High school is over for the Class of 2009.

Saturday, all four Hanover County high schools held their commencements at VCU’s Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond.

Hanover County Parks & Recreation has announced the 2009 Hanover Tomato Contest to be held during the 31st annual Hanover Tomato Festival Saturday, July 11 at Pole Green Park, 8996 Pole Green Park Lane in Mechanicsville.
Hanover County Parks & Recreation must receive...

Mention "Dr. Altamont Dickerson, Ph.D." to an Ashland resident and you may draw a blank stare.
Amend that to "Al" Dickerson and recognition will follow.
When Dickerson retired from his first career as Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services...

Residents of Ashland have been quietly seething - well, simmering, anyway - ever since travel writer and TV commentator Peter Greenberg slammed the little Town by the tracks while plugging his book, the name of which most of us have forgotten.
Thanks to ABCTV's Good Morning...

The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office has identified and arrested Jamerson Early Seay, a 20 year old, of the 16000 block of Hennessy Way in Montpelier, for the robbery of the Montpelier Pharmacy.

Seay was identified as a possible suspect...

Derek Edward Burkhead was found guilty Tuesday of murder in the second degree and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. He had been charged with first-degree murder.
A Hanover Circuit Court jury deliberated for about two hours before returning the verdict and then...

The AARP Hanover Chapter  5335 learned a bit about local black history at its Feb. 3 meeting. Don Makosky, president of the Hanover County Black Heritage Society, gave a presentation explaining projects his organization has undertaken.
Makosky became involved in the...

During WWII, Eleanor Roosevelt planted a "victory garden" on the lawn of the White House to tell Americans that they needed to grow their own vegetables and fruits while the country recovered from the war.
Have we come full circle?
There was a contest that ended Jan....

Market Ashland Partnership announced last week plans to intensify its effort to bring more customers to local businesses through a multi-pronged effort.
Outgoing MAP President Jessica Robertson of Jessica Robertson Photographic Artistry, noted that lean economic times will...

It all started over a casual cup of coffee at Ashland Coffee and Tea and turned into a year of celebrations. Ashland's Sesquicentennial was celebrated throughout 2008. The Town was officially incorporated in 1858.
In January, plans were underway to make the year a celebration...

2008 marked the year in which the Town of Ashland turned 150 years old and Hanover reached 288. The County's birthday may have met with substantially less fanfare than the Town's, but 2008 still proved to be an eventful year for many within Hanover's borders.

They packed the firehouse last Saturday as the Farrington Volunteer Fire Department hosted a Country Christmas Jamboree.
The Barker Family, the West Hanover Boys and the Nukols Sisters entertained and the crowd enjoyed firehouse food. Santa arrive at 3 p.m. and posed for...

The 2008 Hanover Christmas Mother is Laura Stanley, who is no stranger to residents of Ashland and Hanover County.
She will reign over the Christmas Mother Campaign, which last year raised more than $60,000 in donations of money, food, toys and clothing to make Christmas...

Over 2,000 people filled the stands last Saturday to celebrate the Town of Ashland's sesquicentennial. The event at Day Field on the Randolph-Macon College campus was attended by past, present and even future residents of the Town they call "The Center of the...

The one thing you can't say about Nelson Whitt is he gives up easily. Whitt just retired the first of September after 16 years with the Virginia Supreme Court as a Magistrate at the Pamunkey Regional Jail in Hanover County. Prior to that, he spent 31 years with the Richmond...

Walter Brett has had several careers during his lifetime.
He was a trooper with the Virginia State Police for 14 years back in the 1960s.
Then he worked for Ashland Lumber Company for 31 years. After that business shut down, Brett worked for Haley-Durrett Hardware &...

The Ashland Police Department is seeking assistance from the community in reference to a breaking and entering and assault incident, which occurred in an apartment complex off of Cottage Green Drive Monday morning.
 At approximately 6:25 a.m., Ashland Police Officers...

