet at Atlee Wednesday, with season bests and personal records falling nearly everywhere on the Raider’s turf or tracks one cared to look. Atlee, Hanover, Lee-Davis and Patrick Henry all had their share of winners and top-fives in the meet, which also featured other teams from the Capital District. On the heels of their win at the Lee-Davis Invitational, the Confederate boys – led by double-winners Brandon Brooks and Connor Scott -- excelled both in field events and on the track. Brooks won both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles; Scott won the discus and shot put. They were joined in the winner column by Christian Gilliam in the 200 dash, Jeremiah in the
LARSON Continued from pg. 9
under caution, NASCAR ruled that Dillon had jumped the restart on Lap 243 and was sent to the rear of the field. Larson inherited the lead from Dillon’s penalty, with Allgaier second.
LOGANO Continued from pg. 9
finished right where we should have.” Stenhouse carefully managed his pit stops to come back after he hit the wall on Lap 65. “I made it a lot of work for us there getting in the fence later in that first stage and really we
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a good program or good, strong parts to their program.” Triemplar mixed up his entries a bit to give his athletes a chance to do something different. “I think it’s always good during the year if you can change things a little bit just to keep it fun, just so it doesn’t get stale running the same things over and over again,” Triemplar said. “If they run an event that’s not part of their regular repertoire, so be it.” Hanover was not without its winners, either. Makenzie Joiner won the girls 1,600 run and Cireke Allen won the boys triple jump. “A lot of kids stepped up today,” said Hanover head coach Rich Firth. “We showed some advances with some kids trying different events. … It’s good to see kids who are working hard get rewarded for it.” Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@mechlocal.com
800 run, Jamon Coffey in the long jump, Alex Slinkman in the pole vault as well as by the members of the 400 relay team. Lee-Davis head coach Neil Mathews said that every team had a good day, though. “It was a perfect night to run,” Mathews said. “All that rain knocked down the pol-
len and cooled everything off. When it started and the sun was right on top, it was a little bit sticky out here and it showed, probably, in the mile runs for people. Then, when it cooled down just a little bit, things started going.” The Lee-Davis girls had their share of winners, too. Simone
White won the triple jump, and the Confederates’ 3,200 relay team also won. Patrick Henry’s girls had a banner day. They were likewise led by a pair of double winners: Victoria Watts in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles and Jean Woodrum in the discus and shot put. Hailey Draper won
the 800 run, Jennifer Macias won the 1,600 and Alayna Richardson won the pole vault – besting her personal record by a foot. The Patriot boys were not without winners, either, with Noah Campbell coming in first in the 1,600. “Overall, I’m very happy with our performance. This is our first weekend back from spring break,” said Patrick Henry head coach Scott Brown. “We’re just happy to get back out and have great weather.” Atlee’s boys dominated the relays, winning both the 1,600and 3,200-meter relays. The Raiders had three individual winners: Cameron Foreman in the 100 dash, Connor Moses in the 3,200 run and Cason Gardner in the high jump. Atlee’s girls won the 400 relay. “The weather was good, and you had a lot of good competition,” said Atlee head coach Jim Triemplar. “Everybody here has
The green flag fell for overtime and Larson and Allgaier battled side-by-side through the first two corners and Larson passed Allgaier down the backstretch. Larson was clearly ahead and over the overtime line on the track when the caution flew for Reed spinning and he was declared the winner.
“The restart before the last, we had one taken away from us and there was a lot of confusion there on the caution,” Allgaier said. “It’s bittersweet today, I’m very dejected. That one hurts. It’s going to hurt for a long time.” Allgaier did win the Dash for Cash $100,000 bonus in the race as the highest finishing Dash for Cash driver. It was his second
time winning the bonus this season as he won it at Phoenix earlier this year. Pole sitter Daniel Hemric finished third, Austin Dillon fourth and Ryan Blaney was fifth. Bubba Wallace finished sixth, Sadler came home seventh, Michael Annett was eighth, Casey Mears was ninth and Spencer Gallagher was
10th. Hemric led the first seven laps of the race before Allgaier caught him on lap 27. Austin Dillon started setting a torrid pace soon thereafter, catching Allgaier. Dillon was on cruise control for the remainder of the first stage, bringing home that win. Allgaier took the lead on
the restart to begin the second stage and set sail, dominating the stage and won it. The XFINITY Series heads to Talladega on May 6 for the Sparks Energy 300. Billy Fellin is the sports editor of Powhatan Today, Goochland Gazette and Cumberland Today. He can be reached at wfellin@ powhatantoday.com.
