GLOUCESTERMATHEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 VOL. LXXXIII, no. 46 NEW SERIES (USPS 220-560) GLOUCESTER, VA. 23061 | MATHEWS, VA. 23109 two sections 28 pages 75 CENTS COVID-19 Supervisor’s comments numbers called into question BY TYLER BASS week in reference to a ques- rise, yet at tion that was asked from one Comments that Gloucester of our board members in ref- supervisor Mike Winebarger erence to African American made during the Oct. 20 joint history,” said Smith. “They slower rate meeting of the Gloucester heard that it was going to BY SHERRY HAMILTON County Board of Supervisors be taught at Gloucester High and School Board were called School and that it was going In the midst of a nationwide into question last Wednesday, to be a requirement for gradu- surge of the coronavirus pan- during the supervisors’ Nov. ation. I found that to be very demic, the number of cases in 4 meeting. offensive to me as the only Af- Virginia is also accelerating, Fellow board member Kevin rican American board mem- but at a slower rate, accord- Smith and several concerned ber sitting here.” ing to Dr. Richard Williams, Gloucester residents voiced Smith was then interrupted director of the Three Rivers their opinions regarding a by Bazzani, who attempted to Health District. question that Winebarger prevent disparagement of any The U.S. as a whole recorded had asked Gloucester County of the board members on the a seven-day moving average School Superintendent Dr. stage, but Smith continued of over 119,000 cases—an all- Walter Clemons. despite the chair’s wishes. time high, said Dr. Williams in “Dr. Clemons, I’m glad “It was not something that I a press release, and the num- SHERRY HAMILTON / GAZETTE-JOURNAL you’re here,” said Winebarger thought was a proper thing to ber of people hospitalized Keith Faulkner of Mathews found out rst-hand that the COVID-19 virus is real, can be debilitating, and is nothing to on Oct 20. “I’ve gotten multi- do at that time,” said Smith. with the virus has doubled na- mess around with. ple phone calls from parents “It was wrong, it should never tionally since mid-September. saying that they’ve heard, have been done.” As of Monday, the seven- and I want you to either tell Bazzani brought up the day moving average of cases me yes or no or maybe so, fact that Gov. Ralph Northam in Virginia was up to 1,437, that Gloucester is going to signed legislation in July that but the positivity rate, at 6.1 ‘It’s a big deal’ start requiring a class in Black would require schools to percent, remained below the History in order to graduate? teach African American histo- state’s previously-announced That they are going to start ry as a separate class. “And a target range of under 10 per- COVID-19 survivor recounts battle with virus teaching history based on member of the board cannot cent. 1619 rather than 1609. Tell me question the Governor’s mo- Statewide, according to the BY SHERRY HAMILTON ness in downtown Mathews preparing to get hay up for it isn’t so.” tives behind that,” he asked. Virginia Department of Health last Thursday. “By three or his horses, when he started Clemons responded to “That question could have website, 196,506 people had ust off a three-week four o’clock, my body’s wore to feel chilled. Winebarger at that meeting been asked by anyone.” been diagnosed with COV- battle with COVID- right down. By 8 o’clock, I’m “I got in the truck and by explaining that there is an Smith continued to voice ID-19 as of Wednesday morn- in the recliner, ready to go to cranked the heat wide elective course on Black His- his disapproval by stating, “I ing, with 10,670 cases occur- J19, Keith Faulkner of bed. You just feel so weak.” open,” he said. “I was froze tory that is being implement- am saying this: it was offen- ring since last Wednesday. A Mathews wants people Faulkner said he fi rst start- to death.” ed in other Virginia school sive and downright racist to total of 13,273 people have to know that the virus is ed experiencing symptoms When he got home, his wife divisions. He also said that me.” been hospitalized with the vi- real, can be debilitating, on Sunday, Oct. 4, subse- Mary Anne, a retired nurse, it would be in every division “This discussion is over rus, 476 