Judgeship to be filled
There will hopefully soon be a new judge serving Suffolk, Franklin, Isle of Wight and Southampton counties. With Westbrook Parker retiring from his position on the 5th District Circuit Court, Virginia’s General Assembly recently approved filling the now empty judgeship and will be responsible for selecting a new judge. Rodham T. Delk Jr., who is currently the chief judge of the court, said that he was not aware of anyone who has shown interest in the position, which pays $163,000 per year. But William Barlow, who is a Democratic delegate in the General Assembly serving Smithfield and who sits on the Courts of Justice Committee, said that he knew of a handful of qualified people who might be interested in the job. Though he declined to name any of them at the moment. In order to qualify for being a circuit court judge, a candidate must be a lawyer who currently lives in the 5th district. The candidate must also be under 70 years old. After they are initially selected by the assembly, judges on the circuit court serve terms consisting of 8 years. The selection process is quite quick. One day after the assembly interviews a candidate, his or her election is put to a vote. At the moment, control of the legislature in Virginia is split between Republicans and Democrats, with the former controlling the House while the latter controls the Senate. According to Del. Barlow, this makes the process of selecting a judge a little more “challenging.” Still, Barlow insists that, when it comes to selecting to local judges, the legislature usually lets the local representatives choose someone. He added that he thinks that the current list of candidates he has for the position is “excellent,” and he feels very confident that the legislature will ultimately approve one of them. However, there have been times when the legislature has been unable to come to an agreement on a judge. Barlow says that, if by chance the General Assembly is unable to select a candidate for the 5th District opening, there is a process in place that allows the governor to appoint a judge on a interim basis. But the interim appointment is temporary, Barlow insists. He says that, if the governor makes such an appointment, the General Assembly reviews this appointment during the assembly’s next session. At this time, the assembly has two choices: either they can accept the governor’s appointment, which would mean that the interim appointment becomes permanent, or they can decide to replace the interim appointment with a judge of their own choosing. Barlow says that sometimes filing one judgeship requires that they must fill another, which means that they must fill multiple appointments. He says that this typically happens when the General Assembly fills an opening for a circuit judge by selecting someone who is currently a district judge. In such cases, the assembly then must select someone to fill the district judgeship that has become open because of such an appointment. Westbrook Parker served on the 5th District Circuit Court for 25 years before retiring. His retirement has left a big hole on the court, according to Rick Francis, who is a clerk working on the Southampton Circuit Court. Francis says that there is now only two judges currently sitting on the 5th District Circuit Court: Chief Judge Delk and Judge Carl Edward Eason Jr., who now have to handle all the additional workload. Though Francis says that a group of 8 substitute judges have been assisting the two men on cases that have come in front of the court since Parker’s retirement. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.
Middle School Student Suspended for Opening Exterior Door
When a middle school student in Southampton opened the door for a visitor at his school, he got in trouble. A school administrator explained that this is strictly forbidden, and any kid who gets caught letting an unauthorized person into the school will be punished in a likewise fashion. The school in Virginia is standing by their decision to suspend the young student who had an outstanding academic record. The parents in the community voiced opinions that the punishment seemed too harsh for the infraction, but the school authorities are unrelenting in their determination on the matter. The rules state that students are not permitted to open exterior doors at any time for any reason, and it had been made very clear to everyone. Some of the parents were upset because they knew the visitor. She was well-known in the community, and the kid was doing what any decent person would do for a lady who was struggling to enter a door with her hands full. The child’s parents said they are fighting the decision, and they want his record expunged with an apology. Part of the reason for the rule that is in effect for the whole school district is due to a $10,800 security system that was installed in order to prevent doors from being accessed from the outside. When students or staff circumvent the system, it undermines the security of the facilities. All the doors of the district schools are kept locked during the day, and visitors have to ring a buzzer and be viewed on an exterior camera before an authorized staff member can let them in. The boy knew about the policy, but he let the visitor in regardless. Staff members reported that this is why he was punished. The unidentified middle school student was