50¢
Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Charles Cabaniss
Vol. XXVII No. 45
Powhatan events honor veterans By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
owhatan County marked Veterans Day with words and music meant to honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Several celebrations were held on or around Tuesday, Nov. 11 to show the community’s appreciation for the sacrifices veterans have made. People young and old gathered in the different events to say thank you in their own ways. The commemoration started early with A Veterans Day Musical held on Sunday, Nov. see VETS page 3A
School Board looks at five-year plan for Capital Improvement By Laura McFarland News Editor
T
he Powhatan County School Board got its first look at a five-year Capital Improvement Plan for the schools that takes into account major potential projects.
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Members of the Powhatan High School JROTC hosted a Veterans Day program for the school and community on Nov. 11.
Dozens came out on Nov. 13 to mark the dedication of new playground equipment in Figthing Creek Park. Top right, supervisor Bill Melton gets children to help him cut the ribbon. Right, Ethan King plays on the new toys. PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Playground reopens with bright new look By Laura McFarland News Editor
E
November 19, 2014
than King wore a look of concentration as he made his way up the brightly colored new piece of play-
ground equipment in Fighting Creek Park last week. The small climbing incline was too much a challenge for the 2 ½year-old just yet, but the stairs got him where he wanted to go – the big yellow slide.
Superintendent Eric L. Jones presented the CIP 2015-2020 to the board during a workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 11 saying it was a draft for their review and information only. The board will look at the document more closely in December and January and as it works with the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors to have a cohesive CIP with the county, he said. The biggest change to the five-year plan, which is updated yearly, was the addition of the results of a comprehensive facilities study of the schools, Jones said. “Given the facilities study results and the recommendations of the steering committee of that group, we decided we would move that to the top of the list,” he said. The steering committee that worked on the study recommended an option that would involve a renovation and addition to the Powhatan Junior High School to turn it into a middle school and close the existing Pocahontas Middle School. That projected $35 million option would lead to a grade realignment of prekindergarten to fifth at the elementary schools and sixth to eighth grades at the renovated junior high school. The CIP is a five-year projection of capital funding needs taking into account items that are projected to exceed $25,000, Jones said. It includes projects such as the construction or renovation of schools or other facilities, major repairs such as roofing and HVAC systems, asphalt repair and the replacement of school buses and other support vehicles. The bus garage replacement that had been on the top of the list for a number of years moved down, but it could go back up at the “pleasure of the board,” Jones said. “Our thinking was the level of need that has been expressed at the junior high based on the facilities study and the fact that it is where we educate children trumps the need, at least in the short term, over the bus garage,” he said.
Possible renovation projects
His mom, Misty King, just stood back and watched with a smile as her son and his sister Madison, 4, enjoyed the newly installed playground equipment.
The CIP breaks down costs by projected year, but all of that could change if the school board and board of supervisors choose to change the different projects. The projected renovation of the junior high
see PLAY page 2A
see CIP page 4A
Rotary Club presents checks By Laura McFarland News Editor
T
he Rotary Club of Powhatan left its mark on the community last week with the presentation of checks at its annual Charity Night. The organization handed out thousands of dollars in checks to groups that help with medical, nutritional, physical fitness and educational needs in the community. Rotary’s Charity Night, which was held on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the County Seat Restaurant, was a great re-
minder of what the club does and who it touches, Steve Jenkins, executive secretary, said. “A lot of times you come to the meetings every week but you don’t always see the people you touch,” he said. The mood of the night was jovial from the start. The Rotarians kept up a tradition practiced at the usual early morning meetings called Happy Dollars. Members put money on the table and tell something they are happy about – anything from all the people PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
see ROTARY page 2A Recipients of checks from Rotary Club of Powhatan on Charity Night.
Inside
Sports
A5 Board honors Powhatan Elementary staff
B1 B.T. Washington closes book on Indians’ best season since ‘11
Index Calendar Ax Classified B6-7 Sheriff Report A2 Crossword A7 Obituaries A8 Opinion A6 Property B2 TV Listings B4-5