The week’s top stories
-Spotsylvania schools Superintendent Clint Mitchell has faced criticism since coming to the county, even being called a Marxist who hates God and white males. But last week Mitchell, the first Black superintendent in the school division’s history, also received support from the Black community. Taft Coghill Jr. has the story in time for Black History Month.
-How do officials in the region decide whether they’ll close schools for snow? It takes some on-the-scene observation, and we give you a look behind the snowy curtain.
–The Spotsylvania School Board unanimously approved a budget for the next fiscal year. The $498.8 million spending plan now will be forwarded to the county’s Board of Supervisors, which has the final say, Coghill reports.
-Are (by-right) data centers in Fredericksburg’s future? It’s too early to tell, but the city’s Planning Commission recommended denial of four measures related to a Technology Overlay District, Joey writes.
-Fredericksburg’s City Council last week appointed Planning Commission Chairwoman Susanna Finn as the new Ward 3 councilor, replacing Tim Duffy, who resigned in December. The appointment procedure was controversial, though, with Mayor Kerry Devine acknowledging backlash to an “unfamiliar process,” LoMonaco reports.
What they’re saying
“While we may be African Americans, we are all in the service of Caroline County, whether it’s Black, white, Hispanic or Asian. We are here to represent the best interest of the Caroline County family.” –Caroline School Board member Michael Hubbard. The board is the only majority-minority governing body in the Fredericksburg area.
Go figures (Numbers that made the news)
–15, number of Rappahannock Area Adult support program participants who were to deliver Valentine’s Day flowers throughout Stafford and Spotsylvania counties and Fredericksburg last week. has the holiday story.
Pressing on (a look at stories in the week ahead)
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office has plans to address homelessness in the county, and we’ll have the story. This week marks a special time for us, too. The Free Press officially launched on Feb. 19, 2024. We’ve been proud to serve the community for one year and look forward to many more.