the first person to be punished for breaking this rule, and it was not reported how many days of suspension the boy received for the infraction. The story was released to the local news via an anonymous e-mail. The sender stated that the boy was an “A” student, and he let a woman into the building because her hands were too full to open the door unaided. The e-mail stated that the student would be suspended for one day of which would be spent out of school. Wayne Smith, a school administrator, said that this information could not be confirmed for reasons of confidentiality. When the school superintendent, Charles Turner, was interviewed, he claimed that he didn’t know the details about the incident. Superintendent Turner claimed that the suspension of the student was necessary in order to make the security system effective. He explained that the mission of the school system is to provide a safe environment for children to receive their education. There needs to be a security system that is consistently effective. If people don’t follow the security protocols, the security system is ineffective. The superintendent said that the security system was developed partly from observing past experiences in their schools and also from observing what other schools have done to improve their security systems. The security systems were installed in the secondary schools in order to verify their effectiveness before they were put in place at the elementary schools. Turner states that the parents of the students were informed about the new security systems after they were installed, and they reacted very positively when they were notified of the increased security for their children. With the increasing frequency and violence of tragic incidents that are shown on the news on a regular basis, this news served to quell some of the anxiety of parents in the community. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news. Source: https://instaherald.com/
Carrsville man built more than 10,000 kites
Most of us have heard of the old saying “Go fly a kite.” Well, Junious Bradshaw of Carrsville gets it and knows how to fly a kite and create them. In fact, he is a master crafter and has built more than 10,000 kites, thus far. Bradshaw is now 86 and still in love with kite making. When he gets a little inspiration, he has his tools ready nearby to begin making another one. Bradshaw is well-known in the industry and was even quoted in a New York Times piece on kiteflying. He mentioned that he really likes flying kites and gets enjoyment out of the hobby and said that it’s a calming obsession next to landing a big fish. He’s so revered in kite making that the New York City Police Athletic League (PAL) once asked Bradshaw if he could send them step-by-step instructions on building a simple, flat kite. PAL was planning its annual kiteflying contest and needed help for its young members. Bradshaw was flown out to NYC and held workshops there to teach them how to make a kite that soared high. A young girl, the daughter of an NYC firefighter, won the $500 prize for first place thanks to Bradshaw’s instructions. These days, Bradshaw enjoys speaking with people on how he fell in love with flying kites and building thousands of them over the years. He says that the hobby was actually launched when his son Gerald, 8, was a member of the Boy Scouts, and that was some 35 years ago. The Scouts were holding a kiteflying contest. Now, the Bradshaw duo could have purchased a kite for the contest, but the elder Bradshaw insisted they create their own. Bradshaw decided to use paper from the company where he was employed. At the time, Union Camp Corporation was an American pulp and paper business and a private owner of timberland in the United States. The company was established in Franklin. Their first effort was a good one but failed. Bradshaw and his eldest son didn’t give up and kept trying to build the ultimate model, and they soon succeeded. The kite soared into the blue sky about a mile upwards, and the father/son pair proudly took home a gold cup for first place. After that, Bradshaw never looked back or down and resumed his kite making prowess. Word got out among the Scouts, and he was asked to help the young men build kites across the area. Bradshaw has maintained his humbleness over the years and was a guest on the Today show and the subject of numerous articles about kites. He was also the cover boy for a 1976 book about kiteflying by author Will Yolen. The hobby never waned, and his family was always supportive, including his late wife, Emily Freda and another son, Steven. What’s the recipe for the perfect, flat, high-flying kite? Bradshaw says its starts with 40‐pond Kraft wrapping paper, two oak sticks for each kite and the brattle string properly tied on the front. He even boasts about a motorized hand reel he invented back in the 1980s for supreme kiteflying. He claims that no one else has flown a kite that way. Kiteflying has been around for a very long time, and here in the United States, Benjamin Franklin applied his background of kiteflying to learn more about the elements such as electricity. Even the Wright Brothers flew kites, and that eventually led to the evolution of the airplane. Junious Bradshaw knows that kiteflying, present in almost every culture, will never go out of style. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.