Dr. Jack Haar returned to his western Hanover County home Aug. 9 after spending 61 days riding a bicycle from  Oregon to  Virginia.
Haar averaged 70 miles per day, completed 3,911 miles, and spent 56 days actually on his bike. He had different riding companions...

The recent dry weather pattern has caused low water levels in the James River. In response to these low water levels, Hanover County and other localities in the metro Richmond area - Chesterfield, Goochland and Henrico counties and the City of Richmond - has announced the implementation...

One point that can't be argued is that the residents of Ashland love their trees. One tree that has been special to the town for a hundred years is a willow oak affectionately called the "Tricycle Tree."
Unfortunately it has seen better days and needs to be removed.
The...

The Richmond Metro Workcamp brings youths together to spend a week each summer repairing homes.
Now in its 16th year, the faith-based, nondenominational organization has been operating out of Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Mechanicsville.
The nonprofit group...

Ashland Town Council held its organizational meeting July 1. New Council members were sworn in, and the mayor and vice mayor for the next two years were chosen.
Terri Winston-Abri and Edward "Ned" Henson III began their first term, and Dr. George Spagna was sworn in for...

The Ashland Town Council adopted a resolution expressing its support of high-speed rail from Richmond to Washington, D.C.

The Mechanicsville Branch of Pamunkey Regional Library has completed its move into its new building at 7461 Sherwood Crossing Place.

The 16,200 square-foot library facility has been open to the public since...

Jennifer Scott brings a wide range of experience and a genuine love of Hanover County to the position of Executive Director of the Hanover Association of Business and Chamber of Commerce.
She replaces Real Estate Broker Cameron Wood, who helped build the organization and...

Donnie West, Assistant Chief of the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department, was recently named by Wachovia Securities as a "Second-Half Champion."
The awards honor the achievements of inspiring citizens who have made significant contributions to society or achieved ambitious...

The August death of a Louisa County man has led to his cousin admitting to murder in the second degree.
Jerome Mallory, who lives in Hanover County, was indicted by a Louisa County grand jury in January on second degree murder charges after police said that he beat his 69-year-old...

Hanoverians will have a decision to make June 9. It's a Republican primary, but with no Democrats or Independents known to be running, the winner could wind up as the sole candidate on the November ballot.
The 55th district House of Delegates seat is up for grabs. Long-time...

Assistant County Administrator Marilyn Blake presented an update of the Human Services Strategic Plan to the Board of Supervisors at its March 25 meeting.
The five-year plan, established May 2007, defines human services as that which "addresses individuals and community...

Hanover Sheriff's Office units were dispatched to Pole Green Road for a two-vehicle head-on collision Oct. 27, 2008, at 10:37 p.m.
The investigation revealed that a vehicle was traveling east on Pole Green Road. The vehicle went off the right edge of the paved surface in...

Hanover County Administrator Rhu Harris presented to the Board of Supervisors an update on the Board's Fiscal Year 2009 Initiatives, which were originally adopted May 14, 2008.
The following is excerpts from Harris's report delivered at the supervisors' most recent meeting,...

Mary Westbrook's car is all the rage.
The 59-year-old widow receives incessant letters, and calls on her cell and home phones.
The solicitors won't disclose their name, or their company's name, nor provide her with anything in writing.
Yet they're insistent that...

Ashland Planning Director Nora Amos has stepped up to the plate and addressed any concerns the Planning Commission had with the direction of the Comprehensive Plan Update.
At the January meeting, Amos presented her vision of the community meetings and what information would...

The School Board heard a presentation of the proposed 2009-2019 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Hanover County Public Schools.
Paul Carper, director of construction and planning for the school district, explained the proposal at the Board's Dec. 9 meeting. The School...

The possibility of a new regional authority that would have the power to raise taxes to meet the Richmond Metropolitan area's  long-term transportation needs dominated discussion at Tuesday night's meeting of the Ashland Town Council.
Businessman Hank Lowry addressed...

