Wednesday, March 31, 2021 The Country Courier p a g e 1 Prst STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 2 Country Courier Aylett, VA 23009 Volume 32 Issue 15 Serving the King William and King and Queen Communities since 1989 Wednesday, March 31, 2021 International Diggin’ King William County’s Past Superstar Earl Hebner CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Earl Hebner Ned Rose with the Fairfield Foundation displays artifacts unearthed at the courthouse. In the picture on the right are pieces of delftware pottery By Lynne Uzel (plate) and the bottom of a wine bottle. King William has its own International By Gene Campbell, Pictures courtesy of Dave Brown Superstar, Earl Hebner. He is an Whenever I have a chance to tell people about King William County, I always tell them the county courthouse is the oldest courthouse in American professional wrestling referee continuous use in the United States. The courthouse was built in 1725 and was the center of activity in the county. Please see DIGGIN’, on page 12. who worked for NWA, WWE, and TNA, and he is currently signed with AEW. Food Trucks Come to King William Recently, he returned to town from a photo signing event in New Jersey. He Story by Florence Cooke has traveled the world pursuing his love Picture by Ellen Otey of wrestling, including places such as When the pandemic spread over the world in March 2020, everything closed down, lives changed and Australia, South Korea, Europe, Japan, people looked for new ways of life. People have tried to and Kuwait. spend their money at their local businesses. After Earl’s love of wrestling began as a people got tired of their home cooking and local child in Richmond, Va. He said, “I loved restaurants, they looked for something different. Food to watch wrestling on Channel 6 on trucks started going around to local areas since people Saturdays. After working with were advised to stay home. One food vendor set up one concessions at the fairgrounds at age 15, evening in Cedar Crest Subdivision and the community I started putting up rings and meeting enjoyed it. The consensus was that it was a good idea wrestlers, and I fell in love with and people wanted it to continue so Rebecca McQuinn agreed to lineup a variety of food trucks to come to the wrestling.” Earl became a carpenter by subdivision. Rebecca stated, “I noticed we started trade, but when he was about 25, he meeting neighbors that we have never meet and talked bought a school bus to haul wrestling with before, I notice that as 3 or 4 families were waiting rings around and sold wrestling for their orders the kids were playing on the playground merchandise. He said, “Once I was together making new friends and with all of the hate asked to referee, I found out it was easier and negativity going around right now that was such a to count to 3 than to do carpentry!” So, small but amazing sight to see. he became a full-time referee. Please see FOOD TRUCKS, continued on page 4. Please see EARL, continued on page 7. Hibachi Mobil food truck visits Kennington subdivision countrycouriernews.com P a g e 2 The Country Courier Wednesday, March 31, 2021 King William BOS March Regular Meeting By Amanda Walker standing to be issued a business license. This Publisher’s Message The Board of Supervisors held their regular would serve as a tax-collecting tool for the meeting on Monday, March 22nd. The meeting Treasurer. Another ordinance would waive the kicked off with three residents speaking in the Vehicle License Fee for one motor vehicle public comment period. Owner of Dreaming registered to veterans with a service-connected Tree Farms, Chris Couch commented on dis- disability. The Virginia Constitution was cussions he has been in with the county over amended this year to exempt one vehicle from whether his business should pay the county property taxes for these veterans. Updating the meals tax. To date, the county has spent over ordinance would eliminate them from receiv- $40,000 in legal fees around these discussions. ing a county tax bill for one vehicle registered Residents Benjamin Shumaker and Amanda to them. Walker spoke in opposition to paving the Fire Chief of Fire Stacy Reaves delivered an update and EMS station 1 driveway. Both residents on King William Fire & Emergency Services. feel the cost has not been adequately justified. For the first time, all staff have gone through Commissioner of Revenue, Karena Funk- NFPA physicals and have met all physical houser submitted several resolutions to the requirements. The department has applied for board for refunds of taxes totaling $5,707.88. the SAFER grant to help fund staffing. The Three requests were for residents that have grant would cover compensation and a large qualified for the Disabled Veterans Real Estate portion of benefits for any employee taken on Tax Exemption under VA Code 58.1-3219.5. through the grant for 3 years. They have also Next Sunday is Easter. There will be Easter egg hunts for excited children as By code, these requests must be abated to the applied for an AFG grant. Reaves stated that if friends and families gather together to celebrate this special day. We should not date the person qualified regardless of their awarded this grant would be used to take two forget Easter is a holiday that celebrates the resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ. application date. In relation to the requests, older vehicles that are in disrepair and build Funkhouser submitted a resolution to the board out an apparatus that would combine brush After his crucifixion, death, and burial, three days later he arose from the grave. In asking them to grant her authority to approve truck and first response capabilities. The vehi- doing this he redeemed us from all sin if we believe in him. I hope you will have a any refunds up to $1,000. This is normal proce- cle would have a pump large enough to assist wonderful and blessed Easter. dure in other localities and would avoid legal in providing water to house fires in remote fees in getting them approved. Currently, the locations. It would also be outfitted with a County Attorney’s office reviews all refunds. Stokes basket and ALS package that would The board is expected to vote on this resolution allow responders to remove patients from re- in their April meeting. If passed, all refunds mote locations as well. Award announcements would continue to be reported to the board for both grants will begin this Spring. Chief each month. Funkhouser also proposed several Jones is working with local businesses on a updates to county ordinances. In Business Sec- program that would provide smoke detectors to tion 18-34 she is requesting “meals tax” be residents in need. added to the list of taxes that must in good Please see BOS, continued on page 12. Don’t Miss Another Issue! If you are not receiving A 123 Year the Country Courier and you Tradition of Caring live outside the The Country Courier welcomes letters from our readers, which will be published community, you can with the writer’s signature and county of subscribe for an Annual residence. We accept calendar items at no Rate of $30.00 (includes charge for 50 words or less. The Country postage) and keep up with the latest Courier reserves the right to edit letters news from King William and King and calendar items and print when space is available. and Queen counties. Serving King William and Send in check or money order King & Queen Counties today for only $30.00 a year! Since 1989 8014 Lee Davis Road, Mechanicsville ●746-8665 Name Bennett Funeral Home was established in 1897 to serve the needs of Country Courier ______________________________ Richmond families. Since then, this locally owned and operated business has P.O. Box 160 Address continued to serve the community with its unique combination of caring and St. Stephens Church, VA 23148 ______________________________ convenience. 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