see VIRTUAL

from Powhatan Today –11/04/2020

see PUMPKINS

VERA AYERS-KILMER

Vera Ayers-Kilmer, 96, of Powhatan, went to be with the Lord and her husbands, Green Ayers and Fred Kilmer, on Thursday, October 29, 2020. She is survived by her daughter, JoAnn Ayers Greene (Parker (Moe)) of Powhatan; brother, Ronald D. Murphy (Margie) of Spencer. Vera was a retired employee of AYERS-KILMER Gulf Oil. Funeral services were held Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m. at Moody Funeral Services, 202 W. Blue Ridge St., Stuart, VA 24171. The family will receive friends Wednesday, November 4 from 11 to 12:30 p.m. in the Bennett & Barden Funeral Home, 3215 Anderson Hwy. (Rt.60), Powhatan, with graveside services to follow at 1 p.m. in the Powhatan Community Cemetery. In lieu of fl owers, contributions may be made to CBN at www.cbn.com. Online condolences may be made at bennettbardenfh.com.

NELSON BISHOP

Nelson Paige Bishop, 71, of Middlesex, formerly of Powhatan, was met in heaven by his parents, Nelson S. and Doris Taylor Bishop, on Thursday, October 22, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Virginia Price Bishop; son, Russell M. Bishop (Carolyn) of Powhatan; sister, Dr. Nancy B. Newton (David) of Alabama. Paige was a retired Captain with the Henrico County Fire Dept. and a Chief Bailiff with Middlesex County. A graveside service was held Wednesday, October 28 at 1 p.m. in the Powhatan Community Cemetery. In lieu of fl owers, contribu-

BISHOP tions may be made to an animal shelter of your choice, as Paige truly loved his fur friends. Online condolences may be made at bennettbardenfh.com.

LEANDER SCOTT SR.

Mr. Leander O'Neal Scott Sr., peacefully passed from this life on Monday, October 26, 2020, meeting his Lord and Savior. He was reunited with his bride of 71 years, Eva; his son, Tom; his grandson, Cameron; and his parents, Price and Lela. He was 95.5 years old. Leander was a businessman,

SCOTT pulp wood dealer, farmer and self-educated historian. He was a true entrepreneur who started multiple forestry-related businesses over the last seven decades, some of which are still in operation today. Leander loved "buying dirt" as he called it. His parents put a tract of land in his name to manage when he was a young teenager, fueling his lifelong drive for timberland acquisition and management. Active in his industry and community, Leander was a 70-year member of the Amelia Masonic Lodge No. 101, Amelia VFW Post 8759, Virginia Forest Products Association and a lifetime member of Virginia Forestry Association. He was instrumental in the construction of the Amelia War Memorial Building and the founding of Amelia Educational Foundation and continued support throughout his life and beyond. Leander was born April 26, 1925, in the same room of the house in which he passed. An only child, Leander was greatly infl uenced by his industrious parents and his namesake grandfather. He often worked for his grandfather and watched as he conducted business. He tried to pattern his life after him. Both humble men had innovative spirits and minds that never stopped thinking, planning and moving forward. A World War II veteran, Leander left school early, telling his principal that the war was going to end and he had to go now. He was one of the Greatest Generation honoring God, country and liberty. He signed up with the Marine Corps, spending most of his time in the Pacifi c theatre. Leander was in the Marine 4th Division anti-aircraft battery on the atoll providing support for the battle of Peleliu Island. He was part of the fi rst group of occupational forces entering Japan prior to their surrender and was able to be an actual eyewitness to the signing of the surrender by the Japanese in Tokyo Bay. Twenty-year-old Leander returned from the war to Amelia, his family and Eva, the girl he had asked to wait for him. He graduated from Smithdeal Massey Business School and attended the University of Richmond for a few semesters while court-