New York Journalist And Author Helen Tono Passes Away At 88
Longtime Manhattan, New York resident Helen Tono passed away on February 21, 2011 at the age of 88. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 30, 1922, she attended the New York University School of Journalism, where she received her training in the media genre and earned a degree. Afterwards, she went on to pursue work in her chosen career field, eventually becoming the Editor of popular magazines such as Redbook, Woman’s Day and Better Homes and Gardens, and writing an advice column for Playboy Magazine, answering readers’ questions about sex. She additionally worked as a freelance proofreader, and was the author of 48 books on the subject of Astrology, one being Love, Sex and Marriage Through Astrology, which, along with a few more of her books, and the magazine articles that she wrote, is still in print, and can be found on websites like Amazon. Helen Tono donated her time and services to a number of organizations in the New York area that had a special meaning to her, such as: The Actor’s Guild, which is a union that represents 160,000 actors, writers, stunt performers, recording artists, and many other media professionals; The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, also known as the ASPCA, which works to put an end to the abuse of animals; The Ballet Society, which was created to teach the art of dance, and has featured many well-known ballet dancers since its opening; The Big Apple Circus, an entertainment company that uses no wild or exotic animals in their circus acts, and is known for its humane treatment of the rescue animals they use in their shows; and, The Hudson Senior Guild, a community-based social services foundation that was opened in 1897 as a settlement house for immigrants living in the Chelsea area of Manhattan. Her religious affiliations include being a member of New York’s Holy Catholic Church, where she regularly attended services, and later becoming a member of the congregation at St. Jude’s Catholic Church after moving from her home state to the city of Franklin in Virginia. The career journalist was the daughter of the late Julius Tono and Felicksa Chimelewski Tono, and she was also preceded in death by three of her sisters, Wanda Greene, Adele Roginski and Sophie Tono, as well as by one brother, Joseph Tono. After her funeral ceremony is over, a celebration of life service will be held for Helen Tono at the Franklin, Virginia home of her niece Michele Tono Harshall and her husband Bryan, who are two of her surviving family members. The program will take place on Saturday February 26, 2011 at 3 pm, and everyone who knew the deceased, or anyone who wants to participate in her memorial service are invited to attend. The address is 724 Clay St. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that monetary donations be made to a no-kill animal shelter , such as the Norfolk SPCA, located at 916 Ballentine Blvd. in Norfolk, Virginia. Her loved ones feel that these contributions will honor the late writer better, since she was very involved with fighting for the rights of animals to be treated humanely while she was alive. All funeral arrangements for Helen Tono will be handled by Wright Funeral Home, located at 206 West 4th St. in Franklin, and any information concerning her service, and when sympathy cards and other items expressing condolences to the family by acquaintances, relatives and friends of the deceased will be accepted, also, information on when the guestbook will be signed can be obtained through the funeral home’s website.. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.
Wilbur Louis Bass Jr. Left This Earth on February 14, 2011
Wilbur Louis Bass Jr. passed away in Emporia back in February 14, 2011. No one really knows when their time is coming, and it can happen with no warning and in the blink of the eye. Passing on is one of the greatest mysterious of life, and it is one that Wilbur experienced on that fateful day, but there is one thing for certain: he was hoping to meet his maker. Wilbur, after all, was a man of faith and a man who felt like he was going to see the father of the heavens. His journey to him is a tale that can only be experienced and never told. Wilbur is survived by his wife, Irma, a woman who was by his side at all times and supported him through the ups and downs life hits you with. Mr. Bass Jr. also left behind three children, siblings, and even a few cats that may not be able to audibly say they miss him, but deep in their eyes one can see their heartbreak. Wilbur was a good husband to Irma and the two shared the kind of marriage one can only dream of. It was one of mutual respect and admiration. It was a marriage full of open dialogue and an honest connection. The two really did understand each other, so there is no doubt that Irma is hurting though she and all those left behind do have his memories to hang on to. Mr. Bass Jr. was the kind of man who didn’t let life just pass him by. He did accomplish a lot in this life and was able to form long-lasting memories that those he loved can cherish and talk about, even though he is no longer part of this plane of existence. Wilbur was the son of a determined father who passed on good work ethics to his son and shared his name. Those work ethics carried him during his life on this earth. He worked at VDOT for 30 years, and he always came to work with good spirits. He was a helpful guy and a fun person to be around. He formed true connections during his three decades at this place of work. He left many friends behind, who are also going to miss Wilbur and the life he was able to interject into any situation. Wilbur did attend church regularly and communicated with his Lord and Savior a lot during his life here. It was his faith that gave him the desire to be a better person every day. This desire was obvious, and it was one reason many people respected this man and why many grew to care for him. The funeral service took place on February 18, 2011 at Owen Funeral Home at 2 in the afternoon where many other souls were given their last words. It was there where many of those left behind were able to talk to him one last time. Some were able to share their deepest wishes for him, while others were there to tell him how much they are going to miss him. The family was happy to see so many people there, supporting them and supporting their beloved Wilbur. Having others around can bring peace to people dealing with the loss of a loved one as they don’t feel so alone, and some joy can be birthed out of the sadness. He was taken to his final resting place at the Greensville Memorial Cemetery soon after the funeral services. Hopefully, Wilbur, wherever he is, was able to see how much love he was given and how much love he left behind. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.
