Inside A3 School board hires new cleaning company
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Remembering coach Ernie Henderson
Vol. XXXIV No. o. 21
November 25, 2020
Powhatan sees COVID numbers increase By Laura McFarland Editor
P
OWHATAN – While COVID-19 numbers in Powhatan remain relatively low compared to the rest of the state, the county has seen a steady increase in numbers in recent weeks. As of Nov. 22, the Virginia Department of Health website reported that 404 people have tested positive for the virus in Powhatan, 21 people have been hospitalized, and six people have died. Statewide, there have been 217,796 cases (195,499 confirmed and 22,297 probable); 14,046 people hospitalized (13,787 confirmed and 259 probable), and 3,938 deaths (3,628 confirmed and 310 probable), according to the website. During a presentation he gave to the board of supervisors on Monday, Nov. 16, county administrator Ned Smither said that about 1.3 percent of Powhatan
residents had tested positive for COVID-19, and, of those, 5.6 percent of the positive cases resulted in hospitalization. “Powhatan has always tracked below state averages since March, when the pandemic began. But we are experiencing slight upticks in cases,” Smither said. Once someone tests positive for COVID-19, the county gets his or her name and address from the health department but no other personal information, said Curt Nellis, emergency management coordinator. The primary purpose of this is to put the information into the computer aided dispatch system so that public safety officers are aware of a positive case if they have to respond to an emergency at that house. “The biggest takeaway for the public is to continue to do the things that are recommended by the health department: social distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands, stay away from large groups if possible, monitor yourself for signs or
symptoms, and get tested early if you think you have symptoms of COVID exposure,” Nellis said. “We have been very fortunate in the county that our numbers are relatively low in comparison to our surrounding jurisdictions. Even though right now we only have six deaths, those are six tragedies.” Between April 1 and the beginning of August, the county had a total of three days when five or more cases were reported in a day, according to the health department website. The county saw a few spikes of up to six new cases in a day in August but had much lower numbers in September. In October, the county had eight days where the number of reported cases increased by anywhere from five to 10 people, according the health department website. While November started with few additional cases, the numbers have again been steadily on the increase. For anyone tracking data on the
Bauer loves being the Turkey Man By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – “The Turkey Man is here!” These were the first words out of George Bauer’s mouth when he walked into his living room on Nov. 16, ready to talk about how he got the nickname. Before sitting down to chat in a chair with a turkey cover on the back, he reached over to the fireplace and grabbed a colorful felt turkey hat and smiled widely as he put it on his head. Does he wear this hat when he delivers frozen turkeys to the Powhatan Food Pantry? No, but he thought it was fun to show it off, he said. Bauer, 83, of Powhatan takes great pleasure in the moniker of Turkey Man, a nickname given to him a few years ago by Theresa
health department website, Smither warned not to be alarmed by the Nov. 16 data, which had 18 cases reported. A computer system problem meant some of the results were delayed in being recorded. But as of Nov. 22, the county had six days this month with five or more new cases. At the time of Smither’s report, Powhatan was the 17th lowest locality out of 133 localities in Virginia in number of cases. “Although we are doing better than many of our peers, we need our residents and businesses to stay focused on COVID-related safety as five cases per day is still a serious number of cases,” Smither said. When Governor Ralph Northam announced his new restrictions on Nov. 10, he pointed out that Virginia is in a much better place than many other states but that cases are still on the rise. He introsee COVID, pg. 5
Emory Paulin shows strength in cancer fight By Laura McFarland Editor
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
George Bauer picks out a turkey at the grocery store that he will immediately take to donate to the Powhatan Food Pantry.
Fields, co-manager of the food pantry. Come November, he is known for stopping by every week and dropping off turkeys to be given to families in need.
“Every week here he comes with his turkeys. He is so sweet. He brought us turkeys when we didn’t have turkeys,” Fields said. see TURKEY, pg. 8
POWHATAN – Emory Paulin’s parents are amazed at her strength every single day. In the four months since she was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma tumor in her right leg, the little Pocahontas Elementary first-grader has endured brutal chemotherapy treatments and their side effects, hospital stays, unending tests and doctor visits, and, most recently, the amputation of leg, said her mom, Jennifer Paulin of Powhatan. Emory has a tendency to dig her heels in, her mom said. If the little girl doesn’t
Emory Paulin, 6, of Powhatan is shown recovering cheerfully not long after a surgery to remove her leg, which had an osteosarcoma tumor.
Blessing all creatures, great and small
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
see EMORY, pg. 6
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAULIN FAMILY
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Powhatan United Methodist Church recently held a Blessing of the Animals for church members and their pets. Shown left are Donna and Adam Estes with their son, Mason, hugging labrador Booker during the prayer.
Staff Report POWHATAN – “I have many friends with cold, black noses,” Pastor Karen Hittel laughed as she described a unique service she conducted recently at Powhatan United Methodist Church (PUMC). The congregation was invited to bring their creatures, great and small, to participate in a Blessing of the Animals - a service in which animals are blessed and prayed for. Fourteen families, along with their four-legged friends, participated in the service outside on the church grounds. One member even brought a pet crayfish to be blessed.
According to Julie Layman, director of family ministries at PUMC, “This was such a refreshing new project for our church. The animals really got along and were well behaved.” COVID-19 did force Hittel to change the way she’s done similar services in the past. Typically, she walks around to each family group and places her hands on the animal to bless them individually. To ensure everyone was socially distanced and safe, she opted to bless all the animals corporally, or as one group. Hittel called out during the service, “Make sure you’re holding your animals,” as she blessed them together. Layman said this was a very moving moment as families embraced their animals and were physically connected in small groups scattered throughout the field. Donna Joy Estes of Powhatan, her
husband Adam, and their son Mason brought their 7-year-old chocolate labrador Booker to the blessing, which was a first for him. She said she believes in the power of prayer and that everybody can use a little more of it, so why not take Booker to be prayed for as well? “It was so fun. All the dogs were super excited to see each other, and it was really cool to see people with their animals. You see these people all the times at church but when you see their dog, it tells you something different about them that you maybe not would guess. It was fun to see the different types of pets,” she said. Booker was very vocal during the blessing of the pets, barking during the middle of the prayer, Estes said. “He wanted to let people know he was there,” she said with a laugh. Estes added that she appreciated the church holding the blessing because anisee BLESSING, pg. 5