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Staff writer

A couch, tires and cabinetry were just a few bulkly items Isle of Wight officials removed from nearly 10 illegal dumpsites over the past year.

Even though the county has eight convenience centers that accept all sorts of recyclable materials, illegal dumpsites continue to pop up along roadways, in resident’s yards and in the woods.

Illegal dumping is taking a toll on county resources, said Christine Bruner, Isle of Wight general services employee, and Ralph Anderson, solid waste manager.

When it occurs at night, as it often does, said Bruner, it’s known as “midnight dumping.” People looking to unload unwanted items take advantage of the rural setting too.

“Isolated roads is where we have most of our problems,” Anderson said. Two hot spots are Clydesdale Drive in Isle of Wight and Sandy Ridge Drive in Longview.

Bulk items tend to be from businesses, and bags of household trash are most likely from residents, they said.

The illegally-discarded items such as mattresses, pillows, couches, tires and cabinets could have been recycled at the convenience centers or donated to a charity, said Bruner.

County residents can drop off items at convenience centers for no additional fee (other than taxes), but contractors and businesses cannot.

Instead, businesses must find their own methods for disposal, which are often private entities that charge disposal fees....(Subscribe!)

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Staff writer

In the nearly five years since opening its doors to the medically uninsured, the Western Tidewater Free Clinic has grown exponentially, more than doubling its patient roster while adding services like a pharmacy and dental care.

“It’s been an overwhelming task to get from where we were then to where we are now,” said Clinic Coordinator Pamela Witt.

The clinic, which serves patients from all over Western Tidewater including Isle of Wight, Franklin, Suffolk and Southampton, first offered its services from a 1,800 square foot ranch house. “We sometimes used the front porch for a waiting room. We had a TV tray for a desk and we were sharing chairs,” said Witt. Patient visiting hours were limited to one morning a week and a couple of evenings.

In just a short time they were “busting at the seams,” she said.

Over the next two years the number of patients needing clinic services rose to more than 1,200. The numbers have been growing ever since and there’s a waiting list to get in.

The clinic has since moved from the rancher on Godwin Boulevard to a brick office building off Meade Parkway. They are still in Suffolk, but the clinic’s building now blends in with its neighboring doctors’ offices and medical specialty suites.

“It’s a nice facility,” said Miriam Beiler, executive director for the clinic, who said they got the building with help from the Sentara Health Foundation. It looks like any other doctor’s office, with a large waiting room, patient rooms, a small lab and a counseling room....(Subscribe!)

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Staff writer

Dwindling state funds make up the bulk of the looking budget shortfall for Isle of Wight County Schools.

Anticipating a $2.7 million shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year, more than half of that is slated for the Virginia retirement fund.

In addition, federal funds will drop by $1.2 million, said schools' CFO Phillip Bradshaw.

Paired with the schools' $1.8 million obligation to fund the Virginia Retirement System, school officials anticipate some cuts in programs.

Easing some of the budget shortfall is $300,000 in state revenues, Bradshaw said.

Isle of Wight County Schools receive funding from three sources — federal, state and local.

In the past five years, federal funding has fluctuated, but state funds have dropped by nearly $5 million since 2009....(Subscribe!)

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News editor

Parking needs to be expanded at Nike Park or a child is going to get run over, warned a master plan volunteer Thursday.

During soccer season, “it’s extremely dangerous. Somebody is going to back over a child,” said Gina Ippolito, who served along with several residents in prioritizing plans for Nike Park.

Expanding parking was given top billing on the Nike Park master plan and the list of priorities was presented at the Jan. 19 Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors meeting.

Ippolito said the Nike Park soccer program doubled in size in the past few years and that parking is “chaos.”

“It’s surprising no one has been hit,” she said.

The soccer program started 15 years ago with 80 children, but was up to 1,438 in 2011. The Smithfield Soccer Club also uses the fields at Nike Park....(Subscribe!)

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News editor

The newly elected Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors asked staff for a list of unused properties owned by the Board, as well as the Industrial Development Authority.

In addition, the Board wants staff to provide the tax map numbers, the purchase price and current value.

Newport Supervisor Buz Bailey started the conversation by zeroing in on the controversial Stoup property....(Subscribe!)