ELECTION County sticks with Republicans, approves amendments PAGE
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COMMUNITY 49th Ashland Hanover Olde Time Holiday Parade
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Vol. 4 No. 10 | Richmond Suburban News | November 14, 2018
Police chief tells council about safety of downtown crosswalks By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local ASHLAND -- “Our town is a pedestrian town and we have strived as a town council to continue to improve our pedestrian access and our movement of traffic. It’s an interesting balance,” Police Chief Doug Goodman told Ashland Town Council members last week as he presented a report on the safety of downtown crosswalks. With a vital downtown area located close to major thoroughfares and a busy rail system, keeping pedestrian traffic safe is an integral part in keeping those businesses healthy and
Compassion and dedication honored on Veterans Day By Jim Ridolphi for Ashland-Hanover Local HANOVER — Since 2007, it’s become a Hanover tradition for citizens to gather at the Hanover Veterans Memorial for a memorial ceremony to honor those who served our country. Clear, crisp skies greeted that crowd Sunday as the tradition
growing. Goodman noted that pedestrian safety in Ashland is not a new issue, and, historically, concerns have been raised for decades. “This has been a large part of our conversation long before I got here,” he said. He focused his report on crosswalks located within the downtown area that are not located at an intersection with traffic lights, all of them located on U.S. 54, a road that has seen few improvements in many decades.
In the past 10 years there have been three crashes involving pedestrians in crosswalks, four crashes at intersections without crosswalks, and 16 incidents involving pedestrians walking along the road. During that period, eight summonses for crosswalk violations have been issued. The current code requires vehicles to yield right-of-way to crossGOODMAN ing pedestrians on roads where the speed limit is 35 mph or less. “It is incumbent on the pedestrian to wait
for a break in oncoming traffic in the way the code is written,” Goodman said. The code creates a challenge for law enforcement. “It’s a challenge,” the chief added. He said current code does allow some localities to require vehicles to stop and yield to any pedestrians waiting in a designated crossing with signage requiring drivers to stop. Council members moved to add an item to the current legislative agenda that would add Ashland to that list of localities with that see COUNCIL, pg. 5
Racially-charged incident prompts concerns By Jim Ridolphi Ashland-Hanover Local ASHLAND -- A recent racially-charged incident at Hanover High School prompted responses from several speakers during a pubJim Ridolphi for The Local lic comment period Hanover County’s tradition of honoring veterans on Nov. 11 at last week’s Hanover continued Sunday at Hanover Wayside Park. A sunny day drew County School Board a good crowd to the ceremony. meeting. continued, and Hanoverians themselves veterans. Last month, a again displayed their respect This year’s celebration coin- 16-year-old junior at and resolve for the numerous Lee-Davis High School see VETERANS, pg. 5 attendees who are proud to call
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was taking classes at Hanover High. When he left his desk and later returned, he noticed the “N” word had been carved in his desk. Hanover County Public Schools officials immediately issued a statement condemning the “thoughtless Jim Ridolphi for The Local and ignorant” act, and Alicia Neumann, left, and Dr. Matteo Pangallo vowed to discipline addressed the Nov. 6 meeting of the Hanover County School Board about what they called
see CONCERNS, pg. 10 racial issues.
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