10/26/2016

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Powhatan, Virginia

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Vol. XXIX No. 42

October 26, 2016

Wine festival draws crowds By Laura McFarland News Editor

POWHATAN – Strong winds wreaked some havoc at the 14th annual Festival of the Grape this weekend, but organizers, vendors and festivalgoers were more blown away by how great the day turned out. Although official numbers are not in yet, an expected 7,500 people or more filled the Historic Courthouse Village on Saturday, Oct. 22 to enjoy the wine, music, shopping, and food the festival had to offer, said Angie Cabell, event coordinator. Attendance was probably close to

PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Thousands of people filled Powhatan’s Historic Courthouse Village on Oct. 22 for the 14th annual Festival of the Grape. Cool, sunny weather, a wide variety of vendors and freely flowing wine at the 29 wineries’ booths combined for a festive atmosphere and great attendance.

what the event has attracted in recent years, and Cabell said she is more than happy with that outcome. “Our goal is not to increase the atten-

dance. Our goal at this point is to improve the experience, because if it gets too crowded nobody is going to enjoy it,” she said.

see WINE page 5A

Financial tools help board plan ahead

Homecoming King and Queen

By Laura McFarland News Editor

PHOTO BY ANJIE HENLEY

Powhatan High School students Ryan King and Angel Summerall are the school’s 2016 Homecoming King and Queen. Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19

The real victory of the day was the feedback that has been coming in prais-

POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors recently started laying groundwork to adopt good financial practices and provide early direction for the county’s fiscal year 2018 budget. During a workshop held on Wednesday, Oct. 19, four supervisors discussed the county’s fiscal year (FY) 2018 Five Year Forecast and FY 2018 budget guidelines.

David Williams, who represents District 1, was not present for the meeting. The five-year forecast is a new endeavor for the board and an attempt to address the need for adhering to best practices for financially sound local governments, Pat Weiler, county administrator, said. “One of those best practices is longterm financial planning. We have over the past year been adopting many of the best practices for local government fisee BOS page 2A

Two Halloween events planned

DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139

By Laura McFarland News Editor

P

OWHATAN – Halloween is just days away, which means the ghosts, ghouls and goblins will join soon join the princesses, pirates, and penguins to head out and look for candy. While traditional trick or treating still remains a strong favorite in Powhatan County, people looking for something a little different have two events that can give families a few see TIPS page 8A

FILE PHOTO BY ANJIE HENLEY

On Oct. 29, Company 1 will hold one of two big community Halloween events.

Middle school tour shows modifications By Laura McFarland News Editor

P

OWHATAN – Pocahontas Middle School has a new mantra – two schools, one team. With the closing and subsequent demolition of the majority of Powhatan Junior High School this summer, Pocahontas Middle School (PMS) has seen some of the biggest changes in the district in the last several months. With the middle school now housing seventh and eighth-graders as well as splitting the sixth-graders with Pocahontas Elementary School, the months leading up to the 2016-2017 school year and even the first few weeks of school were all about making the new configuration work. The transition wasn’t easy and the results aren’t perfect, but in the weeks since school started on Sept. 6, co-principals Dr.

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Powhatan County School Board and Board of Supervisors members tour Pocahontas Middle School to learn how it has transitioned.

Lynn Clayton-Prince and Jason Tibbs said they have developed a successful routine and are operating now as one team. The co-principals and Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, gave several members of the Powhatan County School Board and Board of Supervisors an update on how the middle school has handled the transition during a tour of the facility on Friday, Oct. 14. “I think it’s going well. I thought it would take a little while longer, but our first two weeks, we were into it,” Clayton-Prince said. Tibbs agreed, saying, “Right now every day has a routine. Once a routine gets established, it’s very easy.” But even getting to the point that establishing a routine was possible took many months of preparation, Clayton-Prince said. see TOUR page 6A


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