Policy on the #NNK

Im mid-January, the State Corporation Commission announced that a new area code is coming to the Northern Neck and other areas. According to New 686 Area Code Is Coming to Virginia’s 804 Area Code Region , Customers requesting new service or additional phone lines in the 804 area code region could be assigned the new 686 area code as soon as February 1, 2024, but not until all available phone numbers in the 804 area code have run out. That is expected to happen during the third quarter of 2024. In November 2022, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved the implementation of the new 686 area code to be superimposed over the same geographic region covered by the existing 804 area code. This area includes the central portion of Virginia including Richmond, Ashland, Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico, New Kent and Petersburg, as well as the Northern Neck. The SCC expects numbers in the (686) area code to be used up in 32 years or so. Subscribe * indicates req...

On January 25, the Northumberland County supes took emergency action to contract with “Webb Boring & Well Inc. to install a new pipe crossing Cockrell Creek and to abandon the old sewer pipe.” (Source: January 26 update ) Watch the Northumberland Board of Supervisors - Special Called Meeting - 1/25/24 on YouTube. For details about the leak and aftermath not provided on this blog or on the county's website, read 230,000 gallons of sewage spills into Cockrell’s Creek on News on the Neck, publishers of Westmoreland News (FB) and Northumberland Echo (FB).

The Northumberland County administrator has issued an update on the the Cockrell Creek sewage leak in Reedville: ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** Date: 1/26/2024 Time: 1:00 p.m. By: Luttrell Tadlock, County Administrator SEWER PIPE UPDATE- COCKRELL CREEK Crofton Industries was able to remove and replace the damaged section of pipe late Tuesday evening January 23, 2024 to prevent any further sewage leaks into Cockrell Creek from this section of pipe. The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors took emergency procurement action on January 25, 2024, to enter into a contract with Webb Boring & Well Inc. to install a new pipe crossing Cockrell Creek and to abandon the old sewer pipe. All applicable permit applications are being filed with regulatory agencies. Northumberland County would again like to thank all those that assisted the County with this matter: Crofton Industries, Omega Protein, Smith Point Sea Rescue, Charles Williams, Chip Williams, Spencer Headley, W...

No fishing license is required for recreational rod and reel fishing on Virginia’s Free Fishing Days Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9 . According to the Department of Wildlife Resources , during Free Fishing Days, facilities use permits will also not be required. To increase angling opportunities, DWR has removed the restriction to fishing designated stocked trout waters for free fishing weekend. This will open over 2,900 miles of trout streams, in addition to numerous ponds, small lakes and reservoirs. Virginia’s diversified trout habitat offers a wide range of trout fishing prospects. All fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions will remain in effect.

If you have ideas about freshwater fishing, recreational boating, and nongame and endangered species regulations, now is the time to let the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) know. They have recently launched their biennial process for regulatory changes going into effect January 1, 2025. The first step, ending February 25, is the public issues scoping period . DWR wants to know which species and boating issues require a regulation change. In addition, the agency wants to know details. Over the next year, DWR will hear from the public and experts and look at the science and the environment to make their final decisions about regulations effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. Freshwater fishing details you will be asked to provide Regulation change desired Description of your specific recommendation change (Example: I would like to see a 10-inch minimum size on rock bass.) The primary concern or issue you want your recommendation to cor...

Housing has been identified as a need in Northumberland County by elected and appointed officials as well as the public. At the recent joint supes, Planning Commission, and Economic Development Commission meeting ( video of January 18, 2024 joint meeting ), housing ― affordable and workforce ― was mentioned as a priority for economic development. But what is it that is needed? Affordable housing? Workforce housing? What are these types of housing? The Brookings Institution has considered this question in Workforce housing and middle-income housing subsidies: A primer : The term “workforce housing” is most often used to indicate a program targeted at households that earn too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing subsidies. The largest rental subsidy program, housing vouchers funded by the U.S. Department of Urban Development (HUD), targets families making up to 50% of the median income for their metropolitan area (AMI). Households earning up to 80% of AMI are eligi...

The Cockrell Creek sewage leaks have triggered an emergency closure pursuant to the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP). According to the FDA’s NSSP web page , The National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) is the federal/state cooperative program recognized by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) for the sanitary control of shellfish produced and sold for human consumption. The purpose of the NSSP is to promote and improve the sanitation of shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels and scallops) moving in interstate commerce through federal/state cooperation and uniformity of State shellfish programs. Participants in the NSSP include agencies from shellfish producing and non-producing States, FDA, EPA, NOAA, and the shellfish industry. Under international agreements with FDA, foreign governments also participate in the NSSP. Other components of the NSSP include program guidelines, State growing area classificat...

