Isle Of Wight County, VA

After more than two decades in the making, Isle of Wight County’s portion of the Carrollton to Smithfield park-to-park trail is finally complete and open to the public. The $8.6 million, 10-foot-wide asphalt bicycle and pedestrian path now spans 3.1 miles down Nike Park and Battery Park roads. A town-funded segment will eventually extend the path down South Church Street and across the Cypress Creek Bridge in Smithfield to connect Nike Park with Windsor Castle Park.

The Hampton Roads Chamber recently held its annual Valor Awards to recognize first responders in the area for extraordinary acts of bravery, courage and resourcefulness. New this year was a Regional Valor Award, which was presented to Newport News Fire Department, along with Suffolk Fire and Rescue, Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue and Smithfield Fire and Rescue. On September 9, 2020, the four departments worked together in a mutual aid situation to save a citizen trapped by quickly rising floodwaters in Isle of Wight County. This multijurisdictional swift water rescue exemplified regional cooperation and teamwork and was recognized by the Hampton Roads Chamber for its “amazing display of regionalism.” The video below, produced by the Chamber as part of the recognition, showcases those involved in the rescue and the events of that day. For more information on the Hampton Roads Chamber Valor Awards, visit the Chamber’s website.

Riverside Health System’s proposed 50-bed, full-service hospital at Benn’s Grant could be transformational for Isle of Wight County. Beyond the obvious economic impact of several hundred new, good-paying jobs, a hospital is an essential amenity for a growing community like northern Isle of Wight, positioned close enough to the Peninsula and “South of the James” cities to attract new residents but a little too far from major health care facilities. If you’re in the back of an ambulance, do you really want to cross the James River Bridge or travel 30 minutes to Suffolk?

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, Va. — Alisha Gray cannot shake this feeling of despair. "She had just learned how to blow kisses," said Gray. "She would grab your cheeks and kiss you." After years of trying, Gray and her husband finally had their little girl, Amelia Skyy White. "She hadn't...

The 115th annual Smithfield High School Commencement Exercises sent the Class of 2021 into the next phase of life June 12 with reflections on little moments, big achievements, key skills acquired and unforgettable relationships. Due to inclement weather, the graduation was moved from its originally planned outdoor venue of Packer...

The Edwards Family Isle of Wight County Scholarship Committee recently announced that Shivam Hetal Patel is the recipient for 2021. Patel is the son of Minaj and Hetal Patel and is a graduate of Windsor High School and the Governor’s School for Science and Technology. He will attend the University of Virginia, where he plans to major in science and chemistry, focusing on a future career in medicine.

Riverside Health System has proposed to build a 50-bed hospital on nearly 30 acres it owns in the Benn’s Grant area of Isle of Wight County. It filed a letter of intent earlier this month to apply for a certificate of public need to build an acute care hospital in the area near U.S. Route 258 and VA Route 10, and will file a certificate of public need with the Virginia Department of Health by July.

The proposed 812-home Mallory Scott development is heading to Smithfield’s Town Council with a recommendation for approval from the town’s Planning Commission. The commissioners voted 6-1 June 8 in favor of granting the eight approvals Virginia Beach-based developer Napolitano Homes had requested. These include a rezoning request, amendments to the town’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance, three special use permits and two waivers from provisions of the zoning ordinance.

Virginia cities, counties and towns that wish to prevent retail marijuana stores from opening within their borders will have a six-month window next year to hold a voter referendum on the issue. Per changes to state law enacted earlier this year, it will become legal in Virginia July 1 for...

The June 10 Isle of Wight County School Board agenda has items for discussion of Dr. James Thornton’s evaluation, performance, amendment to contract and salary. At the Jan. 15, 2020, board meeting, Chair Jacqueline Carr and Vicky Hulick told everyone that in Dr. Thornton’s contract he would be getting a 2% raise if all employees received a 2% raise for the 2021-22 school year, which supposedly they are.

Isle of Wight County and its school division are considering saving a portion of the 1960s-era Hardy Elementary School. A new 107,945-square-foot Hardy modeled after Florence Bowser Elementary in Suffolk is set to break ground this month on land adjacent to the existing school. The old Hardy will remain open through December 2022, at which point the new school will be complete and the old one will be demolished, save for its 17,251-square-foot left wing.

Isle of Wight County’s plan to buy water from Smithfield to supply the planned replacement Hardy Elementary School just got costlier. Last fall, county officials had budgeted roughly $27 million for the replacement Hardy when borrowing upwards of $34 million to fund the new school and other capital needs. About a month after holding a public hearing on the new debt, county officials learned additional money would be needed to find a new water source for the new school.

Smithfield’s Town Council voted June 1 to move forward with the town-funded portion of Isle of Wight County’s park-to-park trail. The matter was included in the meeting’s consent agenda, which the Town Council voted unanimously to approve. When completed, the project will provide bicycle and pedestrian access between Carrollton’s Nike...

Concerning Isle of Wight County redistricting, it is likely we can form a majority-minority district with a six-district concept. The 2020 redistricting map for six districts should resemble the 2000 redistricting map except the Smithfield and Newport districts will be replaced by three districts; call them Smithfield, Newport and Jones Creek districts. Jones Creek will be made partly of the present Smithfield District and partly of the present Newport District. The 2020 Hardy District should look much like the 2000 Hardy District with small adjustments.

Hampton Roads cities are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Wakefield. A severe thunderstorm warning expired at 7 p.m. for Poquoson, Newport News and Isle of Wight County. Up to 1½ inches of rainfall is expected in the Peninsula cities...