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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of June Taylor
Vol. XXIV No. 19
May 19, 2010
Former BSH standout Kyle Jolly signs with Pittsburgh Steelers See page 1B
Man fatally stabbed at Bell Road home By Roslyn Ryan and Michael Copley
where police now say Dennis Edward Merchant, Jr., 19, stabbed Brown at around 3 p.m. on May 13. UnconThe mother of Rashad Brown sat firmed reports suggest that another quietly sobbing on a curb at the person involved in the incident was Powhatan Post Office last Thursday attempting to take Brown to the afternoon, less than 50 yards away hospital but went instead to the Post from her son’s body. Office, where his father worked, to get Brown, 19, had died a short time help. earlier, the victim of a fatal stabbing at Police were called to the Post a home a few miles away on Bell Office for a fight, the Sheriff’s DepartRoad. Deputies and bystanders ment reports, and, upon their arrival, attempted to console the woman as found Brown deceased and another other officers sealed off the area. man with a non life-threatening stab As this scene played out, another wound. group of officers swarmed the home Merchant was arraigned in Pow-
4700 Block of Bell Road, where stabbing occurred
Editor and Staff Writer
Post Office, where Rashad Brown was pronounced dead
Rt. 60
ONLINE
Listen to last week’s entire Board of Supervisors meeting at www.powhatantoday.com.
Supes vs. Schools
No picnic With no love lost on either side, the planned get-together between the BOS and Schools may end up being in court
“You wouldn’t know this if you listen to [Supervisors], but we’ve made an effort to meet, to get our two boards together.” School Board Chairman Tim Gresham
By Michael Copley Staff Writer
Dialogue between the Powhatan Board of Supervisors and School Board is now little more than a death rattle, and there’s increasing skepticism about the potential for a meeting aimed at reviving the defunct relationship. As an ugly budget season ground to a close, Supervisor Carson Tucker suggested the Board of Supervisors and the School Board convene for in an informal meeting, to try to get back to a place where members trust and “love each other.” School Board Chairman Tim Gresham echoed Tucker May 10, telling supervisors the two boards need to “work together better…and work to expect the best of each other…and not to expect that decisions are being made with dark purposes.” But the events of the past week may have sunk an already floundering relationship.
A day after the Board of Supervisors revoked $123,000 from the School Board, Gresham said, “I don’t know, really, that I hold out a tremendous amount of hope” for a meeting. “You wouldn’t know this if you listen to them,” Gresham said, “But we’ve made an effort to meet, to get our two boards together. We’ve worked to create an agenda, we provided them dates and we still haven’t heard back from them.” County Administrator Carolyn Bishop said the first meeting will likely happen at the end of June, and that it’s now a matter see Picnic page 3A
“[Don’t confuse] a picnic or a banquet with a public meeting ... count me out if it’s a picnic.” Board of Supervisors Chairman Bob Cosby
Why can’t they be friends? In addition to taking $123,000, the BOS is asking the schools to give back $700,000 of this year’s money, funds the schools say have already been spent. See page 8A
The BOS and School Board are at odds over whether it is legal for Supervisors to take back money given to the schools during the recent budget process. See page 9A
hatan District Court Friday morning, charged with second degree murder and malicious wounding. He told the court he will hire his own attorney, said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard Cox. Merchant is being held without bond and an attorney date of June 4 has been set. Four more felony warrants have been obtained for Merchant, the Sheriff’s Department reported Friday: three for unlawful stabbing, cutting or wounding in the commission or attempted commission of a felony, and one for malicious wounding.
Teachers express concern about memo on furlough By Michael Copley Staff Writer
A memo was leaked to teachers May 11 that detailed the possible status of unpaid furloughs in next year’s contracts; the misstep drew serious questions from teachers at a School Board meeting last week. Greg Ownby, a teacher at Powhatan High School, told the board that the memo identified a section in the contract that would give the School Board broad powers to place teachers on unpaid furlough. Dr. Margaret S. Meara, Superintendent of Schools, said the school system is in the process of updating contracts with the schools attorney, and that what “inadvertently” went out to teachers was an unfinished prototype. Meara said the drafts were sent to principals for review, to help “decide what needs to be in there.” “I wouldn’t get too excited or upset,” Meara said, assuring teachers that they will be able to review their contract before it is finalized. David Stocker said the schools should work with a mind towards transparency, and said overly-broad language opens the door for abuse. “The way it was handled gives the perception that it was being done under the cover of darkness, and that invites public mistrust.” School Board members told Meara that they want to view contracts before they are finalized. “People don’t need to be concerned,” Meara said. “As we finish, we’ll explain everything.”
Inside
Sports
Index
A2 New PLI grads donate to Free Clinic Powhatan Free Clinic officials were happy to accept a generous gift from new Powhatan Leadership Institute graduates recently
B1 Sill is bound for Chowan Lady Indians catcher signs letter of intent to play for North Carolina school.
Calendar A6 Classified B10-11 Crossword A11 Extra Points B1 Horoscope A11
Letters Opinion Quotes Real Estate TV Listings
A10 A10 A2 B8 B6-7