were fighting back all day from there,” he said. “[We] had a really good car on the long run. It was a no-brainer there to stay out that last caution. I was glad it came out because I thought we missed the opportunity the run before to stay out.” Jamie McMurray finished sixth, Ryan Newman finished seventh, Kurt Busch finished eighth, Aric Almirola finished
ninth and Truex Jr. finished 10th. The final 100 laps or so were completely different than the first 300. Kenseth dominated the early stages of the race and won the first stage for his first stage win of the year. Kenseth also lead the most laps on the day with 164. Keselowski, who led 110
laps, started to reel him in and finally passed him in the second stage on Lap 164. Keselowski won the second stage, his first stage win of the season. At the start of stage three, Hamlin and Harvick battled for the lead with Keselowski third and Kenseth fourth. Green flag pit stops started on Lap 315 with Logano and
most of the lead lap cars followed his lead shortly thereafter. Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. held out for a caution to gain some track position. Johnson and Earnhardt got together and Earnhardt spun out, bringing out a caution that worked to Newman’s advantage.
That caution started a chaotic ending to the race, as three more cautions would come out. The series returns to Richmond in September for the Federated Auto Parts 400. Billy Fellin is sports editor of Powhatan Today, Goochland Gazette and Cumberland Today. He can be reached at wfellin@ powhatantoday.com.
Dave Lawrence/The Local
Patrick Henry’s Hailey Draper (right) gets ahead of the crowd with a winning performance in the girls 800-meter run in a track meet at Atlee Wednesday. Draper finished in 2:25.21.
The Hanover Local May 3, 2017
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SCOUT Continued from pg. 5
he would “give her that scent article and then she runs and jumps on it and gets a reward.” That part of the training lasts for about a month. “Then we do the same thing but we have the runner go out of sight,” Mahler said. His steps would be similar to the first part of training in that he would entice her while the “suspect” would go behind the corner of a building and disappear. “She associates ‘I need to find that person now. How do I do that? I use my nose for that.” That also took about a month. The next step is working with a “suspect” “completely out of sight.” In that training, Scout never hears or sees the person. She is told by command when she needs to work. “ ‘Find a man’ is the command I use,” Mahler said. “And over that time she’s realized that ‘Every
time he gives me that command this harness is put on me, and there’s something I’m supposed to go find.’ ” “After two months or so of doing it the easy way, then it’s ‘I just smelled something. Where is it?’ That’s when they start using their nose. Those are the basics,” Mahler added. Then it’s time to ramp up the training and get into what Mahler refers to as “the hard stuff with them, where they have to scent discriminate.” He said bloodhounds are “scent specific dogs – that’s the only scent they’re going to look for.” He said bloodhounds “need a scent article to work off of and it can be anything that your scent was on: car door handles, keys, hairbrushes. They scent discriminate the way they do in training so that when they come out in the real world [they’ll be ready].” Sgt. James R. Cooper, pub-
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lic information for Col. David R. Hines, sheriff, accompanied Mahler to talk about Scout. Mahler used Cooper as an example in how he gets a particular scent for Scout. “I’ll use James’ cell phone and we’ll have someone else hold it. He goes off and hides. I put Scout in her harness and put somebody else there to eliminate that scent. No is the command. Give her the scent of the person we’re looking for.” When Scout is told, “It’s not you,” Mahler said “She’s eliminated that scent out of her sensory.” On Monday, April 17, Mahler and Scout trained in Louisa “to try to make things practical in terms of how it’s going to work in the real world on the push guard of a police cruiser.” The push guard is that piece on the front bumper area. With that exercise, Mahler said they’ll have someone sit on the push guard, a practice common among law enforcement agencies, “to make things practical – how it’s going to work in the real world.” A recent training exercise in Louisa included having someone sit on the push guard and a trail was simulated. “An officer took his handcuffs and threw them on the floor,” Mahler said. “Here’s the scenario: We have my cell phone and my officer comes up on scene. There’s a
