Inside
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 Tortuga the champion: Powhatan’s Brenda Madison and horse won Ladies Side Saddle titles in 2018
Daylight Saving Time will start at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10
Vol. XXXII No.. 37
March 6, 2019
Board defers action on comprehensive plan By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors recently decided it still had work to do on updating the document that will set the county’s vision for growth for the foreseeable future. After a large number of community members turned up to weigh in on the update of the county’s long-range comprehensive plan at the board’s meeting on Monday, Feb. 25, the supervisors voted unanimously to defer action on it and take more time before adopting the plan. In a marathon meeting that lasted seven hours, a solid two hours of that time was dedicated to consideration of the comprehensive plan. That included a public hearing in which 32 people spoke and offered a variety of opinions. Two terms dominated much of the comments made during the public hearing: “affordable housing” and “high-density housing.” Those mentioning the former talked about the need for affordable hous-
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Cody Frayser speaks to the board of supervisors about the comprehensive plan. In all, 32 people voiced their opinions on the plan.
ing in the county and many urged the supervisors to adopt the comprehensive plan. Many of those who mentioned “highdensity housing” were speaking in opposition to seeing that kind of growth in the county. Several of their comments appeared to be a reaction to changes suggested to the Future Land Use Map at the board’s Feb. 14 meeting. The proposed changes were to
the land use designations for specific parcels within the Courthouse Village and the Route 60 Corridor East special area. Within the Courthouse Village Special Area Plan, some changes were proposed to the area between the Historic Village and Plain View (between State Route 13 and U.S. Route 60). Changes would accommodate a mix of commercial, residential, and mixed-use development in
that area, similar to recommended maps forwarded by the planning commission in December 2017. The maps also proposed that additional areas be designated Commerce Center (CC) on the north side of U.S. Route 60 west of Plain View. Within the Route 60 East Special Area Plan, changes suggested converting a portion of a parcel north of Holly Hills from CC shown in the current draft to Village Residential. That change would impact 34.4 acres of the property. The most significant impact of these changes would be on the number of dwellings that would be allowed in those areas based on the new designations.
Board comments Given the large block of time dedicated to the comprehensive plan in the meeting, very little of it was filled by comments from the board. However, between the 32 public comments and the vote to defer, a few of the board members had their say. As he had at the Feb. 14 meeting, David see BOS, pg. 4
Ultimate Cycle Discount PowerSports earns No. 1 Suzuki dealership in nation By Laura McFarland News Editor
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POWHATAN – Ultimate Cycle Discount PowerSports was recently recognized as the No. 1 Suzuki dealership in the nation for its sales in 2018. Owner Pete Daniel said that learning his dealership had beaten out 1,400 Suzuki dealerships nationwide for the top slot in sales felt amazing. “It makes you feel really good that we are as small store in a small
town and can achieve the sales results of stores in cities with 4 and 5 million population,” he said. Ultimate Cycle sells scooters, motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs belonging to the Suzuki, Kawasaki, Kymco, and Mahindra Roxor brands. He pointed out that the dealership is consistently in the Top 10 Kawasaki dealerships in the nation and achieved that designation in 2018 as well. The dealership is 50 see No. 1, pg. 8
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Jaime Walter, shown with her late husband Mike, has lobbied for a bill to set a minimum sentence for criminals who kill police officers. PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Owner Pete Daniel, right, and sales manager Steven Carpenter stand in the showroom of Ultimate Cycle.
Byerly vies for supervisor seat Contributed Report
Powhatan County) for almost 25 years. Trustwordependability, owhatan bred and thiness, and diligence are traits local entreprethat have been instilled in neur Mike Byerly has formally announced his candidacy for board of supervisor District 3 in the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election. Byerly’s strongest platform is unifying the vision for Powhatan. He firmly believes in preserving Powhatan’s rural character in future planning, while restoring the voices within the District 3 community on matters BYERLY facing our beloved hometown. As a Powhatan County Byerly by his supportive resident for over 50 years, parents, Powhatan educaByerly is a solid choice tors, and his valued and for supervisor. His under- loyal customers. The people of District standing of responsible fiscal spending helped 3 deserve a strong leader him create his multi-mil- who understands and relion dollar independent spects the historical asautomobile dealership (on pects of Powhatan CounAnderson Highway/in ty. Byerly’s influence is
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equally committed to a strategic and inclusive way of working together to protect our beloved community for generations to come. After all, Byerly’s family, parents, and two grown sons choose “Powhatan Life” for a reason. Mike Byerly humbly requests of the citizens of District 3 the opportunity to utilize his time, energy, and wisdom in pursuing only the best for Powhatan County. He wishes to empower those citizens looking for unity and cohesiveness to take action now. Byerly’s webpage, www.votemikebyerly. com, and direct contact information is open and he invites you to voice what’s important to you and your family. Contact 804-998-7350 or mike@ votemikebyerly.com. Vote Mike Byerly and be heard.
Walter turns grief to action By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Jaime Walter isn’t looking for a sweet victory; she is just fighting for other families who may one day be in her terrible position. On May 26, 2017, Walter’s life forever changed when her husband, Virginia State Police Special Agent Michael T. Walter, was shot in the line of duty and died several hours later. Those were the worst moments of her life. Her second worst day came on Oct. 11, 2018, when Walter heard Richmond Circuit Judge Beverly Snukals sentence her husband’s killer, Travis Ball, to 36 years in prison, taking into account a childhood his attorneys described as traumatic and impoverished. After giving a media interview, Walter of Powhatan County came to the decision she had to do something about the sentencing of those who kill a law enforcement officer. “I needed to get justice for future lawenforcement officers as I knew I could not change it for my husband, but I had to change it for other families to never have to go through this again,” she said. She stood by her word and the months see MURDER, pg. 5
Seuss-a-Palooza Pocahontas Elementary School staff star in the Read Across America Play, a 22-year tradition. What started as reading Dr. Seuss books to the students now involves an elaborate production with singing and dancing from staff. See more photos on Page 3. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO