05/25/2016

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Inside A5 Cyclists stop in Powhatan on their way to D.C.

Powhatan, Virginia B2 Powhatan softball takes down Louisa

Vol. XXIX No. 21

May 25, 2016

Local law enforcement honors fallen officers By Laura McFarland News Editor

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OWHATAN – The annual trek to Washington, D.C. to participate in National Police Week activities this May was once again an experience of solidarity and sadness for the local men and women who attended. On the one hand, a gathering that brings together tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from across the nation and even the world can be a fascinating experience, Powhatan County sheriff Brad Nunnally said. This year marked the 10th time a Powhatan group has made the trip to honor officers nationwide who were slain in the line of duty the year before, and each year he goes Nunnally said he makes new connections with people who share a passion for law enforcement. SUBMITTED PHOTO “It is just to reflect on the commitment that these other A group of 17 from Powhatan County attended officers also make and realize we are not alone in this. We National Police Week in Washington, D.C. are around there with people who do the same job we do,”

he said. “You realize there are a lot of people who for low pay and long hours will put their lives on the line to make sure people are taken care of. That’s what we do.” Combined with that feeling of camaraderie is the very real reminder of the dangers inherent in the job. The reminder comes in the form of the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and the new names added to it every year in honor of fallen officers, detective Marilyn Durham said. “If people ever want to see another side of a police officer, they should go and see this event,” she said. “I think sometimes people forget we are human just like everyone else, especially right now when a lot of people are anti-police. It gives perspective that we are all in this together.” Each year, local law enforcement officers make the trek to the nation’s capital to honor officers who died in the line of duty. The events always fall around May 15, which was see OFFICERS page 7A

Students join forces to fight cancer By Laura McFarland News Editor

Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19

POWHATAN – The students of Pocahontas Middle School once again showed they have big hearts and a willingness to go the extra mile when the almost $7,000 they collectively raised to help in the fight against cancer was the second highest of any school in the state. The middle school again participated in the Pennies for Pasta fundraiser, bringing in $6,997.91 for the Leuke-

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jennifer DeGroat’s homeroom at Pocahontas Middle School brought in the most change for Pennies for Pasta, helping the school on its way to raising the second highest amount in the state.

mia and Lymphoma Society, said Lynn Stephens, who coordinates the campaign. This year’s contribution brings the total PMS students have raised since the school began participating in 2007 to $57,319.42. But more important even than the numbers has been the giving spirit of so many of the students, many of whom

worked extra hard or made big sacrifices for the cause, she said. “It is affirmation of my love and pride for the community and these kids. The genuine love, care and concern they have for each other really touches me, and it never gets old,” said Stephens, a special education teacher and Student Council Association

sponsor. During a five-week period between March and April, students were challenged to bring in spare change to go toward the fundraiser. The homeroom that brought in the most money receives a pasta lunch catered by Olive Garden. see STUDENTS page 4A

Powhatan County Fair

PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Rides, entertainment and family fun reigned at the Powhatan County Fair last weekend. More photos on page 10A.

B OA R D E VA LUAT E S D E B T M A N AG E M E N T P O L I C Y By Laura McFarland POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors added an extra workshop to their May schedule to give members a chance to better hash out the debt management policy they want to set for the county as they move forward. The board met in an hourlong workshop on Monday, May 16 where the only agenda item was to help shape the county’s debt management policy, which was scheduled to review for possible vote at its meeting on Monday, May 23. This meeting happened after press time. Kyle A. Laux, first vice president of Davenport & Company LLC, the county’s investment firm, laid out a draft of the policy his compa-

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Kyle A. Laux, left, first vice president of Davenport & Company LLC, speaks to the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors about the county’s debt management policy.

ny has worked on with county staff so the supervisors could ask questions and discuss what they liked and didn’t. A debt management policy is something the county has had in place historically and also a policy that any local government that is rated as highly as Powhatan County is

would be expected to have in place, Laux said. But the county’s current policy hasn’t been revisited in several years, he added. “It is just a good practice to every so often revisit those policies. We put together with staff a draft of some policies that would be put in place pri-

“You have better things to do”

or to going forward with our bond issues for the schools and several county projects,” he said. The draft resolution Laux presented had a 31-point debt management policy divided into several areas: capital imsee BOARD page 2A

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