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ing Eva, who was at the Medical College of Virginia. The two were married after their education was completed in 1948. Starting with a borrowed truck and saw, Leander began cutting pulpwood on land he bought from money saved while serving in the Marines. His varied business ventures and land acquisitions grew from there; even on the day of his passing Leander was still conducting business. Leander was disciplined, both in his business life and more so his personal one. He always saw his cup half full, never empty. While some saw problems and obstacles; he saw opportunities. A man of great faith, Leander Scott felt truly blessed for each day the Lord gave him. He was a thankful man; and his gratitude steeled his determination to use every physical and mental asset the Lord had blessed him with until his dying day. And this he did. Leander leaves much family behind that will miss him every day; his children, Jo Anne Webb (Jim), Rebecca Bogese (Jimmy), Lanny (Tammy), William (Stacy). His surviving grandchildren are Michael, Alex, Stirling, Trey, Tom, Tiffany, Lee and Clay; and there are also fi ve great-grandchildren. We ask for your prayers. Visitation and service will be at the Amelia Academy gymnasium, 8741 N. Five Forks Road, Amelia, Va. Visitation is Friday, November 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral, 12 noon Saturday, November 7, with graveside at Amelia Presbyterian Church. Lunch to follow graveside at Amelia Academy. In lieu of fl owers, please make contributions to Amelia Academy, 8741 N. Five Forks Road, Amelia, VA 23002.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Feeding Powhatan is a nonprofit food pantry that exists to feed people who are struggling financially in the

Powhatan community. The pantry will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. on the following dates through the end of 2020: Nov. 4 and 18 and Dec. 2 and 16. The food pantry is located at 2408

New Dorset Circle (next to Community

Life Church). Visit us on Facebook at

Feeding Powhatan or call 804-3036431. Register at https://forms.gle/

QhweP5RgCTP4ryZz6.

Powhatan County Public Library has reopened to the public, but due to

COVID-19-related safety measures, it will be open for limited hours and occupancy, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday to Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. For now, the library is closed on Fridays. Books to Go and Curbside Print services will also continue to be available; however, once the building reopens, the pickup stations will move to the library atrium. Library staff will continue to be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday to Thursday and on Saturday to provide service and support to patrons. Library programs will remain online at this time. Face coverings are required inside the library. While Powhatan County remains under a local state of emergency, the library restrooms will remain closed. The library meeting rooms are also unavailable until further notice. Contact the library at 804-598-5670 or library@ powhatanlibrary.net.

Powhatan County Public Library is still offering Books to Go. Patrons may reserve print materials, DVDs, and audiobooks online or by phone.

This provides a contactless pick-up option for those who prefer to obtain library materials in traditional formats while the building is closed to the public due to COVID-19. To take advantage of this service, patrons have two options: place items on hold online through the catalog at www. powhatanlibrary.net or call the library at 804-598-5670 to request items.

Online hold placement is available 24/7. Phone service is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and on Saturdays. Holds placed after 4 p.m. (online or via phone) will be available on the next business day.

Staff will contact patrons by phone when items are available for pick up. Items will be packaged in a new paper bag labeled with the patron’s last name. The bag will be placed on a table at the main entrance of the library. When patrons are notified that their items are available for pick-up, the order must be picked up by 4 p.m. that day. Due to limited stock, items not picked up will be placed back into circulation and patrons may place another hold for pickup. Limit of 10 holds per cardholder per day and 50 items checked out total per card. Library WiFi and e-branch resources are available 24/7. Ccontact Powhatan County Public Library at 804-598-5670 or library@powhatanlibrary.net.

Powhatan County Public Library is now offering Curbside Print. Patrons may submit one printing/copying request per day for up to 10 pages of black and white printing at no charge.

Requests may be submitted via email to print@powhatanlibrary.net. Staff will notify the patron via email when the print request is ready for pickup on the table in the library atrium.

Powhatan County Public Library will hold Facebook Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on the library’s Facebook page, www. facebook.com/pg/powhatanlibrary

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings through the end of October.

Business Network International (BNI) Powhatan chapter meets virtually from 8 to 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Visit Www.BNIVA.com for information. To attend a meeting as a guest contact Chapter President Sandy Duncan at sandy6284@msn.com.

The Free Clinic of Powhatan has resumed in-person appointments.

Located at 3908 Old Buckingham

Road, the clinic offers free health services for uninsured and low income residents of Powhatan, Cumberland and Amelia counties. Services include medical, dental, dietary, counseling, women’s health. Call 804-598-5637 to schedule or request more information.

Patient visits are by appointment only.

Registration for new patients is 4 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Lab services are provided from 9 a.m. to noon

Thursdays. Patient appointments are 4 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays.

Administration hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and

Friday.

The Powhatan Lion’s Club will meet at 6 p.m. at the County Seat Restaurant.