during the past week, and is nothing to mess quent to a gathering of fam- told him he had a fever. next year as an elective. sir,” said Bazzani, “it was not and 3,741 people have died, ily and friends, but that he “I could not get warm,” At the Nov. 4 meeting, Smith [racist], it was just a question 64 between last Wednesday around with. could have contracted the said Faulkner. “I thought it let his opinions be known af- that was asked.” and this Wednesday. “The doctor said it’ll be virus from any number of might’ve been the fl u, and ter being given the fl oor by “I believe the county, the The Three Rivers District, two or three months before people, since “I’m in peo- I’d feel better by Tuesday or board chair Phillip Bazzani. school system and everybody I get myself back in shape,” ple’s homes all the time.” He “I’ve been getting a lot of SEE COVID19 UPDATE, PAGE 5A said Faulkner at his busi- was out driving his tractor, SEE FIGHTING THE VIRUS, PAGE 5A phone calls this week and last SEE GLOUCESTER BOARD, PAGE 10A Choices for school name narrowed to two BY CHARLIE KOENIG Watermen Elementary and Bay Haven Elementary. Those are the two names currently under consideration for Mathews County’s elemen- tary school, which had been called Lee-Jackson Elemen- tary prior to Aug. 18, when the Mathews County School Board voted by a 4-0-1 margin SHERRY HAMILTON / GAZETTE-JOURNAL to remove that name. TYLER BASS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL Pagie Cosby, seated, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday, Nov. 7, along with her daughters Florene Cosby White, Following that action, a Brynn, 9, and Kara Fridinger, 5, of Gloucester, are fundraising for Wreaths Across left, and Dorothy C. Cooke. Over 100 family members and friends gathered in the parking lot of Bethel Baptist Church at School Name Advisory Com- America to have Christmas wreaths placed on the graves of veterans at York- mittee consisting of school Sassafras for the celebration. board member Desmond town National Cemetery on Dec. 19. Each wreath costs $15. Smith, superintendent of schools Nancy Welch, county supervisor Melissa Mason Celebrating a century of birthdays and Leslie Willis, Rebecca Raising money for Brown, Charlene Winter, Katie BY SHERRY HAMILTON masked, socially-distanced Salaam, shared facts about Howlett, William Earl Sadler, ceremony in the parking lot what the world was like in Amy Hudgins, Brenton Payne Wreaths Across America Pagie Florene Dedmon of Bethel Baptist Church at 1920, the year Cosby was and Bethanie Rose was em- Cosby of Gloucester, beloved Sassafras. born. It was the end of a two- paneled to consider a new BY TYLER BASS placed on the graves of vet- church mother at Zion Hill During the brief ceremony, year bout with a Spanish fl u name. erans. Baptist Church of Gloucester, which was led by Cosby’s pandemic in the country, Also, a community survey Sisters Brynn and Kara Brynn, age 9, and Kara, 5, turned 100 on Saturday, and grandsons Deacon Nathaniel said Dwane, and lots of busi- was conducted, both online Fridinger of Gloucester, are are fundraising with their was honored by over 100 R. Cooke Jr. and Elder James nesses were closed, while and through paper submis- raising money for Wreaths American Heritage Girls of family members, neighbors, E. White Jr., two other grand- Across America in order and friends in an outdoor, sons, Raynard and Dwane SEE 100TH BIRTHDAY, PAGE 16A SEE SCHOOL NAME, PAGE 5A to have Christmas wreaths SEE WREATHS, PAGE 16A INSIDE THIS WEEK TO REACH US: Phone: 804-693-3101 Gloucester. .2A Coming Events . .10A Variety . .5B Honoring Gloucester’s vets Mathews. .3A Schools. 11A Days Past . .6B The Gloucester Museum of History has opened a new exhibit honoring Fax: 804-693-7844 Gloucester Point. .4A Sports . .14A15A Business . .7B Gloucester County’s veterans. See story on page 2A. Neighbors . .5A Community News . .1B Public Record . .8B On the web Editorial . .6A Church News . 3B5B Classi eds . 9B12B www.gazettejournal.net *The Wells Fargo Home Projects credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank N.A., an Equal Housing Lender. Spe- cial terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit. 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