Inside A8 PCPS accepting preschool applications
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 A dominant sweep: Powhatan Softball routs Western Albemarle, Charlottesville
Vol. XXXII No.. 41
April 3, 2019
Board moves forward on trimmed LMR system By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors recently authorized the county attorney to move forward on executing a contract for a new land mobile radio system to serve public safety needs. During its meeting on Monday, March 25, the board unanimously voted to authorize Ted Voorhees,
county administrator, to execute a contract to build a $9.7 million land mobile radio (LMR) system with Harris Corporation in Lynchburg. Once the contract is signed, work can begin on finalizing and building the project, which will likely take anywhere from 24 to 31 months. Replacing the county’s current outdated system has been in the works for several years as it is no longer supported and is basi-
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Wayne Stack, left, and Tom Nolan tell the board of supervisors about the LMR system proposal.
cally being maintained by buying used parts when equipment needs to be replaced, according to the county’s first responders. The system will serve emergency 911 communications, fire and rescue, the sheriff’s office, emergency management, and the school system. The total funding for the project is just over $10.7 million, which includes $9.2 million in bond funding for the LMR proj-
By Laura McFarland News Editor
residence to make sure the children weren’t hiding there, Pasi, Bane and deputy Kaitlyn Crane went into the woods to continue the search in the fading daylight. “We were able to grab the trail pretty quickly and follow them through the creek line out to a power line and found them at the edge of the woods at the top of a ridge,” Pasi said. Pasi said it took about SNAPDRAGON PHOTOGRAPHY 15 minutes to find the Master deputy Quinn Pasi and his dog Bane children. According to found two children lost in the woods. the sheriff’s office’s records, the children were Carolyn Reese, the feelings that day and found 30 minutes after mother of Chloe, one of how scared she was until one of the parents first the missing children, the children were found. called the nonemergency said she was still strug- She was visiting a number to report them gling a few days after the friend’s home and Chloe missing. incident to articulate her see K-9, pg. 6
News Editor
POWHATAN – Envestnet, a leading provider of intelligent systems for wealth management and financial wellness, recently announced it will acquire PIEtech Inc., the creator of the MoneyGuide family of financial planning applications, in a roughly $500 million deal. Headquartered in Powhatan, PIEtech is focused on helping individuals control their financial future and security by planning for it. MoneyGuide solutions – including MoneyGuideOne, MoneyGuidePro® and MoneyGuideElite – are integrated with more than 150 wealth management data and technology providers,
and serve tens of thousands of financial advisors across enterprise, institutional and independent firms, according to a release from Envestnet. Nearly two million financial plans have been created using MoneyGuide solutions in the past 12 months. Bob Curtis, founder and co-CEO of PIEtech, said that PIEtech will remain in Powhatan and stay locally run, “so there really won’t be any change externally.” The company owns a building in Powhatan that houses about 60 employees and rents space in an office building in Chesterfield County near Westchester Commons that holds another 80 employees. see PIETECH, pg. 5
Carmack running for District 5
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – A Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office K-9 has received national attention for his quick work in tracking down two children lost in the woods. The sheriff’s office received a call at 6:29 p.m. on Saturday, March 23 of two 8-year-olds who had been lost in the woods for more than 45 minutes. Several sheriff’s office personnel responded to the call, including Bane and his handler, master deputy Quinn Pasi, to help their parents and neighbors in their search. After searching the
see LMR, pg. 5
Local company to be acquired in $500 million deal
K-9 Bane gains national attention after finding two kids in the woods By Laura McFarland
ect, more than $1 million in bond funding for towers and money for interest and a transfer from the general fund, said Tom Nolan, director of emergency 911 communications director. Subtracting $975,170 nonsystem expenditures the county has either spent or is projected to spend, that leaves the $9.7 million left to actually build the communications network and tower.
Contributed Report
missioners. ensure that Powhatan develFor 25 years, Carmack, ops in a way that we can all n this November’s with her husband and their be proud of,” she said. Drawing on her extenelection, local busisive planning commission ness owner Karin M. experience, Carmack’s Carmack seeks to goals as a supervisor are become the District 5 repsimple: (1) preserve Powresentative on the Powhatan’s rural character with hatan County Board of limited, deliberate residenSupervisors. tial growth; (2) encourage Carmack has served on quality economic developthe county’s planning comment in targeted areas leadmission for 12 years and has ing to a more affordable tax been appointed chair by her rate; and (3) have transparpeers for the last 10 years. A ent, cohesive leadership. graduate of Leadership Carmack has worked Metro Richmond, she has hard to maintain Powhatserved on the Elizabeth an’s rural character and CARMACK Randolph Lewis YMCA bring quality development Board, broadened the counthree young children, have to the county. She states: “I ty’s presence by serving on called Powhatan home. have a 12-year voting rethe Richmond Regional “My work on the plan- cord on the planning comPlanning District Commission and acted as a guest ning commission is in part mission that I stand by and lecturer for the Citizens driven by my desire to cre- am proud of.” For more information, Planning and Education As- ate a unique rural community for our children to grow visit www.VoteKarinCarsociation – educating newly up and thrive in and help mack.com. appointed planning com-
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
I PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Michael Dobbins, shown with teacher Mike Payne, is one of several students honored by the school board.
PHS SkillsUSA students excel in competitions Contributed Report The Powhatan County School Board recently recognized local students who have received various competition awards this year. During its meeting on Tuesday, March see SKILLSUSA, pg. 3
Powhatan honored as Purple Heart Community A ceremony was held during the March 25 Powhatan County Board of Supervisors meeting to accept a plaque that recognizes Powhatan as a Purple Heart Community. Several Purple Heart recipients attended the meeting and were honored for their service. In attendance for the occasion were Phil Koren, Commander Dick Wise, Maurice Menefee, Tom Ashmore, Herb Delbridge, Thomas House, Joe Washington, Bruce Russell, Lou Seigel, Ruth Ashmore, and John Sigman.
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND