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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Anne Zoeller
Vol. XXVII No. 15
Power up! Annual Antique Power Show will offer macho machines, entertainment for all. See 7A
Reality check Powhatan native Jay Woodson set to appear on upcoming Golf Channel program. See 1B
Alleged shooter unfit to be tried Court says Jason Overbey is not competent enough to assist in his own defense By Ben Orcutt Staff Writer
An Amelia County man charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the May 2011 slayings of two Powhatan County residents has been ruled incompetent to stand trial. Jason Merritt Overbey, 33, of 13421 West Lane, Amelia, is charged Overbey with the May 22, 2011 shooting deaths of Kenneth William Moore Jr., 47, and Robert Linwood Mann Jr., 42, on Moore’s family’s farm at 1309 Stavemill Road in Southeastern Powhatan. Overbey also is charged with two counts see Overbey page 3A
Real estate tax rate remains unchanged The Powhatan Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on April 15 to approve the previously advertised 2013 tax rate. The county’s real estate tax rate – currently 90 cents per $100 of assessed value – will remain the same. In making the choice to keep the tax rate flat, board members cited the fact that surrounding counties had taken similar action.
April 24, 2013
Talented drum line gets big send off from fans. See 4A National Volunteer Week
Answering the call When it comes to giving back to their community, Powhatan residents prove they’re more than up to the task By Roslyn Ryan Editor
M
aybe you first heard it in Sunday school, or from the sweet old lady who lived next door. It could’ve been stitched on a pillow or etched on a mug, but at some time in our lives we’ve all heard the old adage “it’s better to give than to receive.” This week marks National Volunteer Week, a week set aside to honor those who selflessly offer up their time in order to better their communities. And if you happen to be looking for volunteers to honor, Powhatan is a pretty good place to start. From the men and women staffing the firehouses to those working at the Free Clinic, there are literally hundreds of Powhatan residents working at any given time for nothing more than the satisfaction of helping someone else. We see them every day, delivering food, hauling wood, repairing homes. They are the parents coaching soccer and the dedicated residents who work to support the Coalition of Churches. The Hope Ministry Supper Table provides a free meal once a month, no questions asked, to anyone who needs it. Volunteers with Senior Connections make sure our seniors have transportation to their doctors appointments. Asked last week why he volunteers, Powhatan resident Terry Paquette said that he, like so many others he knows, gets a tremendous sense of satisfaction from helping others. That said, he also sees it as a way of fulfilling whet he sees as a higher calling. “I help people because it makes me feel good,” said Paquette, who was honored in 2012 as the Huguenot Ruritan Volunteer see Volunteers page 5A
PHOTO BY EMILY DARRELL
A few of the volunteers from Powhatan’s Company 1: Clockwise, from the top left, Kenneth Satterwhite, Jesston Collier, Carroll Smith, Chris DeNoon, Jarrett Sayles, Kellyann Cole, Hunter Thurston and Danny Coley.
In their own words: Powhatan volunteer firefighters Like many smaller localities across the nation, Powhatan relies almost exclusively on volunteers to handle its firefighting duties. Many of the volunteers are also certified emergency medical technicians, who are often first on the scene when somebody falls off a roof, has a stroke or heart attack, or experiences difficulty breathing. While the number of volunteers across Powhatan’s five fire stations varies, Company One, located on Route 13 in the Village, is generally the busiest station and the most well-staffed. One recent evening Powhatan Today dropped by the station to talk with a few of the volunteers discussing both the challenges and the rewards of volunteering.
On the drive to volunteer: “I got out of high school and was looking around trying to see what I wanted to do. I joined the volunteer fire department and fell in love with it. I took the test back in ’69, passed, and came to Richmond. I was with the city 43 years [as a paid firefighter.] When I retired I wanted to stay in the fire service, because it’s been my whole life. I volunteered up here and then they made me district chief of this station. It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed especially the young people. I feel like it’s time for me to give something back to the fire service. – Carroll Smith, Company 1 District Chief see Firefighters page 5A
Inside
Sports
Index
A1 Parting shots See where Powhatan Today has been traveling lately.
B2 PHS girls soccer defeats Louisa With win over Lady Lions, Powhatan team is now 4-4.
Calendar Classified Crossword Horoscope Letters
A7 B8 A11 A11 A10
Obituaries A7 Opinion A10 Quotes A2 Real Estate B7 TV Listings B10-11
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