Inside A3 School board looks at student safety
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Coach of the Year | Powhatan Girls LAX’s Laura Camp earns honor for the region
Vol. XXXIII No. o. 1
June 26, 2019
Batteau festival celebrates James River’s spirit By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – With a year as good as the 34th annual James River Batteau Festival was this year, it is hard for participants to imagine it might not last much longer. Great water levels, overall good weather, and great camaraderie among the crews of the 20 boats that participated were prevalent throughout the eight-day festival, which launched from Lynchburg on June 15 and ended on June 22 at Maiden’s Landing in Powhatan, said Gail Timberlake, past president of the Virginia Canals and Navigation Society. “It’s been fantastic. There have been a few issues with not only our boat but others, but everybody is doing great. The water levels have been pretty near perfect. That means you can maneuver the
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
The crew of the Rosalee floats downstream during the 34th annual James River Batteau Festival.
difficult spots but it’s not so fast that you can’t stop,” said Timberlake of Powhatan, captain of the Lady’s Slipper, one of two Powhatan-based boats in the festival. Throughout the course of the 120mile journey down the James River, participants stop at designated points each day to camp and share their experiences. Despite starting and ending each day at the same place, everyone has different experiences. Each boat has to navigate the depths and shallows of the James River and get their boats through obstacles such as rocks and small ledges. Sometimes they get stuck, but when that happens, they work together to solve the problem, either within their own crew or with the help of others on the river, Timberlake said. On one of the early days of the festival, the Lady’s Slipper was stuck on rocks twice and needed see BATTEAU, pg. 6
County responds to zoning suit By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF POWHATAN HIGH SCHOOL
Powhatan High School students such as Elena Douglas sponsored the Powhatan Community Makers to honor those who have worked hard for change.
Project honors efforts toward diversity By Laura McFarland News Editor
see MAKERS, pg. 5
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
POWHATAN – Several Powhatan High School students recently hon-
ored a diverse multicultural group of local community members that have helped the community flourish. This school year, the Diverse
POWHATAN – Powhatan County recently responded to a lawsuit challenging the board of supervisors’ decision to eliminate the Residential-Commercial (R-C) zoning district but the case will be delayed until a judge can be appointed to hear it. The original lawsuit, which was filed on May 24, asserts that the members of the board of supervisors and the planning commission were “were unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious” in their decisions to eliminate the R-C zoning district and thus downzone 509 parcels in the county. It asks a judge to declare the board’s action unlawful, that the downzoning ordinance is null and void, and that zoning district continue in effect as it existed prior to the change. County attorney Tom Lacheney filed motions on Tuesday, June 18 in Powhatan County Circuit Court asking for two of the lawsuit’s eight plaintiffs to be dismissed from the case and refuting their claims on how the rest have been negatively impacted. The same day that the county responded to the original suit, Circuit Court Judge Paul Cella recused himself and all of the other judges on the 11th Judicial Circuit. Cella said in a letter to the Supreme Court of Virginia that he could not hear the case because he owns property located in the area in question.
Additionally, the other judges agreed that since one of their colleagues will be affected by the case, they should also recuse themselves. At this point, the case has to wait until the Supreme Court of Virginia appoints a substitute judge, according to Rene Holy, chief deputy clerk. The board of supervisors voted 3-2 in favor of eliminating the controversial zoning district at its meeting on April 24 in a decision that was the culmination of months of work by staff, the planning commission, the supervisors and the public. David Williams, who represents District 1, Larry Nordvig, District 2, and Carson Tucker, District 5, voted for the elimination. Chairwoman Angie Cabell, District 3, and Bill Melton, District 4, voted against it. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of several entities and individuals: the Richmond Association of Realtors; Richard Cox; Edmund C. Burruss; Christy B. Elliott; Old Buckingham L.L.C.; Robert A. Sorenson; East Coast Marketing Inc., trustee of Anderson Land Trust, Northside Two Land Trust, Hollywood Land Trust, and Rocky Oak Land Trust; and Linda Lee Pierce. In the motion to dismiss filed by the county, Lacheney asked that the Richmond Association of Realtors Inc. and Richard Cox be dismissed as plaintiffs in the case “for lack of standing.” Since see ZONING, pg. 4
Whittaker vying for sheriff Contributed Report
V PHOTO COURTESY OF IAIN CROCKART
Patrick Quinn competed in the World Beard and Moustache Championship and placed third in his category.
Quinn competes in world beard championship By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – A Powhatan man with an affinity for growing stylish facial hair recently took his passion international by competing in the 2019 World Beard and Moustache Championship in Belgium. Patrick Quinn of Powhatan placed third in the Sideburns Natural category of the contest, which saw competitors coming from all around the world to show off their moustaches, beards, and sideburns of all shapes and see BEARD pg. 4
incent M. Whittaker has announced his candidacy for sheriff of Powhatan. Whittaker for sheriff means real change and real experience. Whittaker as your sheriff means fair, honest and transparent service. Whittaker brings the experience of 23 years as a deputy, master deputy, patrol narcotics officer, investigator and sergeant of courts. Whittaker has an honorable discharge from the army and the Powhatan Army National Guard with eight years total military service. Thirty years of uniformed service uniquely qualifies Whittaker to make real changes in the sheriff’s office. Whittaker will put Powhatan first and be the most reachable sheriff available 24/7 to anyone
that needs help. Whittaker will continue to fight against serious crimes and focus on service to the citizens that pay for the buildings, uniforms, cars, training and benefits. He
WHITTAKER will not put his name on the sheriff’s office front door because the office belongs to Powhatan's citizens. Visit whittakerforsheriff.com or Whittaker for Sheriff 2020 on Facebook to learn who Whitaker is,
changes he will bring, and see details of his training and cases. He welcomes questions and requests to meet with him. Whittaker will focus on school security and illegal drugs being sold in Powhatan. Whittaker has a proven track record of narcotics investigations, with two houses seized from true drugs dealers. Whittaker has also seized record drug amounts and monies and knows how to work felony cases to successful prosecution. Whittaker has worked and solved all types of cases with record sentencing to violent offenders. One child molester received two life terms plus 20 years. Whittaker will be tough on serious crimes but still focus on service to the citizens. On Nov. 5, Whittaker asks for your voice and vote for real change. It is time to put Powhatan first and treat the citizens as employers, not subjects.