Inside A8 Flat Rock Elementary School Honor Roll
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 A national champion: Powhatan’s Eike wins title with Canes National
Vol. XXXIII No. o. 3
July 10, 2019
End of an era – last dairy operation leaves county By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – An industry that helped shape Powhatan into the community it is breathed its last when the only remaining commercial dairy operating in the county recently moved to a neighboring locality. After 15 years of operating a dairy in Powhatan County, Tommy Adkins recently made the decision to move his operation of 80-plus cows to Cumberland County and go into partnership with anCONTRIBUTED PHOTO other dairyman, Glen Landis. Adkins said he loved running a dairy in On moving day, Stanley Gibbs hugs a cow goodbye that was part of the last dairy farm operation in Powhatan Powhatan since 2004 but couldn’t deny County. Owner Tommy Adkins moved his dairy from Powhatan to Cumberland to join with another operation. the benefits of pooling the resources of the change. The dairy farming in Virginia has two dairies – both in terms of labor and only way I saw to be able to stay in the erative Extension agent. done the same thing over the last 30 years “It is signifi cant because it shows a business and make it and him, too,” Adequipment. shift in the agriculture industry as a whole, as the industry saw steady decline, said “We could use the scale of economies. kins said. While it is good to see Adkins’ dairy but then also on the local level, especially Robert Harper, a former extension agent. ... He is probably milking 30 or 40 more In addition to the hard work and chalcows. If you can take 250 cows and spread continue on, his departure means the end when there were so many dairies at one your costs out over more cows, you’ve got of an industry that was once an essential point and it was a way of life and a career lenges of running a farm 365 days a year, small commercial dairies then and now less pennies per cow involved in what part of the local economy for decades, said that was profitable,” she said. Powhatan is not abnormal in this each milking unit cost. It really was the Rachel Henley, a Powhatan County Coopsee DAIRY pg. 4
Local man’s body found in Louisa
Habitat for Humanity dedicates new home
By Laura McFarland News Editor
By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Every opportunity Erica Muncey had to be at the build site of her new home helping it be brought to reality, she was there. She would show up on weekends and work alongside crew and volunteers there to help. Usually she brought her son Nate, but she also showed up on her PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND own in between her runs as a Powhatan County school Joe Hefferon welcomes Erica Muncey and
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
see HABITAT, pg. 5
her son Nate into their home, which was built by Habitat for Humanity – Powhatan.
LOUISA –The parents of a murdered 23-year-old Powhatan County man whose body was recently discovered in Louisa County described their son as an outgoing, adventurous young man who loved his family and friends. Terell Jordan Bailey, 23, of Powhatan was reported missing by his parents two days before his body was discovered on a desolate country road in Louisa County on Saturday, June 22, Major Donald Lowe with the Louisa Sheriff’s Office said in a press briefing on Monday, July 1. Authorities believe his body had lain there for three to four days before being found. The sheriff’s offices in Louisa and Powhatan counties worked with the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force to develop a suspect, Anthony Johnny Davenport, 25, of Powhatan, Lowe said. Davenport see LOUISA, pg. 6
The body of Terell Jordan Bailey of Powhatan was discovered on June 22 by the side of an isolated country road in Louisa County. A roommate has been arrested for his murder.
Schools honored for Asip running for Virginia improvement by House of Delegates seat Board of Education Contributed Report
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOUISA SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Staff Report The state Board of Education recently recognized 235 schools for high student achievement or continuous improvement under the board’s new exemplar performance school recognition program. Four Powhatan County schools and one in Cumberland made the list, earning 2019 Board of Education Continuous Improvement Awards. They were among 183 schools across the Commonwealth that also earned continuous improvement awards. To earn the Board of Education Continuous Achievement Award, a school must earn a state accreditation rating of Accredited or Accredited with Conditions and meet at least one of the following benchmarks for improved performance on accreditation-related school quality indicators: A cumulative 10-point increase over three years in the combined rates for reading and mathematics and in the pass rate for science, with improvement each year on each indicator: A cumulative 10-point increase over three years in the combined rates for reading and mathematics for two or more student groups, with improvement each year for each group on both indicators; A cumulative 15-percent decrease in the chronic absenteeism rate over three years, with a decrease each year; or For schools with a graduating class, a cumulative four-point increase in the see EDUCATION, pg. 3
M
ike Asip, career special education and middle school leader, and 10-year Powhatan resident, recently announced his candidacy for the 65th House of Delegates seat now held by Lee Ware. Dr. Asip retired recently from Chesterfield Public Schools as director of exceptional education, where he was recognized statewide as a leader in providing services for 7,500 students with disabilities in the fifth largest school division in the Commonwealth. Earlier he served in middle school assistant principal and principal roles in Fairfax and Williamsburg-James City County. “It has been my mission to serve students in general and special education, advocating for services that lift all children to their potential,” Asip noted. “I will
bring this expertise, experience, and passion to promote excellent public schools, where student achievement is measured by more than
ASIP test scores, and seek funding to attract and retain the best teachers.” Asip advocates for affordable health care, mental health services, and workforce development to expand economic opportunity in his district and across the Commonwealth. Inequities of broadband access across the
rural parts of this district are a high priority. “When children are not able to complete homework at home and when businesses cannot establish due to the absence of broadband, educational opportunity and economic development suffer,” he said. Asip led efforts in advocating for special education laws with the General Assembly over the past three years. He is a voice for social justice, the environment, affordable housing, women’s rights, and racial understanding, now serving as vicechair of the Powhatan County Democratic Committee, and a member of the Powhatan NAACP. Asip and his wife Leslie live in the Powhatan Courthouse area and have a daughter, married son, and grandson. His interests include fitness and outdoor activities, enjoyed in Powhatan’s rural environment.