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Greensville Memorial Cemetery
1250 Skippers Road
Emporia, Virginia
Francis B. Drummond, 94, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2023. He was preceded in death by his wives, Eloise Newsome Drummond and Elsie Bennett Drummond.
Francis is survived by two sons, Bain Drummond (Debbie) and Gary Drummond; two grandchildren, Lauren Drummond and Brad Drummond.
A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, September 29 at Greensville Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the graveside prior to and immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Monumental United Methodist Church, 300 Southampton St., Emporia, Virginia 23847.
RICHMOND, Va. — Early voting starts Sept. 22 and stakes are high for both parties, with all 140 seats open in the state General Assembly.
Republicans have pushed to take advantage of early and absentee ballots ahead of the Nov. 7 election. The party's support for early voting is a shift from recent years.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for early voting in a video released by the state Republican Party through its new initiative Secure Your Vote Virginia. The program encourages Republican voters to vote early and sign up for the permanent absentee list, which allows voters to vote by mail for all future elections. Youngkin also promoted early voting in his gubernatorial race.
"We can't go into our elections down thousands of votes," Youngkin said in the video. He will travel through key districts on a bus tour to stump with candidates and promote early voting.
Republicans in the Virginia House of Delegates introduced and passed House bills 1444 and 1947 in the last session, which attempted to eliminate the permanent absentee list, in favor of an annual application. The bills did not pass in the Senate.
The strategy is something Republicans should have done for past elections, according to Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington.
"Gov. Youngkin has recognized that Republicans have been at a huge disadvantage with early voting over the last several election cycles and the governor is moving aggressively to try to reduce that early participation gap that has so strongly favored Democrats in recent years," Farnsworth said.
Early and absentee voting has spiked since the 2020 presidential election due to the pandemic and several legislative changes. The total number of absentee ballots increased by over 2.6 million from 2019 to 2020, according to state post-election reports. A record number of people voted absentee, according to spokesperson Andrea Gaines with the Virginia Department of Elections.
Absentee voting numbers have remained higher than pre-pandemic numbers in every general election. Almost 1.2 million absentee ballots were cast in 2021. Last year, over 990,000 absentee ballots were cast. Though there was a downward trend, the absentee votes were still more than double the combined numbers from 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Recent state changes that make voting easier, and the convenience of absentee voting, will keep future absentee voting numbers higher than in pre-pandemic elections, Farnsworth said. There is no doubt that the new system is convenient and popular with voters, he said.
"People like the idea of not having to wait to the last minute," Farnsworth said. "People don't know, something might come up — a kid might get sick, they might be stuck in traffic, they may have to work late."
The partisan gap in early and absentee voting has favored Democrats since 2016, data shows. Democratic voters made up over 60% of early votes in the 2022 election, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Democrats vote early by mail. Nearly 76% of mail votes were returned by Democratic voters within three weeks of Election Day in 2021, according to a VPAP graphic.
Look Ahead America, led by executive director Matt Braynard, is a national organization pushing to increase voter registration and absentee voting. Look Ahead America's primary focus is its voter turnout project for the 2023 Virginia General Assembly election, according to Braynard.
The organization identifies as nonpartisan and is not engaged in turnout on the basis of party, according to Braynard. The group has shown support for people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and referred to them as "political prisoners" in the description of its "Jobs for #J6" project that helps now-unemployed people who participated in the insurrection to find work. The riots centered around recognition of the legitimacy of votes in the 2020 presidential election.
Early and absentee ballots are a more secure and convenient way of voting, and can help track participation, Braynard said.
"It's very expensive sending you mail and sending you door knockers and reaching out to you know via phone and texting and digital," Braynard said.
Look Ahead America supports the Virginia permanent absentee list.
"The way I see it is that the more people encourage folks to vote — by any means necessary, and probably the easiest way would just [be] to get on Virginia's permanent absentee list — the better," Braynard said. "I'm glad to see more people of all political stripes join the conversation to encourage that."
Early voting begins in Virginia on Friday, Sept. 22. To submit an early ballot in-person, voters should check registration status and visit the local registrar's office with an acceptable form of identification. Some districts have additional early voting satellite locations that can be found on the state elections website.
To vote by mail, voters should download and complete the absentee application form available on the Virginia Department of Elections website. A mail-in ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and be received by the general registrar's office by noon on Friday, Nov. 10.
Many polling places will have weekend hours closer to Election Day. The last day to early vote in-person is Saturday, Nov. 4.
RICHMOND, Va. – Advocates worry more Virginians could experience food insecurity if Congress cannot pass an updated farm bill or emergency appropriation.
Nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often referred to as food stamps, are funded through a piece of federal legislation often called the farm bill – which covers focus areas from crops and livestock to rural development and access to food. SNAP makes up about 80% of its funding.
Several farm bill programs are slated to expire at the end of September. Eddie Oliver, the executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, stated in an email that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed SNAP benefits will be distributed in October regardless of a farm bill's passage.
"My understanding is that the authorized spending levels remain in effect," Oliver stated.
The USDA helped appropriate emergency funding for the SNAP program in 2013 until Congress passed that farm bill. Such intervention could potentially occur now if this deadline is not met, but Oliver stated the future beyond October is still unclear – and expressed concerns over a potential government shutdown affecting benefits.
Increase in benefits need, and food costs
Just under 850,000 Virginians received SNAP benefits in June, according to the USDA. This means about 30,000 additional persons have enrolled since June 2022.
"There's really nothing more essential to the basic well-being and dignity of a family than having enough food to put on the table," Oliver said.
"No one can truly live well off of the SNAP program," Oliver said.
A recent Urban Institute study found the average cost of a meal in Richmond is $3.54, whereas the average amount a SNAP recipient can spend on a meal is $2.73 – leaving a 30% gap families still need to fill.
SNAP benefits are meant to cover 9 out of 10 meals, while food banks take care of one, according to Oliver. However, this has not been the case as of late, as lacking benefits are not able to keep up.
"While food banks and food pantries are an essential part of the solution, we can't do it all," he said.
The farm bill is usually bipartisan, as its extensive reach can be felt by all, Oliver said. However, there is growing concern that the legislation may be delayed or experience funding cuts due to debate between lawmakers – such as a Republican legislator saying the SNAP program needed to be "curtailed" due to being "one of the largest government handout programs."
Oliver stated there is no available text for the 2023 Farm Bill at the time of this report, and some lawmakers expressed frustration to him about it. The farm bill is "one of the most important pieces of legislation" and represents a "holistic approach" to food access, according to Oliver.
The reality for Virginians is that this legislation, should it be slowed or its funding for SNAP altered, will have local effects – and struggling food banks will feel it, according to Oliver.
"The slightest cut to the SNAP program will fall on us," Oliver said.
Food banks bridge growing gap
Food banks statewide attempt to bridge the gap between where hunger begins and government assistance programs end. But many representatives say the strain on food banks is taking its toll.
Nearly 300 new families have visited the Colonial Heights Food Pantry since July 1, according to Warren Hammonds, its executive director and only full-time employee. Many are homeless or experiencing emergencies.
"I wish we didn't have to feed this many families," Hammonds said, but he is glad they can help meet needs.
The "ugliness" of food insecurity has grown worse in recent years, according to Hammonds.
"It's almost painful to get a hug and have people just bawl, crying on your shoulder after you give 'em food because they didn't know what else to feel," he said.
The food pantry used to provide for about 3-5 homeless families a month. Now, nearly 20 families visit each week, something Hammond said reflects a "terrible" and "daunting" reality.
"Sometimes I use the word 'sobering,'" he said. "Sometimes I just cry about it."
Many homeless families receive temporary housing within local hotels, where they likely do not have access to a stove or other means of food preparation, according to Hammonds, who said the pantry spent an additional $10,000 in the past year to help meet their unique food needs.
"We have the resources today," Hammonds said, "but we may not have the resources in a year."
At least half a million dollars in additional funding is needed to feed food insecure Virginians, based on 2021 data from Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks. Rising inflation and growing food costs make this deficit harder to address, with the U.S. Consumer Price Index for food rising over 4% since last August – on top of an 11% jump the previous year.
Breanne Armbrust, executive director of the Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton in Richmond, said community organizations like hers are often nonprofit and function entirely off of its own community's donations.
Government assistance programs could be significantly improved to better serve Virginians, Armbrust said.
"More often than not, people that make policy-making decisions do not have the lived experiences of people that need to access these services," Armbrust said.
The Fulton resource center, among its many programs and functions, helps families apply for services like SNAP.
The process can be lengthy, confusing and even impossible for some without a helping hand, Armbrust said. Not everyone has access to a home computer or transportation to their local social services office. The hours of work a family might put into an application could still only result in benefits as low as $27 a month, Armbrust said.
"Imagine if you didn't know where you were gonna get your food from, and you don't know how you're gonna pay your bills, and what that does to a person," Armbrust said. "Then you expect them to jump through a bunch of hoops to maybe get a benefit."
These services need to become more accessible, especially because of how easy it is to find oneself in this situation, Armbrust said.
"It's not 'these people over here' that are receiving benefits," she said. "It could be any of us, and it very well may be all of us one day."
RICHMOND, Va. – A Virginia Commonwealth University professor and a partner are developing a new THC breathalyzer that could be used to quickly detect if someone is driving under the influence of cannabis.
VCU professor Emanuele Alves, who has a doctorate in forensic science, partnered with Wagner Pacheco, who has a doctorate in inorganic analytical chemistry and is an associate professor at Universidade Federal Fluminense. Pacheco traveled from Brazil earlier in the year to help develop the breathalyzer.
The device would offer immediate results and produce fewer false positives, according to Alves. Law enforcement and employers could test within a certain window of time for impairment that many tests, such as urine or hair analysis, do not offer. A blood test can track cannabis use within a 3-4 hour time frame, but is not a viable driver impairment option. Current THC breathalyzers take hours to achieve results.
The VCU-developed breathalyzer will also distinguish between THC and CBD presence in someone's system, which have different effects. CBD does not get a user high and is often sold as supplemental or personal care products.
The device will produce a change in color if a person has THC in their system and a different color for CBD, according to Pacheco.
"Our expectation is that this THC breathalyzer could be so useful for society as it is the alcohol breathalyzer," Pacheco said.
Law enforcement would be able to identify on-site if a driver is under the influence of THC. The breathalyzer could improve road safety by holding drivers accountable for driving impaired, Pacheco said. It is illegal to operate a vehicle while impaired.
The goal is to have the first prototype of the THC breathalyzer complete by 2025.
JM Pedini, development director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, said they do not agree with the development and eventual use of THC breathalyzers.
Studies have failed to prove that the presence of THC in breath is an indicator of either impairment or recent cannabis exposure, Pedini said. NORML has argued against the expansion of drug detection testing, and advocated instead for performance-based tests to determine someone's sobriety.
Examples include the DRUID test, which is an app that measures cognitive and motor functioning to test for impairment. The test measures such things as the person's reaction time, hand-eye coordination and balance. The measurements are then calculated and an impairment score is provided.
