12/31/2014

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Powhatan, Virginia

The hometown paper of James A. Cline

Vol. XXVII No. 52

December 31, 2014

Prison layoffs minimized TOP 10 STORIES 2014 TOP STORY OF THE YEAR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Prison layoffs lowered

By Laura McFarland News Editor

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ayoffs were not as dire as originally anticipated with the closing of Powhatan Main Correctional Center, making it the top story of the year. In the No. 1 spot, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced on Oct. 15 that part of his plan to meet an $882 million shortfall in the state’s budget in the next two years included cutting 565 jobs. The Powhatan Main Correctional Center fell under a $346 million cut from the state’s fiscal year 2015 budget, with the prison closing by the end of 2014. Prison officials expected to close 329 positions by the end of the year. While the main center closed on Dec. 9, the Powhatan Receiving Unit and the Powhatan Medical Unit remain open. Initially 64 employees were laid off, but since that time, the Virginia Department of Corrections has offered a recall or placement to 60 of those employees, leaving only four laid off, according to Lisa E. Kinney, director of communications.

SRP debate War Memorial Building School facilities study Beasley appointed judge Sunday hunting Clerk of Court Playground equipment Overbey trial Watkins retires

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Layoffs were drastically limited when the Powhatan Main Correctional Center closed as part of a state budget cut.

In the end, 66 employees took severance or enhanced severance, 217 received placements within the system, and four were laid off, she said. “The department was much more successful in placing employees than originally anticipated for several reasons. Chief among those was a purposeful slowdown in hiring prior to the closing announcement and a complete halt to hiring when the budget cuts were announced,” she said. “These and other cost-sav-

ing actions produced many more vacancies than anticipated.”

#2 SRP issue

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owhatan County’s two top governing bodies were at odds for the bulk of 2014 with the fight between the Board of Supervisors and the School Board over the controversial issue of the school’s Supplemental Retirement Program, or SRP. seeTOP 10 page 2A

Interact makes Christmas Timberlake to run for supervisor seat holiday brighter for others By Laura McFarland

By Laura McFarland

News Editor

News Editor

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fter working all semester to raise funds, the Powhatan High School Interact Club was able to spread some Christmas cheer this month to carry into the New Year. Members of the club participated in two activities in the last week of the semester designed to help a wide variety of people in the community. On Wednesday, Dec. 17, about 11 students went shopping for SUBMITTED PHOTO $1,800 worth of food that they then took to the Feeding Powhat- Members of Powhatan High School’s Interact Club raised money and stocked the shelves of the Feeding Powhatan

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ongtime Powhatan resident Gail Timberlake announced on Tuesday, Dec. 23 she is running for the District 2 seat on the Powhatan Board of Supervisors in an upcoming special election. Timberlake said she represents an informed, independent voice that will use her strengths in leadership and service to bring balance to the board. She said she can be effective in the efforts to build fruitful relations between the county’s two elected, decision-making boards –

TIMBERLAKE the board of supervisors and the Powhatan County School Board. “Lifelong quality education is a standard set forth in our 2030 vision that I can focus on,” she said. “I believe education is see TIMBERLAKE page 5A

see INTERACT page 4A Food Pantry.

WA R E S E E K I N G R E  E L E C T I O N I N 2015 By Laura McFarland mary elections. The resented the 65th DisNews Editor

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el. Lee Ware, R-65, announced last week that he intends to seek reelection to the House of Delegates from the 65th District in 2015. Ware made the announcement on Tuesday, Dec. 23, that he will be a candidate for the Republican nomination at the 2015 pri-

chairs of all four Republican Party committees comprising the 65th District recently voted unanimously to use the primary elections to determine the nomination for the House seat. The 65th House District consists of all of Powhatan, southwestern Chesterfield, western Goochland and eastern Fluvanna counties. Ware, 62, has rep-

trict since 1998. He is chairman of the Finance committee in the house and also serves as a ranking member of the Rules, the Commerce and Labor and the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources committees. By appointment, he serves on the Coal and Energy, Unemployment, Small Business, Water, Health Insurance Reform, the Jamestown-

Inside A1 Soils judging teams win state contest

Together with several members of the state senate, Ware serves on the Joint Subcommittee for Tax Preferences. He has received commendations from numerous civic groups and professional associations for his legislative and constituent services. “It is a privilege to WARE carry our citizens’ and Yorktown Foundation, communities’ interests the War of 1812 Bicen- to Richmond and to astennial and Civics Edu- sist constituents in navigating the many agencation commissions.

Sports B1 2014: Year in Review

cies of state government,” Ware said. “I will continue to press for fiscal discipline in state taxes and spending, for policies that make business investment – and expansion – in Virginia attractive and for policies and programs that benefit rather than burden our taxpayers, our schools, our society and our liberties.” Ware also announced that Jean Gannon of Powhatan will

serve as his campaign manager for the 2015 primary and general elections. Gannon is active in several Republican women’s organizations and in both the Powhatan and Chesterfield Republican county committees. Sara Capelli of Midlothian, who has been employed for several campaigns by Friends of Lee Ware, will again conduct special events.

Index Calendar Classified Property Crossword Horoscope Obituaries Opinion

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