“After an eight-month national search, the Board selected [Senechal] because of her extensive knowledge and more than 15 years of experience in the electric utility industry,” Board Chairman Wade House said. “The Board also is impressed with her leadership style of prioritizing people first.”
Senechal is the executive vice president of transmission and chief operating officer at Lower Colorado River Authority (LRCA) in Austin, Texas. She joined LRCA in 2017 following nine years at CenterPoint Energy in Houston.
“Like Texas, NOVEC’s service territory is experiencing a number of trends that impact both service and cost of electricity, including increased demand [for] electric vehicles, baseload generation retirements, increasingly complex customer or member demands and an influx of large loads that impact both cost and need for new infrastructure,” Senechal said.
She’ll be moving to Northern Virginia with her fiance and two dogs, to begin with the organization on March 17. Senechal will succeed David E. Schleicher, who is retiring as the president and CEO on April 1; she’ll take over as president and CEO on April 2. Schleicher has been in the role since April 2022 and previously served as the organization’s chief operating officer.
Senechal has a doctorate in molecular biology from the University of California, Los Angeles; a master’s of business administration from the University of Houston; and a bachelor’s in molecular biology from the University of Texas at Austin.
According to the PWCS Board meeting on Jan. 15, staff are proposing nearly $82 million in improvements and replacements of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) in 14 schools in the proposed 2026 to 2030 capital improvement program (CIP). The CIP must first be approved by the Board and then the Board of County Supervisors before it's official.
Dr. Babur Lateef, chairman of the Board, said maintenance improvements are the less "sexy" items on the CIP, but are important nonetheless.
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NOVEC sent its crew of six men, pictured above, on Jan. 7 to work for three days with SEC, which serves more than 59,000 people. The recent winter storm, according to a NOVEC press release, left 28,000 in the area without power.
“It was good to know we were helping people,” Jake Till, one of NOVEC’s lineworkers, said. “It’s a small, close-knit community. The lineworkers at Southside appreciated our support.”
The men worked mainly in the rural towns of Altavista and Bedford. They worked nearly 16-hour days in freezing temperatures, navigating the poor road conditions and ice.
Mark DeChristopher, NOVEC’s manager of system construction, said the cooperative was monitoring the needs of other cooperatives in the area to see if they needed assistance.
“Electric coops from VMDAEC [Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives] remain in constant contact and discuss the potential need for mutual aid to assist in restoration efforts,” DeChristopher said.
The crew returned to the area on Jan. 10 following three days of hard work with the SEC crews.
- [Bee Calder via Unsplash]
Monday was the late Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, and many local governments and organizations closed in honor of the civil rights leader’s service. Here’s how they, along with elected officials, honored him on social media.
Today we commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King’s life and the positive impact his legacy continues to have on so many. We remember him for his timeless values and vision that should be celebrated and embraced every day. #MLKday pic.twitter.com/cRr5IkUBnN
— Virginia American Water (@vaamwater) January 20, 2025
Happy MLK, Jr. Day! ? Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as we reflect on his impactful work for civil rights and equality. Stafford Gov. offices and courts are closed. Landfill is open. More: https://t.co/TvtoK7VSxa #MLKDay
— Stafford County (@staffordvagov) January 20, 2025
Celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. not just today but every day: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” pic.twitter.com/pLSUXqlrNf
— Fairfax County Government ?? (@fairfaxcounty) January 20, 2025
Today, let’s celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. pic.twitter.com/5FJvX4UtuZ
— Loudoun Co. Govt. (@LoudounCoGovt) January 20, 2025
? Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — a leader whose vision of equality, justice, and unity continues to inspire us all.
Let’s celebrate his dream by spreading kindness and standing for justice and equality while building even stronger Town. pic.twitter.com/XMcXD7zrD8— Dumfries, Virginia (@DumfriesTownVA) January 20, 2025
Honoring Dr. King’s legacy reminds us of his commitment to justice, equity, & service. Service means ensuring no one is left behind. In Prince William County, let’s continue building bridges and supporting those in need. “The first function of community is support.” – MLK #MLKDay
— Andrea Bailey (@AndreaBaileyVA) January 20, 2025
Prince William County honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pic.twitter.com/JbIpXJxg5g
— Prince William County (@pwcgov) January 20, 2025
In honor of #MLKDay, our office is closed to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy. Together, we strive for justice and equality for all. ?? Visit https://t.co/F1Fp4AxxAF for regular hours! #JusticeForAll ? pic.twitter.com/imQoH5ojpL
— Jacqueline Smith, Clerk of Circuit Court (@PWCCircuitCourt) January 20, 2025
One of my favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Today, we can honor his legacy by working to build a more just future.
Because while progress takes time, it is always worth fighting for. pic.twitter.com/iG84DHFfax
— Eugene Vindman (@YVindman) January 20, 2025
Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s unwavering fight for justice and equality. Let his dream inspire us to build a more just world. pic.twitter.com/0xBG6ye43s
— Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) (@RepSuhas) January 20, 2025
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) January 20, 2025
The “light duty” basic police accident tow and clean up — which includes the towing and removal of a car involved in a crash and cleaning the crash site of minor debris — fee would increase from $290 to $375. The non-accident fee — requiring a vehicle to be towed not in the case of an accident — would increase from $210 to $250.
The “heavy duty” towing fees have the largest increase if approved; the basic police accident tow and clean up will increase from $475 to $1,000. The non-accident tow fee will increase from $160 to $800.
According to city documents, the policy was last revised in May 2019 and instated in January 2020. These new fees will be instated later this month.
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A part of Prince William County’s Fatherhood Initiative, the free Father & Daughter Dance is a signature event of the initiative. It’s hosted by the Department of Social Services.
“The Fatherhood Initiative is dedicated to equipping fathers with the resources and support they need to nurture healthy relationships with their children. Through workshops, forums, and community events, we aim to help fathers strengthen family bonds and leave a positive, lasting impact on their children’s lives,” Fatherhood Engagement Coordinator Jeffery Faulkerson said.
The Fatherhood Initiative was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been relaunched to focus on building healthier home environments, a county press release stated.
The dance is free and open to the public on Feb. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 15941 Donald Curtis Drive in Woodbridge. Those interested in attending can reserve a spot on the dance’s Eventbrite page.
The survey, conducted by ETC Institute, a national market research firm for local governments, was conducted in 2024 as part of the city's efforts to poll its residents every two years on a wide variety of issues, city services, public safety and quality of life. The last citywide survey was conducted in 2022 by ETC, which has been working with the city since 2014.
Jason Morado, the director of community research at ETC, said the survey was sent out to random residents via mail and online mostly in September and October 2024. He also said 407 people responded, surpassing the city's goal of 400 respondents.
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Cline has 22 years of military service both in the National Guard and Navy. In the Navy, he spent most of his time assisting in clinical settings or providing medical help in the field. Following his service, Cline returned to education at Leesylvania Elementary, where he's been teaching for almost 20 years.
In a PWCS release, Cline said he'll be using the money to purchase new games for his students. He also said he loves watching his students develop skills and gain confidence.
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Here are the businesses that opened their doors in November:
Gainesville
