Inside A6 Nunnally elected regional director
Powhatan, Virginia A8 Sharing breakfast with Santa
Vol. XXXII No.. 25
December 12, 2018
Parade spreads Christmas cheer By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The chilly weather wasn’t enough to hold back the warmth of the holidays that infused the 2018 Powhatan Christmas Parade this weekend. After inclement weather canceled the parade in 2017, residents and visitors alike seemed more than happy to have the holiday tradition back as dozens of the community’s churches, school groups, emergency services personnel, civic groups, clubs and businesses paraded through the historic Powhatan County Village on Saturday, Dec. 8. First-time parade announcers Roy and Mary Harrison said the experience got a little frantic at times but was still fantastic. They were excited with how the parade flowed and participants and viewers alike enjoyed themselves. “Powhatan always has a parade that has a multitude of many different people, transports and floats and it is real America,� said Roy Harrison. Laura Baltz of Powhatan walked in the parade with Girl Scout Troop 3029,
By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTOS BY ANJIE KAY
Old Buckingham Road in the Village area was lined with people who braved the cold to see the 2018 Powhatan Christmas Parade, which ended with a float carrying Santa and several local helpers.
see PARADE, pg. 3
Animal control seeking community support By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Delphi, left, Sven are two of the animals at the Powhatan Animal Control waiting for their forever homes.
season, the facility is faced with a shelter full of cats and dogs, a waiting list to get in, and running low on donations to some of the programs that help improve quality of life and even extend the lives of animals in their charge, said Sgt. Christine Boczar, lead animal control officer. “We can’t be who we are without the community’s support. The county doesn’t fund all of these great things – the programs that are how we get the dogs and cats out. The shelters see ANIMAL, pg. 4
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – The Christmas wish list for Powhatan Animal Control is pretty short – they want to give the animals that come through their doors the gifts of good health and forever homes. But instead of waiting to see what Santa brings, animal control officers are hoping the Powhatan community will help fulfill those needs. In the midst of the holiday
COX
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Sheriff’s office investigates suspicious hemp items
CARMACK
VAN GELDER
MOORE
WALKER
Planning commission approves controversial project By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Planning Commission last week unanimously recommended approval on a rezoning project some of them said has come to exemplify one of the big problems in the county’s current zoning ordinance. During its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4, the board voted unanimously to approve a rezoning requested by Jacques Gits regarding 12.148 acres currently zoned either General Commercial (C), Residential Commercial (R-C), or Agricul-
tural (A-10). He requested to have the land, located at the corner of Dorset Road and Anderson Highway behind CVS, rezoned to Commerce Center (CC) with proffered conditions. The commission had previously heard the case twice, including the last time on Nov. 7, when they voted 4-0-1 to defer it while the applicant submitted additional information that was requested. Dana Moore, a new planning commissioner, abstained from voting. Planning director Andrew Pompei noted on Nov. 7 that the applicant submitted a revised conceptual plan and re-
vised proffers list. One revised proffer addresses redevelopment of one of the lots that already has two existing residential buildings on it. If the site is redeveloped, the proffer says that the existing buildings and associated entrances will be removed and that any commercial redevelopment that occurs will be accessed from the internal street network on the development project. The conceptual plan also shows one of the new lots that are part of this development would be a McDonalds opensee PLANNING, pg. 6
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office are investigating seemingly-legal products being sold at local convenience stores that may actually contain marijuana. The sheriff’s office recently found two convenience stores in Powhatan County carrying products legally PHOTO purchased BY LAURA from disMCFARLAND tributors but This Hemp suspected of Flower containing product illegal levwas purels of THC, chased at a or tetrahyPowhatan drocannabiconvenience nol, which store, is the chemtested, and ical responfound to be sible for marijuana. most of marijuana's psychological effects. Officials declined to release the names of the two stores, which are cooperating with the investigation, and no charges have been filed. The investigation began earlier this fall, when an officer purchased a product called Hemp Flower from the first convenience store as part of the investigation, according to Rob Cerullo, deputy commonwealth’s attorney. The product was sent to the Virginia State Lab as a requested rush job and tests showed it to be “3.37 grams of pure marijuana.� The label on the bottle shows it was distributed by a company called Innovative AgriProducts LLC in Asheboro, North Carolina. The company’s website says it is a Founder's Hemp company, that “serves farmers, processors and aggregators, who are permitted in their state under the Federal Farm Bill of 2014, with a solutions-focused team. From seed/clone, process, to market - we close the loop from start to finish in the hemp cycle.� see INVESTIGATING, pg. 4
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