Inside A4 Schools’ food services to stay in-house another school year
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 Woodson retiring as athletic director
Vol. XXX No. 20
May 17, 2017
Hops & Barley Festival School board Rain doesn’t keep crowds away
discusses redistricting
By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Volunteers serve samples to festivalgoers at the Rotary Club of Powhatan’s seventh annual Hops and Barley Festival on May 13. About 2,000 people came out to the fundraiser, which changed locations this year to Westchester Commons in Chesterfield County. Story page 3.
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board had one of its first early public discussions last week about potentially redistricting its elementary schools along with the opening of a new middle school in fall 2018. During its workshop on Tuesday, May 9, the school board heard a presentation from K&C Associated about the enrollment and capacity at the county’s three elementary schools and how the school board should proceed with discussions about redistricting. The issue has centered around moving some students out of Powhatan and Flat Rock Elementary schools over to Pocahontas Elementary School for the 2018-2019 school year. Jones said he knows mentioning the word redistricting causes a certain amount of angst among some parents, but he is hoping most will not see it as a big issue. “We are not talking about a lot of students. We are talking 100 students would be moving. We might be able to balance it out from each of the schools to Pocahontas,” he said. see SCHOOL, pg. 6
Summer reading program receives national award By Laura McFarland News Editor
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – Powhatan County’s Passport to Summer Reading Program was recently recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. The Achievement Awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that enhance services for residents. The Passport to Summer Reading program
is a collaboration between Powhatan County Public Library and Public Schools with their fifth year working together kicking off in a few weeks, said Tracey Ingle, English instructional specialist with the school district. When she learned about the award from the National Association of Counties (NACo), she said she was “super excited” on behalf of all of CONTRIBUTED PHOTO the people who come together to make the sumChildren participate in the 2016 Passport to Summer Reading mer reading program a success. see READING pg. 8
98th annual Powhatan County Fair this weekend By Laura McFarland News Editor
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Program, which recently won a national award.
POWHATAN – The 2017 Powhatan County Fair is ready to entertain people of all ages when it returns this weekend for its 98th year. The event put on by the Powhatan County Fair Association each year will be held daily from Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21 at the Powhatan County Fairgrounds located at 4042 Anderson Highway (Route 60). Fair hours are 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday; 1 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday. As always, organizers have worked to put together a lineup of entertainment and attractions that appeals to a wide variety of people and means everyone can have a good time, said Randa Jackson, treasurer for the fair association. She pointed out that pets are allowed on a leash. “It’s relaxing. It’s a welcoming atmosphere that is family oriented and safe,” she said. see FAIR pg. 5
Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21 at the Powhatan County Fairgrounds
FILE PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
The 2017 Powhatan County Fair returns May 19 to 21.
KOS Band
May 19 • 7 - 10 pm 3920 Marion Harland Lane Dunk tank $5/4 chances Raffle items include…Fire pit basket, Keurig Coffee Maker, RTIC Cooler filled with goodies Come support the Powhatan JET and Band Scholarship!
Sponsored by
PowhatanChamber.org