The Northumberland County administrator has updated Cockrell Creek sewer pipe rupture information on the county's website: SEWER PIPE UPDATE- COCKRELL CREEK . The update was posted Monday, January 22 at 3:30 pm. Northumberland County Sanitary District noticed decreased flow to the Reedville Sewer Plant again on January 20, 2024. While working to identify the area of concern, Crofton Industries was put on standby and was ultimately dispatched to investigate the situation. Upon further inspection, it was determined that there was a second hole near the first hole that was repaired on January 18, 2024. The second hole was patched on January 20, 2024. It is planned for Crofton Industries to be back on site this week to replace this section of pipe. Regulatory agencies continue to be updated on this matter. In addition to the description of the current situation, the county shared Notice Of Establishment And Description Of Shellfish Area Emergency Condemnation - Number 012-0...

Academic journals that give journalists free access is a must-read and -bookmark for journalists. Denise-Marie Ordway of The Journalist’s Resource writes, When we surveyed our audience in 2021 to ask why journalists don’t use academic research more often, 60% of journalists who responded cited academic journal paywalls as a barrier. Some journalists might not realize that several of the world’s largest journal publishers will give them free online access to thousands of journals and other research-related resources. They simply have to ask, or complete a short form to register for a special account. H/t Annie Singer (FB).

Brenden Rivenbark, Chief Operating Officer of Three Rivers Health District, says, The Three Rivers Health District is excited to announce the launch of the new Community Health portal on our website. This new page contains the Health District’s new Community Health Assessment and Community Health Dashboard in addition to a survey that will allow the community to provide ongoing insight into and recommendations for opportunities to improve the health of our population. These tools are intended to support community planning discussions and serve as a catalyst for the development of new programs across the Health District. How Healthy Is My Community presents data in two ways: 2023 Executive Community Health Assessment & Improvement Plan and the Community Health Dashboard. Three Rivers also links to two additional data sources, VDH’s Community Health Improvement Data Portal and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s County Health Rankings. The Community Health Improvement Surv...

The Virginia Cooperative Extension - Northumberland County has announced on Facebook two Generation NEXT Land Transition program sessions on March 1 . The session in Warsaw is 9:00 am - Noon and the Saluda session is 6:00 - 9:00 pm . The fee is $25/family. Register online . At the sessions, landowners will learn about estate planning and its role in passing land and other assets from one generation to the next. Workshop leaders will provide free legal guidance and landowner success estate planning stories. Speakers include legal and financial experts experienced in estate planning as well as natural resource professionals and landowners. The value of estate planning and family engagement regarding farmland and forests Virginia Cooperative Extension explains the value of thinking about and taking concrete actions to plan for the future in Legacy Planning for Forest Landowners . VCE makes the case for planning, writing: Forests and farmland are valued for many reasons such...

Lancaster County Planning Commission Public Hearing, January 18, 7:00 pm : The commission will consider amendments to the noise ordinance. The amendment frames excessive noise as a threat to health: “Noise disturbance means any sound which by its character, intensity and duration: endangers or injures the health and safety of persons within the county.” Meeting access deets and the proposed amendments (PDF). Board of Supervisors regular meeting dates : January 25 February 29 March 28 April 25 May 30 June 27 July 25 August 29 September 26 October 31 November 21 December 12 County parks and boat launches : The list and pics have been updated. Thomas Landing Boat Ramp and Courtesy Dock, now completed, shown below. Northumberland County Special Called Board of Supervisors Meeting with the county's Economic Development Commission and Planning Commission, January 18 . Agenda (select Janu...

On January 16, Northumberland County’s administrator announced a sewer pipe rupture impacting Cockrell Creek and surrounding areas. The notice (January 16, 4:00 pm): SEWER PIPE RUPTURE- COCKRELL CREEK Northumberland County Sanitary District noticed reduced sewer inflow rates to the Reedville Sewer plant. On January 15, 2024, the Sanitary District discovered a rupture in the force main wastewater line running under Cockrell Creek. As soon as the rupture site was identified, staff contracted to have this matter fixed as soon as possible. While the pipe is being worked on, wastewater is being removed at the pump stations by vac trucks before reaching the damaged section of the pipe to prevent any further release of wastewater into Cockrell Creek. All regulatory agencies have been contacted and we will continue working with them regarding this matter. Date: 1/16/2024 Time: 4:00p.m. Stay tuned to that website page for updates.

In case you missed it, Northumberland County has two new supes, A.C. Fisher, Jr. and Chip Williams, IV. Here’s the contact info for all: James W. Brann (District 1) : Vice-Chairman, (804) 238-2168 , jwbrann@co.northumberland.va.us Richard F. Haynie (District 2) : Chairman, (804) 580-6821 , rfhaynie@co.northumberland.va.us James M. Long (District 3) : Supervisor, (804) 580-2477 , jmlong@co.northumberland.va.us A.C. Fisher, Jr. (District 4) : Supervisor, (804) 724-0585 (cell), acfisher@co.northumberland.va.us Charles H. “Chip” Williams, IV (District 5) : Supervisor, (804) 436-6853 , chwilliams@co.northumberland.va.us The mailing address for the supes is P.O. Box 129, Heathsville, VA 22473. Want to share the info? This link has the supervisors’ info in a table .

