Inside A6 School Board
recognizes Support Staff of the Year
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 PYAA Belles
win third straight district title
Vol. XXXII No.. 4
July 11, 2018
Powhatan 911 adjusting to new CAD system By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – Powhatan County 911 communications took a big step forward recently with a new computer aided dispatch system that local emergency services personnel say will help their employees better respond to local emergencies. The new computer aided dispatch (CAD) system went live in the local emergency 911 center on June 12, making the last few weeks a time of learning and adjustment for employees and volunteers who serve in the sheriff’s office and fire and rescue, said Tom Nolan, emergency 911
communications director. The county had been preparing for the switchover for more than a year as the software system was built using Powhatan data inputted by employees. As with any big change of this magnitude, there have been glitches and necessary adjustments that needed to be made, Nolan said. see DISPATCH, pg. 6
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Powhatan 911 communications supervisor Cory Chaffins demonstrates how a 911 is mapped and dispatched on the new computer aided dispatch system that went live on June 12.
Powhatan celebrates July 4th
County joins Richmond Region Tourism group By Alexandra Cline Richmond Times-Dispatch
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“We’ve never been able to devote the time we need to tourism.” Membership in the organization has been offered to all governments in the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, which includes nine localities. Goochland and Charles City counties have not joined Richmond Region Tourism. When Richmond Region Tourism made the decision to expand its footprint and offer a value membership to the smaller jurisdictions in the region, Powhatan County staff presented the idea to the board of supervisors and the economic development authority (EDA) as something the county would do well to join, county adminsee TOURISM, pg. 8
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A group of friends enjoy some fireworks parked at home in the Ballsville area. Powhatan didn’t have its own official fireworks display again this year, but residents had fun with their own fireworks or attending displays in neighboring counties. See photos page 3.
Two localities have joined Richmond Region Tourism while another jurisdiction has discontinued its membership in the group that promotes area tourism. Ashland and Powhatan counties joined the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico and the city of Richmond in the nonprofit organization that offers services to support the area’s hospitality industry. But New Kent County, which has been a member since 1998, has decided not to renew its membership for the fiscal year that began July 1. “As tourism assets such as breweries, distilleries and hotels continue to
come online in Ashland and Powhatan, we are excited to officially promote them to travelers in a compelling and comprehensive way,” said Jack Berry, president and CEO of Richmond Region Tourism (RRT). To become a member of the organization, jurisdictions pay an annual fee, which varies depending on the population size of the locality. Ashland, for example, will pay $20,000 for its membership in the first year, before scaling to $50,000 a year over a period of three to four years, said Joshua Farrar, Ashland’s town manager. “Tourism is something that we’ve recognized for a long time that [has] a big impact on the budget and the economy,” Farrar said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON TIBBS
The new Powhatan Middle School Building, shown here from the outside, is almost complete. Furniture is currently being moved in and teachers will have their first opportunity to decorate their rooms in August.
NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL NEARS COMPLETION By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – While the bulk of the structural work on the new Powhatan Middle School is finished, the building is still a hive of activity this summer as it
readies for its first school year. Main construction work was completed last week on the building when workers wrapped up the final piece of the puzzle, Area E, which is the old career and technical education (CTE) wing of Powhatan Junior High School, according to
Jason Tibbs, director of facilities. This will allow architects to complete their final punch list for that section. Tibbs said he had requested the guidelines for a temporary certificate of occupancy, which would allow for a limited see PMS pg. 5
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