Contact Mike Jones at 804-794-1440 for more information.

Thursday, Nov. 5

The Powhatan Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays,

Saturdays and Tuesdays and 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays at 2500 Batterson

Road. Contact the pantry at 804372-9526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@ gmail.com.

The Huguenot Beekeepers Association is a group of experienced and beginner beekeepers that are dedicated to promoting beekeeping in our communities and supporting each other in our beekeeping activities.

The group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium of the Powhatan

Village Building, 3910 Old Buckingham

Road, Powhatan. Visit https:// huguenotbeekeepers.org.

The original Powhatan AA meets from 8 to 9 p.m. every Thursday in the

Powhatan Village Building.

The Powhatan Rotary Club meets at 7:30 a.m. every Thursday at the

County Seat Restaurant.

Awaken to Hope Al-Anon meets at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday at St. John

Neumann Catholic Church.

Saturday, Nov. 7

see CALENDAR pg. 3

CRIME REPORT

Arrests

• One male was charged on Oct. 22 with driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated (Misdemeanor) and speeding in 55/65 mph zone. • One male was charged on Oct. 23 with driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated (M), possession of marijuana (Civil), and failure to stop/yield. • One male was charged on Oct. 24 with driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated (Felony),

DWI, refusal of test, 1st offense (M), driving with a suspended or revoked license, and reckless driving – excessive speed (M).

VIRTUAL

Continued from pg. 1

to support them comes from instructional specialists, school-based administrators, instructional technology resource teachers, and counselors following up to check on attendance for those kids.

Powhatan High School students are assigned a virtual coach, who is generally one of their classroom teachers and is meant to help them troubleshoot and navigate any

CRIME BRIEFS

needs they have while they are working in the virtual world, she said.

Some virtual students come in on Wednesdays to meet with teachers to work through some direct instruction to assist them with their learning when they are independent, Thomas said.

The school division continues to listen to the teachers about what their challenges are and tries to support them every way possible, but they are aware it is a challenge, Omohundro noted.

Powhatan man arrested, charged for child sex crimes

At about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Offi ce arrested Robert Wesley Brizendine, 54, of Powhatan on two counts of soliciting a child under the age of 15 for sexual purposes and four counts of using a communication system to expose his genitals to a child under the age of 15, according to a release from Chief Deputy Jeff Searfoss.

Brizendine allegedly traveled from his home in Powhatan to another location in Powhatan expecting to meet a 14-year-old child but was instead met by Powhatan deputies. Brizendine is being held in the Piedmont Regional Jail with no bond. The sheriff’s offi ce is requesting that if anyone has any information in reference to Robert Wesley Brizendine, they contact Detective Austin Schwartz at 804-598-5656.

Local woman sentenced in 2019 torture, killing of puppy

A Powhatan County woman was recently sentenced to two years in prison for the torture and killing of a 10-monthold puppy in late 2019.

On Oct. 22, Yasmine Burton, 21, was sentence by Judge Paul Cella to fi ve years with three years suspended for killing Chappo, a pit pull puppy, on Nov. 22, 2019, said Rob Cerullo, deputy commonwealth’s attorney.

At the time of her arrest, Burton advised authorities that she hung the animal from a tree with an extension cord because she has angry at her boyfriend for abusing her, Cerullo said. The animal was found by authorities deceased at the defendant’s property. An orange extension cord was seized along with the animal’s body.

A necropsy revealed the animal had “bite marks on the tongue and peri-tracheal hemorrhaging consistent [with strangulation],” he said.

Burton’s sentencing came after entering a no contest plea on July 6, 2020, and requesting a background investigation before sentencing. Cerullo argued that the defendant’s action showed an incredible amount of malice and cruelty and asked that she be sentenced to three years out of a maximum sentence of fi ve years.

In addressing the court, Cerullo said a tearful and visibly upset Burton advised the court that she was sorry and that she “prays for forgiveness every day.” Burton also blamed her actions on a drug problem, saying, “I thought things were happening that were not” and that she understood that “I need to be punished but I also need help.”

In sentencing the defendant to two years’ incarceration, Cella indicated that she did not seem like a particularly mean person and noted her lack of record, Cerullo said. However, he also advised that Chappo suffered and died for no reason. The judge ordered that after her release, Burton is to be on probation and ordered that she have no contact with any companion animals.

