Inside A6 Free Little Library going in park
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Goodman named CAA Player of the Year
Vol. XXIX No. 48
December 7, 2016
Hiring of paid firefighters, EMTs approved By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Residents will soon have a few more men and women answering their cries for help in times of need after the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to fund paid some firefighters and EMT personnel positions during the weekdays. During its meeting on Monday, Nov. 28, the board voted 5-0 in favor of amending the fiscal year (FY) 2017 staffing plan to hire six full-time and eight part-time firefighter/EMT positions for a total
of 10 full-time equivalents (FTE). In the same resolution, the board voted to amend the FY 2017 operating budget to transfer $314,000 to the fire and rescue fund to pay for the new positions as well as uniforms and equipment. During the budget season in spring 2016, the board approved a real estate tax rate that had one cent, or the equivalent of $314,000, that could fund the firefighters and EMTs if needed. Fire and Rescue Chief Steven Singer told the board at the time that his department was applying for a SAFER grant through FEMA to help fund the positions. How-
ever, in case the county was not awarded a grant, the money would be in the budget, if not yet assigned, to cover the cost. Singer said after the meeting that when the vote in favor of the funding was approved unanimously, it felt great. “I am glad the board is very supportive of public safety and especially making sure the citizens and providers are safe. When you have limited manpower, it can lead to things not going quite right,” he said. The transition will not be imPHOTO BY BRENNA SINGER
see PAID page 9A Volunteer firefighters participate in live fire training.
They came bearing gifts
Boards discuss school’s future Old middle school will be left vacant once new facility opens in 2018
The Three Wise Men, portrayed by Larry Haynes, Price Johnson, and Kenneth Claude Andrews, were a few of the characters in the Nativity Story highlighted in Graceland Baptist Church’s annual Christmas Story Drive Thru. See more photos on page 8A.
By Laura McFarland News Editor
Powhatan’s Christmas on parade Annual holiday procession will once again spread cheer through Village By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The historic Powhatan County Village area will once again get an infusion of holiday spirit when the 24th annual Powhatan Christmas Parade brings in revelers of all ages. The parade, which benefits the Powhatan Christmas Mother program, will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 in the Courthouse area. The later start time this year is to accommodate an event being held at the library earlier in the day.
There will also be a vendor event on the courthouse green, which will be set up before the parade starts and last for a few hours afterward. All proceeds from parade and vendor entries will benefit the county’s Christmas Mother program. About 70 entries have signed up to parade down Old Buckingham Road representing local churches, nonprofit organizations, businesses and emergency services groups, said David Yonce, assistant vice president at C&F Bank, which is sponsoring the event for a second time along with Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School. see PARADE page 3A
FILE PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND
The Powhatan Christmas Parade will be held Dec. 10.
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see SCHOOL page 1A
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PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
POWHATAN – A museum, a community center and additional space for school and county needs were some of the possible future uses of Powhatan Middle School discussed last week by Powhatan’s two elected boards. The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors and School Board met on Tuesday, No. 29 for a joint meeting to discuss several issues that strongly affect both. Among the topics for discussions was what re-use can be found for the old middle school, which will be left vacant when the county’s new middle school is constructed and opens in 2018. All members of the board of supervisors were present except chairman Bill Melton, who represents District 4, and all school board members were present except Valarie Ayers, District 3. The two boards did not hold an official vote on the topic, but after their discussion, they did direct staff members with the county and the school