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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Shelby Adams
Vol. XXVIII No. 51
December 23, 2015
Habitat leadership changes hands By Laura McFarland News Editor
P PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Bertha Walker, an employee of Monacan Services, joins in the singing during the special “Miracles of God” service held at Graceland Baptist Church.
Making a joyful noise By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – Love and acceptance abounded last week at a special Christmas praise service held at Graceland Baptist Church. The church invited members of the special needs community to join in “Miracles of God,” a service filled with music, poetry, sharing and the simple message of the
Christmas story on Monday, Dec. 14. The program didn’t follow the most conventional schedule to help keep some of the audience members’ attention, and there were occasional shouts and exclamations heard from the pews. Rather than drawing stares or frowns, the Rev. Greg LeMaster, associate pastor at Graceland and see JOYFUL page 8A
Supervisor charged with misdemeanor sexual battery By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – A member of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors was charged last week with a misdemeanor sexual battery charge related to an incident alleged to have occurred in December 2014. Carson Tucker, who was re-elected in November for his second term representing District 5, was served with a releasable class 1 misdemeanor warrant on Tuesday, Dec. 15, for sexual battery. He was not taken into custody at that time. A criminal complaint filed in the Powhatan County General District Court alleges that the incident occurred during a James River Master Naturalist meeting and Christmas party held on Dec. 16, 2014, at Belmead Mansion in Powhatan. Michelle Whitehurst of Powhatan, who filed the complaint, said on Thursday, Dec. 17 that
OWHATAN – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. As Terry Paquette, outgoing executive director of Habitat for Humanity Powhatan, sat next to Tim Kidwell, the man who will take over his position on Jan. 1, 2016, during a recent interview, the men started to have a conversation all their own. If he had one piece of advice to give Kidwell, Paquette said it would be that he should always be aware Habitat isn’t a one-man show. The nonprofit organization has a purpose – building houses and helping with critical repairs for local families in need – and those tasks can’t be completed by one person. “One of the things you learn quickly is you have a mission to accomplish and if you don’t ask for help, you are not going to accomplish it,” said Paquette, who has held the part-time position with Habitat since Jan. 1, 2009. Kidwell, meanwhile, is soaking it all in. “I am ready, willing and able for you to train me. I want to steal some of your passion,” Kidwell said, pointing to his predecessor and adding, “It is going to be a tough act to follow. He has some mighty big shoes.”
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Terry Paquette, right, outgoing executive director of Habitat for Humanity Powhatan, hands over the hammer to his successor, Tim Kidwell, who takes over on Jan. 1, 2016.
Here Paquette clarifies a point. Kidwell won’t be replacing him but is taking a job that he will do in his own way. The way things are done may change some under his direction, but Habitat’s mission won’t. “The Lord doesn’t want Tim to be Terry. He wants him to be Tim and take it to the next level,” Pacquette said. Paquette also points out that
when he became executive director, volunteer construction supervisor Larry Elliott went the extra mile to help him find his footing in the new role. He said Elliott taught him about building a house while managing volunteers and how to have patience with both. “My understanding is, and I have seen it, that builders have a see HABITAT page 2A
Teen charged with murder of Powhatan man killed in crash that ended police chase By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – A Powhatan man was killed and his wife seriously injured on Tuesday, Dec. 15 when a police chase that started in Cumberland County ended in Powhatan County when the driver who refused to stop struck their vehicle. Thomas R. Rutledge Jr., 73, of Powhatan, and his wife and passenger, Shannon G. Rutledge, 60, were taken by Med-Flight to VCU Medical Center after their car was struck by an SUV near the intersection of Route 60 and
Police. Thomas Rutledge later died, but his wife was receiving treatment for serious but non-life threatening injuries, Vick said. Andre T. Eanes, 18, of Rice, was charged on Dec. 16 in Powhatan County with second degree murder, Vick said. He said several other felony and misdemeanor charges related to the police chase and the accident involving the Rutledges have been filed in three counties. On Dec. 15, state police reEANES ceived a report of a Chevrolet TaRoute 522, according to Sgt. hoe driving recklessly in the CumStephan Vick, public information officer with the Virginia State see CRASH page 2A
S C H O O L C O D E S I T S WAY TO $10, 000 TUCKER
she could not “in good conscience allow anyone else to be hurt and humiliated the way I have.” She declined any further comment. In her complaint, Whitehurst wrote that Tucker touched her on “the back, buttocks and legs on the right side” in two incidents that happened within a few minutes of each other. Whitehurst also said in her statement that – at the end of the meeting – Tucker “chased me out of see CHARGED page 4A
Inside A2 Home, land prize in contest
By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Pocahontas Elementary School kicked off its participation in one of the largest education events in the world earlier this month with some big news of its own. During an assembly held on Monday, Dec. 7, principal Thomas Sulzer announced the school had been awarded $10,000 to be used toward technology SUBMITTED PHOTO
see CODES page 3A
Terry Phillips, left, teacher, and principal Thomas Sulzer accept a check from businessman Christopher Lucy on behalf of Code.org.
Sports B1 Indians take down Flucos 44-29
Index Calendar
A5
Classified
B6-7
Crime Report
A5
Obituaries
A4
Opinion TV Listings
A6 B4-5