The Hanover County Sheriff's Office offers some peace of mind for caregivers of children or seniors with certain cognitive disabilities.
This peace of mind comes in the form of Project Lifesaver, a program that utilizes tracking technology to locate people who have wandered.
Project...

The Hanover Health Department and Parks and Recreation Department have been working together this summer to help residents stay safe in the sun.
Virginia contains 35 public health districts. Charles City, Hanover, Goochland, and New Kent counties comprise the Chickahominy...

The Ashland Planning Commission met earlier this month. The majority of the meeting was the continuation of the Comprehensive Plan Update including a draft scope and schedule from Renaissance Planning Group and a draft review economic and demographic analysis from Urban Partners....

After a seven-hour trial and four and a half hours of deliberation by a jury, 29-year-old Timothy Hargett of Henrico County was found guilty of rape. Hargett was accused by 25-year-old Megan Toomey of Mechanicsville of two counts of rape, two counts of sodomy and abduction....

It's the Fourth of July weekend and, besides cookouts, people are thinking about politics and history.
The date not only marks the birth of our nation but also the deaths of two of our most prolific founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
Both the Hanover...

The results are in for Hanover County's citizen survey, which was administered by the National Research Center.
Assistant County Administrator Marilyn Blake reviewed the results with the Board of Supervisors at its May 13 meeting. She explained, "National Research Center's...

Noise at football games at issue

After nearly two hours worth of discussion, the Hanover Planning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval of an amendment to Hanover High School’s Conditional Use Permit (CUP).

A young Naval officer from western Hanover County was in the thick of things during the recent rescue of the MV Maersk Alabama's Capt. Richard Phillips from Somali pirates off the coast of East Africa.
Ensign Dennis Harbin III grew up in Farrington and graduated from Patrick...

The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the proposed $394.3 million Fiscal Year 2010 budget April 1, and 20 residents expressed their views.
Half of the speakers commented on the School Board's portion of the budget, urging its adoption. A few nonprofits were represented...

Hanover Sheriff Col. V. Stuart Cook presented his department's proposed $20.83 million Fiscal Year 2010 budget to the Board of Supervisors at its March 25 meeting.
The budget is down 1 percent from the current year's $21.04 million budget.  The Sheriff's Office is 82.8...

County added 99 businesses, 342 jobs in 12-month period
The Hanover Department of Economic Development and its Economic Development Authority (EDA) held a hearing Monday night to receive public comments on the latest draft of...

The Board of Supervisors conducted a budget workshop during its March 11 meeting, hearing presentations on revenue projections, the County's five-year financial plan, the Department of Public Utilities, and Hanover Schools.
The total proposed Fiscal Year 2010 budget is $394.3...

Hanover County Parks and Recreation is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan.
Talking about new facilities and the upgrading of exiting ones may seem like a reach during the current economic climate, but it is long overdue. When the current...

The Ashland Planning Department continued to bring its message to the people with recent planning meetings that focused on the southern and western parts of town.
The Town has a comprehensive Plan that is required to be updated every 10 years, but based on adjacent growth...

The award-winning volunteer group Hanover's Helping Hands has come to Ashland's schools, and it's seeking business support.
Founded by Hanover resident Mary Gravely, Hanover's Helping Hands (HHH) started six years ago at South Anna Elementary School and is now in its third...

The conference room of the Holiday Inn Express on S. Carter Road had every seat filled Monday as residents and business owners listened to members of the Ashland Planning staff explain four scenarios for anticipated growth.
By the year 2035, there could be an additional...

Town Hall among those without phone service
Parts of Ashland-including Town Hall-remained without phone service as of Tuesday night's Town Council meeting.
Ashland Police Chief Doug Goodman, having been in contact with Verizon...

Maggie Abbott, Scotty Branch and Nora Foley stopped by the Ashland Kennels to share seasons greetings with Stanley and his friends, who will spend their holidays at the Humane Society Kennels 12190 Washington Highway in Ashland.
Since 2006, The Humane Society has operated...

