INSIDE Hanover Tomato Festive Guide has all you need to know
SPORTS Post 175’s bats help overcome scrappy Post 201 PAGE
9
Vol. 2 No. 51 | Richmond Suburban News | July 7, 2017
No changes for seats on county school board By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Ashland Mayor Jim Foley asked why a third rail option running through Ashland’s downtown was included in the options.
Routing options narrowed at DPRT public meeting By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local ASHLAND — Following the second of six scheduled public meetings established to gather comments from the people who will be most affected by a proposed high-speed rail project from Richmond to Washington, D.C., many attendees left with more questions than answers. “I feel like they are just going through the motions and then are going to do whatever they decide,” one attendee said as he exited the meeting. While Department of Public and Rail Transportation representatives have assured the public that the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) process is designed to con-
sider alternative routes, it seems most of the most viable suggestions have been eliminated. Both opponents of adding a third rail through the center of Ashland and the western bypass alternative favored the consideration of eastern bypass routes that would eliminate significant impacts on both of those areas. But initial screening of those options narrowed the list of alternative routes to four primary paths, none taking advantage of an old RF&P connector called the Buckingham Branch. Carey Burch, a consultant working on the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the RVA2DC project, said those options were “eliminated” for a variety see DPRT, pg. 5
HANOVER — The Hanover County Board of Supervisors took a “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach when it reappointed two current Hanover County School Board members to new terms at last Wednesday’s meeting. Cold Harbor nominee Norman Sulser was unopposed in his bid for reappointment, but two other nominees challenged South Anna representative and vice chair Sue Dibble. SULSER Clara James Scott and Lakisha Greenhow placed their names in nomination, and supervisor Wayne Hazzard said all three candidates were well qualified to do the job. The South Anna supervisor said it was a difficult decision, but he opted to maintain the steady path the school board has exhibited during Dibble’s tenure. “I was blessed with three candidates who were well qualified, so my job was not as easy as Mr. [Scott] Wyatt’s,” he said. “Based on the achievements we’ve already accomplished in our school system, I’m going to recommend Ms. Dibble for another four-year term.” Hazzard met with and interviewed all three candidates and also visited school principals at campuses within his district to gather input on his pending decision. “I hope these candidates will keep their names in the hat,” Hazzard said. “These three applicants could be an asset anywhere in our school system.”
Wyatt voiced his support for the sole candidate in his district. “I think Mr. Sulser has served the citizens of the Cold Harbor District with dignity. He’s engaged with the citizens and he’s a big advocate and supporter of the Trade and Technology DIBBLE Center,” Wyatt said. “He is receptive and always available to speak with citizens.” Wyatt noted Sulser’s key role in establishing programs like the Advanced College Academy, a curriculum that allows students to graduate high school with two years of college competed. Sulser was instrumental in promoting career and technical efforts in Hanover County, including a CTE (Career and Technical Education) Governor’s School held at the University of Richmond last summer. He also promoted the establishment of a Health Care Specialty Center at Hanover High School, and pushed for a change in Hanover’s grading scale. After 12, not consecutive, years on the school board, Sulser said he’s ready and willing to meet the challenges facing Hanover County Public Schools. “It was my honor and privilege to serve for the past four years and I look forward to the next four,” he said after his reappointment was unanimously approved. “We have a great school board family.” Sulser said he would focus on technology and the $16 million five-year plan to make substantial improvements for Hanover County students and see SCHOOL, pg. 12