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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Charles Grady
Vol. XXVII No. 51
December 24, 2014
Board debates need for facilitator By Laura McFarland News Editor
T
he shadow cast by a contentious year between Powhatan County’s Board of Supervisors and School Board was at the forefront of a resolution passed by the supervisors at their meeting on Monday, Dec. 15. The supervisors voted 3-2 in favor of a resolution that at its root authorized the hiring of a facilitator for a joint workshop be-
tween the two boards in 2015. The resolution authorized county administrator Pat Weiler to execute any documents related to organizing the meeting. At the heart of the debate were two issues – the question of whether the boards actually needed a third party to mediate between them and whether it was sound fiscally to have each board spend $3,000 – for a total of $6,000 – to hire the consultant. Board chairman Carson
Tucker, who represents District 5, Jason Moore, District 2, and Bill Melton, District 4, voted in favor of the resolution. David Williams, District 1, and Barry Hodge, District 3, voted against it. The supervisors discussed the decision both in their workshop and the meeting that followed. In introducing the issue, Tucker said one of the goals set out by the supervisors in their strategic plan was to work more collaboratively with the
Giving pranks
school board going forward. He said he had spoken repeatedly with school board chairman Rick Cole, who represents District 1, about how to make that happen. The school division’s supplemental retirement program had become a bone of contention between the two boards in the last year before the supervisors voted to shut it down and then took control of it. The issue became con-
By Laura McFarland News Editor
I
f you are a member of the Adams family at Christmas time, you better watch your back. Some of the younger members of the extended Powhatan family have adopted a new Christmas tradition to share in addition to holiday meals and exchanging presents. They have started giving the gift of
pranks. For two years in a row, a few ringleaders have led the charge in pranks that involved the decorations of older family members, according to Chad Adams, one of said ringleaders. But he is quick to point the finger at his wife, Lori, as the real mastermind behind the start of this relatively new tradition. see PRANKS page 3A
Williams and Hodge
see BOARD page 2A
Trooper follows in father’s footsteps
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
The Adams family of Powhatan is making it a Christmas tradition to play pranks on one another. This year, Juanita and Larry, back center, were chosen as the victims.
tentious over the course of several months of meetings, workshops and closed sessions relating to the SRP. Tucker proposed holding a joint workshop between the two boards and paying a facilitator $6,000 to help them work together in the wake of any linHODGE gering negative effects of the fight over the SRP. spoke against having a facilitator both at the workSupervisors make shop and in the meeting before the final vote. their arguments
TOP PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND SUBMITTED PHOTO, RIGHT
Virginia State Trooper Joshua Barner, top, followed in the footsteps of his father, Trooper Robert Barner, right, who died in 1997.
By Laura McFarland News Editor
A
number is just a number until it’s not anymore. For Joshua Barner, the number 1627 is a connection between his past, present and future. The new Virginia State trooper and former Powhatan resident wears the number proudly on his chest every time
he puts on his uniform and badge. Each time he does it, he knows he is mirroring the actions of a man who pinned the same number to his chest years earlier – his father, the late Robert E. Barner, who served as a state trooper in Powhatan. see TROOPER page 4A
Performing Arts group passes the torch By Laura McFarland News Editor
T
he Performing Arts Foundation of Powhatan bowed out of existence this fall, but before it went, it made a farewell gesture that supported what the group was all about. Several board members of the 10-yearold nonprofit organization presented a check for its remaining funds – $9,000 – to the War Memorial Cultural Arts and Community Center on Friday, Dec. 12, according to Susan Ash, who founded the original group. While it hosted several events through the years, the Performing Arts Foundation never reached its main goal, which was to bring a cultural arts center to the county, she said. Now that the former War Memorial
Building has been taken over for just that purpose, Ash said the original group recognized a community of this size could not support two nonprofits with the same mission. “We chose them because they were doing what we wanted to do – that was build a community center for Powhatan. So what better place to give the money,” said Ash, who is also a board member of the War Memorial group. The gesture was a surprise for most members of the War Memorial group, who were simply asked to come to a small Christmas party. When Ash announced the $9,000 doSUBMITTED PHOTO nation, the shock was palpable, Karen Original and current Performing Arts Foundation of Powhatan members Ylimaki, secretary of the War Memorial who came to present a check to the War Memorial Cultural Arts and group, said. Some surprised members ex- Community Center were, from left, front row, Pat Meek, Kathy Scott,
Inside A8 Christmas Home Tour covers eight stops
Lisa Nye and Dan Jones, and, back row, Susan Ash, Becky Lillywhite and
see ARTS page 5A Holly Smith.
Sports B1 Powhatan wrestling dominates Cumberland in first home match of Tanaka Era
Index Calendar A2 Classified B6-7 Crime Report A2 Crossword A7 Horoscope A7 Obituaries Ax Opinion A6 TV Listings B4-5