06/11/2014

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Powhatan, Virginia

The hometown paper of Robert Primovic

Vol. XXVII No. 24

June 11, 2014

Fighting Creek playground equipment removed By Laura McFarland News Editor

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wo large playground structures in Fighting Creek Park are closed and scheduled to be dismantled by the end of the month, officials

said. The large structures in the park’s wooded playground area were monitored this winter and spring because of possible rotting to the wooden posts that support it, Mark Piper, Powhatan County’s facilities manager, said. The structures are more than a decade old, and the pressure-treated wood posts that were popular at the time they were installed have deteriorated with normal wear and tear, he said. The public works department looked into possibly doing repairs to see if it could keep the structure in good condition. But when they went to start the re-

pairs, employees noticed there was much more rot to the posts than was originally thought, he said. Some posts had gotten to the point “We felt it would be a danger to where they had rotted all the way through, compromising the equipallow the public and children to ment’s structural integrity. play on the structures.” “We felt it would be a danger to allow the public and children to play on the structures,” Piper said. Mark Piper The multi-climbing structures have Powhatan County facilities manager been closed with caution tape and signs placed all around them since May 14 and are expected to be dismantled by the end of June, he said. One of them was aimed at ages 2 to 5 while the other was for children ages 5 to 12. The other playground equipment in the park is made of metal and is still safe for children to use, Pat Weiler, county adminPHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND istrator, said. The playground is located near a picnic Two large playground structures in Fighting Creek Park are closed see PARK page 2A

Improved cell service closer due to supervisors’ action By Laura McFarland News Editor

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ome Powhatan County residents are one step closer to getting better cell phone coverage. The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors voted on Monday, June 2, to approve a conditional use permit for a proposed 195-foot monopole tower on Manakintown Ferry Road that is expected to boost service for some cell phone users in the area with the potential for more to be affected at a later date. County community development di-

Christmas Mother program needs new home By Laura McFarland News Editor

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he Powhatan Christmas Mother Everyday program might have to undergo major changes if it can’t find a new home soon. The local nonprofit had to move out of the War Memorial Building on May 15 after an agreement was reached between Powhatan County and a local group to turn it into a cultural arts center. That left the Christmas Everyday Committee, which runs the program, with two storage units full of all its belongings and no idea where to go next, Sandy Shelton of Powhatan, a committee member, said. The program’s busiest season is in the fall as it readies for Christmas, when it provides gifts of clothes, toiletries, toys, household goods and food to more than 250 local see HOME page 4A

and scheduled to be dismantled by the end of the month because they have been deemed unsafe for use by children or adults.

Congratulations to the Powhatan Class of 2014!

rector March Altman presented the final proposal for the permit requested by SBA Communications Corporation, the company planning to build the tower. At this time, the county has been informed that Verizon is the only service provider that has committed to locate on the tower, he said, but added that SBA “is required by the conditions of the (conditional use permit) to allow additional providers to co-locate on the tower.” That means good news for Verizon customers when the tower at 2171

PHOTOS BY ANJIE HENLEY

see CELL page 2A

Relay for Life

Community joins for cancer fight By Laura McFarland News Editor

V.G. Palmore Jr. doesn’t dwell on the fact that he has cancer. He has work to do as a local carpenter and a family to be with, and he refuses to be defined by a disease that is attacking his body. But for a few minutes on Saturday, May 31, the Powhatan native took time to acknowledge one aspect of the disease — that he has survived it once and plans to do so again. “It’s not gone, but, as the doctor said, hopefully it’s on the run,” he said. Palmore, 62, was one of dozens of men, women and children who participated in the survivor walk at the county’s Relay For Life held at Powhatan Junior High School. Several hundred par-

Inside A7 New group provides networking venue for women

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Top, mortarboards take to the air as Powhatan High School’s 2014 graduates celebrate after Saturday’s commencement ceremonies. Center, the JROTC provided a “Bridge of Swords.” Below, Tre Talifero looks to the audience as he holds his diploma. Bottom, a program from the ceremony is surrounded by flowers.

V.G. Palmore Jr. was one of the dozens of cancer survivors who introduced themselves and what kind of cancer they have survived to participants of the Powhatan Relay for Life.

ticipants spent the day holding fundraisers, walking laps, celebrating life, and remembering those taken too soon by cancer. It was Palmore’s first time at a Relay event, although he originally

Evan Pfab Co-valedictorian

Catherine Broyles Co-valedictorian PHOTOS: CANDID COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Evan Michael Pfab and Catherine Paige “Catie” Broyles graduated on Saturday as co-valedictorians of the Powhatan High School Class of 2014. More on the honor graduates can be found in a special commencement section in today’s edition.

see RELAY page 3A

Sports B1 Powhatan varsity softball falls one game short of the state tournament

Index Calendar Classified Obituaries Opinion TV Listings

A6 B6-7 A5 A6 B5-6


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