Inside A5 Company faces two fires in less than a week
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Winter sports previews: Powhatan boys hoops, BSH teams
Vol. XXXIV No. o. 24
December 16, 2020
Powered Up
PCPS allows virtual students to return to in-person classes By Laura McFarland Editor
By Laura McFarland Editor
OWHATAN – Anyone who drives around Powhatan County at night knows how dark the long windy roads can get, even with people trying to light the way with festive Christmas displays. Every once in a while, drivers may stumble across a real gem of a house that is lit up with lights, decorated to the max, and obviously fully embracing the joy of Christmas, but they can be difficult to find. So once again, we are trying to take the guesswork out of those searches so our residents and people from other communities can come and enjoy the beautiful displays of some of our most enthusiastic Christmas fanatics. Now in its fourth year, the Powered Up Powhatan light display list has two new entries, several returning favorites, and a few that are taking a year off. The list this year is a mix of family and business light shows and displays that hopefully will help our residents get in the holiday spirit. With so many Christmas events canceled because of the pandemic, we know that cheer may feel in short supply. Even some of the decorators on the list talked about how they struggled to embrace the holiday cheer this year, and these are people who are so gung ho about Christmas that they spend days and weeks building these displays with thousands of lights. But each of them also said that either the very act of putting up these lights or
will have to determine if enough students are coming into different grade levels to warrant hiring any additional teachers. In the midst of this decision, Jones made it clear that division staff did not recommend making this change and having secondary hybrid students return for more in-person days at the same time. “Part of the reason that we can’t add more students safely is because we have such a high percentage of our students who are in-person currently. So, unlike some divisions that only have 50% or 60% of their students inperson, we are at (80%), and it could be (90%) by the time some of the virtual students come back. Adding more students more than two days a week is just going to be next to impossible,” Jones said. Ahead of the Dec. 8 board meeting, the school see SCHOOL, pg. 4
Christmas Mother elves hard at work
The Powered Up Powhatan list can be found on Pages 3 and 6.
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
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the moment when they turned them all on really helped usher in the season fully. They hope it does the same for those who come to see their handiwork. As always, knowing the distance many of our readers will be traveling, we tried to include homes you will find worth the drive. But keep in mind, this list does not adhere to the more strict requirements of Richmond’s Tacky Lights Tour, which asks for a minimum of 40,000 lights to participate. Before you go, a few things to remember. These homes are usually found on rural roads – one is even on a private road – that will be dark and may not have many places to pull over and look at the lights (this is especially true of the Judes Ferry house). Be extremely mindful of the lack of visibility and METRO ART the speed with which everyone knows drivers sometimes use even on dark, windy roads. All of this year’s participants ask that people remain in their cars to see the displays and do not get out and walk around them. This amount of lights takes a ton of wires and it is too dark to wander around. If they have neighbors, they ask you to be respectful of them and the areas you are visiting. If your home was not mentioned but you would love to have visitors come look at your display, contact editor Laura McFarland at Lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.
POWHATAN – Powhatan County Public Schools intends to follow through on a promise made at the beginning of the school year to let all families who chose the full-virtual option to consider going back to in-person instruction in the second semester. Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, presented the division’s plan to the school board at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The board members discussed the issue but weren’t asked to vote on it, with Jones saying the division was only following through on what families were told would happen when the school year began. Under this plan, the school division sent out a binding survey on Dec. 9 to the families of the 870 all-virtual students to have them choose how they
want to proceed. They can still choose to remain on the virtual model, but they will be committing to do so for the remainder of the school year. Elementary students who opt to go back will join their fellow students in attending five days of in-person classes, while middle and high school students will be assigned to the hybrid schedule and attend two to three days a week. Those students who choose to return to in-person instruction will do so on Jan. 25, 2021, or the corresponding hybrid day. Those who do not fill out the binding survey by Dec. 16 will be contacted directly to gauge their decision so staff can get accurate numbers to begin planning, Jones said. Depending on how many people want to return to in-person instruction, staff members have significant work to do planning schedules and transportation. The school division
PHOTOS BY LAURA McFARLAND
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Powhatan Christmas Mother volunteers handed out presents over three days of scheduled pick-ups and deliveries on Dec. 8, 9, and 11. See more photos page 8A.