One reason NORML does not support THC breathalyzers is because the packaging of CBD products does not always accurately reflect its contents, according to Pedini.
"Because of the lack of regulatory oversight on products that are called CBD, a consumer may be of the belief that they are buying a product that contains just CBD when, in fact, it actually contains THC," Pedini said.
The VCU Police Department issued 20 DUIs in the past year, two of which "indicated the presence of some drug or narcotic," according to police Detective Frederick Wiggins.
Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational cannabis. Almost 80 deaths were reported in 2021 that involved a driver who had more than the allowed limit of THC, according to Axios Denver.
Richmond Police did not respond to requests for comment.
VCU Police complete field sobriety test training to help identify impairment and then can use other tests "to determine beyond that," according to Wiggins.
There are still many steps before the breathalyzer is read for the market.
"The VCU Police are constantly evaluating new equipment and I would personally say that any new tool that is evaluated and found could be useful would be of use to officers in any capacity," Wiggins said.
RICHMOND – On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, the Commonwealth graduated its 139th generation of Virginia State Troopers. The 31 new state troopers were presented their diplomas during commencement exercises at the State Police Training Academy in Chesterfield County.
"We are extremely proud of these graduates as they begin their career of public safety service with the Virginia State Police," said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "For 91 years, the Virginia State Police has dedicated itself to serving and protecting all those living, working and traveling through the Commonwealth of Virginia. We welcome these new state troopers and are confident in their ability to fulfill the high standards set forth by our mission and values."
The new troopers have received more than 1,300 hours of classroom and field instruction in more than 100 different subjects, including de-escalation techniques, strategies to assist people in mental health crisis, ethics and leadership, fair and impartial policing, constitutional law, emergency medical trauma care, and public and community relations. The members of the 139th Basic Session began their 28 weeks of academic, physical and practical training at the Academy Feb. 27, 2023.
The graduates of the 139th Basic Session are from every corner of the Commonwealth, as well as Arkansas, Florida, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Saipan.
Upon graduation, the new troopers will report to their individual duty assignments across Virginia the week of Sept. 18, 2023. For their final phase of training, each trooper will spend an additional six weeks paired up with a Field Training Officer learning his or her new patrol area.
Emily Elizabeth Brownell White Creek, N.Y. Hanover/Henrico
Christopher David Bryan Columbus, Ohio Norfolk/Virginia Beach
Matthew Crawford Byram Stafford Springfield
Bryan Mykel Carr Williamsburg James City County
Erica Choi Saipan Springfield
Jefferson P. Cullison Gloucester Hampton/Newport News
Zakary Thomas Dickerson Plano, Texas Sussex County
Gabriel Zachary Fletcher Scott County Norfolk/Virginia Beach
Junior Miguel Flores Castaneda Martinsville Henry County
Russell Bennett Franklin, III Charlotte County Roanoke
Caleb Evan Holland Bryant, Ark. Portsmouth/Suffolk/Chesapeake
James Lloyd Lakey, II Strasburg Frederick County
Justin M. Lowe Shenandoah Augusta County
Erich Ryan Mann Covington Roanoke
Brandon Scott Middleton Ashburn Fairfax County
Henry McCord Morrison South Boston Hanover/Henrico
William Alexander Mullins Richmond Chesterfield County
Trevor Chance Plecker Bath County Louisa County
Franklin Curtis Pulley, III Suffolk Portsmouth/Suffolk/Chesapeake
Logan Edward Shenk Staunton Roanoke
Parker Elliott Shenk Staunton Roanoke
Sarah Elizabeth Stewart Eustis, Fla. Campbell County
Briggs Underwood Bedford Accomack County
Steven Jacob Winn Bucktown, Penn. Henrico County
Virginia State Police is currently hiring for trooper positions in future Academy classes. To apply online and/or learn more about our hiring bonus, benefits, and career opportunities, go to www.vatrooper.com.
The U.S. Department of Education reports that students who earn college credits before high school graduation reap numerous benefits. These include an increased likelihood of college graduation, a reduced average time to obtain a college degree, and significant savings on tuition and other expenses.
Southside Virginia Community College works hand-in-hand with the school districts across our service area to bring a slate of options to area high-school students. One of the most immersive and challenging opportunities is the Governor's School of Southside Virginia (GSSV), an academic-year program that enables gifted and highly motivated juniors and seniors to spend half of each school day with their peers in a college campus setting.
Virginia's Governor's School Program originated in 1973, and today it has expanded to more than 40 sites. Some focus exclusively on summer programming. GSSV is one of 19 that operate through the full academic year. Enrolled students spend part of their day at one of SVCC's main campuses and then return to their local high schools for other required programming. Upon successful completion, students receive an Associate's degree from SVCC in addition to receiving a high school diploma from their local school.
GSSV students participate in a learning community with an intensity that goes deeper than traditional education. Mrs. Wesley Swain, Director, notes that students "follow a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum in science, math, English, and research courses. They use current technologies in laboratories where they conduct in-depth research and work with each other on special projects. They also benefit from the real-world experiences shared by local business and industry leaders who assist with research projects and serve as mentors and examples."
Mrs. Swain explains, "Admission to GSSV is based on a competitive selection process, and prospective students should know that the amount of work required is greater than that of traditional high school courses."
Each of the ten public school divisions in SVCC's service area that participate in the Governor's School of Southside Virginia hosts its own recruitment meeting for prospective students and their parents. SVCC's two main campuses also hold "GSSV Shadowing Days" for interested students. These events allow students the opportunity to travel to campus, participate in classes, and experience a GSSV day. Interested students should seek specific scheduling details from their school counselors.
