Inside A8 Powhatan’s Earth Day celebrates 11 years
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 Track and Field: Powhatan earns first-place finishes in home meet
Vol. XXXII No.. 43
April 17, 2019
Board divided on possible 3.5 cent tax increase By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors was divided last week in its decision to advertise a 3.5 cent increase in the fiscal year 2020 tax rate to fund a large-scale increase of paid fire and rescue staff. The board voted 3-2 in favor of advertising a tax rate of 91.5 cents for fiscal year (FY) 2020, although that was a simplification of
what actually might end up happening. The current tax rate is 88 cents. Chairwoman Angie Cabell, who represents District 3, Bill Melton, District 4, and Carson Tucker, District 5, all voted for advertising 91.5 cents. David Williams, District 1, and Larry Nordvig, District 2, voted against it. The potential tax rate change would be to used to implement a coverage plan presented on March 11 by county administrator Ted Voorhees and fire and rescue Chief Steven Singer to
fund $1.18 million in paid fire and EMS staff. Funding this proposal would
Volunteers raise issues with low morale and inadequate communication See full story on Page 5.
need an additional 3.5 cents on the tax rate. However, three mem-
bers of the board are also considering adopting a new fire tax district model. This would clearly outline on property owners’ tax documents how much of the tax rate will only be used for fire and rescue purposes. With this advertised rate, the real estate tax rate would be 83.4 cents and a separate fire tax covering all fire and rescue needs would be 8.1 cents. That 8.1 cents represents both the 4.6 cents funding current fire and rescue needs see TAX RATE, pg. 4
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
While speaking to the board of supervisors, paid firefighter Art Tate asks volunteer firefighters and EMTs to stand and be recognized.
Next stop: Kindergarten!
Powhatan helps man complete bucket list By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Cox seeking District 4 seat Contributed Report
Planning Commission, where he has served for alill Cox has an- most eight years. Bill Cox is a native of nounced his candidacy to South Carolina and a gradbecome the District 4 representative on the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors. India and Bill Cox operate a commercial vegetable and berry farm in central Powhatan nestled on the Appomattox River. Relative newcomers to Powhatan, arriving in 2006, they quickly became involved in the community. In 2015, India received Powhatan’s Chamber of COX Commerce’s highest award –The Kathy Budner Award - for community involve- uate of Emory University. ment. Bill, meanwhile, be- He spent seven years in the gan his community in- Marine Corp Reserves and volvement on Powhatan’s started his business career
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in Atlanta with the Chubb Insurance Group. Chubb, a specialty underwriter in the property and casualty insurance world, sent Cox to Virginia in late 1980 to build their Virginia operation. Cox has spent a lifetime enjoying the outdoors – most often with a bow or fishing rod in his hand. His son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons live in Hanover County. Politically, Cox has been an independent all his life and is a fiscal conservative. He wants to preserve the unique rural lifestyle that Powhatan offers, while understanding economic growth is needed. To blend the two, he believes Powhatan must see COX, pg. 3
see BUCKET LIST, pg. 3
PHOTO BY ANJIE KAY
Jeff Blasor, right, visited his friend Jerimy Ford as part of his bucket list.
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27th 926502-01
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
PCPS held Kindergarter Registration Day on April 11. Left, Powhatan Elementary kindergarten teacher Robyn Hall talks with Addison Ballou. Bottom right, Allie Whitlow also registered at Powhatan Elementary. Top right, Shannon Dickerson registered her daughter, Nevaeh Reddick, at Pocahontas Elementary. More photos on Page 6.
POWHATAN – The hospital sent Jeff Blasor home to die. He got on a train instead. The Arizona resident’s body was heavily damaged by chemotherapy and radiation treatments for esophageal cancer in 2015 and other ailments. So when doctors told him in mid-March he had days or maybe even a week to live, he had made his peace with that knowledge. But that didn’t mean he had to sit there and wait for it to come. Instead, aided by the help of his brothers, Rodney Blasor and Rick Valverde, the three men set out from Arizona on March 21 on a crosscountry journey by train. At the heart of the trip was Jeff’s desire to see two old friends one last time. One was his friend Joe Turner in New York and the other, Jerimy Ford, is a resident of Powhatan. And along the way, he would soak up every moment, sight, and breath he still had left and enjoy them to their fullest. “I was very at peace with the decision
Bring lawn chairs
No coolers allowed