School officials were the only attendees at Thursday night’s public hearing on the Amelia County school system’s proposed $17.7 million 2010 budget. The proposal—a decrease from the current $18.2 million budget—does not include raises and is bolstered by $715,000 in stimulus funds, School Superintendent David Gangel told the board.

A relative of Clent Chavers was shocked to learn yesterday that authorities had exhumed what they believe are his remains in a backyard in rural Amelia County. Friday’s discovery came after Chavers’ widow, Ulisa Mary Chavers, admitted the day before that she buried her husband’s body about 15 years ago outside their former home on West Pridesville Road, authorities said.

Authorities yesterday exhumed what they believe are the remains of a man whose wife has admitted she buried him in their backyard in Amelia County 15 years ago, police said. Ulisa Mary Chavers, 60, already faces charges in the disposal of another body, that of her boyfriend, Reginal Cody Bowles. His remains were found last month at the bottom of a 33-foot-deep well in Louisa County.

Authorities yesterday exhumed what they believe are the remains of a man whose wife has admitted she buried him in their backyard in Amelia County 15 years ago, police said. Ulisa Mary Chavers, 60, already faces charges in the disposal of another body, that of her boyfriend, Reginal Cody Bowles. His remains were found last month at the bottom of a 33-foot-deep well in Louisa County.

Ulisa Mary Chavers already faces charges in the disposal of another body, that of her boyfriend, in Louisa County.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will advertise about $176 million in paving and bridge projects for construction bids today, the first of the federal highway stimulus work to hit the street in Virginia. An additional $75 million in highway jobs will likely follow next week. “We’re going to be moving them as quickly as we can,“ said Malcolm T. Kerley, VDOT ‘s chief engineer.

Henrico County: Repaving of 9.8 miles of Interstate 295’s southbound lanes between Interstate 64 and U.S. 33, estimated to cost $8.36 million.
  Dinwiddie and Amelia counties: Overlaying of 46.2 miles of U.S. 360 and 460, estimated to cost $2.95 million.
  New Kent County: Replacement of the deck on the U.S. 60 bridge over Toe Ink Swamp, estimated at $550,000.

A 13-year-old Amelia County boy who, police say, drove off in his family’s pickup truck towing a horse trailer with two horses was found unharmed yesterday—more than 1,200 miles away at a rodeo grounds near Weatherford, Texas. Virginia State Police are puzzled as to why Wyatt Edward McLaughlin left his Jetersville-area home Wednesday morning, driving his family’s 2002 Ford F-350 pickup towing a four-horse trailer with two horses inside. He also took his dog and loaded the trailer with food, four propane tanks and clothing, police said.

Police are trying to find a 13-year-old Amelia County boy who has been missing—along with a pickup truck, two horses, a four-horse trailer and the family dog—since Wednesday morning. Wyatt Edward McLaughlin apparently ran away from his home on Scottland Lane in Jetersville between 9 and 10 a.m., said Virginia State Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas A. Cunningham Jr. The boy’s father called authorities about the same time, police said.

An Amelia County man was flown to VCU Medical Center after he was injured in a shooting yesterday in Amelia. Francis Manuel, 20, was listed in stable condition last night, said Investigator I. McDonald with the Amelia Sheriff’s Office. Manuel’s friends drove him to the Amelia Health Care Center after the shooting, which occurred at about 1 p.m., McDonald said. Authorities received a tip that a suspect was seen leaving in a vehicle. After a short chase, authorities arrested two people at 2 p.m., McDonald said.

A Christian-based group home is being developed in Amelia County. Edna’s Place will serve as a haven for women and children who are victims of abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, and divorce. It primarily will serve Amelia and surrounding localities such as Nottoway, Goochland and Powhatan counties. “Whoever wants to get a second start at life,“ said Maggie Hill, president of the group behind the project, Edna’s Place Inc. “Our goal is to help the women get a new start on life.“

The Amelia County School Board is considering a $17.2 million budget for next year. The proposed budget, presented to the board by Superintendent David Gangel and recently outlined, includes at least $1 million in reduced state funding but also includes funding from a federal grant. Last year’s budget was $18.2 million. Gangel’s proposal calls for level funding from the county.

Preliminary hearings will be May 26 for three of the five people charged with being an accessory after the fact in the killing of a popular Powhatan High School student. Brad L. Harris, Randall C. Powers and his wife, Brenda F. Powers, were scheduled to be in Amelia County General District Court yesterday, but the hearing was continued, Commonwealth’s Attorney Lee Harrison said.

Three people facing charges related to the June slaying of a Powhatan youth are to appear in an Amelia County court today.

Three central Virginia localities are preparing a list of projects they would like to see built with some of the billions from President Barack Obama’s economic-stimulus package.