Budget numbers look good in first five months of fiscal year By Laura McFarland Editor PHOTO COURTESY OF POWHATAN SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Deputy B.J. Henderson recently became a certified K-9 handler partnered with Sgt. Bane.
Deputy partners with K-9 Bane By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – At the ripe old age of 6 years old, Sgt. Bane still has the drive to show up and work. So both he and everyone around him at the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office are thrilled that he is back patrolling the streets with a new handler, Deputy B.J. Henderson. The duo was certified on Dec. 2 by the Virginia Police Canine Association and worked their first shift together the next day. They see BANE, pg. 8
POWHATAN – The first five months of fiscal year 2021 have gone better than expected for Powhatan County based on taxes collected as of November 2020. During a joint meeting of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors and School Board held on Thursday, Dec. 10, county administrator Ned Smither offered an optimistic update on the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2020. Smither recognized the effort both boards made during the budget season earlier this year to create a conservative budget that kept in mind the uncertainties Powhatan could be facing economically because of the pandemic. However, he said that Powhatan weathered the first five months well. Smither shared some of the revenues the county has seen as of November 2020, and when compared to November 2019, they are promising overall, he said. Real estate taxes in the first five months of 2020 were $17.04 million, which was up from $15.14 million a year
earlier, representing a 12.5% growth, he said. Personal property tax collections were down 7.7%, with $4.15 million collected as of November 2020 compared to $4.47 million the year before. Even with the reduction in personal property taxes, that still represents an overall growth rate of 8.03% in general property taxes, Smither said. Other local taxes were up 9.5%, ringing in at $1.67 million this year compared to $1.53 million in 2019 at this time. Smither pointed out that sales tax is the primary component of this category. “Sales tax in Powhatan did not take a hit like it did in other counties. In fact, our citizens are spending more money, whether by home delivery or Amazon or however they were spending the money. Our sales tax is up,” he said. Intergovernmental revenues, which includes county and schools funds, were overall down 0.4%, Smither said. The state revenues saw a slight increase of $44,023, or about 0.4%. Meanwhile federal funds decreased by $92,548, which is a 14.9% decrease. see BUDGET, pg. 6
Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
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O B I T UA R I E S ROBERT COSBY SR. Robert Robinson Cosby Sr., 83, of Powhatan, passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth; his children, Harriette Jamerson (Doug), Robert Jr., Elizabeth Cosby Cart and Charles F.N. "Hank"; eight grandchildren, Justin Jamerson (Tracie), Douglas Jamerson (Kristen), Jeffrey Jamerson (Jessica), Eliza Cart, Eleanor Cart, WalCOSBY ter Henry Cart, Noble Cosby and Brendan Cosby; six great-grandchildren; brother, James G. "Gabe" and his wife, Joan; brother-in-law, Charles F. Noble Jr.; nephews, Stephen A. Dalton, James G. Jr. "Jim" (Uschi and Chris); niece, Sarah Bland (Peter); and devoted cousin, David H. Robinson. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Dorothy; and dear sister, Harriette Ann. He shared a close, lifelong bond with the Powhatan High School class of 1955 and graduated from Virginia Tech in 1959. He was a dairy farmer in Powhatan for many years with his brother, Gabe. He was elected to the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors in 1971 and served from 1972 to 2011. He was a member and deacon at May Memorial Baptist Church in Powhatan. His church family was meaningful in his life, and he loved the church. Family graveside service was held Saturday, December 12, 2020, at Powhatan Community Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Powhatan Coalition of Churches, P.O. Box 57, Powhatan, VA 23139. Online condolences can be made at Bennett-