In general, admission requirements include an overall cumulative 3.5 GPA (or recommendation from at least one core teacher who feels the student would qualify, except for unusual situations or conditions) and the successful completion of Algebra I and II and geometry for junior level students.
Potential students should remember that GSSV courses at SVCC's campuses are college classes, not simply high school classes held in a college setting. They include college-level content and are taught by instructors who have the degrees and credentials to teach at a community college. Upon successful completion, students receive high school credit as well as college credit, which becomes part of their permanent college transcripts.
For more information about the benefits and challenges of this program for gifted and highly motivated high school juniors and seniors, prospective students can visit the GSSV website at gssvsouthside.org or contact the GSSV Director, Mrs. Swain, at wesley.swain@southside.edu.
Dr. Quentin R. Johnson is president of Southside Virginia Community College, an institution of higher learning that provides a wide variety of education opportunities to a diverse student population within a service area that spans ten counties and the City of Emporia. He can be reached via email at quentin.johnson@southside.edu.
RICHMOND – Statewide technology upgrades to the Virginia State Police emergency dispatch telephone systems have resulted in the non-emergency phone numbers for each of the Department's seven field divisions to change. The new phone numbers are being phased in by division now through the end of October 2023. The communications transformation will generate approximately $250,000 in savings annually for state police.
"The technology change moves state police from an antiquated analog telephone system to a digital system that will allow integration between all seven emergency dispatch centers across the Commonwealth and two additional disaster recovery sites," said Captain Thomas A. Bradshaw, Division Commander of the Virginia State Police Communications Division. "The transition to the new phone numbers will be seamless, and we have built in an overlap period that allows the old phone numbers to still accept calls. Those calls will automatically forward to its corresponding new number for up to 30 days, then an announcement will advise the caller of the updated phone number."
The upgrade does not impact #77 or the toll-free numbers assigned to each state police field division.
The following are the new Virginia State Police Emergency Dispatch Center non-emergency contact numbers:
Wytheville Division IV: 1-540-444-7788 (Effective week of Sept. 11, 2023)
Culpeper Division II: 1-804-750-8778 (Effective week of Sept. 18, 2023)
Chesapeake Division V: 1-804-750-8788 (Effective week of Sept. 25, 2023) This is Emporia's Division.
Salem Division VI: 1-540-444-7798 (Effective week of Oct. 2, 2023)
Appomattox Division III: 1-540-444-7778 (Effective week of Oct. 9, 2023)
Fairfax Division VII: 1-804-750-8798 (Effective week of Oct. 16, 2023)
Richmond Division I: 1-804-750-8758 (Effective week of Oct. 30, 2023)
RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia hotel employees are being trained how to recognize and report the signs of human trafficking in an effort to reduce the number of victims.
The 30-minute, online training program officially launched this year. Current employees had to complete the course by the end of June. The General Assembly passed and funded a bill last year allowing the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to create the online course.
Del. Shelly A. Simonds, D-Newport News, sponsored the measure.
The course is free to employees and must be completed after six months of employment and every two years. There are over 115,000 hotel employees that would be required to take the course, according to figures provided by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
The VDCJS was "fully dedicated to this issue," Simonds said.
State leaders budgeted nearly $466,000 in the biennial budget for the state agency to provide the online course. The training is necessary because sex and labor trafficking occur frequently in hotels, according to Simonds.
"Law enforcement can only do so much, they need citizens to be involved and knowing the signs that human trafficking might be going on," Simonds said.
Virginia hotels supported the training. Hotel brands like Hilton and Marriott even had their own online course before it was mandated, according to Simonds.
Brands without their own training must complete the state-required course.
"Now this law requires that everyone does it, including smaller operators, smaller motel chains," Simonds said." I think it's really going to lift up the standards for everyone."
The Virginia Department of Health enforces hotel employees to have their human trafficking training certificate on file, according to Simonds. This certification is transferable to other Virginia hotel chains.
"There's a lot of support across Virginia for cracking down on human trafficking," Simonds said. "And whether it be from the hotel industry, tourism industry, the legislature, the Virginia State Police — we're all working together to find solutions."
Human trafficking affects at least 150 to 300 victims per year in Virginia, according to the Human Trafficking Courts' website.
Specific data is unknown due to underreporting from survivors. In 2019, 370 victims were identified in Virginia by the National Human Trafficking Hotline. This number does not represent the full scope of victims due to potential lack of knowledge surrounding trafficking or resources such as the National Hotline, according to the organization's website.
Tommy Herbert is the director of government affairs for Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association, a trade organization that works to inform its members of law requirements and available training. Its website provides legislative information, bill tracking and multiple training programs.
The organization does not perform the training, but offers training resources to companies and their employees, according to Herbert.
"VRLTA looks forward to a future of advocating on behalf of Virginia's restaurant, travel, and hotel lodging industries as well as working with Virginia government stakeholders to enhance Virginia tourism," Herbert stated.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, in an executive order on his first day in office, pledged his administration's commitment to help combat human trafficking and provide support to survivors.
State Attorney General Jason Miyares led a two-day Virginia human trafficking Call to Action summit in Richmond at the end of August. The summit covered trends and solutions to the state's human trafficking problem, according to a statement from his office.
Miyares works with local, state, and federal entities to prosecute traffickers and support victims, according to his spokeswoman Chloe Smith.
Miyares supported state legislation that also required first-year public university students to complete an online human trafficking training course during their school's orientation, according to Smith.
