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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Wesley N. Sims, Jr.
Vol. XXVII No. 43
Special election scheduled for Commonwealth’s Attorney By Laura McFarland
Lacheney said that, according to the who represents District 2, previously announced they law, “a special election to fill a vacancy in News Editor would run for the office if a any constitutional office shall be held he issue of a spepromptly.” special election was held. cial election for With a constitutional officer such as At the meeting on Oct. 20, the soon-to-be chair Carson Tucker, District the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the supervacant Powhatan 5; Bill Melton, District 4; and visors have 15 days from the occurrence County Commonwealth’s Moore voted in favor of the of the vacancy, which is actually on Dec. Attorney seat was a heated 1, not the date he announced his resignaspecial election. topic with the Powhatan Barry Hodge, District 3, tion, to petition the court for the writ of County Board of Supervielection, he said. They also proposed first an HODGE sors, which ultimately votcould request a special unsuccessful moed in favor of having one. election before the resigtion to delay the A motion to petition the Powhatan vote so it could include absent nation date. County Circuit Court to issue a writ of supervisor David Williams, Lacheney pointed out election to fill the upcoming vacancy District 1, and then abstained the difference in the lanpassed with three board members voting from the vote on the special guage related to constituin favor of it, one abstaining and one ab- election. tional officers versus what sent at their meeting on Monday, Oct. 20. the law says about a vaCircuit Court Judge Paul W. Cella for For lack of a quorum cancy of a supervisor’s the 11th Judicial Circuit signed the writ seat – which will be an isThe supervisors had a dison Wednesday, Oct. 22, and scheduled the sue with Moore seeking MELTON special election for Feb. 10, 2015, accord- cussion item related to a spethe Commonwealth’s Atcial election scheduled at their ing to Tom Lacheney, county attorney. torney’s seat. The deadline for candidates to file to workshop at 5 p.m. on Oct. 20. However, The law allows several options in fillwith three board members unable to make ing a vacant board of supervisors’ seat, run for the office is Friday, Dec. 12. The special election will fill the seat it to the earlier meeting due to other obli- Lacheney said. left vacant when Bob Beasley takes office gations, the workshop did not meet a quoThe board has 45 days from the varum, which is three members present. as a General District Court judge in the cancy to make an interim appointment or Tucker and Melton, the only board the court “may” do so. If an interim is 11th Judicial District on Monday, Dec. 1. Richard K. “Dickie” Cox, the current members at the workshop, informally ran appointed, it lasts until the general elecassistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, will through the agenda items, including a dis- tion in November 2015 and no special become interim Commonwealth’s Attor- cussion with Lacheney on a possible spe- election is called. ney at that time until the special election. cial election. No action took place because Both Cox and supervisor Jason Moore, it was not an official meeting. see ELECTION page 2A
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Thousands pour into festival By Laura McFarland News Editor
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eautiful, clear skies combined with wine, food, music and shopping made for another successful year at Powhatan’s Festival of the Grape. The sold out wine festival saw thousands of people pour into the Village area on Saturday, Oct. 25 for the annual event, now in its 12th year. The weather was ideal and the atmosphere was
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ome sweet home just got a little sweeter for Westley Groseclose, who has a newfound freedom in the house where he has spent his entire life. A new addition to his family’s Powhatan County home completed this month means that 11-year-old Westley, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, not only can move about freely but can enter and exit the house without being carried. For his parents, Jessica and Dallas Groseclose, the new addition – built with the support of family, friends and strangers – means a level of independence
By Laura McFarland News Editor
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owhatan County Board of Supervisors member Jason Moore has announced he is resigning from representing District 2 in order to run for the county’s Commonwealth’s Attorney position in a special election on Feb. 10, 2015. Moore sent a letter to board chair Carson Tucker on Thursday, Oct. 23, outlining his reasons for MOORE resigning effective Feb. 8, two days before the special election for the Commonwealth’s Attorney seat. Commonwealth’s Attorney Bob Beasley announced on Thursday, Oct. 9, that he would resign from the position effective Dec. 1 to become a General District Court Judge in the 11th Judicial District. The board of supervisors voted on Monday, Oct. 20, to hold a special election for the position on Feb. 10. In the meantime, Richard K. “Dickie” Cox, assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, will take Beasley’s place as an interim. Both Moore and Cox previously announced their intentions to run in the November 2015 general election for the Commonwealth’s Attorney seat and said that if a special election was called they also
Board takes look at testing By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
S U P P O RT H E L P S B OY G E T D R E A M RO O M News Editor
Moore resigns as supervisor
seeMOORE page 7A
see WINE page 5A Visitors sample wine during the 12th annual Festival of the Grape in Powhatan.
By Laura McFarland
October 29, 2014
for their son he never had before. The fact that so many people came together to help them make it a reality for him is amazing and humbling, Jessica said. Local people and businesses offered funds, donated items and big discounts on materials to help the family complete the project, she said. “People who don’t make any money were delivering $20 bills to us. They said, ‘This is the money my family would normally go out to eat one night. PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND We want to spend it on WestWestley Groseclose, 11, of Powhatan County, ley’s room,’ ” she said. Westley, a fifth-grader at loves his new room, a recently finished addition Pocahontas Middle School, is made to his family’s home to accommodate the needs he has living with Duchenne muscular
see ROOM page 6A dystrophy. He picked out his own décor.
Inside A3 YMCA celebrated 10th anniversary
Sports B1 The Powhatan varsity volleyball team celebrates senior night
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he Powhatan County School Board now has a better understanding of the complexity surrounding the school district’s graduation system, testing and courses that end in certification. Sandy Lynch, assistant superintendent for instruction, and Tracie Omohundro, principal of Powhatan High School, gave a college and career readiness presentation to OMOHUNDRO the board on Tuesday, Oct. 14, during its workshop. The purpose was to give board members an update on how the school district has performed up to this point and where it is expecting to go in the future in regard to graduation, testing and academic courses.
Graduation rates The way schools break down and see TESTING page 4A
Index Calendar A9 Classified B8-10 Crossword A9 Horoscope A6 Obituaries A10 Opinion A8 TV Listings B4-5