Governor introduces new COVID-19 prevention orders Contributed Report RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced on Dec. 10 new, targeted measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 as new cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in all areas of the Commonwealth. Executive Order 72 directs Virginians to stay at home between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., implements a universal mask requirement, and lowers the limit on social gatherings from 25 people to 10 people. The order took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 14 and remains in place through Jan. 31, 2021, unless rescinded or amended. “New daily case numbers are higher than they have been at any previous point in the pandemic, and while the trends in Virginia are better than most of the country, we are taking action now to slow the spread of this virus before our hospitals get overwhelmed,” Northam said. “We already have strong public health measures in place, and with these additional steps, we can turn this around. Virginians, if you don’t have to
be out, stay at home. Whenever we are around other people, we all need to wear a mask, indoors and out. “These are commonsense things we can all do to take care of each other and stay safe. This is not about getting people in trouble—this is about everyone doing their part and reducing opportunities for people to get sick,” he said. The following mitigation measures took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 14: Modified Stay at Home Order: All individuals in Virginia must remain at their place of residence between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. Exceptions include obtaining food and goods, traveling to and from work, and seeking medical attention. Universal mask requirement: All Virginians aged 5 and over are required to wear face coverings in indoor settings shared with others and when outdoors within 6 feet of another person. This order expands the current statewide mask mandate, which has been in place since May 29, and requires all individuals aged 5
BardenFH.com.
BRYAN FRANCIS Bryan Edward Francis, 86, of Moseley, widower of Virginia Thornton Francis, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. He is survived by two sons, Mark Edward Francis of Powhatan and Darrin Wray Francis of Ashland; one granddaughter, Christine Elizabeth Francis; and his many wonderful friends at the Hardee's gatherings near Hull Street and FRANCIS Courthouse Road. Mr. Francis served in the Army National Guard from 1952 to 1955 and was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He was a member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church in Moseley. The family received friends from 3 to 7 p.m. on Monday, December 14, at the Chesterfield Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 14301 Ashbrook Parkway. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 15, in the Chapel of Virginia Veterans Cemetery at Amelia.
PAT LANCASTER Pat Lancaster, 80, of Powhatan, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2020. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Donnie Lancaster; children, Beth Worsham (Benny), Donna Nolen (Mark) and Lonnie Lancaster (Stacy), all of Powhatan; siblings, Jake, Albert, Margie, Ginger, Frances and Brenda; grandchildren, Mary, Mandy, Steven and Josh; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Eva, Elena, Olivia and Jude. Special thanks to Powhatan Rescue Squad and
MICHAEL SHEPPERSON Michael B. Shepperson, 39, of Powhatan, passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Michael was a friend to all who knew him and will be missed by so many with broken hearts from the loss of this precious human being. He loved spending time with his family and friends, and especially with his beautiful daughter, Halee (Boogies). He loved to hunt for civil war relics SHEPPERSON and built an impressive collection. Michael is survived by his daughter, Halee Shepperson; his parents, Steven and Susan Shepperson; two brothers, Matthew and Joshua Shepperson; his devoted companion, Lindsey Maiden; and a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial has not yet been scheduled. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a trust fund set up for Halee Shepperson at Atlantic Union Bank in memory of her father.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Wednesday, Dec. 16
see GOVERNOR, pg. 5
Hey Everyone, Hope everyone is safe, and healthy. My name is Derek and I have been at Animal Control since October. I came in sick and wasn’t feeling well at all, but lucky for me I was taken to the vet and given meds so now I feel 100% better. I am around 5 years old, I am neutered, up to date on shots, and negative on Fiv and FeLv, I also have 2 different colored eyes, Not sure why, but it makes me very unique. I am looking for a kind, and loving family that will not mind me laying on you or your desk while you try to work. Yes I am that type, I love to Derek be with my person, and take all their troubles, and worries away. I really hope my family is reading this, If you are please call 804-598-5672 to schedule a time for a meet and greet. Hope to see you soon. Happy Holidays.
