Inside A5 Antique Power Show steams ahead
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan Middle School Softball wins championship
Vol. XXXII No.. 46
May 8, 2019
Volunteers express frustration with leadership By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Powhatan County is currently dealing with a great deal of uncertainty regarding its fire and rescue department and the direction it is headed. For the last several weeks, the department has been at the forefront of local county business as the board of supervisors weigh decisions about funding and morale, two separate but also inextricably linked issues. With the fiscal year (FY) 2020 real estate tax rate and budget still up in the
air, the board is mulling ideas ranging ter hearing from volunteers who say morale is low and they no lonfrom funding a single addiger feel like they have a tional paid nighttime medic unit for $180,000 to a pro- County releases voice in a system that was largely built by volunteers. posal to fund $1.18 million results of The board of supervisors in paid fire and EMS staff was scheduled to meet with and everything in between. anonymous volunteers on Monday, May Funding the proposal would volunteer 6 to discuss their views and need an additional 3.5 cents survey how the department can on the tax rate. See full story on move forward. Singer was In the midst of these disnot expected to be there as cussions, there are also Page 6. he is confirmed to be out on questions about Chief Steleave until May 23. No inven Singer’s leadership of the department raised by supervisors af- formation has been given on the reason.
Phil Warner is acting chief of the department. In addition to coming forward and speaking at meetings, several volunteers from Companies 1, 4, and 5 recently sat down for a frank discussion with the Powhatan Today about what they see as the issues facing Powhatan regarding its fire and rescue needs. Two board members, Chairwoman Angie Cabell, District 3, and Carson Tucker, District 5, and one supervisor candidate, Mike Byerly, observed the interview but did not particisee FIRE, pg. 6
New building formally inaugurated By Laura McFarland News Editor
JUDGE PAUL CELLA
POWHATAN – Everyone present at the ribbon cutting of the new expansion added onto the Powhatan County Courthouse agreed that it represented years of vision and hard work. Elected officials, county employees and community members gathered on Wednesday, May 1 to formally inaugurate the newly expanded building. The $3.6 million building features a sally port, holding cell and security point on the first floor and extended General District Court spaces and Powhatan County’s new emergency 911 communications center on the sec-
FILE PHOTOS
RAMONA CARTER
see EXPANSION, pg. 3
Local government aids Census 2020 prep By Laura McFarland News Editor
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – Even with almost a year to go before the 2020 Census begins its job of gathering statistical data of citizens across the country, efforts are under way to help make the
process smoother in Powhatan County. County government is doing what it can to promote awareness of the census and the benefits it will bring to Powhatan, county administrator Ted Voorhees said. It is important to remind citizens why the census is so critical, he said. It is in the Constitution. The Founding Fathers understood that in order for you to have a representative democracy, some of that was going to be a numbers game, he added. The census provides vital data that determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress, he said. There are also a number of formula-based grants through the federal government that are dependent on Powhatan having a good census count, including with areas such as highway funding and schools.
“The census is a very American thing. For those who are concerned in our surveillance economy that Google or Facebook knows too much, none of that is the census. That is conflating two different things. The census is an inherently American tradition and is essential to our democracy,” he said. Over the next year, the county will be taking steps to help with awareness of the census. Staff will be reaching out to local community leaders to form a Complete Count Committee, which will use members’ local knowledge, influence and resources to educate the public about the census in the coming year and then promote it as Census Day, which is April 1, 2020, draws closer, said Carla Neidigh, who will be the county’s point of contact for the committee. see CENSUS, pg. 8
Above, Powhatan County Fair will celebrate 100 years with the fair on May 17 to 19. Below is a historical photo of the fairgrounds and a building that once stood on it.
Powhatan County Fair celebrates 100 years By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Fair is ready to celebrate a century of history, laughter and community this month. When the fair opens its gates on May 17 for the first of three days of fun, it will be marking 100 years since the event started in 1919. Organizers Randa Jackson and Runda Harris say the special anniversary fair will be both a celebration of the past and a
promise of a bright future to come for the event. “We're a pretty important organization in the community, mostly a hidden asset, but maybe this celebration will make us a little more obvious. The more people know of us they can join us! And help us help others,” Harris said. The fair will open at 5 p.m. on May 17, and 1 p.m. on May 18 and 19 at the fairgrounds, 4042 Anderson Highway, Powhatan. Closing time depends see FAIR, pg. 8
YMCA garden ready for season with help of young workers By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Tucked to one side of the Elizabeth Randolph Lewis YMCA is a hidden gem called the Love Your Neighbor Garden. Started six years ago, the small garden continues to thrive each year and offer both a way to grow vegetables for people in the community and to pass on knowledge about gardening, said Wendy Hager, who started the garden along with Lisa Bennett. Manned by volunteers and kept running through donations, the purpose of the garden has always been to benefit the community, said Hager, who is also a group exercise instructor at the YMCA. The garden grows food that is donated to the Powhatan Food Pantry, Friendship Café for local seniors, and YMCA members. When they have an excess of produce, the garden has also donated to local first responders, she added. The garden was busy with activity last week as volunteers taught children in the
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Master Gardener Caz Mock shows Dylan Austin how to plant a tomato plant in the Love Your Neighbor Garden at the YMCA.
YMCA’s after-school program to begin planting the first plants of the season. Children were brought into the fenced off garden on April 30 for their official planting day – when they worked in small groups and were shown how to remove
plants from their plastic containers, replant them in the ground and water them. Master Gardeners Ray Arritt, Chuck Crow, Greg Vieira and Caz Mock were all on hand to walk the children in the aftersee GARDEN, pg. 3