Ashland Town Council approved three new ordinances at its meeting Tuesday night. Two of them dealt with enforcement issues for the Ashland Police Department and the third was to clean up the wording of the Economic Development Authority.
Ordinance 2008-09 clarifies the noise...

Tedd Povar of The Virginia Institute of Government, part of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia, and Mohamed Coulibaly of The Institute for Global Training (IGT), brought a delegation from the African country of Mali to Ashland to see small...

The Civil War Courier has announced that U.S. Vice President Richard B. Cheney will be the guest of honor at the 145th Battle of Chickamauga opening ceremony Sept. 19. The vice president's office confirmed he will be attending.
The re-enactment will be held about 30 miles...

Growing up as the son of a well-known newspaper cartoonist was an unusual experience, although he didn't really appreciate his father's talent until later, said Mechanicsville resident Michael Reardon.
His father, Francis Xavier "Foxo" Reardon started cartooning in the 1920s...

Shane Adcock was killed in action in 2006
The Hanover Board of Supervisors voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution to petition the Commonwealth Transportation Board to name a bridge in memory of Capt. Shane T. Adcock, an Atlee High School and Longwood...

In response to low water levels in the James River caused by the drought, the Hanover County Department of Public Utilities is notifying customers that the previously implemented voluntary water conservation measures has become mandatory.
"It is important for all of us to...

With the 100-degree weather we have been having lately, Christmas is the last thing on most people's minds.This could be good or bad, especially if you wish to experience the annual Santa Train sponsored each year by Ashland's Train Town Toy and Hobby store.
Tickets went...

Hanover Habitat for Humanity dedicated its newest house on Chapman Street in Ashland last weekend.
"As you know, the neighborhood was opposed to the building of the house because they thought it was going to 'look like a Habitat House,'" said Tim Bowring, Executive Director...

July 2

Legion Baseball
Pos 206 at Post 175 at Atlee High School, 7 p.m.

July 4

June 25

Legion Baseball
Patrick Henry Post 206 at Highland Springs Post 144, 7 p.m.
Atlee Post 175 at Freeman Post 125, 7 p.m.

The Ashland Barracudas won their first swim meet of the season over Pebble Creek, 1319 – 995.

Quadruple winners for Ashland included: Joseph Boyle, Morgaine Goettl-Meyer, Libby Klinger, Will Mallory, Bennett...

May 29

Baseball
Central Region championship game at RF&P Park, 7 p.m.
Softball
Central Region championship game at Hanover High School, 7 p.m.
Girls'...

May 22

Track
Central Region Championship Meet at Sports Backers, 3 p.m.

May 23

May 18

Baseball

Colonial District Tournament at higher seeds, 7 p.m.

Although officials at Richmond International Raceway stared at empty seats last Friday and Saturday night, all 5,500 seats were filled at Southside Speedway Thursday.

The throng was there for...

May 8

Baseball
Deep Run at Patrick Henry, 6 p.m.
Hanover at Varina, 7 p.m.
J.R. Tucker at Lee-Davis, 6 p.m.

Softball
Deep...

May 1

Baseball
Patrick Henry at John Marshall, 5 p.m.
Varina at Atlee, 7 p.m.
Hanover at Lee-Davis, 7 p.m.
Softball
Patrick Henry at John Marshall,...

April 24

Baseball
R-MC at ODAC Tournament at Lynchburg, 7 p.m.
Hermitage at Patrick Henry, 6 p.m.
Atlee at Lee-Davis, 7 p.m.
Hanover...

April 17

Baseball
Varina at Patrick Henry, 6 p.m.
Henrico at Atlee, 7 p.m.
Highland Springs at Hanover, 7 p.m.
Softball
Patrick Henry at Varina,...

April 10
Baseball
W&L at R-MC, DH, 1 p.m.
Men's Lacrosse
R-MC at W&L, 1 p.m.
Women's Lacrosse
R-MC at W&L, 4 p.m.
Football/Cheerleading
Ashland...

