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Powhatan, Virginia B1 Bowman calls it a career on the court
Vol. XXX No. 15
April 12, 2017
Protesters call for justice in Powhatan By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – Almost a year after Norris Goode Jr. survived a fight with two men that ended with a blade broken off in his brain, the Powhatan native walked through the Village area surrounded by family and supporters in a peaceful protest to say justice had not been done in his case. About 45 people made the halfmile walk on the morning of Friday, April 7, from Hollywood Baptist Church to the Powhatan County Courthouse, where they then gathered to hold a press conference. The purpose of the walk and speeches given on the courthouse
lawn was to protest the acquittal of Jesse Ray Moore, 25, of Jetersville on Wednesday, March 15, in Powhatan County Circuit Court. Moore and his brother Jacob Moore, 22, of Powhatan, were both charged with aggravated malicious wounding in connection to the fight with Goode, but Jacob Moore testified against his older brother, who was subsequently found not guilty. Jacob Moore’s trial has been continued to Monday, June 5. The protest was not aimed at the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office, which handled the investigation, or the Powhatan County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, which proceeded with the prosecution. The protesters’ complaint was see PEACE pg. 8 `
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Norris Goode Jr., front left, led a peaceful protest from Hollywood Baptist Church to the Powhatan County Courthouse on Friday, April 7 to speak out against the not guilty verdict of a Jetersville man tried for stabbing him in the head.
One solar farm operational, second coming in 2017 By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER
An aerial view shows the Scott I solar farm off of Old Buckingham Road. Scott II, a second solar farm, is expected to be operational in 2017.
farms,” Pridgen said. This is part of a statewide effort that has seen Dominion investing more than $800 million in solar power in Virginia with additional solar projects in the plan-
ning stages, including another one this year in Powhatan County. Dominion has announced it plans to develop 500 MW of solar energy by 2020, she said. Currently, about 398 MW is either in devel-
see SOLAR, pg. 9 `
Boy bonds with autism service dog
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POWHATAN – In a sea of blue panels stretched across a large field in Powhatan County, the only sounds that could be heard were the movement of the wind blowing through them and the occasional faint mechanical hum. The 71,800 solar panels that make up the 180-acre solar farm off of Old Buckingham Road have been operational since Dec. 15, 2016, and are proving to be a good addition to Dominion Virginia Power’s clean energy efforts, spokesperson Daisy Pridgen said during a recent tour of the facility. At peak capacity, the entire facility in Powhatan can produce 17 megawatts (MW), which is enough to power about 4,200 homes, she said. “Our customers have told us that the development of renewable energy is important to them and it is important for them to have their energy company investing in it. And that is exactly what we are doing by building all these solar
opment or operational, which is enough to power 100,000 homes. Scott I, as the current solar farm in Powhatan is called, will soon be joined by Scott II, which will be built adjacent to the current property and hold 83,500 panels on about 315 acres of land, Pridgen said. That project is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2017. With the existing and upcoming solar farms, Dominion’s goal is to be a good neighbor, and that means communicating with the community before and after a build, Pridgen said. That may involve speaking with neighbors, talking to local civic organizations about solar energy or giving presentations on solar energy at local schools. “We haven’t heard anything negative from the neighbors. Of course when they drive by they are curious as to what it is. Whenever they have questions about that, I answer them immediately,” she said.
PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Malachi “Ki” Sadler, 5, of Powhatan has a new friend and helper in his autism service dog, Ramses. The pair have been together about a month, and Ki’s mother can already see positive changes in her son’s life and the way he functions.
By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The relationship between Ki and Ramses is barely a month old, but it is already showing signs of being a friendship that will
only grow in strength as the two continue to bond. The day Ramses, a 1-year-old golden retriever and autism service dog, arrived at the Powhatan County home of 5-year-old Malachi “Ki” Sadler, Melanie Vann knew life was going to change
for her son and even her whole family. Ki, who is on the autism spectrum, can become over stimulated quickly, so going out to eat or shopping was rarely an option, his mom said. Yet on the day Ramses arrived on see BOY, pg. 9 `
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