The attorney general also helped prosecute four individuals last month connected to a large-scale human trafficking ring which operated out of a Williamsburg laundry facility. Over 100 survivors were reported in connection to the ring, according to Smith.
RICHMOND, Va. -- The regional Fall Line Trail is set to officially break ground in Henrico County next month. The 43-mile-long trail will span from Petersburg to Ashland and serves as a counterpart to the Capital Trail.
Regional planners see it as a "spine trail" that can connect towns, schools, businesses, public transit stations, and other trail networks throughout Central Virginia.
"It's basically an alternative transportation corridor for non-motorized vehicles that will connect to a lot of things," said Todd Eure, assistant director of the Henrico County Department of Public Works.
Eure is a member of the PlanRVA Fall Line work group committee. PlanRVA is a state-designated council of nine localities that collaborate over regional projects.
Henrico County plans to start on the project in October, near Bryan Park. County leaders have designed the trail, set aside funding, and began to acquire land easements for their section. Henrico's portion of the trail is over 7 miles long and will be built in eight phases, according to the county.
The work starts near the City of Richmond line with an asphalt shared-use path from Bryan Park Avenue across Lakeside Avenue and into Spring Park. The project is a quarter-mile long and estimated to cost $1.2 million, according to the county.
The next phase, estimated at $3.3 million, will extend the trail from Spring Park to Dumbarton Road. Eventually, the trail will reach Chickahominy River at the boundary line between Henrico and Hanover counties. The county hopes to have its work completed by 2025, according to Eure. The plans allow for a longer time frame. Planners hope to complete the Ashland to Richmond section by 2025.
"We're trying to design ours to be a world-class trail," Eure said. "We are making it wider than the Capital Trail, so we're doing ours at 12 feet wide, as opposed to 10 feet, because we are building it for success."
Organizers face a few challenges ahead of the entire trail's completion. There is an overall $30 to $50 million funding gap, according to Eure. Everything from Ashland to Richmond is already funded, Eure said.
Local and state funding, along with federal grants and private donations helped raise $250 million. The trail originally was estimated to cost approximately $266 million. Costs have gone up marginally due to inflation and other design reasons.
PlanRVA still needs to buy some land for the trail and determine what percentage of out-of-pocket construction costs counties and townships will pay.
Members of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority Fall Line Trail work group met on Sep. 6. Topics discussed ranged from the content and color of signage, the funding gap, and how to incorporate information about local history and nature along the trail.
There will be 11 miles of trail under construction once Henrico breaks ground, followed by Hanover County in January, said Emily Monroe, community engagement coordinator for Bike Walk RVA, a Sports Backers affiliate. It is "really massive" to see the project take shape after years of paperwork, she said.
"So seeing these big connections really start to happen is exciting," Monroe said.
Richmond recently secured approximately $30 million for parts of the trail through state funding, according to Sports Backers' Bike Walk RVA. The group also helped raise some funding for the Fall Line's development by hosting community engagement events at hikes, rides, and events along parts of the trail.
State and local support for a massive regional trail wouldn't have been possible without the success of the Capital Trail, according to Eure. Eure has worked closely with the Capital Trail Foundation and witnessed the uphill battle to get the trail supported, funded and built. The 52-mile trail runs east from Richmond's downtown riverfront into Williamsburg. The Fall Line Trail will run north to south and provide a connection over to the Capital Trail.
"Nobody wants the Fall Line Trail to take 20 years," said Eure. "I think at a regional level, everybody understands the value that these trails bring to the residents of the region and to tourism, to economic development."
The projected date for the completed trail is sometime between 2029 and 2031.
The quality of life for citizens along the trail will "improve drastically," according to Monroe.
"When community members are able to feel safe when they walk, bike, or roll, they're more inclined to use alternate methods of transportation in more aspects of their daily lives," she said.
Doctors celebrate "Care for VA Candidates" committed to protecting and expanding health care access
RICHMOND — The Committee to Protect Health Care today announced its endorsements for the Virginia General Assembly. The designated candidates were selected because of their:
Support for the establishment of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board that directly addresses rising drug costs by reviewing the price of drugs and setting upper payment limits on the most expensive ones;
Support for the establishment of a high-quality, low-cost public health insurance option;
Opposition to any legislation that restricts access to reproductive health care, including abortion and contraception.
"The Committee to Protect Health Care is proud to endorse these candidates because of their commitment to protecting and expanding access to health care," said Dr. Rommaan Ahmad, a pain management physiatrist in Alexandria and Virginia State Lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care. "These 'Care for VA Candidates' understand that access to affordable health care, including prescription drugs and reproductive health care, is critical for the health and well-being of Virginians across the commonwealth. Doctors look forward to supporting these health care champions on behalf of our patients and all residents of Virginia."