Franklin Movie Theatre Continues to Sit Vacant
Prior to January of 2008, the marque of the Armory Drive 3 Cinemas in Franklin, VA was always lit up with current and coming films. Situated in a vacant shopping plaza, the closure of the movie theatre also led to vacant business units to its left and right. Today the marque simply says ‘closed,’ and it looks like it may stay that was as interest in the old theatre continues to wane as another decade passes. Angela Beltran of Wheeler Real Estate represents its previous owner and is tasked at finding someone to lease out the movie theater. It’s a formidable challenge as it seems that no one is interested. She stated that she has had some interest, but everything has fallen through. Last year she had a few showings in the fall and winter, but nothing came of either. At one point a couple was very interested in taking on the lease, but Beltran said they had some personal affairs that popped up and prevented them from making a commitment. Since then, the theatre has sat. The outside of the theatre could admittedly use some work, and there are a few spots where the roof leaks, but the inside is in great condition. A quick peak inside reveals that the balconies, sloping floor, and projection booths are still in fine shape. Plus, the current property owner Christopoulos Family LLC is only asking for $4,115 a month if a potential renter is willing to take it for use ‘as is.’ That would mean the brunt of the monthly charges would be licensing for the films and concession stand costs. However, the theatre does need some work that its new renters would have to take on. The heating and cooling system are older and could use an overhaul and the leak does roof. These are factors that led former owner Howard Gainey. Gainey ran Armory Drive 3 Cinemas from 1990 until its closure in 2008. These issues combined with his advancing age led him to close the theatre. Gainey has slowly reduced his business properties and after selling the theatre has no further interest in it. Beltran, the real estate agent, has been very proactive in her attempts to market the property and has contacted all the movie theatre chains within 50 to 100 miles of the Armory Drive location, but has not had any luck. She stated that no one wants to take on the project in Franklin. It is unlikely that she will be able to find takers for the nearby units until the movie theatre opens again to act as an anchor for the plaza. It is also unlikely that someone would lease or purchase the theatre space and renovate it as the costs to convert it into a retail store are exorbitant. In order to create a retail store in the same space, the floors would need to be leveled and the entire structure of the building would need to be altered. Even the costs of converting the projection theatre to a digital one would be excessive. Western Tidewater in general is having an issue with vacant commercial buildings, as the Armory Drive plaza is one of several that have been vacant for years. Its been a hard decade for the movie theatre industry, as online streaming has cut into their profits. Bloomberg reported that in 2017 movie theatre attendance in both the US and Canada was the lowest since 1992, and attendance is expected to continue to trend downwards. As ticket prices increase to cover the losses, less people are expected to attend films adding to the situation. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.
Descendants offer his hiding place to be part of driving tour
No matter how dark or bright some moments are, history teaches all of us important lessons. Take, for example, Alvin Turner and Evelyn Hawkins. They are descendants of Nat Turner and have inherited two farms in the family. Nat Turner was an American slave and fiery preacher who led what some history experts believe is the only effective, sustained slave rebellion in U.S. history. The date was August of 1831. Turner was accused of enlisting other slaves and leading a rebellion to murder 55 white people. After the incident, he allegedly hid in a cave on the property. He was discovered there six weeks later, brought to trial for murder and found guilty. Turner was later executed in Jerusalem, Virginia. Evelyn Hawkins has strong memories of that cave because her grandfather Sidney Turner often took her and his other 12 grandchildren across the farm to the famous site. She says it wasn’t as much a cave as it was a hole that Nat Turner appeared to have dug with his sword. Hawkins, who is now 72, and her relatives, are hoping that the Southhampton County Historical Society will give the thumbs up to the iconic landmark and allow the location of the cave to become part of a proposed driving tour. The relatives of Sidney Turner believe that society as a whole could benefit by keeping this key part of history alive for future generations. They want to do their grandfather proud. Rick Francis, Southampton County Circuit Court Clerk, is a member of the Southampton County Historical Society. He wants the cave to be a part of the driving tour. Francis explains that he’ll ensure the proposal happens and believes that every American historical moment is an essential thread in the nation’s fabric. So far, Hawkins says she is not sure if the land would be leased or not. Francis would like to see a sign erected at the site of the cave that told the story of Nat Turner and include photographs of what the location appeared like during Nat Turner’s hideout there. Hawkins says that a number of people know the story of Nat Turner’s rebellion and would often call her grandparents from afar to ask about the cave and be allowed to see the site. The granddaughter explained that when folks come to Southampton County, they want to learn more about Nat Turner. This would be a fine opportunity to make the location part of the tour. The famous piece of land features two farms and is owned by the grandchildren together. It is called The SID-COR Turner Farms. Sidney Turner’s descendants all approve of the proposal to add Nat Turner’s cave to the driving tour. They include Hawkins, Alvin L. Turner, Vivian Lucas, Brindle S. Hardy, Lemonte Hardy, Eloise T. Pearson, John Young, Jason Turner, Joyce T. Lewis, Yvonne T. Rieves, Sandra Sykes, Ann T. Mason and A. Sidney Turner. Evelyn Hawkins and her cousins are all tightly-knit, and she was raised by her grandparents Sidney and Corene Turner until she was 12. The farm is their lifeblood; it is what their family knows. Meanwhile, the site of the cave has been well-cared for over the decades, and Alvin Turner, 75, says it’s precious historical land that he doesn’t want to get lost or fade away from people’s memories. Hawkins says there is a clearly defined trail on the property that leads from Cabin Pond Road to the cave nearby. She and other relatives believe that might have been the path that was traveled on by the man who found Nat Turner in October of 1831. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.
