Inside A3 Powhatan’s representative in the regional spelling bee.
Powhatan, Virginia B2 Brock honored by BSH.
Vol. XXIX No. 12
March 23, 2016
School board debates salary issues By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – A week before the Powhatan County School Board was set to approve its budget, a question of what to do with unexpected extra state funds led to a heated discussion on the board’s entire philosophy on how to address salary inequality. A last-minute workshop on Wednesday, March 16 that started with a discussion on an additional $68,813 allocation in state funds soon turned into a debate on how pay raises for teachers and other staff should be tackled. The General Assembly approved a 2 percent pay raise for teachers. While the board did eventually come to a consensus that all employees should receive a minimum 2 percent increase, where their views started to differ was on how to address targeted pay raises to certain groups
above that 2 percent. The school board was scheduled to
could present it to the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors during a workshop
accompanying vote happened after press time. A formal vote wasn’t taken at the March 16 meeting, but at least three of the board members expressed they would support the staff recommendation over others mentioned during the discussion.
Extra funds
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
The Powhatan County School Board and superintendent discuss how possible pay raises for employees should be handled.
vote to approve its 2016-2017 operating budget on Tuesday, March 22 so that it
at 6 p.m. today, March 23 at the Village Building. The school board meeting and
The meeting started with Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, informing the school board that they had received $68,813 additional state dollars over what staff was projecting in revenue for Powhatan Schools. He made a recommendation that $15,211 of that money be put toward supporting girls and boys varsity lacrosse at Powhatan High School next year. The topic became a hot issue at a recent meeting when parents and students spoke asksee SALARY page 9A
New food pantry taking shape By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Former Senator John Watkins, left, is recognized by his successor, Sen. Glen Sturtevant Jr., R-10, and Del. Lee Ware, R-65.
State reps speak at Chamber luncheon By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Powhatan’s two representatives in the General Assembly gave local business people a good rundown on some of the key happenings in the see CHAMBER page 8A
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OWHATAN – A few weeks worth of hard work has made a world of difference for the new Powhatan Food Pantry, which is quickly taking shape on Batterson Road. Within the last two weeks, the exterior frame has gone up and been covered in, the roof has been added, and, for the PHOTOS BY ALLEN DODD (LEFT) AND LAURA MCFARLAND (RIGHT) icing on the cake, the cuLeft, workers use a crane to lower a cupola onto the new Powhatan Food pola that tops the buildPantry. Right, Habitat for Humanity Powhatan volunteers work hard. ing was lifted onto the building by a crane on 2480 Batterson Road, the use of land for $1 a (H.E.N.) Pantry the Wednesday, March 16. right next to St. John year to the food pantry, church used to run. The new building is Neumann Catholic and the former Hungry The H.E.N. Pantry being constructed at Church, which is leasing Elderly and Needy see PANTRY page 2A
PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Left, Jim Washburn, president of the Powhatan Lions Club, is honored with a Melvin Jones Fellowship by fellow member Mike Jones at the club’s 40th anniversary celebration. Lee Winder, right, Lions Club district governor, was the keynote speaker for the event.
P OW H ATA N L I O N S C E L E B R AT E 4 0 Y E A R S By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan Lions Club this month marked 40 years of service and fellowship in a gathering that celebrated the old as it looked forward to the new. The local chapter of the worldwide charitable society marked its special milestone with a celebratory dinner on Wednesday, March 2, four decades to the day since it was chartered on March 2, 1976. President Jim Washburn, one of the charter members, said the Lions Club has been the greatest opportunity he has ever had to serve the community and the fact that the local chapter has lasted so long is a testament to that purpose. “We serve. That is our motto. It is a group of people that have gotten together
and used their talents to help the blind and deaf in Powhatan County as well as throughout the world,” he said. Dozens of current and former members and guests gathered at the anniversary dinner on March 2 at The County Seat to commemorate the special day. Washburn said the international organization usually recognizes clubs that reach 50 years, but joked that since he wasn’t sure if he would still be around then, Powhatan’s group would mark the 40th, too. Washburn said he is one of four remaining founding members, a group that also included Elwood Yates, Jim Blandford and Larry Lyons. The charter group had 25 members, and today the club has about 50 members. The keynote speaker for the evening was Lee Winder, district governor, who
started off by reminding guests of the original mission statement of the Lions Club International when it was organized in 1917: to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs. “I think that is very descriptive of the services that this club brings us,” he said of the Powhatan group. This club is a foundation and a block to Powhatan with all of the services it renders, Winder said. He pointed especially to the hundreds who the club has provided with eye exams and eyeglasses. “Where would some of those people be and what quality of life would they have if this club hadn’t stepped forward and helped see LIONS page 2A