02/11/2015

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Powhatan, Virginia

The hometown paper of Dede Yokeley

Vol. XXVIII No. 5

February 11, 2015

Reservoir agreement moves forward By Laura McFarland News Editor

P

OWHATAN – With the adoption of a new water and wastewater master plan last week, Powhatan County is now in a position to continue negotiations on an agreement for the Cobbs Creek Reservoir in Cumberland County. The $280 million project is a partnership between Powhatan, Cumberland and Henrico counties designed to help with the meeting of potential water needs in the next 50 years, according to Pat Weiler, Powhatan’s county administrator. The project will result in a 1,117-acre reservoir in Cumberland that can store almost 15 billion gallons of water and be used to augment the flow of the James River in times of low or high water levels, she said. Henrico County will own and operate the reservoir, but the agreement will give Powhatan the right to draw a set

“Henrico has been very cooperative working with us so that Powhatan is RIVER INTAKE only paying for its water needs and not AND PUMP COLUMBIA STATION ROAD anything more,” she said. ACCESS The need for this water isn’t there now for the county, Weiler said, but the Main Dam agreement and the many intricate parts that go with it are about making sure Saddle Dam Powhatan is ready for whatever the future has in store. Cobbs Creek “Water is a limited commodity and Reservoir Powhatan currently has no water source for a water system except for the agreement we have with Chesterfield County,” Weiler said. “If Powhatan decides it does want to develop, it will need a water source.” Powhatan could decide it doesn’t need a water source and would rather stay as it is, but this agreement puts the county in a better position with available resources to make those decisions, WeiILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF HENRICO COUNTY ler added. “If you don’t get the option, you amount of water from the James River, cost for that and the amount of water it she said. As a partner, Powhatan County will be permitted to withdraw from the see RESERVOIR page 2A will have a share of the reservoir, but the river are still being negotiated.

Board adopts water, wastewater plan Class makes early By Laura McFarland News Editor

POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors decided in a split vote to adopt a water and wastewater master plan that would help the county evaluate its current

systems and plan for the future. The board voted 3-2 in favor of adopting the plan with discussion leading up to the vote centering on how realistic it was about Powhatan’s future economic development and how the county would pay for the different options proposed.

Chairman Bill Melton, who represents District 4; Jason Moore, District 2; and Carson Tucker, District 5; voted in favor of adopting the plan. David Williams, District 1; and Barry Hodge, District 3; voted against it.

News Editor

POWHATAN – First Sgt. Brad Nunnally became the first candidate to throw his hat in the ring for Powhatan County Sheriff last week. Nunnally announced that he is running for sheriff in the general election on Nov. 3. Nunnally said he is endorsed by two former Powhatan sheriffs, L.T. Woodcock and Nelson Batterson. Nunnally has served for 17 years and is the first sergeant of the patrol division, which contains 21 patrol deputies. Prior to his service with Powhatan, he spent 12 years with Uk-

rops, where he developed a commitment to customer service. “It has been an honor to work in law enforcement and serve Powhatan’s residents, whether with simple advice or in a time of need providing for their safety, he said. “If elected I will lead an office of dedicated men and women concerned with the safety and security of all residents.” As sheriff, Nunnally’s primary goal would be to prevent crime – from cyber to traditional crimes. This is best accomplished through community involvement. He plans to develop citizen forums hosted by the sheriff’s office to discuss issues and develop solutions and cre-

ate a deputy emeritus program with retired law enforcement working with his office.

NUNNALLY

Nunnally is a member of Powhatan’s Special Response Team with a specialty assignment as their sniper, a certified tracker,

search and rescue manager and lead firearms and use of force instructor. He specializes in firearms and patrol tactics instruction with Crater Criminal Justice Academy, where he instructs for over 20 agencies. Nunnally said he will be dedicated to maintaining the safety of the children in the county’s school system. “As a father of two Powhatan students, I have a vested interest in the safety of our children,” he said. Contact Nunnally at 804-551-2151 or visit www.nunnally4sheriff. com. Laura McFarland may be reached at lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.

Two charged with string of break-ins By Laura McFarland News Editor

POWHATAN – A man and woman charged in a string of break-ins in Powhatan, Chesterfield and Hanover counties were arraigned last week in Powhatan County Circuit Court. David Eugene Light, 43, and Shanda Bledsoe, 35, face 12 felony counts of breaking and entering,

grand larceny and larceny with intent to sell, according to Detective Jason Tackett with the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office. The charges are in connection with four break-ins that took place in November 2014 in Powhatan County. The pair was brought from Pamunkey Regional Jail in Hanover County, where they were being held without bond, to Pow-

LIGHT

By Laura McFarland News Editor

see BOARD page 4A

Nunnally to run for Powhatan sheriff By Laura McFarland

career connection

BLEDSOE

hatan to be arraigned on They were each asMonday, Feb. 2, according signed a court appointed to Anne Reynolds, crime attorney that day. Bledanalyst for the Powhatan see CHARGED page 7A County Sheriff’s Office.

Inside

Sports

A3 Powhatan woman wins $100,000

B1 Former PHS catcher among DIII baseball elite.

POWHATAN – A new program at Powhatan High School is turning out to be a winwin situation for students and teachers. The school’s new Child Watch PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND program has partStudent volunteer Kayla nered high school Griffith, senior, plays a students interestgame of memory with preed in early childschooler Harper Garland hood education during the Child Watch with students program at Powhatan High from Flat Rock School. Elementary School whose parents work at the high school and need a safe, engaging place for their children to go before classes start each morning, said Jane Brown, program advisor. Child Watch, which launched shortly after the beginning of the new school year, brings together four high school students with eight children who attend Flat Rock Elementary for an hour of fun and learning before the younger ones head to school. “The teachers here have the same expectations as if they drop their kids off at a daycare or before school program. It is a very professional program,” Brown said. The idea for the program came from the high school’s principal, Tracie Omohundro, who saw a need among her employees and asked Brown if she could help fill it. Brown said she was ecstatic about the opportunity to give her students a chance to put what they are learning into practice. “I love it when someone thinks outside the box and generates an idea that is not only practical but so pertinent and useful to children and families,” Brown said. “My early childhood education students benefit by getting the opportunity to work hands-on with elementary-aged students.” To that end, Brown created a very student-driven program. Senior Hayley Boczar is the main teacher of the class, responsible for creating lesson see CLASS page 3A

Index

Calendar A2 Classified B6-7 Crime Report A4 Letters A6 Obituaries A5 Opinion A6 TV Listings B4-5


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