Kindred Hospice and a very special thanks to our dear sister-inlaw and aunt, Connie Lancaster and family. The family received friends on Wednesday, December 9 from 12 to 2 p.m. in the Bennett & Barden Funeral Home. Services were held directly after at 2 p.m. Interment in the Powhatan Community Cemetery. Online condo- LANCASTER lences may be made at bennettbardenfh.com.
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. The food pantry is located at 2408 New Dorset Circle (next to Community Life Church). Visit us on Facebook at Feeding Powhatan or call 804-303-6431. Register at https://forms.gle/ QhweP5RgCTP4ryZz6. If snow keeps the food pantry from opening, food will be distributed on Dec. 23. Powhatan County Public Library has decided due to COVID-19-related safety measures to pause in-person library service until further notice. Books to Go and Curbside Print services continue to be available with pickup in the library atrium during library business hours, which are currently Monday – Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All planned holiday virtual library events will go on as scheduled, including the Holiday Movie Night Kits, which will be available via Books to Go Service. With Books to Go, patrons may reserve print materials, DVDs, and audiobooks online or by phone. 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 804598-5670 to request items. Online hold placement is available 24/7. Phone service is available during library business hours. Holds placed after 4 p.m. (online or via phone) will be available on the next business day. Curbside print/copy service patrons can print up to 10 pages of black and white per day 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 at the library’s main entrance. To utilize curbside print/copy service 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 at the library’s main entrance. All returned items continue to be placed in quarantine after return before they are returned to circulation. Fines are waived through Jan. 30, 2021. The library remains unable to accept donations at this time. Contact Powhatan County Public Library at 804-598-5670 or library@ powhatanlibrary.net.
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
If you would like to help the animals in our care, you can do so by donating to our medical fund at Claws and Paws, 4313 Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA 23139 Powhatan Sheriff’s Office | Division Of Animal Control Phone: 804-598-5672 | Fax: 804-598-5109
Wednesday. Visit Www. BNIVA.com for information. To attend a meeting as a guest contact Chapter President Sandy Duncan at sandy6284@msn.com.
The Woman's Club of Powhatan meets at 10 a.m. every third Wednesday of the month. To attend a meeting, call membership chairman Kay Watson at 804240-4896 to let her know you will be coming or just simply drop in; the welcome mat is always out. Visit www. womansclubofpowhatan. org or look up the Facebook pages: Woman’s Club of Powhatan. 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.
Thursday, Dec. 17
p.m. at County Seat Restaurant. Kevin Pawlak will be speaking on “Winter after the War.” Dinner will be included, cost is $20 for guests and $16 for members. There will be an ugly sweater contest with a prize for the winner. Please join us. Contact Pat Whitmer at patwhitmer77@gmail. com or call 240-298-0141 with questions or to RSVP. Visit www.powhatancwrt.com.
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.
The Powhatan Ruritan Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Rosa’s Pizza and Italian Eatery in Flat Rock. Dinner will be served followed by a program and a brief meeting. They are a community service organization dedicated to our county. All are welcome. Call Jake Berman at 804-6514503.
The Powhatan Chamber of Commerce luncheon will be held at noon at County Seat Restaurant. Visit www. powhatanchamber.org.
Awaken to Hope Al-Anon meets at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.
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 804-372-9526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@ gmail.com.
Powhatan Civil War Roundtable will hold its next meeting at 6:30
Powhatan AA meets at 8 p.m. every Saturday at Manakin Episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.
The Christian Motorcyclists Association Powhatan chapter Living Wheels will meet at 6 p.m. at Company 4 Fire station at the intersection of Route 711 and Judes Ferry Road. Find out what they have been doing, and where their next ride or event will be. For more information call Tom Barnes at 804-690-4884 or Mark Lewis at 804-432-1831.
Monday, Dec. 21
Muddy Creek Baptist Church will hold its Live Nativity Pageant on Dec. 21. There will be three shows, scheduled at 6, 7, and 8 p.m. under the stars at the church at 3470 Trenholm Road. Admission is free. Directions: From the intersection of Route 522 (Maidens Road) and Route 60 (Anderson Highway) go west 6 miles and turn right on Trenholm Road (Route 629). Go 4 miles to the Nativity’s location in the field behind the church.