Fire destroys Courtois Signs workshop

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Powhatan firefighters put out a workshop fire at Courtois Signs on Oct. 28.

POWHATAN – A Powhatan sign company that has been in business 46 years took a major hit last week when its workshop was destroyed by fi re.

At about 1:03 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, Powhatan Fire and Rescue was called to the scene of a workshop on fi re in the 2300 block of Batterson Road.The building was part of Courtois Signs, Graphics, Screen Printing and Embroidery, which is owned by Mike and Carol Courtois, who were in the house next door when they were alerted to the fi re and were not injured.

By the time fi rst responders arrived at the scene, the workshop was fully engulfed and could not be saved, said Don Houtsma, EMS coordinator. However, fi refi ghters were able to keep the fi re from spreading to the house, which suffered damage when the heat from the fi re melted some of the siding.

Mike Courtois said he and his wife started their business 46 years ago in New York state and moved it to Powhatan in 1988. They have lived at their current location since 1990.

While the fi rst fl oor of their house is used for many parts of the business, the garage/workshop was also an important part of operations, including making signs and doing sign work on cars, he said.

While he has to go through the insurance process, Courtois said they will be looking to rebuild because the workshop is an essential part of the business and their livelihood.

The cause of the fi re is still undetermined. The Powhatan Fire and Rescue units that responded to the fi re were Engines 702, 701 and 705; Tankers 702, 704, 701, and 705; Truck 701; Rescue 702; Medic 741; Chief 702, and EMS 709. The last unit cleared the scene at 4:22 p.m.

Carla Crump

Carla Crump struggled with her decision to apply to be assigned to an all-virtual classroom because she is a Type 1 diabetic on an insulin pump. She wanted to be in the classroom with her students, but realized it wasn’t viable after talking to her doctors. Fortunately, she received full support from the school division.

“There had been so much discussion and excitement about having students back in the building that to hear someone appreciated and recognized the value of remote instruction was huge for me,” Crump said.

Crump said she would still love to be in her classroom, but unless things change signifi cantly, she will request to stay on the current pathway.

“My brother-in-law died in September from COVID. It has been devastating for my sister, but has reaffi rmed for me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be,” she said.

To help build a rapport with her students, Crump fi lmed an introduction video where she opened her front door as if welcoming them into her home, where she teaches class now, and sat down on the couch and chatted with them.

“That was the fi rst step, and then, yes, before

Bob Benway

school division surveyed teachers this summer about their preferences on teaching hybrid or virtual, Powhatan High School teacher Bob Benway said he wanted to go hybrid. He feels that students learn best when they trust and have a positive relationship with their teacher, which happens best when they are face to face. While his AP Physics students are all on the hybrid pathway, he does have some all virtual students in his Engineering 1 and 2 classes.

To help get to know those students, he posted a video talking about his teaching style, things he likes and doesn’t like students to do, and his passions – family and helping students achieve their goals. In turn, the students’ fi rst assignment was to create a video of similar content about themselves to share with the class.

When virtual students need additional support, he can meet with them after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and most Wednesdays, but he acknowledges that he still has not been able to get to know the virtual students as well as his hybrid students.

“The exception is my virtual students that were my students last year. In a few cases, I have been able to give the motivation to complete their work in my class and some of their other classes as well,” he said.

Benway said he has enjoyed the smaller class size of his hybrid/virtual classes

Carla Crump, third grade teacher at

Powhatan Elementary School

school began I visited the home of every child I teach. I think there were only two or three out of 26 that were not home,” she said.

She delivered a bag fi lled with dry erase boards, highlighters, and other school supplies, as well as Play-Doh and other fun items.

Crump said she cultivates relationships by doing a Lunch Bunch where the children can eat lunch with her, and, every morning, she opens her virtual classroom 15 minutes before school starts so that they can chat and spend time together.

“We’ve done several show-n-tells, which for a virtual student is super cool! How often can you take your bearded dragon, your ferret or gerbil, dog or cat to school,” she said. and that classroom management has not been an issue this year. While the smaller groups have worked to the advantage of creating better working relationships with hybrid students and drawing out shy students, he has to work hard to pull questions out of his virtual students.

“However, I can quickly tell if my students are grasping the information by using real time formative questions that they can respond to anonymously,” he said.

