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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Lillie M. Bell
Vol. XXVII No. 34
August 27, 2014
Supervisors appropriate bulk of schools’ funds By Laura McFarland News Editor
T
he Powhatan County Board of Supervisors followed through on a promise at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, when it appropriated the bulk of the $1.4 million of Powhatan County Public Schools’ budget that was being held back. The board appropriated $1,137,931 of the Fiscal Year 2015 budget, keeping back $280,000 to be used toward the school’s Supplemental Retirement Program.
The school system’s total budget for fiscal year 2015 is $46,653,440. Supervisors voted to hold back the $1.4 million at its meeting on Monday, July 7, after they took control of the SRP program. The figure also took into account a $14,038 shortfall because of a reduction in state funding for Powhatan County. At the time, supervisors assured Powhatan County School Board members and the public that they intended to appropriate any money not needed to
pay into the trust fund this year. Superintendent Eric L. Jones said it is helpful to know at the start of the school year where the school system stands financially, so he was pleased to hear about the appropriation. “It will allow us to better plan how we are going to meet the deficit and still meet the needs of our students,” he said. Monday’s actions were handled without discussion or fanfare, the supervisors unanimously voting to appro-
priate the funds. David Williams, who represents District 1, said the supervisors were simply following through on what they had said at previous meetings. “We laid out the reasons in the previous meetings why the money was being held back, and that was to make sure we had a full accounting of the associated costs with closing out the SRP,” he said. see FUNDS page 3A
Centenarian saddles up for adventure By Laura McFarland News Editor
At age 104, Bess Arrington would be happy to ride off into the sunset – literally. Arrington of Powhatan has loved riding horses her entire life but gave it up in her 80s. Once a year for the last three years, she has again gotten a taste of one of her true passions as a special birthday treat from Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center.
The nonprofit organization that offers equine therapy to wounded veterans opened its stalls to let Arrington saddle up and take a ride, much to her unending delight. “It was wonderful. I felt right at home. It felt like I was ready to ride,” said Arrington, who has lived in Powhatan County since she was 9 years old. In fact, the only downside the centenarian saw was that, in deference to her age, the ride on June 28 entailed walking around a ring with a spotter instead of galloping off into an open field. “I’d ride every day if I could. I was right exactly where I belonged,” said Arrington, who turned 104 on June 25. The rides started three years ago,
Fausz challenges Forbes for seat in Congress
Bess Arrington’s wish for her 104th birthday was to ride a horse, a wish that has been fulfilled for the last three years by Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center.
Word got to Sherry Newark, board member and co-chair of Lonesome Dove, who told the nonprofit’s founder and president of the board of directors, Clint Arrington, who is not relatsee 104 page 4A
SUBMITTED PHOTO
P OW H ATA N C O U N T Y P U B L I C S C H O O L
Principals ready to roll With the Powhatan County Public Schools’ 2014-2015 year set to start on Tuesday, Sept. 2, the district’s six schools are gearing up to welcome students. The six principals at the helm of the three elementary, one middle, one junior high and one high schools took time out of their busy back to school preparations to offer some insights into the coming year.
By Laura McFarland News Editor
B
ringing better infrastructure, student loan relief and economic stimulus to Powhatan County and the rest of Virginia’s 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives are just a few of the goals Democratic candidate Elliott G. Fausz said he has set for himself in his bid for office. Fausz of Chesterfield County is challenging U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, a Chesapeake Republican, for his seat in the Nov. 4 election. The business manager of a weekly newspaper in Chesterfield County, Fausz accepted the nomination to run on May 29, three days before he got married to his longtime girlfriend, Lyndsay. In lieu of a honeymoon, Fausz started campaigning on June 2 with the complete support and patience of his new wife, he said. That includes a stop in the Powhatan Lions Clubs’ Labor Day Parade on Monday, Sept. 1. The decision to run for Congress was made by Fausz in reaction to what he saw as a lack of accessibility and representation in the 4th District. Openness and accessibility are two big points for the candidate, who said Elliott G. Fausz
when Arrington was asked what she wanted for her 102nd birthday. While she treasures cards and handwritten notes from friends and family, she didn’t want things. What she wanted was to ride a horse again.
FLAT ROCK
POCAHONTAS
POWHATAN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Tanja Atkins-Nelson, Principal
Thomas Sulzer, Principal
Constance G. Deal, Principal
POCAHONTAS
POWHATAN
POWHATAN
MIDDLE SCHOOL
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
Dr. Lynn Clayton-Prince, Principal
Jason S. Tibbs, Principal
Tracie Omohundro, Principal
See Questions and Answers on page 2
seeFAUSZ page 7A
Inside
Sports
Index
A7 Lineup set for Labor Day parade
B1 Blessed Sacrament football kicks off their season against the defending Division II state champs
Calendar Classified Crossword Horoscope Obituaries Opinion TV Listings
A5 B8-9 A9 A9 A5 A8 B6-7