A Powhatan Hope Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday at PCC Church, 4480 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, Room 102. It is an open discussion meeting. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Powhatan Volunteer Fire Department Company 4 will hold socially distanced Santa Runs that see fire engines with Santa running through several scheduled neighborhoods. The company is asking for no neighborhood gatherings around the Santa Runs and will not be able to stop and welcome children into the cabs for photos. But they are hoping families still enjoy the experience of seeing the fire apparatus and Santa Claus and it helps put them in the holiday spirit. Company 4 will be leaving its station at 6 p.m. and keep people updated of their movements on their Facebook page. The 2020 schedule is: Dec. 17, Woodberry Mill, Country Town, Norwood Creek, and Valley Springs; Dec. 18, Maple Grove East, Maple Grove West, Spencerwood, and Spencerwood West; Dec. 19 – Aston, Oak Leaf, Sea Sail, and Timberview; Dec. 20, Wood Dale Acres, Woods Way, and Sherwood; Dec. 21, Shadow Creek, Huguenot Pointe, and French Hill; and Dec. 22, St. Mary’s, Elioch Manor, and King William Woods.
wear a facemask. The volunteer hotline number is 804-372-9755. The office is located in the Habitat Store and the office number is 804594-7009. Call and volunteer! Donate! Help us build!!
Habitat for Humanity – Powhatan will hold its new Home Fore! the Holidays Golf Tournament from Dec. 19 to 27. Play 9 holes of Captain’s Choice/Two-Person Scramble on Independence Golf Club’s Mentor course (Par 3)! Teams of two can choose their own tee time over nine days and compete in one of three prize divisions: adult, adult with teenager, and adult with child 12 and under. Players can keep track of their scores on a tournament app or the old-school way. Each participant receives a stocking full of goodies. A team of two can register online for $60 at http://bit. ly/HomeForetheHolidays. Proceeds from this new holiday event will benefit Habitat’s critical home repair and home building efforts. All participants in the social distance-friendly fundraiser can compete in an ugly sweater competition, and participants’ families or business associates can compete in a gingerbread house competition at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Independence. Call 804-594-7009, email hfh. powhatan@gmail.com or visit habitatpowhatan.org. Habitat For Humanity Powhatan depends on volunteers and donors. Habitat is blessed with the community’s helpful, kind and generous participation. The Habitat Store at 1922 Urbine Road will be open on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m. on the Tuesday that follows. During this pandemic, anyone coming into the store must
Tuesday, Dec. 22
Powhatan County Public Library will hold a teen holiday party and gift exchange during the afternoon of Dec. 22. Interested teens may register by visiting https:// tinyurl.com/TeenHoliday20. The event will be held on the library’s Discord server at 4 p.m. Additional celebration details will be sent to teens who register.
The new Bridge of Reason AA meeting is held at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Powhatan Mennonite Church, 3549 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan. It is an open, decision and literature meeting for Powhatan, Goochland, and Cumberland counties.
AA meets at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.
Upcoming
Powhatan County Public Library will host a teen New Year’s celebration on Dec. 29. New Year’s packets, including supplies for games and activities for the party, may be picked up at the library beginning Dec. 19. The event will be held on the library’s Discord server at 4 p.m. For more details about library programs and services, contact Powhatan County Public Library at 804-598-5670 or library@ powhatanlibrary.net.
