Corrected Edition. We have updated this report to correct wrong figures in the House of Delegates fundraising story.
What would normally be a routine bureaucratic exercise – voting on a special use permit – became an emotional event at the James City County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday night, underscoring the broad reach of substance abuse across society.
When it was over, the supervisors unanimously approved a permit to let Evolution House operate a transition center for up to 24 men at their existing facility in Toano.
Berkeley District member Ruth Larson cried as she shared that her sister died of a drug overdose in 2006.
“We have so many people who need help and they don’t know where to go,” said Stonehouse member Barbara E. Null. “You’ve got me up here crying.”
Powhatan member Michael J. Hipple added one of his relatives had fought hard against substance abuse, and the facility was needed.
Statistics cited by spokesmen for Evolution were grim: last year Virginia had 920 traffi…