Inside A3 Supervisors ponder first budget requests
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Indians looking to strong core for 2017
Vol. XXX No. 12
March 22, 2017
New paid firefighters begin work By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – When the emergency tones used to ring for certain calls during the weekday in Powhatan County, dispatchers held their breath to see if someone would respond. But with six full-time and eight part-time paid firefighter/EMTs now on staff in Powhatan County, that isn’t as much of a worry anymore, Fire and Rescue Chief Steven Singer said. “Before dispatchers put out a tone and hoped someone responded. Now they know Engine 1 is going to get out. They know they have at least one fire truck that is going to start right away,” Singer said. Even better, because the county’s volunteer firefighters and EMTs are still encouraged to respond if they are available, the county is hopefully looking forward to more daytime weekday
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Powhatan County’s new full-time paid firefighter/EMTs are, from left, Layton Deane, Christine Keenan, Mike Sowers, Ryan Houtsma (third from right), Jeffrey Wallace and Hunter Martin. Kenny Aliceburg, one of eight part-timers, is in the center.
coverage than it has had in awhile, said Powhatan Volunteer Fire Department Company 1 District Chief Carroll Smith. “You are talking now a minute before they are out on the street. Before it was anywhere from five to 10 minutes, which is a big difference,” Smith
said. “When we started this project, I stressed to my members that they still respond like they always have. Even if the paid are on, they still need to get the tanker out and the truck out. The paid people still need help.” Funding for the six
full-time and eight parttime employees was approved in the fall by the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors. The majority of the hiring process for the full-time employees was done in December 2016 and January 2017, and most were on staff by Jan. 30.
Singer said he had about 30 applications for the full-time positions and 45 people apply to work part-time. On Monday, March 13, the paid employees officially took over most of the positions that had previously been filled by contract employees with
Emergency Services Solutions Inc., Singer said. The company still staffs two Advanced Life Support (ALS) medics during the day and on nights and weekends when volunteer with ALS certification can’t be scheduled. see FIREFIGHTERS, pg. 4
School board and supervisors to confer By Laura McFarland News Editor
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board is set to present its proposed $46.6 million budget for fiscal year 2018 to the board of supervisors at its meeting today, March 22. The school board and board of supervisors are scheduled to hold a joint meeting at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the Village
Building, 3910 Old Buckingham Road, to discuss Powhatan County Public Schools’ portion of the county budget. The school board has discussed the fiscal year (FY) 2018 proposed budget at recent meetings. The proposed budget represents a more than $1.1 million increase from the FY 2017 adopted budget. Larry Johns, assistant superintendent for finance and busi-
ness operations, gave a more detailed presentation on the budget at a workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, spoke to the school board at its workshop on Tuesday, March 14 and said the numbers had not changed much from the previous week but re-emphasized that the majority of that $1.1 million increase in the budget is made up of mandates that the district has no choice but to
accommodate in its budget. In the FY 2018 operating budget proposed by county administrator Pat Weiler, the local contribution to the schools from the county would be $22,755,666, which is an increase of $749,536 over the FY 2017 adopted budget. The school district is also expecting to receive $344,000 from other local sources, an increase see SCHOOL, pg. 9
Legislators tout fruitful session Sen. Sturtevant and Del. Ware explore potential new laws at chamber lunch By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Powhatan’s two representatives in the General Assembly took great pride in sharing what they and Virginia’s other legislators accomplished in their latest session when they spoke at a recent Powhatan Chamber of Commerce lunch. Guest speakers Sen. Glen Sturtevant Jr., R-10, and Del. Lee
MOORE
Moore acquitted of assault By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Sen. Glen Sturtevant Jr., R-10, center, and Del. Lee Ware, R65, speak during a recent chamber of commerce lunch.
Ware, R-65, spoke about a variety of bills that passed the House and Senate and are currently waiting for approval by Governor Terry McAuliffe during the luncheon on Thursday, March 16 at the County Seat Restaurant. Measures they discussed during their roughly 30-minute shared time in front of local business people included reducing the state’s budget shortfall; providing more funding for state po-
lice; fines for driving slow in the passing lane, high school dual enrollment credit acceptance among Virginia’s public colleges, and regulations regarding broadband service. Ware, who is running for his 11th term representing the 65th District, said this year’s 46-day session, despite being short was very consequential. “If I were to mark up the ones see CHAMBER, pg. 2
POWHATAN – A Powhatan County Circuit Court judge last week acquitted a Jetersville man for his role in a fight over a fishing spot that ended with a Powhatan man stabbed in the head. On Wednesday, March 15, Jesse Ray Moore, 25, of Jetersville was found not guilty of the aggravated malicious wounding of Norris Goode Jr., 21, of Powhatan, a second-degree felony that carried a possible sentencing of 20 years to life in prison if convicted. Jesse Moore was see MOORE, pg. 1
(804) 818-7660 • www.haleychevrolet.com