Hearing on pitbull continued
The hearing to decide the fate of a pit bull accused of attacking a local woman has been continued until 1 p.m. Thursday, January 6. Isle of White County General District Court Judge W. Parker Councill made this decision on Thursday in order to allow the time necessary to determine whether or not the pit bull is an animal that is dangerous to human beings. The determination will be made based on investigations carried out by the dog owner’s lawyer and the Animal Control Chief Wilbur Sullivan. The attack happened on the 16th of November. Since then, the pit has been under quarantine at an animal shelter. During its time in custody, the staff at the shelter have been observing the dog and have reported that it has exhibited no signs of aggression. Observations will continue throughout the dog’s internment at the animal shelter. Afterward, these observations will figure heavily in the decision of what happens to the pit bull next. The day of the attack, 76-year-old Jane Ashe pulled into the driveway of her home on Peanut Drive. As she was transporting her pet Jack Russell Terrier from her car into the house, the pit bull attacked her. The dog lives at the house next door which belongs to Rick and Lori Milhouse. According to Jane, she spotted the pit bull at the corner of her yard, off its leash. The dog being off its leash was not normal. She made verbal attempts to make the pit bull leave, but it wouldn’t. Then suddenly, the dog lunged at her, toppling her to the ground. Jane says she knew the dog was after her Jack Russell Terrier but was determined not let the pit bull get anywhere near her dog. She endured the pain of the pit bull’s clamped jaws around her forearm as it wrestled with her for her pet. At one point, Jane thought she would die. Serena Merritt was having a normal late morning when she heard Jane’s screams. When she looked to see what was happening, she saw the pit on top of Jane. Quickly, she ran to help her neighbor. At first, she tried smacking the dog on its nose with a small stick. Eventually, she would manage to drag the dog away from Jane and back to its kennel. Unfortunately, the reprieve from the attack would be short-lived. The pit bull broke free from its shelter and attacked Jane once again, throwing her to the ground. Merritt sprung into action for the second time and got the dog away from Ashe once again, and this time tied it up with a rope. Paramedics arrived on the scene quickly after a 911 call. Jane was covered with blood and had to be transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where she was treated for deep lacerations on her arm and a significant cut on the back of her head. Her dog escaped relatively unharmed. According to the Milhouse family, their dog had never acted violently in the past. They were puzzled by this behavior. They were also puzzled as to how the pit bull got off its leash. They claimed never to let it off its leash unless they were going to bathe it. By the time the pit bull’s stay with the animal shelter is over, there will be a determination as to whether it is a dangerous animal or not. If the pit is deemed to be dangerous to humans, then it must be killed. If not, it must find a new home because Lori Milhouse has stated she would not let the dog return to Peanut Drive. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.