The virtual students “attend” class via Google Meet at the same time as Benway’s hybrid students, “which hopefully makes them feel part of the community.” He is using engineering learning software that provides engineering challenges (gliders, CO2 powered cars) and allows students to virtually design and test their unique creation. The software allows the students to compete against each other virtually in real time.

“This allows the virtual students to challenge their hybrid peers to see who has the best design in the class. I had two virtual students place in the top 3 in my classes,” he said.

She also makes personalized birthday yard signs that she delivers to their homes and has mailed a personal note to each child.

“I think in some ways I might know and understand my students a little better because I get to go into their homes – into their family rooms, their kitchens and their bedrooms. At times, I’ve even been in a bathroom or two when a child has tried to fi nd a quiet place to learn,” she said.

Crump’s class of 26 students can be a challenge and a smaller class size or more support personnel would be a bonus, she said. But she has an amazing group that has gotten the hang of working together. She does small groups in the afternoon, which helps

When the

Bob Benway, engineering and physics teacher at Powhatan High School

her monitor progress, and

Benway said he is pleased with the interaction that is taking place with some of his students during the virtual engineering challenges. He wishes he could use the engineering challenges that he used in the past where students worked in teams of two to four, because the challenges made them practice their communication and collaboration skills. In addition, these team challenges were great for the students to appreciate the value of using teamwork to solve problems.

In the past some students saw home as a place where they could escape the pressures of school. That has carried over to virtual learning with some students, he said. The best way to overcome this challenge is good communication with the student and parents, who can be excellent motivators.

Benway said he is truly amazed at the technology that teachers have at their disposal today, and he can’t imagine what learning would be like if this happened 10 years ago.

“That being said, I think communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity skills are the most important skills we can meets with individual students when needed. Dry erase boards are an amazing tool for a quick assessment, she added.

“I can tell in 15 seconds who understands how to round a number or has mastered this week’s spelling pattern. Even better, because they are all on my screen at the same time with student names, I can take a quick picture and go back later to make sure I didn’t miss someone,” she said.

Internet connection was defi nitely an issue when school fi rst began, but Crump feels like her class has overall gotten a handle on it. There are still glitches occasionally, but they know the routine and have learned to be fl exible and give a great deal of grace.

Getting creative about lessons that can engage her students wherever they are is another challenge she faces regularly. Crump has had students work on art journals; use YES or NO fl ip signs made out of index cards and jumbo popsicle sticks for answering questions or playing games; go outside and cloud watch as part of unit on the water cycle in science, or do scavenger hunts for items that support a concept.

Maintaining control in a virtual classroom environment has been something Crump has learned to navigate. She was initially hesitant to speak to the parents of children not

teach today’s generation, and these skills are best practiced face to face,” he said. doing what they were asked to do, but said she got over that because “it wasn’t fair to that student, the other students, or even to me.” Crump believes her students need to begin to take responsibility for their assignments and encourages parents to wait before they intervene so the children learn self-discipline. Fortunately, when she has needed to contact parents, “they have been super responsive.”

Crump sends weekly email updates and calendar reminders and posts detailed lesson plans before each week begins. She receives phone calls, emails, Schoology messages, Seesaw messages, texts and even Facebook messages.

“There is not a lack of contact, but I’m trying to do a better job of establishing boundaries,” she said.

Crump was forthright and admitted that the fi rst few weeks of school were extremely diffi cult.

“I cried. A lot,” she said. “Fortunately, there haven’t been tears in quite some time! We are in the groove and my kids are truly learning and growing! There is not a doubt in my mind that the quality of instruction they are receiving exceeds expectations for virtual learning with the added bonus that students get to have lunch with their families each day and ride their bikes for recess.”

37154-01

November9,1967-November2,1987 Inlovingmemoryof LisaKayPrimovic, ourdaughterandsister whopassedawayNovember2,1987.

Restfromthylabor,restsoulofthejust,setfree. Blestbythymemoryandblestthybrightexamplebe

ShirleyandRobPrimovic

ALL-STAR PAVING 598-0799 www.allstarpavingva.com

“AllWorkPersonallySupervisedbyOwner,RichardStanley”A LocallyOwned&Operated ProudlyservingPowhatanandthesurroundingcountiessince1985 FullyLicensed&Insured• ClassAContractor• FreeEstimates