I take this opportunity to once again remind readers that all persons charged with any crime are innocent until proven guilty. Also remember that a grand jury can indict a ham sandwich, and you can accuse people and institutions of horrible actions and negligence — without evidence — in civil suits. And you can swearout a warrant against someone just by showing-up at the Sheriff’s Office or Police Station and speaking to a magistrate.
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With that said, the $143.7 million lawsuit filed by shooting victim Heather Burrow in Lunenburg County is among the most compelling, heartbreaking, and best-written filings I’ve read in 36 years here at the paper. I apologize for quoting someone as saying she will fully recover. What does “fully recover” truly mean? Even if physical wounds heal, trauma never goes away. Reading about her wounds and what’s she’s gone through — and still will have to go through — was gutwrenching. I again extend an invitation to all persons involved in that tragedy to speak out if they wish. We would welcome a formal statement, sit down video interview (unedited), or letter to the editor.
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Speaking of persuasive presentations, Dr. Marcia Martin and School Finance Heather Maier last week delivered the best budget overview I’ve witnessed. School funding can get kinda complicated, so let’s keep it simple: The state has a formula (Local Composite Index) that determines a county’s ability to pay for K-12 education. It’s based on land values, income of residents, and taxable retail sales. Based on that formula, Nottoway’s minimum Required Local Effort the next school budget is $4,817,167. The School Board isn’t seeking a penny more than that minimum. That may make Nottoway look “tight,” but there’s one more thing to consider.
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To be eligible for state funding for PreK, programs to help at-risk students, Reading and Algebra intervention, reduction of K-3 class sizes, and other special programs, the County may participate in a “local match.” In Nottoway’s case, there’s really no “choice.” For the first time in several years, all five of Nottoway’s schools are Fully Accredited — but that success is “fragile,” says Dr. Martin. If Nottoway puts up an additional $2.5 million in “local match”, the state will provide $6.5 million to keep those programs running. Failure to provide “local match” would mean the loss of those programs, 59 fewer school employees, and more crowded classes in grades K-3. Would you rather teach a classroom of 23 kindergarten students or 15?
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Supervisor Bo Toth asked a good question that will prob- ably be controversial, but it shouldn’t. Many toddlers are not being read-to at home. Many come to school on their first day not knowing how to make certain letter sounds or how to properly hold a pencil. That’s heartbreaking, and it’s not the school division’s fault. But the school division is tasked with giving that child all the tools available to overcome lack of support at home. Strong communities have strong public schools.
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Just because other states are gerrymandering (drawing crazy Congressional districts) for petty political purposes doesn’t mean Virginia should. VOTE NO in the April 21st referendum. If YES passes, most of Virginia’s Congressional delegation will have northern Virginia addresses. Until recent years, Virginia politics had been civil and reasonable. The fringes in both parties were small in number. Lawmakers generally ran the state cordially, efficiently, and without drama and partisan venom. How many state Democrats ran for election last go-around vowing to triple their salaries? Just wait, the “important” folks in Richmond next will find a way for the General Assembly to meet year-round. That will “justify” another pay raise, and then our Commonwealth will be overrun with full-time politicians. Two months a year is plenty. If they make us pay taxes on gains made in our investment portfolios, will they pay us back when our portfolios show a loss?
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Many in Lunenburg and beyond were saddened to learn of the death of Jay Hamlett. When this newspaper began publishing color photographs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Jay was a big help to us at Walmart. We’d drop-off several rolls of film, always in a hurry, and wait for the onehour prints. Then I’d ask Jay if he could enlarge, lighten,or darken certain photos. He went to great lengths to help us. He was kind, polite, and patient. I didn’t know it at the time, but Jay was a talented artist. I think that’s another reason he enjoyed making our prints look better. Jay Hamlett was a good Christian man. Our sympathy to his family.
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