Isle of wight woman shares story about pit bull attack
An elderly woman living in the small town of Windsor in Isle of Wight County in Virginia is recovering today and thanking her lucky stars that her neighbor was able to act immediately and save her life from a pit bull attack. Jane Ashe, 76, of Peanut Drive, had just arrived home from morning grocery shopping and was exiting her car with the bags and her small dog Jack in her arms. Jack is a Jack Russell Terrier. The pair was walking to her property’s deck when Jane spotted the pit bull. She told it firmly to “go home!” The next thing she knew, the dog had quickly positioned itself between her and the door to the deck. The pit bull would not let Jane and Jack go inside. Jack knew he was on his territory and began growling at the other dog. That’s when the pit bull lunged at the two, knocking Jane down as it attempted to attack Jack. She would not allow the dog to attack her little Jack, so she held on fiercely and began screaming loudly. The pit bull continued biting into her arm, and Jane feared she would die. Her neighbor, Syrena Merritt, heard the desperate cries for help and ran over to Jane and Jack and began battling the dog with a stick. Meanwhile, Syrena is barefoot and trying to maintain her balance as she fought off the four-legged intruder. The pit bull was forced back into its yard which is on the other side of Jane’s home. Unfortunately, the dog viciously returned and tried attacking again. Merritt quickly found a rope and was able to secure it around the aggressive dog’s neck and keep the dog at bay until help could arrive. The pit bull was said to weigh about 40 pounds. The women call 911, and paramedics swiftly arrived within eight minutes as Jane continued to bleed profusely. To the elderly victim, it seemed like an eternity before the ambulance crew had arrived, Meantime, Syrena also called her husband and son who were working at the equipment store they owned in Suffolk. Jane’s serious injuries necessitated a flight to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for immediate treatment of the nasty gash on the back of her head, deep lacerations and bruising to her right arm. Multiple stitches were required to close the gash, and she was released following the medical treatment. Her dog Jack was more fortunate and escaped with only a few scratches to the back of his right leg. Jane Ashe is doing well considering the brutal attack she and her Jack Russell terrier underwent, but the fate of the pit bull remained in question. Isle of Wight Animal Control stated that the dog would stay in quarantine at the shelter until a court date would be heard. The owner of the pit bull is Lori Millhouse. She has seven dogs, a pot-bellied pig and two horses. She cannot fathom how her pit bull escaped from its secured chain. There have never been issues with aggression or attacks, and she fears her dog will be put down. She has begged Animal Control to find her pit bull a new home. Jane Ashe and her husband Conrad, 81, were new residents to the neighborhood, barely a month there when the incident occurred. They have two Jack Russell Terriers, another named Shorty. They never allow the dogs outdoors to roam around unless she or her husband is present. Millhouse wants to apologize to the Ashes but has come under threat from other people. She is very sorry this happened to Mrs. Ashe.0 Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.
Sisters united
The Kreider sisters are both different and alike. Hannah Kreider is 16 years old and attending Franklin High School as a junior while her sister Grace is a few years younger and attending the school as a freshman. There is one more difference between the two: Hannah is gay while Grace is straight. But they are not letting this difference separate them. Instead, the two have formed the Gay Straight Alliance at the school, which will hold meetings there attended by one of the school’s teachers. Hannah says that she has been blessed to have the support of both her friends and her family. Because of this, she felt the need to give to others by providing a forum so that they, too, can feel safe. Rodney Berry, who is the principal at Franklin High School, gave the two sisters permission to form the organization, and he says that he did so without any reaction to their request. He says that students attending the school have the right to form any organization they would like and have meetings at the school while it is not in session. Bill Scarboro, who is the school board chairman, says that the sisters’ organization will be good for students. He says that he has heard in the media a lot about the bullying of students who are different than others. He added that, while this may be the nature of the world, he hopes the new organization will help them “express their individualism” and deal with the problems that they may face. At one time, Hannah believed that she was bisexual. Then, as she completed 8th grade, she realized that she was simply gay. Today, she is very open about her sexuality and says everyone is very supportive of her and that they see her for who she really is. She adds that being gay is not the only thing about her. It is only one aspect of who she is. When Hannah came out as gay, her sister Grace was in the 6th grade. Grace says that she is fine with her sister being gay and the she “couldn’t see it any other way.” But she admits that, while most of her friends were “cool” with her sister’s sexuality, some students did pick on her because of it. Kim Kreider is the father of the two girls. He says that he was not particularly surprised when Hannah told him that she was gay. He and his daughter have what he calls a “very open relationship,” and he had an inkling of her sexuality even before she told him. He adds that the two often talk about things, so her news “didn’t just hit me in the face.” Kreider, who has 7 children, says that he was brought up in a conservative environment in which being gay was considered something wrong. But his views changed when he started having children of his own. He saw that lots of children grew up in unsupportive environments, and he did not want his own kids growing up that way. He has helped his daughter find a network of both gay adults and gay young adults to support her. He also twice sent her to a summer camp in Minnesota with 15 to 20 other gay teenagers, and the two have attend gay community events in both Richmond and Chesapeake. Kreider insists that it is his job to support his daughter and make both a home and an open place for her. He says that at times he has had as many as 6 gay children staying with him at his home. Visit https://www.tidewaternews.com for more breaking news.