DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 27, No. 47 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | March 23, 2011
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Sheriff asks board to unfreeze positions By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com When Col. David R. Hines, sheriff, appeared before the Hanover County Board of Supervisors on March 9 to dis-
cuss his office’s budget proposal, the issue of staffing took center stage. In referring to an old fiveyear plan, he asked that the board work with him “to develop a plan to unfreeze the seven
frozen deputy positions within the Sheriff ’s Office and adopt a new five-year staffing plan that is sustainable.” “I would be irresponsible to stand before you today and proclaim that we are 20, 30 or even
40 officers short,” he added. Hines said his office is operating with staffing levels between 2006 and 2007. “Over the last several years, to prevent greater budget cuts and layoffs, we worked closely
with Mr. (County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Jr.) Harris and his staff to freeze positions,” the sheriff continued. “Across the county there are officially 12 frozen positions in Public Safety
departments. Seven or over half (58.3 percent) are deputy sheriff positions – deputy sheriffs, our citizens’ first line of defense against crime!” see SHERIFF, pg. 26 `
Redistricting meetings start Tuesday Hanover County has scheduled three public information sessions to gather input on the 2011 Redistricting. The sessions will be held on: ❍ Tuesday, March 29, at Patrick Henry High School. ❍ Thursday, March 31, at Atlee High
School. ❍ Tuesday, April 5, at Lee-Davis High School. Each session will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the commons area of the schools. Displays showing all of Hanover’s cur-
rent voting districts will be set up and the staff will be available to answer questions. The Board of Supervisors and county administration invite all interested citizens to participate in the meetings. The county recently received 2010 see REDISTRICTING, pg. 8 `
Two announce plans for South Anna Gordon seeks re-election as independent Hazzard seeks Republican nomination John Gordon School Board for has announced he 14½ years. will seek re-election For the past to continue as the 12 years, Gordon South Anna District has served as representative on chairman of the the Hanover County Board’s Finance Board of Supervisors. Committee and He is a lifelong said he is proud resident of the South of Hanover AAA Anna District and GORDON bond rating. has represented South Hanover is the Anna on the Board of smallest county in the nation Supervisors for 15½ years. He to receive this highest possible also served as the South Anna see GORDON, pg. 8 ` representative on the Hanover
Wayne Hazzard Electrical Corp. has announced his in 1975 and sold candidacy for the it to his employees Republican nomiin 1984. Since that nation for supertime, he has startvisor of the South ed several other Anna District of businesses. Today, Hanover County. he is president He is a busiof Professional nessman who has Contractors Inc. lived in Hanover HAZZARD and president County with his of VA Specialty wife Nancy for 39 Products Inc. years. He has three children Hazzard has served as the and 17 grandchildren. see HAZZARD, pg. 8 ` He started Hazzard
Photo submitted by Trevor Frost
Trevor Frost and his father Ian are shown in a tent at 17,000 feet on Argentina’s Mt. Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in the Americas.
Former resident finalist for National Geographic grant By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com A former Mechanicsville resident has been named a finalist in the National Geographic Channel Expedition Granted Contest. In January, Trevor Frost, who was raised in Kings Charter in Mechanicsville, learned he was selected for the online voting contest.
To win, he needs the most votes, which can be cast at http://expeditiongranted. kp10.net/explorerTrevor.asp. For more on the program, visit http://channel. nationalgeographic.com/ channel/expedition-weekgranted. A Virginia Commonwealth University graduate, see RESIDENT, pg. 28 `