06/22/2016

Page 1

Inside

Powhatan, Virginia

A4 School board recognizes students, staff. B2 Post 201 drops two straight.

Vol. XXIX No. 25

June 22, 2016

Doors closing on school filled with memories for former students, faculty

Junior high’s demolition discussed By Laura McFarland

By Laura McFarland

News Editor

News Editor

POWHATAN – Teachers and alumni walked the halls of Powhatan Junior High School, the former Powhatan High School, this weekend to say their final goodbyes. The community, and especially former students who attended the junior high school from 2003 to 2016 or the high school from 1971 to 2003, were invited to a final Community Open House for the school. An estimated 275 people or more came through when the building opened for a few hours on Saturday, June 19, to allow former students and teachers the opportunity to take photos, look at old lockers and homerooms, and bid farewell to a place they spent their days, weeks and months in years gone by. PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND Donna and Mike Cable of Pow- Former students and teachers of Powhatan Junior High School and the building’s days hatan, PHS Classes of 1986 and as Powhatan High School, came on June 18 to walk the halls one more time before it is see Alumni page 2A demolished to make way for a new middle school.

Flat Rock celebrates with Mini-Relay for Life POWHATAN – As the cancer survivors made their way around the bus loop at Flat Rock Elementary School, they were greeted at every step by smiling, cheering children. Flat Rock continued its tradi-

PHOTO BY KELLY WALLACE

Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19

Students at Flat Rock Elementary School release balloons in honor of a former student who died of cancer during their annual Mini-Relay for Life on Monday, June 13.

tion of joining in the fight against cancer when it held its seventh annual Mini-Relay for Life on Monday, June 13. Children from preschool to fourth grade participated in the event, which is to raise money and awareness but also show children they can make a difference, said Tanja Atkins-Nelson, principal. “Even at this young age, we can tell students about being great citizens, supporting a worthwhile cause and how they can even partake in fundraising along with their families,” she see RELAY page 5A

Local LEOs prove they are Tough Mudders By Laura McFarland

DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139

News Editor

P

OWHATAN – A group of people who normally work to further law enforcement in Powhatan County recently joined forces to get down and dirty in Tough Mudder Virginia. The Powhatan Blue Punishers is a 13-member team that included employees of the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Powhatan County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Other team members included two accountants, a hospital administrator, an IT consultant and a soon-to-be officer with the VCU Police. The group competed in a 10mile obstacle course race on Saturday, June 11 in Doswell, said Rob Cerullo, deputy com-

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Powhatan Blue Punishers is a 13-member team of mostly law enforcement officers who competed in the Tough Mudder Virginia on June 11. The team consisted of, back row, from left, Brian Wright, Lance Gatewood, Tim Dooley, Mike Wentworth; middle row, Mitchell Schwartz, Lacy Mae Funderburke, Thomas “Quin” Pasi, Austin Schwartz, Daniel Giardini, Sarah Laing, Brian Giardini; and front w, Michael Hunt, Rob Cerullo and Steve Rusher.

monwealth’s attorney. The team started training in December 2015 individually and in small groups to get ready.

“Although it’s called a race, participants are only competing see MUDDERS page 5A

POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board last week was updated on the timeline to empty and demolish Powhatan Junior High School this summer. Russell Wilson, director of facilities for Powhatan County Public Schools, talked with the board during its meeting on Tuesday, June 14 about the transition the school district is expecting in the coming months and how the project will play out in the future. He also spoke on some of the important dates related to the construction of a joint transportation facility on Old Buckingham Road. see BOARD page 9A

No fireworks planned for Powhatan By Laura McFarland News Editor

POWHATAN – The rockets’ red glare will not be bursting over Powhatan County this Fourth of July. Clyde Childress confirmed on Wednesday, June 15 that he will not hold his annual fireworks extravaganza on Fourth of July weekend on his property in Powhatan County. Childress said his wife, Cornelia “Connie” Childress, died on March 31 and was to be buried on June 16 at Arlington National Cemetery. “It is just too much to have the burial and then be getting things ready for the fireworks at the same time,” he said. Childress held his fifth annual event in 2015 and drew thousands of people from Powhatan County and beyond to his property for a day of music, food, family time and fireworks. Childress, who is a Vietnam War era veteran, also made the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program the beneficiary of the annual fundraiser. Powhatan County Fire and EMS chief Steven Singer confirmed last week that at that time, the fire marshal’s office has not received any requests for an aerial display of fireworks on or around July 4.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.