(Crowdsourced) Outreach on the NNK is, as the name suggests, a list of physical and virtual locations at which to share information about events, organizational news, advocacy opportunities, and more. Perhaps the most important thing to know about the list is that it is crowdsourced, meaning that members of the community can make changes. More importantly, they are encouraged to make changes . Several things to note about these lists (full disclosure: I created the file): You can download the file and make it your own by deleting items not relevant, adding details, etc. The phsyical locations sheet needs some work. Bank names, in particular, have changed and details such as the types of businesses that may post flyers is needed. The POAs sheet needs a lot of work. If you live in a planned community, please add that info! The organizations sheet is a holding place for organization types which should be added to one of the other sheets. For example...

Virginia Conservation Network ’s Bill Tracker is a goldmine for environmentally-inclined individuals and organizations. Key elements of the tracker, which identifies legislation important to the collective, are twice-daily updates (gotta love technology), links to the bill summary and full bill language, VCN’s position, and and explanation of VCN’s position with contact information of the position’s authors. Of the legislation in the tracker, these are particularly important to the Northern Neck: HB538 Virginia Student Environmental Literacy Plan Grant Fund and Program; established : “Virginia Student Environmental Literacy Plan Grant Fund and Program established. Requires the Office of Environmental Education within the Department of Conservation and Recreation (the Department), in conjunction with the Department of Education and any other stakeholder that it deems appropriate, to implement the Virginia Student Environmental Literacy Plan Grant Program and Fund for school dis...

NNK 250 ’s first programmatic foray into celebrating the big 2-5-0 starts in February with the Signature Speaker Series. The theme is “The Power of Place” and the five speakers will tackle the theme from a variety of perspectives including the indigenous population, migration, and labor. Event deets: February 11 : Dr. Barbara Heath, Conflict, Migration, and Early Settlement of the Northern Neck (University of Mary Washington, Dahlgren Campus, 4224 University Drive, King George, VA) March 10 , Dr. Steven Harris-Scott, A Place Apart–Bound Labor in Virginia’s Upper Northern Neck, 1645-1710 (Historic Christ Church, 420 Christ Church Road, Weems, VA) April 14 , Dr. Julia King, Finding Leedstown–What Archaeology Reveals about this Remarkable Place (Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern 73 Monument Place, Heathsville, VA) May 5 , Chief Anne Richardson, Indigenous Perspectives on the Northern Neck and Power of Place (The Lodge at Cat Point Creek, 2570 Newland Road, Warsaw...

The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors set the enactment date of January 1, 2024 for a number of pieces of legislation. Fist, the supes created a registration requirement for short-term rentals . Associated with that is a bed tax . Second is Article XIII, the cigarette tax . The supes created an exise tax; it’s $0.40 for a pack of 20 cigarettes and “$0.02 for each cigarette contained in packages of fewer or more than 20 cigarettes sold or used within the County.” To date, approximately 100 STR registrations have been submitted to the zoning office.

Tune in Monday, January 8 at 6:30 pm for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) event 2024 General Assembly Action Edition to learn ways to become “a more effective advocate for climate policies during the upcoming state legislative session.” (Source: Nature Forward, formerly the Audubon Naturalist Society, est. 1897) Nature Forward explains why this event is so important: As a Virginia resident, your voice can be a powerful influence when speaking with your elected officials. RIGHT NOW is the time to contact your delegates and senators as they prepare to officially kick off the 2024 General Assembly. From January 10 – March 9, legislators will be making new laws that will affect each of us, for better or worse, for years to come. What are the big issues in Virginia in 2024? Think data. is Nature Forward’s take on the 2024 GA session.

Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office is hiring a School Resource Officer/Patrol Deputy. Learn more and apply .

Northern Neck Networking ’s next event is the NNN Meetup at The Dahlgren Heritage Museum Wednesday, January 17 at 6:00 pm. Business owners and the general public are invited to attend. Northern Neck Networking is free to join and provides numerous opportunities for business owners to network and promote themselves.

In mid-December, the IRS announced mileage rates for 2024; read IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2024; mileage rate increases to 67 cents a mile, up 1.5 cents from 2023 for all the deets. Starting the first of January, the standard mileage rate for business use is 67¢/mile and 21¢/mile for service to nonprofit organizations. The rate for “medical or moving purposes for qualified active-duty members of the Armed Forces” is 14¢/mile. The rates apply to several vehicle types: automobiles, vans, pickup trucks, and panel trucks. The rates also to apply to EV, hybrid, and traditionally powered vehicles.

Wild Virginia ’s free webinar Protecting Waters & Wildlife from PFAS Pollution in Virginia takes place Tuesday, January 16 at 7:00 pm. Registration is required. According to the invitation, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are toxic chemicals that pose significant risks to human health and the environment. Join Wild Virginia for this educational webinar about PFAS pollution in Virginia. Learn about what Wild Virginia is doing to protect our waters and wildlife from further contamination, as well as how you can advocate to stop PFAS pollution during the upcoming legislative session. Image by Wild Virginia.