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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of James Minter
Vol. XXVI No. 25
June 20, 2012
show a Happy Temptations big hit with residents. People See Powhatan Scene, page 6A. For many of the county’s single parents, trying to be both a mother and a father to their children is a nearly impossible task. Through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program, one Powhatan native is trying to help.
Ware takes position at Benedictine Delegate is already ‘widely respected by the school’ says Catholic school’s headmaster By Ken Odor Contributing Writer
PHOTO BY EMILY DARRELL
Tristan Howard (left) celebrates with mentor Corey Fulcher during a recent trip to a local bowling ally. The two were introduced through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program.
‘I just look at it like we’re hanging out’
Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, will become academic dean at Benedictine College Preparatory School this summer, said the school’s headmaster Jesse Grapes. Ware has had a 31-year teaching career in history and government, the last 13 at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot in Powhatan County. “Lee will lead our acaWare demic program for Benedictine’s second century of education, soon to be in Goochland County,” said Grapes in an email to the Gazette. Later in the week Grapes elaborated on his announcement. “Education for boys needs to be rigorous, whether they want it or not,” he said. Grapes said he favored a more ‘classical approach,” where the emphasis is on teaching students to see Ware page 4A
By Emily Darell Staff Writer
F
rom the looks of things, Christy zation that was founded in 1904, and helps match Howard is doing a good job raising children aged 6-14 with adult mentors of the same sex. her 14-year-old son, Tristan. For two years
They live in a nice home, in a condominium complex in Midlothian. Tristan plays on the football team, runs track, is a member of the Sea Cadets – a training program for young people run by the U.S. Navy – and has done well enough academically to ensure himself a spot at the prestigious St. Benedict’s Catholic High School this coming fall. But Howard, who works as an administrator at McGuire VA Hospital, says that as a single mom of an only child, there are some things she just can’t do. “I can’t teach him to tie a tie” she says, “or how to shave.” Wanting her son to have an older male influence, Howard signed him up for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a nationwide non-profit organi-
“I can’t teach him to tie a tie, or how to shave.”
Tristan’s name sat on a waiting list. According to Chris Beach, program direcChristy Howard, a tor of the Richmond area Big Brothers Big single mother, on why Sisters chapter, male she got her son Tristan, 14, involved in the mentors are in short Big Brothers Big Sisters supply. program. “We’re always in need of men,” Beach said. Last year, Beach, who is a Powhatan native, decided that he wanted to get the Big Brothers Big Sisters program up and running in his home counsee Big Brothers page 3A
Break-ins on the rise once again Gas cans, iPods, and GPS units are among items that have reportedly been stolen from nearly a dozen properties in the Pleasants Road/ Woods Way vicinity in northern Powhatan. The Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office said that between May 27 and June 13 it has received 10 reports of break-ins in the area, all of storage barns, sheds, and garages. Many of the items stolen, such as the GPS units and iPods, have been taken from unlocked vehicles. “They’re taking a multitude of things,” said Detective Jason Tackett, who added that property reported as missing has included a cordless
drill, a chainsaw, and a wheelbarrow. Tackett said the break-ins are occurring in the overnight hours, roughly between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. He also said that the sheriff’s office has every reason to believe the incidents are related. Citizens with any information related to these crimes are urged to call the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office at (804) 598-5654 or Powhatan Crime Solvers at (804) 403-4357. Anyone who provides a tip that leads to an arrest and conviction is eligible for a cash reward from Crime Solvers of up to $1,000. — Emily Darrell
Firefighters planning best Fourth fest yet June 30 event will feature fireworks (of course!) but also music, food and games By Roslyn Ryan Editor
Quick, see if you can answer this: What takes six months of planning, three days of set up and looks really, really, really cool even without 3-D glasses? If you answered the annual fireworks extravaganza put on by the Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department, you’re right. And if happen to attending this year, organizer Louis Urbine (check) has one piece of advice for you: hold onto your hat. “This will be, by far, the biggest show to date,” said Urbine last week, standing in his carport surrounded by piles and piles of the handmade mortar racks that will soon fire over 2,500 professional-grade fireworks into the air above 2693 Rocky Oak Road (better known to many as Jacques Gitts’ property, home to the much-loved Bullnanza events). see Fourth page 5A
Inside
Sports
Index
A10 Catching up See what two former Powhatan students have been up to since graduation.
B1 Play ball! Post 201 kicks off 2012 American Legion season.
Calendar A8 Letters A12 Classified B10 Obituaries A10 Crime Report A2 Opinion A12 Crossword A13 Quotes A2 Extra Points B1 Real Estate B9 Horoscope A13 TV Listings B12-13