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suspicious man; we have him sitting on our push guard. My partner drops his handcuffs then he [the suspicious man] took off running and I can’t get my partner on the radio. You could either use the handcuffs to go search for the officer or get a scent off that push bumper. It’s something she’s never done before,” he said about Scout. “I told her to find the man and we found him about a half mile in the woods.” Mahler emphasized that trailing is not tracking. “Tracking is a ground disturbance,” with German Shepherds being used. He said they are patrol dogs and track. “If you go out there and push the ground, you’re forming a track — that’s what patrol dogs work off of. They’re working off dead skin cells.” He also said that dead skin cells are being dropped all the time. “Trails move, wind blows. We did one at Pole Green Park where a trainer and another handler went out. It was about a mile long — started up by the school (Pole Green Elementary) down by the horse farm and the trainer went behind. There’s a big dumpster down there and he lay down for about 10 minutes.” Mahler and Scout went back to the park about 21 days later, starting up by the school. “She found him. They bounce from side to side on the road; scent is planted everywhere.” “We’ve used ears of corn as a scent, so their job is human scent specific. They’re looking for a specific human scent.” The K-9s at the Sheriff ’s Office join their handlers in investigating homicides and robberies. With homicides, Mahler said “We’ll start where the other person ran from, looking for which direction the suspect went.” He also said that sometimes they’ll locate evidence along the way.” The bloodhounds aren’t particularly trained to find evidence, but, obviously, Mahler
said, “It has that person’s scent on it.” “We’ve had successful finds. It was a DUI crash hit and run where a guy crashed through someone’s fence on a farm and we found the guy out in the woods. I went up to the car, took a couple of gauge pads and wiped down the scent of the vehicle, and that’s how we tracked that guy down in the woods.” Mahler said he and Scout “found a 15-year-old in the west end of the county that ran away from home.” The K-9s, he said, are often used for finding missing people. Mahler’s wife and two children have welcomed Scout into their family. Talking about his kids, he said, “They’re young, but they’re good with her.” Scout’s home is a 10x10-foot kennel with a roof. To keep her comfortable during the summer months, Mahler places box fans “in there to help keep mosquitoes and stuff away.” Mahler said that Scout’s primary purpose is to understand she’s a working dog and not a family pet. “All she eats is dog food, she doesn’t get table scraps.” “She knows if I go outside in the back yard with shorts and a t-shirt on — she sees me she’s like ‘We’re not doing anything. When she sees me in uniform, she knows we’re going to work. She will pull me to the car. She usually gets in the back left door and she goes and sits and waits for me to open it.” When Scout was paired with Mahler, she got a handler with an impressive record with the Sheriff’s Office. The deputy joined Col. David R. Hines’ department in 2012 and was named Rookie of the Year in 2013 for his first year of service. In 2012, Region 4 presented him with the MADD Award. He was in the top 10% of DUI arrests that year, with a total of 47. Mahler recently received the Meritorious Award for stop-
ping a robbery in progress. He and three other officers were involved in the case. Scout was in the vehicle as always. Why did Mahler want to become a K-9 handler? “I grew up with dogs in my household.” He pointed out that dogs have been used in police work for more than a century. “They are a very specific tool no human can do what they do.” He keeps an eye on Scout as she roams around the interview site. Their bond is obvious and the respect is mutual. “Just being able to work with one to help the public and the tools, the assets that they have – that’s the kind of dog that I see working,” Mahler said. “Outside of family and friends, there’s no better friend to man than a dog and they are loyal – extremely loyal.” “The best part about tryouts for K-9 – when you look back on it – is praising them,” Mahler said. With Scout, he said her energy is reminiscent of a 3-year-old in a candy store. They feed off that praise. And, there’s no mistaking that Scout’s a bloodhound – that howl will reverberate. Of course, she goes into silent mode when it’s time to work. Col. Hines is proud of his K-9 staff and has ensured that more dogs have been added. “Our K-9 program is utilized in many different situations to include article searches for criminal evidence, highrisk occurrences, and locating lost children and senior adults, to name a few,” he said. “Our K-9 team receives extensive training in multiple patrol techniques such as tracking, apprehension, and building searches and are certified annually through the Virginia Police Workdog Association,” Hines added. “Our canines and handlers have proven to be an extremely effective tool in serving the citizens of Hanover County,” the sheriff said.