Inside A5 Animal control earns spay/neuter grants
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan freshmen earn first cross country wins
Vol. XXXIV No. o. 16
October 21, 2020
More students to return to all in-person classes By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board voted unanimously last week to have all fourth- and fifth-grade students who are currently on the hybrid model return to full in-person instruction beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 4. The decision was made during the school board’s meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13 based in large part on the continued success of having kindergarten through third-grade students return to full-time successfully and administration staff’s recommendation that having all hybrid elementary students back could be done safely. When the school board approved the combination hybrid and virtual models this summer, they agreed with the staff recommendation that the division would review the situation about nine weeks into the school year to see what, if any, additional hybrid students should return
to full in-person instruction. This would be contingent on local health data and guidance from the Powhatan/Chesterfield Health Department, as well as feedback from students, parents, and staff. It was always made clear that students who chose the full virtual pathway would continue with that model at least through Dec. 18. Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, explained to the board that there were a few drawbacks to consider. While the schools will be following the approved health and safety guidelines of having students spaced a minimum of 3 feet apart (with masks), he cannot guarantee the students will be spaced a full 6 feet apart, depending on the class sizes and enrollment. “We will be following our state reviewed health plan, which states that 3 feet of social distancing is allowable with a face covering. Our goal continues to be as close to 6 feet of social distancing as possible. However, with larger class sizes at the fourth and fifth-grade level we
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Flat Rock Elementary teacher Stephanie Epps does a grammar lesson with her class on Oct. 16. On the hybrid model she has as many as 15 students in her class at a time, but she will have 22 students on Nov. 4 with the full return to in-person instruction for the fourth and fifth grades.
will not be able to maintain the 6 feet standard in some of our classrooms,” Jones said. Any families with elementary stu-
Boatwright honored with House resolution By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Lifelong Powhatan resident Ruth Boatwright was recently honored with a resolution passed by the House of Delegates. Boatwright, 83, was surprised with a special reading of the proclamation in “honor of a life of exemplary devotion to her family, her church, her community, and her business” during the Oct. 15 Powhatan Chamber of Commerce meeting. Del. Lee Ware, R-65, who was the chief patron of the bill, said he has watched Boatwright during the course of his four decades of living in Powhatan and found her to be exemplary as a person, a community participant, and as a leader. He also commended her for her work in setting up
see CLASSES, pg. 4
Thousands of Powhatan voters receive incorrect voter precinct letter By Laura McFarland Editor
Del. Lee Ware presents Ruth Boatwright with a resolution passed by the House of Delegates in her honor.
see BOATWRIGHT, pg. 8
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
MAKING CONNECTIONS DURING COVID
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
dents on the hybrid model who are not comfortable with a full return still have
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Shown are members of the Powhatan YMCA Expresso team, including Elmer Watts, from left, Chris Watts, Linda Stokes, Tom Walton, and Diane Walton.
YMCA virtual biking group challenges themselves By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – When the competition wasn’t stiff enough, the lead members of Powhatan YMCA’s Expresso team came up with their own challenges. To the uninitiated person walking into the Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan YMCA, the group of people often seen riding the stationary bikes in one corner might not stand out. But the team has an international reputation in the world of dragon chasing – a video
game-like program tied to their computerized exercise bikes – in which they take great pride. So when the semi-annual dragon chasing challenge began in September, they were ready to defend their reputation. Only the challenge never came. Not even the team in Metz, France – normally their biggest rival – was a threat with many of their members staying away from the gym as the world tries to come to grips with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, said team member Elmer Watts, 74, of Carterssee YMCA, pg. 6
POWHATAN – An error with a direct mailing letter sent to almost 7,000 Powhatan voters being notified of a polling precinct change resulted in a large percentage of them being told to go to the wrong precinct. Director of elections Karen Alexander said her office was inundated with calls and emails from concerned voters who started receiving the letters Tuesday, Oct. 13. The letters were part of an effort to notify registered voters impacted by three voting precinct changes made because of COVID-19 and space concerns. The office of elections hired BMS Direct, a direct mailing company it and other county offices have used without issue in the past, to mail the letters, Alexander said. However, the company not only sent out the letters, which were dated Oct. 2, a good three weeks late but also believes it stuffed many of the letters into envelopes out of order and mailed them without realizing the mistake. “We didn’t know until voters received them today and called very confused that we had them perhaps registered in an incorrect precinct,” Alexander said late Tuesday night. “No one’s address has been changed. They are registered to vote in the same precinct they have been. The letter was just sent to them incorrectly.” The letters themselves did not have voters’ names and addresses on them because it cut down the cost of the mailing, she said. Having letters sent to the corresponding address instead of to the corresponding voter has not been an issue before. The mailing company agreed to reissue corrected letters last week, along with a letter of apology explaining what happened, Alexander said. Representatives with the company told her Tuesday they would “do everything they can to have those hit the mail by Thursday so voters have them by Saturday so the correction is taken care of within the week,” she added. Of course, the problem remains that the damage has been done and there is now mistrust with voters, a distraught Alexander said late Tuesday night. She and her staff were on the phone all day fielding questions, and she was still in her office after 9 p.m. returning the calls of people who couldn’t get through and left voicemails. Anger and confusion were compounded because of a line on the letter saying recipients had until Oct. 13 to make any changes to their voter registration information, Alsee VOTERS, pg. 5
