Inside A3 Celebration of the Horse & AG Expo returns
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 Seniors reflect on Powhatan Boys Lacrosse team’s first years
Vol. XXXII No.. 44
April 24, 2019
Powhatan 911 goes live in new center By Laura McFarland News Editor
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OWHATAN – Powhatan County’s new emergency 911 communications center recently went live with little fanfare. At 10:56 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, communications manager Cindy Gillespie made the announcement over the radio to fire and EMS and sheriff’s deputies that “Powhatan County Public Safety Communications will now be in the new center.” Afterward, a handful of county employees, vendor technicians and service providers who were watching gave a few cheers and a light round of applause. At 11:12 a.m., Gillespie handled the first call, a report from a citizen of a reckless driver on Anderson Highway. As she finished up the call, supervisor Kim Schmitt, who was also answering phones during the transition, put out a BOL (be on lookout) for the car. Anyone watching might see it as a small moment. But going live in the new emergency 911 communications center took years of work by county staff and outside vendors, said Tom Nolan, public safety communications director. Nolan has been involved in the process of making
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Public safety communications director Tom Nolan talks to Cindy Gillespie moments before she and Kim Schmitt take the new 911 center’s system live on April 16. All 911 communications will now be run out of the new center.
the new 911 center a reality for two and a half years and he said he is excited to see it becoming a reality. He said he is proud of the work done by everyone who contributed to the project. “It is a great opportunity to improve the excellent service we are already providing now,” he said. “I feel that we got it right. We built this system to last for today’s needs and future needs. It provides great situational awareness. It provides a great work environment for the 911 communications officers – all the better to serve the citizens of Powhatan.” Leading up to going live, three dispatchers worked through the morning in the old space in the sheriff’s office. After they were sure it was operational, coordinators started bringing the dispatchers upstairs to work at their new stations. As they came up, some of the equipment they were working on could then be brought upstairs to create six fully-functioning stations instead of three, Nolan said. The three additional stations can hold extra staff in situation expected to draw a high volume of calls, such as a storm, but will also be good if the department needs to grow in the future. Nolan offered a tour of the center, which includes see LIVE, pg. 6
County celebrates Earth Day By Laura McFarland News Editor
P PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Planting flowers to take home was one of the children’s activities at the Powhatan Earth Day Celebration on April 18.
OWHATAN – A beautiful sunny day and a great turnout made a success of the 11th annual Powhatan Earth Day Celebration. The Courthouse Green was full of activity on Thursday, April 18 as locals and visitors alike enjoyed more than 30 vendors and local performances. Extension agent Cathy Howland said that other than making some adjustments due to winds, the festival went wonderfully and was a real testament to the community coming together with a common goal. see EARTH DAY pg. 3
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Adam Sadler, second from right, is honored with a proclamation by the board of supervisors for working almost 26 years as a Powhatan deputy.
Adam Sadler honored for service By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Early in his career as a Powhatan County Sheriff’s Deputy, Adam Sadler’s supervisor – then 1st Sgt. Lynn Woodcock – told him something
he has never forgotten. Woodcock told the young deputy that he should treat people how he would want to be treated if he were in their shoes. see SADLER, pg. 3
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
Deputies, dispatchers join Powhatan’s front lines
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Powhatan County recently welcomed several new employees into the fold of first responders. In the sheriff’s office, three new deputies graduated from the Crater Criminal Justice Training Academy. Shown here with Sheriff Brad Nunnally, deputies Ryan Houtsma, Laura Stephens, and Giulia Levenduski are assigned to the Patrol Division and are now serving the citizens of Powhatan.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
At a recent meeting of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors, three new public safety communications officers were sworn in by Teresa Dobbins, right, clerk of the circuit court. The new dispatchers who took the oath of office and are now serving the community are Madison Ward, left, Heather Sauer and Jennifer Leftwich.
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
2nd
926502-01
27th Bring lawn chairs
No coolers allowed