Powhatan ow what w h Today, December 16, 2020
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Powered Up PHOTOS BY LAURA McFARLAND
Tom Fitzin 3509 Millmount Trail
Shannon and Bobby Allen 4080 Fine Creek Path
ne of the new additions to this year’s Powered wered Up list, Tom and Jane Fitzin zin only moved to Powhatan from North Carolina in October. Tom Fitzin said he is actually used too putting up a muchh larger display withh over 30,000 lights, s, but he couldn’t pull ull that all off this year ear so soon after the move and getting ing settled into their new home. “With the limited it d amountt off time ti having moved from North Carolina, I am just happy to have what I have,” said Fitzin, who does about 90 percent of the outside Christmas decorating while his wife focuses on the inside. While the list is shorter than his previous displays, it still includes 24 trees that have lights synchronized to 12 songs being played over speakers, so people can roll down their windows and enjoy the show. There is also Frozen’s Olaf skiing down a river of lights, candy striped poles with gumball color lights, Disney characters, and more. Fitzin said he has been decorating for Christmas for more than 30 years and going really big with it for the last 20 years. On a normal year, he starts laying out
O
O wires in September to give himself up. enough time to get everything set up The couple moved to Powhatan to be closer to their son and his family in Midlothian. Their new home has a much larger yard, which Fitzin seems to be viewing as a sort of blank canvas for future Christmases. “It is a lot more property so I am much more spread out. Part of my challenge now is I have a lot more space to fill in, but that gives me more room to grow,” he said. New for Fitzin, his Powhatan display features 100% LED lights, which will make his electric bill much less scary, he said. The display will be lit from 5 to 10 p.m. daily and will remain up until Jan. 1, 2021.
Pam and Lonnie Combs 3777 Old Buckingham Road ack on the list for their third year, Pam and Lonnie Combs have condensed the amount of frontage road on Old Buckingham Road where they set up their display, but the volume is still there. Pam Combs is the driving force behind the Christmas cornucopia, still fully taking advantage of the deal she made with her husband Lonnie that if they didn’t decorate at their previous home in Midlothian, when they built their house in 2017 in Powhatan, she could go all out. However, she gives her husband all the credit for making her vision come to life every year. He started putting up the lights, displays, and inflatables right after Halloween so they could be enjoyed by the grandchildren at Thanksgiving. “We laugh because this year he was putting them up in the rain and the wind. It is a good thing we have no children around because the language was almost X-rated. It was almost like a postal worker
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ne of two new additions to the list this year, the Allen home features 19,640 lights that the ffamily has been counting aas they created their display. The house off of Route 522 is not far from the other new entry on Milmount Trail and would make for some enjoyable Christmas light viewing together. The Allens always decorated a little, but they wanted to grow their display and this year really went big, almost doubling what they did in 2019, Bobby said. All four of the couple’s children – Logan and Shane Allen and Alexis and Brayden Elzey – pitched in to help and keep adding to the holiday display. The family lit up the house, which is set back well from the road, and many of the trees in their
– in rain, sleet or snow he is out there putting them up,”
she said with a laugh. Combs said she added at least 11 new items this year, either shopping the sales after last Christmas or hitting the stores this year. Included among the new items are a deer display, a snowman, and a large regal swan. Some of the inflatables will not be returning this year because their motors went bad, but Combs said her husband has fixed several and brought them back to life. Combs thoroughly enjoys Christmas and wants to help others have fun with it to. The couple has a circle driveway people can enter where they see
see FINE CREEK pg. 5
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the candy cane border and then circle out going away from the house. Do not get out and walk around. The lights are up from 5 to 9 p.m. daily and will stay up through Jan. 1, 2021. If you are driving through or passing by the house and like what you see, the couple said they love hearing a few car horn beeps to know it was appreciated or compliments if they happen to be outside. “I like it because I have even had people stop by and say, ‘I am glad you have them up so I don’t have to put them up myself,’” Combs chuckled.