The endorsed candidates include:
Senate of Virginia
Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
Emily Scott (SD-1)
Kathy Beery (SD-2)
Jade Harris (SD-3)
Trish White-Boyd (SD-4)
Deborah Gates (SD-7)
Creigh Deeds (SD-11)*
Lashrecse Aird (SD-13)
Lamont Bagby (SD-14)
Ghazala Hashmi (SD-15)
Schuyler VanValkenburg (SD-16)
Clint Jenkins (SD-17)
Louise Lucas (SD-18)
Victoria Luevanos (SD-20)
Angelia Williams Graves (SD-21)
Aaron Rouse (SD-22)
Mamie Locke (SD-23)
Monty Mason (SD-24)
Jolicia Ward (SD-25)
Pam Garner (SD-26)
Joel Griffin (SD-27)
Jeremy McPike (SD-29)
Danica Roem (SD-30)
Suhas Subramanyam (SD-32)
Jennifer Carroll Foy (SD-33)
Scott Surovell (SD-34)
Stella Pekarsky (SD-36)
Saddam Salim (SD-37)
Barbara Favola (SD-40)
Patrick Hope (HD-1)
Adele McClure (HD-2)
Alfonso Lopez (HD-3)
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (HD-5)
Irene Shin (HD-8)
Karrie Delaney (HD-9)
Dan Helmer (HD-10)
Holly Seibold (HD-12)
Marcus Simon (HD-13)
Vivian Watts (HD-14)
Laura Jane Cohen (HD-15)
Paul Krizek (HD-16)
Kathy Tran (HD-18)
Michelle Maldonado (HD-20)
Joshua E Thomas (HD-21)
Travis Nembhard (HD-22)
Candi King (HD-23)
Kannan Srinivasan (HD-26)
David Reid (HD-28)
Marty Martinez (HD-29)
Rob Banse (HD-30)
Steven Foreman (HD-31) Herb Walke (HD-73) Debra Gardner (HD-76) Mady Rodriguez (HD-32) Robert W Smith (HD-33) Randall Wolf (HD-36) Stephanie Clark (HD-37) Sam Rasoul (HD-38) Lily Franklin (HD-41) Patricia Quesenberry (HD-47) Josh Blakely (HD-50)
Kimberly Moran (HD-51) Katrina E Callsen (HD-54) Amy Laufer (HD-55) Susanna Gibson (HD-57) Rodney Willett (HD-58) Rachel Levy (HD-59) Keith Braxton (HD-60) Larry Jackson (HD-61) Leonard B Lacey (HD-64) Joshua Cole (HD-65)
Mark Lux (HD-66)
John Quincy Smith (HD-67)
Shelly Simonds (HD-70)
Jessica Anderson (HD-71)
Bilal Zoulfikar Raychouni (HD-72)
Michael Jones (HD-77)
Betsy Carr (HD-78)
Rae Cousins (HD-79)
Kimberly Adams (HD-82)
Mary Person (HD-83)
Nadarius Clark (HD-84)
Jeion Ward (HD-87)
Don Scott (HD-88)
Karen Lynette Jenkins (HD-89)
Jeremy Rodden (HD-90)
Jackie Glass (HD-93)
Alex Askew (HD-95)
Kelly Fowler (HD-96)
Michael Feggans (HD-97)
Cat Porterfield (HD-99)
Charlena Jones (HD-100)
*Candidate did not respond to questionnaire due to campaign policy, but upon review of their record and stated positions, they were awarded the "Care for VA" distinction.
About the Committee to Protect Health Care
The Committee to Protect Health Care is a national mobilization of doctors, health care professionals, and advocates who are building a pro-patient health care majority in Congress and in states so that we can live in an America where everyone has the health care they need to thrive. To learn more:www.committeetoprotect.org
The application period is now open for a new financial assistance program under Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA farm lending programs prior to January 2021. The application process will close on October 31. Borrowers will have the option to apply for assistance online via 22007apply.gov or through a paper-based form.
Details about the program, including an application and e-filing portal, are available at 22007apply.gov. The website includes an English and Spanish language application that applicants can download or submit via an e-filing portal, information on how to obtain technical assistance in-person or virtually, and additional resources and details about the program. Applicants can also call the free call center at 1-800-721-0970, or visit one of several dozen brick-and-mortar offices the program has set up around the country. Locations are provided on the program website and vendors will update the local events schedule with more information as it becomes available. It is important to note that filing an application is FREE and does not require a lawyer.
If you want to get weekly updates on the program’s events and progress, you can go to https://22007apply.gov, and subscribe to a weekly newsletter.
RICHMOND – Thirteen individuals died in 10 traffic crashes over the 2023 Labor Day holiday weekend in Virginia, according to preliminary reports. Half of the traffic crashes involved motorcycles, in which seven motorcycle operators and passengers lost their lives. A total of 12 individuals died in traffic crashes during the 2022 Labor Day four-day statistical counting period, compared to 10 deaths in 2021*. The 2023 Labor Day statistical counting period began at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, and concluded at midnight Monday, Sept. 4, 2023.
The 10 fatal traffic crashes occurred in the City of Virginia Beach and Campbell, Hanover, James City, Montgomery, Nelson, Pittsylvania, Rockbridge, Scott and Wythe counties. The crashes in Campbell, Pittsylvania and Scott County each involved two fatalities. The fatal motorcycle crashes occurred in Virginia Beach and Hanover, Nelson, Scott and Wythe counties.
"To have lost this many lives to traffic crashes, especially motorcycle riders, in just four days is both disheartening and alarming," said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "As demonstrated by the enforcement statistics from the holiday weekend, Virginia's state troopers were on patrol doing everything we could to prevent crashes and encourage compliance with Virginia traffic laws. As we look to these final months of 2023, I cannot impress enough the importance for all Virginians to take traffic safety seriously and commit to saving lives on our highways."
Colonel Settle also encourages Virginians to take advantage of the free motorcycle assessment courses being offered in the coming weeks by Virginia State Police Motorcycle Troopers. Registration is currently open for Ride 2 Save Lives training courses being held in Yorktown, Wytheville, Richmond, Manassas, Salem, and Virginia Beach between now and October. For more information and to register online, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/o/virginia-state-police-16981406541.