April 3

Baseball
R-MC at Ferrum, 5 p.m.
Cosby at Lee-Davis, 6 p.m.

Women's Tennis
Hollins at R-MC,...

March 27

Baseball
Douglas Freeman at Patrick Henry, 6 p.m.
Softball
Douglas Freeman at Patrick Henry, 6 p.m.
Golf
R-MC at...

March 20

Baseball
Hanover at Patrick Henry, 6 p.m.
Atlee at Hermitage, 7 p.m.
Lee-Davis at Clover Hill, 4 p.m.

Softball
Hanover...

March 13

Baseball
Patrick Henry at MWGS, 4:30 p.m.
Softball
Patrick Henry at MWGS, 4:30 p.m.
Boy's Soccer
Atlee at Patrick Henry,...

March 6

Basketball
Central Region Girl's champion at Siegel Center against Northern Region runnerup, 7 p.m.

Softball
R-MC...

February 27

Men's Basketball
ODAC Tournament at Salem Civic Center
R-MC vs Virginia Wesleyan, 6 p.m.

Girls Basketball
Central...

February 20

Boy's Basketball
Capital District Championship at Hanover High School, 8 p.m.
Colonial District Championship at Patrick Henry, 8:30 p.m.

Atlee sophomore leads Raiders into run for a state title
Atlee's Cameron Overstreet is halfway home in her quest to become one of the dominant gymnasts in the Central Region. In a story about Overstreet published in the Dec....

February 13

Boy's Basketball
J.R Tucker at Patrick Henry, 7:30 p.m.
Atlee at Armstrong, 5 p.m.
Highland Springs at Lee-Davis, 7:30 p.m.

February 6

Boy's Basketball
Patrick Henry at Hermitage, 7:30 p.m.
Lee-Davis at Atlee, 7:30 p.m.
Highland Springs at Hanover, 7:30 p.m.

January 30

Boy's Baasketball
Atlee at Hanover, 7:30 p.m.
Lee-Davis at Armstrong, 5 p.m.

Girl's Basketball
Atlee...

January 23

Boy's Basketball
Mills Godwin at Patrick Henry, 7:30 p.m.
Atlee at Varina, 7:30 p.m.
Lee-Davisw at Hanover, 7:30 p.m.

January 16

Boy's Basketball
Douglas Freeman at Patrick Henry, 7:30 p.m.
Atmstrong at Atlee, 7:30 p.m.
Lee-Davis at Highland Springs,7:30 p.m.

January 9

Boy's basketball
Patrick Henry at Thomas Jefferson, 4:45 p.m.
Atlee at Lee-Davis, 7:30 p.m.
Hanover at Highland Springs, 7:30 p.m.

January 3

Swimming
Patrick Henry vs Atlee at Burkwood Pool, 1:30 p.m.

Wrestling
Hawk Duels at Hanoveer,...

December 26

Boy's Basketball
Lee-Davis at Henrico Holiday Hoops Tournament, 2:30 p.m.

December 27

December 19

Boy's Basketball
MWGS at Patrick Henry 7 p.m.
John Marshall at Hanover, 8 p.m.

With over 2,400 young cross country runners coming to Hanover County's Pole Green Park for the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships on Saturday, hopes are high for regional runners to claim the title of "Cross Country All American."
"This is a great...

December 12

Boy's Basketball
Patrick Henry at J.R. Tucker, 7:30 p.m.
Hanover at Lee-Davis, 7:30 p.m.
Varina at Atlee, 7:30 p.m.

December 5

Boy's Basketball
Deep Run at Patrick Henry, 7:30 p.m.
Hanover at ASCS Tournament at Atlantic Shores, TBA

Girl's...

No. 1 ranked Mount Union College rolled up a season-high 420 yards rushing and 676 yards of total offense in a 56-0 shutout of Randolph-Macon College in an NCAA First Round Playoff game Saturday in Alliance, Ohio.
The Yellow Jackets finish their season a with a 6-5 record,...