Inside A6 News from Cumberland County, honoring 2019 Teachers of the Year
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 New head coach: Gary Brock to lead BSH Football in 2019
Vol. XXXIII No. o. 2
July 3, 2019
Board approves updated comprehensive plan By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – After almost three years of work and review, the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last week finished its update of the 2010 Long-Range Comprehensive Plan with a few lastminute changes. During its meeting on Monday, June 24, the board voted 3-1 in favor of adopting the 2019 Long-Range Comprehensive Plan, which establishes a vision of what the county should look like in 20 to 30 years. Chairwoman Angie Cabell, who represents District 3, Bill Melton, District 4, and Carson Tucker,
District 5, voted in favor of the comp plan. David Williams, District 1, voted against it and Larry Nordvig was absent. Little discussion was held on the bulk of the comprehensive plan, which has been the subject of many meetings and workshops by both the planning commission and board of supervisors, as well as other special committees. Dialogue instead focused on two changes being proposed as a result of comments made by local residents since the board last discussed the comp plan. Two open houses were organized in June to solicit feedback from members of the public and about 20 people were in attendance, planning director Andrew
Pompei said. The comments, which were in the board’s packet, overwhelmingly said those residents do not want high density housing in the county or changes to the then-current comp plan. The county also received comments from two landowners in or near the Village area about how their parcels are designated on the Future Land Use Map that is included in the comprehensive plan, he said. At the request of some board members, he presented what those changes would be. The first area was 26.2 acres between Powhatan Elementary School and the joint transportation facility. In the 2010 plan, the land was designated as Village Center, but that was changed
to Commerce Center in the draft plan presented by the planning commission in 2017. The land owner asked that it be turned back into Village Center. The second area was 46 acres on the east side of Rocky Ford Road just south of Route 13. In 2010, it was designated as Low Density Residential, which is one unit per 2 acres. In the draft at least as far back as November 2018, it was changed to Rural Preservation, which is one unit per 10 acres. The landowner requested it be changed to Rural Residential, which is one unit per 5 acres. Only two of the board members spoke see BOARD, pg. 9
Church creates autism camp to broaden horizons By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Keynote speaker Damaris Santiago speaks to “Hidden in Plain Sight” about her son’s recovery from drug addiction.
Seminar aims at protecting youth By Laura McFarland
Tips for
News Editor
POWHATAN – As varied as it was, “Hidden in Plain Sight” had one central goal – to equip adults who interact regularly with youth of all ages with resources to help better understand and protect them. Groups such as Goochland Powhatan Community Services, the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office and Harbor Point Behavioral Health came together on Wednesday, June 26 to put on “Hidden in Plain Sight: Toddlers to
SAFETY
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
see HIDDEN, pg. 8
ONLINE for youth PAGE 8
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Camper Charley Weimere, center, is helped with a sand art project by volunteers Elizabeth Weimere and Hayden Belcher at an autism camp.
interested weren’t really into it. But a little boy who wasn’t really engaged before, yoga was his thing.” This new camp, which was held in the mornings from June 24 to 28 at the church, had five children between ages 7 and 9, all on the autism spectrum. Father Walter Lewis said the idea came from speaking see AUTISM, pg. 10
VDOT to conduct Route 60 study
Ayers seeks re-election to District 3 school board seat
By Laura McFarland
Contributed Report
News Editor DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
POWHATAN – Every activity had the change of being hit or miss. For organizers of the first Prayerful Hands Garden Summer Camp, planning a week of activities for children on the autism spectrum involved a combination of hard work and years of experience working with children. But as the half-day program unfolded all last week at St. John Neumann Catholic Church and the volunteers running the camp interacted with the children and saw their reactions, it was a constant journey of discovery for all of them, said Karyn Hill of Powhatan, head of the camp. “They got to try a lot of new experiences and feel them out. It is funny what experience was a hit with each kid,” she said. “One of the boys loved the water sports. A little girl was playing with frogs who wouldn’t have done it earlier in the week. This morning we did yoga, and two of the boys I thought would be
POWHATAN – Work has already begun to update a 20-year-old study of Route 60 across the length of six counties from Powhatan to Amherst. After several years of unsuccessful bills patroned by Sen. Mark Peake, R-22, to update a 1999 study, the Virginia Department of Transportation recently authorized the project to take another look at the 103-mile corridor, said Darrel Johnson, rural planning program manager. The primary goal of this study is to provide localities with cost effective innovative intersection design improvements that are tailored for submission as SMART Scale applications. In addition to recommended intersection improvements, this study will also perform a safety analysis for three high crash density segments as well as a high level multi-lane analysis to determine how many lanes are necessary to maintain current level of service now and in the future. “The primary purpose is to identify safety and capacity issues along the corridor, making it so it would be safer for when economic development comes and being able to control access management so you are not having a stoplight at every entrance along the corridor. We want the corridor to be able to move smoothly,” Johnson. A consultant has already started the project and is conducting traffic counts and putting together current conditions, he said. Those findings will be presented in two citizen information meetings being held this month. In Powhatan, a meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24 at see VDOT, pg. 9
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alarie Ayers is excited to announce that she is once again running for the office of school board in District 3. She has been a dedicated member of the school board for 24 years. She has been a resident of this outstanding community for over 30 years and raised her family here. Ayers is a highly accomplished board member and has achieved The Award of Distinction, the highest honor given by the Virginia School Board Association, for many years. The school system has continued its excellence under her leadership and continues to innovate and improve curriculum and programs. Ayers offers valuable knowledge and experience on the school board. She has volunteered hundreds of hours in our
schools and is always available to her constituents. She now works part time caring for the elderly and helping with her two granddaughters, which
VALARIE AYERS gives her the time to make school board a top priority. She also serves on the Maggie Walker Governors School Board (24 years) and Code RVA Board (three years) as an extension of her service on Powhatan School Board.
Over the years Ayers has supported teachers and employees, encouraging funding for competitive salaries and benefits. She works hard to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and enjoys working with the board of supervisors in accomplishing this. She continues to support the arts, growth of STEM education, the CTE program, the FFA, and the Advanced College Academy. Offering personalized education plans for students is a top priority as are anti-bullying programs. She wants every student to feel safe and accepted in our schools. Ayers wants to thank her constituents and employees for their support over the years and the faith they have in her. She will continue to serve with dedication, motivation and passion.
Honoring our Veterans The Powhatan Today honors veterans submitted after the Memorial Day section was published.
AMY WINGFIELD
WILLIAM G. HATCHER