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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Marjorie Eichmann
Vol. XXVIII No. 40
September 30, 2015
Fighting Creek receives statewide award By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – Powhatan County’s Fighting Creek Park Trail Extension project was recognized last week for winning a statewide award honoring the hard work and thriftiness that made it a reality. County administrator Pat Weiler talked about the project that won a 2015 Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) during the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors’ workshop on Monday, Sept. 21. “This is a big deal for Powhatan County to win this award,” she said. The project renovated the old trail and extended its length through Fighting Creek Park see AWARD page 9A
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Erik Johnston, far left, director of government affairs for VACo, presents an award recognizing Fighting Creek Park’s Trail Extension project to some of the people who made it possible.
Ordinances could help clean up properties By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors tried to improve county staff’s ability to keep local properties from becoming eyesores or dangerous to the public with ordinances it passed last week. During its workshop on Monday, Sept. 21, the board unanimously adopted three ordinances aimed at keeping Powhatan
properties from becoming visibly overrun with derelict cars, trash and unsafe structures. All three ordinances were adopted during public hearings where residents had a chance to weigh in on them. March Altman, deputy county administrator, introduced each of the ordinances that would go in the county code and allow staff to enforce standards related to the different issues. With each of the ordinances, Altman and Tom Lacheney, county attorney, stressed that the goal was not to infringe
on the property rights of individuals but give county staff an avenue to work with property owners as much as possible before legal action might be sought. Since all of the ordinances are complaint based, county involvement would only start if a property was reported by a neighbor or someone else, Altman said.
Trash and refuse The ordinance that garnered the most discussion before its adoption was one re-
lated to the removal and disposal of trash from a property. The purpose of the ordinance is to allow the county the ability to go out and regulate trash, garbage, refuse, and other substances on properties if those items may endanger the health or safety of others, Altman said. When asked what constitutes endangering the health of any person or injuriously affecting public health or safety, Lacheney pointed to the example of trash see ORDINANCES page 2A
Marcellus vies for supervisor seat Gray to run for school board By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – Bob Marcellus has announced he is running for the Powhatan Board of Supervisors District 2 seat. Marcellus, a conservative Republican, said he believes government needs to get out of the way of the people; low regulations and taxes don’t conflict with a community keeping its rural and agricultural roots and thriving, and individual rights should be supported at every level of government. Marcellus said he supports the Republican-endorsed 3 cent countywide tax cut; a “fast track” new business policy of “red tape reduction” eliminating regulations that hurt existing business; eliminating burdensome conditional use permit processing for homeowners building additions for elderly relatives; having no BPOL tax, and Sec-
ond Amendment rights by waiving concealed handgun permit fees to all qualified citizens processed “while you wait.” He is a long-time commodity trader in
MARCELLUS global markets, has published writings, authored research, and privately advised national and state legislators on U.S. fiscal and monetary policy, commodities, financial regulation, and energy policy. He served as an economic advisor to the Virginia governor. A youth soccer coach and referee, Marcellus
said his vision is “a field of dreams for Powhatan kids, “a cutting-edge government reform idea utilizing hundreds of acres of taxpayer-owned land to build ballfields.” His team built the Bryan Park fields 20 years ago in a public private partnership with city contributed land. His league obtained grants, corporate sponsorships, and tournament revenues to build fields without debt or tax increases. Marcellus and his wife homeschool three children and love their farm on the Appomattox River. He said he worries that Powhatan’s ill-informed fiscal policies of high taxes, big spending and record debt are unsustainable. Marcellus said he is tired of empty rhetoric and banal campaign slogans that are not supported by detailed and proactive policy ideas, so he stands as a choice for voters. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.
By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – Jessica H. Gray has announced she is running for the Powhatan County School Board District 3 seat. Gray, who has lived in Powhatan 13 years, said she has two children in Powhatan County Public Schools, one at Pocahontas Elementary and one at Powhatan Junior High. She has a Master of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and many years of leadership, management, college-level teaching and program accreditation. She currently works in leadership/management at VCU Medical Center. In that role, she works extensively in performance improvement, program development and quality analysis. During the 2014-2015 school year, she served on the school health advisory commit-
Inside
Sports
A9 PHS JROTC honors those who serve.
B1 Indians fall to Hornets in OT
tee to the school board. “It was an honor and privilege to work alongside our school nurses,” she said. If elected, Gray said she promises to provide
GRAY the residents of Powhatan County with transparency, accountability and financial responsibility. Transparency is crucial to gaining and keeping the trust of the citizens of Powhatan and in forging and maintaining a productive working relationship with the board of supervisors, she said.
As a school board member, she said she will be accountable to the people of Powhatan for decisions and actions that she makes while on the board. As an elected official, it is her responsibility to answer the questions of the people she represents and to be accountable to representing the needs of the citizens. With more than 60 percent of each tax dollar at stake, she said she will use taxpayer money wisely and for items and programs that clearly benefit students, teachers and schools. Wise spending, saving, and planning for the future are crucial in order to maintain financial stability going forward, she said. Gray said she hopes the citizens of District 3 will consider electing her in the Nov. 3 election. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.
Index Calendar A2 Classified B8-9 Crime Report A8 Letters A6 Obituaries A2 Opinion A6 Puzzles A7 TV Listings B6-7