During the four-day statistical counting period for the 2023 Labor Day weekend, Virginia State Police participated in both the annual Operation C.A.R.E. – the Crash Awareness Reduction Effort – as well as the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI prevention campaign. State police enforcement efforts resulted in 73 DUI arrests, as well as 279 drivers being cited for violating Virginia's "hands free law." Operation CARE is a nationwide, state-sponsored initiative that aims to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by speeding and a failure to use occupant restraints.
In addition, Virginia State Police stopped 4,475 speeders and 1,945 reckless drivers. State troopers also cited 491 seat belt violations and 150 child restraint violations.
Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state's Literary Fund, which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.
Catrina's goal of walking across the stage as an SVCC graduate was achieved during the commencement ceremony held in May on the John. H. Daniel Campus in Keysville as she received a certificate from Dr. Quentin R. Johnson, SVCC President.
Adult learners at Southside Virginia Community College often tell stories about overcoming personal challenges. The determination they demonstrate in reaching their goals is and can be inspiring. One amazing recent graduate, Catrina Roberts, displayed outstanding courage as she pursued her desire to hold a postsecondary credential in her hands.
Catrina's life included many medical challenges. She endured 40 surgeries, including some related to kidney issues, some following an accident, and two heart valve replacements. Although these issues sometimes slowed her progress, they did not stop her. Her family supported her through these challenges; especially her brother, Robert Jackson, whom Catrina looked up to. He was always there for her and encouraged her after each surgery.
Catrina suffered a stroke after her second heart valve replacement surgery and set walking across the stage at graduation as her goal for recovery. She accomplished this at SVCC's ceremony on May 13, 2023. She stood up from her wheelchair and stepped forward to receive the Early Childhood Career Studies Certificate for which she had worked so hard.
It was a proud moment for her and her family, and on that stage, Catrina was able to savor her success. Sadly, just a few weeks later, she passed away.
Ryan Roberts, Catrina's husband says: "Catrina was a people person. She was always tenacious and would always find a way to push through every challenge she faced."
He explains that Catrina had a long-standing interest in early childhood education. She worked at Kenston Forest as a substitute teacher, as a bus driver, and in the cafeteria.
Her daughter, Elena, is a rising 10th grader at Nottoway High School. She notes that Catrina's involvement as a Girl Scouts leader and 4-H volunteer gave them a special bond.
The Roberts family credits Catrina's mother, Mary Gordon, for serving as a role model. Elena says her mother learned a lot from her grandmother, who worked in a school setting and in home health care and demonstrated a huge capacity for empathy. Ryan recalls his mother-in-law's willingness to take early retirement to become Catrina's caregiver, enabling him to remain employed at his job and keep the family's health insurance intact.
The Early Childhood Career Studies Certificate Catrina pursued is designed to prepare students for jobs in daycare or pre-school environments. During her studies, she learned about early childhood development and practical strategies for encouraging prosocial behavior. She studied conflict resolution and problem solving, and took courses that reviewed positive health, hygiene, nutrition, and safety issues. After finishing her coursework, Catrina worked at Pickett Park Daycare. This gave her an opportunity for hands-on experience implementing creative age-appropriate activities.
In honor of her mother's legacy, Elena plans to follow in her footsteps by continuing her own education after high-school graduation. "Education was a lifelong experience for my mom. She believed that education was a pathway to a better life."
Ryan explains that although Catrina had many medical challenges which required her to take most of her classes online, she found that she always had access to help through her teachers.
As Catrina's story demonstrates, determination can help a person overcome a multitude of obstacles. If you are a working adult and have been thinking about a new career, you can honor her memory by taking steps in your desired direction.
RICHMOND, Va. — In honor of Labor Day, Freedom Virginia Executive Director Rhena Hicks today issued the following statement renewing the organization's call for an economy in which all hardworking people can thrive:
"Today we celebrate the accomplishments of the labor movement, who, thanks to Democratic majorities in the General Assembly, passed significant pro-worker laws that resulted in Virginia jumping from #51 to #28 in Oxfam's 'Best States to Work.'
"Pro-worker means fighting for workers not just at work but also outside of it. It means siding with working families over big corporations, big utilities, and Big Pharma. It means investing in our schools and our communities instead of tax schemes for the rich. Only one party has a proven track record fighting for working families, and in less than three weeks, working families will have the opportunity to vote for a Virginia that is truly pro-labor."
KENBRIDGE, VA, August 31, 2023 – Benchmark Community Bank is pleased to announce the promotions of Nicole Young to Vice President/Area Manager, and Loren Allen to Vice President/Branch Manager. Both veterans of the banking industry, Young is currently the Branch Manager of the South Hill branch. Allen currently serves as Assistant Vice President (AVP)/Residential Lending in the Emporia market.
A member of the Benchmark team since 2006, Young joined the Bank as a Relationship Teller. She moved through the ranks until being promoted in 2016 to AVP/Branch Manager for Benchmark’s Lawrenceville market. In 2019, Young was named Vice President/Branch Manager for the South Hill branch. As Area Manager, she will oversee both the Lawrenceville and South Hill branches.
A fifteen-year veteran in the banking industry, Allen joined Benchmark in September 2023, upon the Bank’s acquisition of the First Community Bank branch in Emporia. For the past several months, she has split her time between Emporia and Lawrenceville getting to know the Brunswick County market. She is excited for this new adventure in her banking journey.
“Benchmark is so fortunate to have two seasoned bankers like Nicole and Loren working in tandem to serve our customers in South Hill and Lawrenceville,” said President/CEO Jay Stafford of the promotions. “Their track records speak for themselves and we’re excited to have them leading these two strategic markets.”
Current Lawrenceville AVP/Assistant Branch Manager Kristen Sadler will be returning to her home market of South Hill when Young’s and Allen’s promotions become effective September 1, 2023.
