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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Tricia Cary
Vol. XXVII No. 30
July 30, 2014
Overbey sentenced to two life sentences By Laura McFarland News Editor
Circuit Court Judge Pamela S. Baskervill sentenced Jason Merritt Overbey to two life sentences for murder on Monday, July 28, in Powhatan Circuit Court in line with a jury recommendation earlier this spring. On April 21, Overbey,
35, of Amelia was found guilty by a jury of two counts of first degree murder and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony for the May 22, 2011, murders of Kenneth William Moore Jr., 47, and Robert Linwood Mann Jr., 42, both of Powhatan. The jury recommended Overbey be sentenced to two life sentences for
the murder convictions and to three- and fiveyear mandatory sentences for the firearms convictions. Each first degree murder charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, which the jury imposed and the judge had the right to abide by or change for a lesser amount of time. Moore and Mann were
found dead of gunshot wounds on May 22, 2011, on Moore’s family farm at 1309 Stavemill Road in southeastern Powhatan. According to documents on file in Powhatan County Circuit Court, Moore, who was Overbey’s employer, and Mann appeared to have been shot in the head with a shotgun.
According to court documents, Overbey admitted to shooting the two men and took authorities to where he had placed the shotgun. The long delay between the crimes and the trial was due to several evaluations of Overbey to determine his sanity and his competency to see OVERBEY page 4A
OVERBEY
Attorney General: school board action on Meara illegal By Laura McFarland
gram in the position of associate superintendent News Editor during her final year of The Powhatan County employment. The request for an School Board admitted opinion also questioned an ineligible employee whether the Powhatan when it allowed former County Board of Superschool superinvisors — which tendent Margaseized control of ret Meara to parthe SRP proticipate in the gram and trust Supplemental fund at its MonRetirement Proday, July 7, gram and made meeting — could rescind its the decision in a prior authoriza“legally defection of funding tive” way, acfor the program. cording to an HERRING Del. Lee opinion handed down by the state’s attor- Ware, R-65, requested the official advisory opinney general. Virginia Attorney ion on March 3 at the reGeneral Mark R. Herring quest of the board of supervisors. reviewed the legality of In the opinion, rethe school board’s deci- leased on Tuesday, July sion to allow Meara into 22, Herring said that the SRP after working Meara could not legally part time at a reduced sal- participate in the SRP ary in the retirement pro- program and the board of
supervisors could “modify, discontinue, or elect not to make annual appropriations to the program.” Herring’s review The six-page opinion from Herring pointed out that the requirements set out when the SRP was created in 1996 state the employee must work “in the same or equivalent position” as before the final year of employment. The duties for an associate superintendent were created in July 2013 by the school system and signed by Meara, and according to the review, those duties “differ in several material ways from the duties under state law of a superintendent.” “For that reason, it is my opinion that the position of associate superin-
tendent is not ‘the same the facts that are presentor equivalent position’ as ed to him, Dunkum said. “In this case there has the position of superintendent,” Herring wrote. been an advisory opinion “Therefore, under the issued and I am sure evterms of the 1996 plan, erybody will read it and the former superintendent take into consideration what is in it. But is not eligible to it is just that -participate in the an advisory SRP.” opinion,” he Meara desaid. clined to comIn regard to ment on the adquestions of vice of her Meara’s intent attorney, Craig or decision to Dunkum, and reenter the SRP, ferred all quesDunkum said tions to him. that as far as he Dunkum said MEARA knows, “the he is still reviewonly thing Dr. Meara has ing Herring’s advisory opinion and will continue done is serve Powhatan to collect information be- County schools for quite fore he advises Meara on a few years as a superinwhat is the best course of tendent and apparently did an extremely good action going forward. The request for an ad- job at that.” In his review, Herring visory opinion seeks guidance on what the at- called into question the torney general believes is way in which the school the situation based upon board made Meara a plan
participant. Records submitted to him show the decision to admit her into the program was discussed in closed session, but when it was voted upon in open session, Meara was not identified by name or position and “it was not even disclosed that the school board was voting to admit someone to the SRP.” The vote was merely ‘to approve SRP consideration,’ which does not identify in any meaningful way the substantive action to be taken, a necessary step to make a public vote valid as required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, he wrote. With regard to funding the SRP, the Constitution of Virginia limits the power of a county to see MEARA page 7A
Powhatan woman sparkles in state competition By Laura McFarland News Editor
rances Adams wheeled out her mop and broom, hunched over, covered head-to-toe in a head scarf and pink bathrobe and singing about a no account man. But when the robe was thrown off to reveal Adams, 84, of Powhatan in a black velvet evening gown with ostrich plumbs and singing about moving on, the audience at the 2014 Ms. Virginia Senior America Pageant went wild. “It is not what you expect at an ‘age of elegance’ pageant,” Adams said. “To have brought the house down with my talent was exciting. I have never heard such applause in my life.” Adams said she loved everything about being one of nine contestants in the pageant, held
on Saturday, July 19, at the Healy Auditorium of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton. She made the top five finalists, and — although she didn’t win — she was voted by her fellow contestants as Miss Congeniality, which astounded her. “That is the most prestigious one you could get because you got along with everybody,” she said. Adams competed alongside women from all around the state at the 30th annual pageant, which draws attention to women who are “60 or better” by having them share their life experiences, achievements and talents, Annmarie Pittman, state director of the pageant, said. The purpose is to show that senior women see ADAMS page 3A
Frances Adams of Powhatan shows the black evening gown she wore during the Ms. Virginia Senior America Pageant and the award for Miss Congeniality she received.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Supervisors create Vision 2030 plan for Powhatan By Laura McFarland News Editor
T
he Powhatan County Board of Supervisors is looking to the future, and it has outlined where it wants to go in the next two decades. At its meeting on Monday, July 21, the board adopted its Vision 2030 plan, which lays out attainable goals the members want to focus on in the coming years. Chairman Carson Tucker, District 5,
presented the vision, which the board Weiler, county administrator, and March members brainstormed during Altman, deputy county admina three-day retreat held from istrator. Tyler St. Clair, a local govThursday, July 10, to Saturernment consultant, facilitated day, July 12. the retreat. “The process that we used The plan is built around a to create the vision was probvision statement for the county: ably almost as important as “Our local government prothe product itself,” he said. vides an attainable quality of “We forced ourselves to sit life for a diverse citizenry. Our down and talk through the isTUCKER commitment to rural character sues that the county does face and a quality education system, along with and will face in the future.” Also attending the retreat were Pat excellent public safety, health and human
Inside A8 High School students take part in “A day in the life of a linesman.”
service professionals provides the climate that enables our residents to achieve their aspirations. Our transparent and responsible decisions enable this future to unfold purposefully.” From that, the board members wanted to identify and discuss issues that are critical to the county and focused on seven strategic target areas, Tucker said. As stewards of the land, the county “protects, preserves and encourages the responsible use of its natural resources to see VISION page 3A
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