04/22/2015

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Powhatan, Virginia

The hometown paper of David Lyles

Vol. XXVIII No. 17

April 22, 2015

Majority of county’s voting machines banned By Laura McFarland News Editor

POWHATAN – A decision by the State Board of Elections to ban the use of WINVote touch-screen voting machines across Virginia means a costly undertaking for Powhatan County, which will have to replace the majority of its equipment. The board announced at its public meeting on Tuesday, April 14 that it was decertifying the use of the WINVote system after careful review of serious security concerns that had been identified, according to Karen Alexander, Powhatan County’s voter registrar. The decision, which is effective immediately, means that 45 touch screen voting machines used by Powhatan County in 10 out of its 13 voting precincts

are no longer usable, a disconcerting decision made worse by the fact that the June 9 primary is less than two months away, she said. Instead of the touch screens, localities will have to use optical scanners that scan paper ballots, Alexander said. The county currently has six of those. The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors decided a year ago to purchase two new optical scanners per year until the county had enough for each precinct, she said. “That was our slow way of meeting this mandate we knew was coming from the state board,” she said. Last week’s decision will decidedly speed up the process, said Alexander, who was scheduled to go before the board of supervisors on Monday, April 20 to

Margaret Manning, right, casts her ballot using an see VOTING page A optical scanner voting machine in November 2014.

A Merry Chase

Out with the old at recycling day By Laura McFarland News Editor

By Laura McFarland News Editor

P

OWHATAN – Wilbur the pig, also known as Wilbur the Wily, was apprehended on the morning of Monday, April 13, in the 900 block of Rocky Ford Road. The pig, which is pink and weighs in at 25 to 30 pounds, gave six deputies with the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office a run for their money as they chased her around a private residence. Blankets and a rope were used in multiple attempts to herd, trap and ensnare the pig, but it still took two and see CHASE page A

photo by Laura McFarland

photos by Laura McFarland

Above, Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office deputies catch a runaway pig after more than two and a half hours on the chase. Below, deputies use blankets to try to safely capture the pig, nicknamed Wilbur.

POWHATAN – Some homes in Powhatan County became a little less crowded this month as residents cleared out the clutter in time for the Powhatan Anti-Litter Council’s annual Amnesty Day recycling event. A steady stream of cars came through the Powhatan Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 11 to get rid of old tires, appliances, electronics and papers, according to Karen Ylimaki, chair of the council. The annusubmitted photo al event, The Powhatan Anti-Litter which offers Council’s annual recycling free or low- event collected televistions, cost recycling tires, paper and more items. each year, proved once again to be a good day for recycling and the environment, she said. “These items do not go in landfills or ditches, they are recycled,” she said. “People like to see their county clean. It is cool to see the county clean and not be wasteful.” It costs the Powhatan Anti-Litter Council about $4,000 to put on the event each year as it has to pay for transport for the items and the sersee RECYCLING page A

Walking the nation on a mission to raise money for the Navy Seal Foundation By Laura McFarland

Paul Ferraro, center, is walking across the United States to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation. On April 9 and 10, he passed through Powhatan County and Volunteer Fire Department Company 1 hosted him. Shown with him are from left, Ashley Pugh, Chief Carroll Smith, Steve Pugh and Joe Shupp.

News Editor

POWHATAN – Paul Ferraro has spent a grand total of two days in Powhatan County – the day he walked in and the day he walked out. They happened back to back this month. Ferraro of New Jersey walked through Powhatan County on April 9 and 10 on his journey to walk across the United States to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation. The foundation provides immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and its families. A week into his trip from Virginia Beach to Corosee WALKING page A

photo by Laura McFarland

Inside

Sports

A6 Cub Scout Pack donates to Backpacks of Love

B1 PHS pitcher tosses no-hitter in 11-0 win over Charlottesville

Index

Calendar A9 Classified B6-7 Crime Report A3 Property A7 Puzzles A9 Obituaries A2 Opinion A8 TV Listings B8-9


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