About Benchmark Community Bank -Benchmark Community Bank, founded in 1971, is headquartered in Kenbridge, VA. It is the sole subsidiary of Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. and operates seventeen banking offices throughout central Southside Virginia and northern North Carolina. The common stock of Benchmark Bankshares, Inc. trades on the OTC Pink marketplace under the symbol BMBN. Any stockbroker can assist with purchases of the company's stock, as well as with sales of holdings. Additional information is available at the company’s website, www.BCBonline.com. #MemberFDIC #EqualHousingLender #WithYouForLife
RICHMOND, VA —The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is reminding all boaters to stay safe and sober this last weekend of summer, and always wear a life jacket while on the water. A good day on the water can turn tragic in seconds. No matter where you boat–from large lakes and rivers to small farm ponds—wearing a life jacket and staying sober are essential for safety!
"Recreational boating and paddlesports activities are enjoyed by individuals and families across the country. To ensure that everyone is safe out on the water, we will be out to assist in educating operators and passengers on the dangers associated with boating while impaired," said Paige Pearson, DWR Public Information Officer. "We also will be reminding them of other safe boating practices, such as wearing a life jacket and enrolling in a boater education course. DWR wants everyone to have a great end to the summer on the water, and to do that boaters must remain sober and alert while underway."
The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning and a flood watch throughout the Commonwealth, so DWR urges you to use extra precaution this week and weekend. Conservation Police Officers (CPOs) have responded to and worked several boating incidents that have resulted in fatalities and injuries because boaters and anglers have attempted to navigate waters that were affected by heavy rains. These waters have significantly higher than normal water levels, dangerously swift currents, and trash and other debris that could be floating on the surface or just below the waterline.
While getting ready for the boating season, boaters should make sure they have U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets in good condition that fit every occupant of the boat, including children.
No matter what time of year you go boating, always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. Also, have a plan to reboard your boat in case the unexpected happens and you end up in the water. Weather conditions and a marine forecast can be found on the
Lowhead dams are all around us in the Commonwealth. When you create your float plan, or before you venture out on your local waterway, familiarize yourself with lowhead dams. Danger lurks above and below the dam. Water flowing over a drop forms a hole or hydraulic at the base which can trap objects washing over the drop. Backwash or recirculating current is formed below the dam. Once swept over the dam, a victim becomes trapped and is forced underwater, pushed away from the dam, then circulated to the top. The circulating motion then repeats the cycle over and over again as the individual is drawn back against the base of the dam.
Safety Tips to Follow:
Scout the river and know the location of hazards. Talk with boaters who are familiar with the river to gain additional knowledge.
Boat with experienced, responsible boaters and learn from them.
Watch for a smooth horizon line where the stream meets the sky. This potentially indicates the presence of a dam.
Look out for concrete retaining walls which are part of the dam structure and easier to spot.
Portage around all dams.
When portaging, re-enter the river at a point well downstream of the boil.
To learn more about boating laws in Virginia and information on boating, boating education and water safety, please visit: dwr.virginia.gov/boating. Remember, everyone wants to have a safe, enjoyable day on the water. Do your part by wearing your life jacket and taking a boating safety education course.
Always be responsible, be safe and have fun!
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET. IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE.
PLEASE DO NOT DISREGARD SAFETY MESSAGES. THEY ARE THERE TO PROTECT YOU!
RICHMOND – Labor Day weekend may traditionally signal an end to the summer season, but it certainly does not mean an end to the need for Virginians to still make traffic safety a priority. If planning one last summer getaway or just traveling across town, it is imperative for motorists to share the road responsibly, buckle up, and drive sober during the extended holiday weekend.
On Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, Virginia State Police Superintendent, Colonel Gary T. Settle, joined Governor Glenn Youngkin for the statewide kickoff of the 22nd annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement and education campaign, sponsored by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP). The annual impaired driving prevention effort began Aug. 16, 2023, and continues through the Labor Day holiday weekend.
"Traffic safety is a huge part of the Virginia State Police mission, with a core focus on reducing alcohol-related crashes occurring on Virginia's roadways," said Settle. "Virginians statewide can expect to see an increased presence of law enforcement on the road through the Labor Day weekend, as state troopers seek to apprehend impaired drivers through DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols."
During the 2022 Labor Day weekend, Virginia State Police arrested 87 impaired drivers statewide. Deterring and detecting drunk drivers is one of the three focal points of the annual Operation CARE – the Crash Awareness Reduction Effort – traffic safety program that state police participates in every Labor Day weekend. The nationwide, state-sponsored initiative also aims to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by speeding and a failure to use occupant restraints. Virginia State Police's participation in Operation CARE begins Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. and continues through midnight Monday, Sept. 4, 2023.
During Operation CARE over the 2022 Labor Day weekend, Virginia State Police stopped 4,091 speeders and 1,800 reckless drivers. State troopers also cited 434 seat belt violations and assisted 818 disabled/stranded motorists.
A total of 12 individuals died in traffic crashes in Virginia during the 2022 Labor Day four-day statistical counting period, compared to 10 deaths in 2021 and 20 deaths in 2020*.
With the increased patrols, Virginia State Police also reminds drivers of Virginia's "Move Over" law, which requires motorists to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle stopped alongside the road. Drivers are required to cautiously pass an emergency vehicle when unable to safely move over a lane. The law also applies to workers in vehicles equipped with amber lights and, as of July 1, 2023, any disabled vehicles stopped on the side of a roadway with its hazards flashing or other traffic safety protection materials placed on display.