WHEN: Sat., Dec. 19 through Sun., Dec. 27, 2020 (no play on Christmas) (COVID-19 safe: Schedule your own tee-time through our tournament website and keep track of your scores with our special tournament app!) WHERE: Independence Golf Course’s 9-Hole Mentor Course
Pam and Tommy West 2224 Judes Ferry Road iven how fast some cars fly down Judes Ferry Road, people wanting to take in everything displayed in Pam and Tommy West’s yard might need to drive by a few times. There is so much to see and not much shoulder, so be careful when slowing down. That said, the couple’s decorations are as full as ever, ranging from the shooting star and Santa and his reindeer on the roof to some balancing snowmen and grazing reindeer that have joined the fun. Like a few other participants on the list, Pam West said this year was really
favorite addition this year is a lit up American flag at the end of the driveway, while Shannon Allen really loves the tree farm near the road. But they hope people who come to see it find their own favorite part that
yard. Their long driveyard way is lit up with strands of suspended lights. There are also numerous displays spread throughout and a screen with a Christmas countdown in the front of the yard. Bobby Allen, who served in the marines, said his
$60 FOR A DUO IN THREE DIVISIONS
G
1
2
Two adults
Adult and teenager
3 Adult and child 12 and under
AWARDS FOR EACH DIVISION WINNING TEAM
Each participant will get a stocking full of treats Each participant can take part in the longest marshmallow drive contest
different diff for her and it took a little bit to get in the right mood for Christmas since so many events and visits have been cancelled because of COVID-19. But while the season definitely feels different, she said they did enjoy decosee JUDES FERRY pg. 5
Each participant and his co-workers or family members can participate in the gingerbread house building contest, Dec. 19 Each participant can participate In the ugly holiday golf sweater contest
Register:
http://bit.ly/HomeForetheHolidays
Questions: 804-594-7009 or hfh.powhatan@gmail.com
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS RVD Advisors LLC Mikkon Construction Rotary Club of Powhatan
C&F Bank RHB Insurance Kempsville Building Supplies Royall Pump and Well R.C. Goodwyn and Sons Luck Stone New Horizon Bank Montague and Sons Custom Homes Clean and Sharp Powhatan Today Spring Arbor of Salisbury Christine and Eric Jablon Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School Lummie Jones & Team/Napier ERA Virginia Asset Management Barnett’s Heating and Air Conditioning Wilton Construction Services Yardworks
Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
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SCHOOL Continued from pg. 1
division sent out a nonbinding survey to gather parent feedback, he said. The initial survey, which was not limited to virtual students, saw a 69.3% response rate among secondary students and
65.8% among elementary students. For the secondary students, 41% of the all-virtual middle school parents and 33.5% of the high school parents wanted their children to move to the hybrid model. This was with a 62% response
rate from virtual families. The division also found that 33% of the parents of virtual elementary students wanted their children to move to fully face-to-face (72.6% response rate from virtual families). Hybrid parents of sec-
MUDDY CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH PRESENTS
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Monday, December 21 Three Shows 6 p.m. • 7 p.m. • 8 p.m. Under the stars at Muddy Creek Baptist Church, 3470 Trenholm Road, Powhatan
ondary students were also asked if they wanted their students to attend additional days. Of those, 91% at the middle school and 78% at the high school wanted that option. However, Jones pointed out that when division leadership set up the opportunity at the middle and high schools for staff to come in and provide feedback, 87 of the 89 staff members who spoke to them said they wanted to remain on hybrid. “They felt like it was working. It was not a disruption to instruction and changing now would be disruptive. They felt like they had more time for interventions, especially on Wednesday,� Jones said. Staff members expressed strong concerns about safety with decreased social distancing and increased class sizes, he added. They liked the opportunities they had to build stronger relationships with students in smaller classes; the lack of discipline issues, and the way smaller class sizes help encourage participation of reluctant students. Other reasons staff recommended keeping hybrid students on their current schedules included the logistics of changing schedules; that it would be more difficult to do contact tracing in cases of positive COVID-19 tests, and it could require doubling bus routes under current social distancing guidelines, which would present major concerns in regard to staffing.
Wanting to stay on hybrid for secondary students doesn’t mean that everything is going perfect, Jones acknowledged. In the first quarter, 307 Powhatan High School students had two or more Fs, which included 94 allvirtual students and 213 hybrid students. Overall, this was an 11% increase over 2019 numbers. At the middle school, 96 students – 41 virtual and 45 hybrid students– received two or more Fs in the first quarter, which was a 3% increase. Because they wanted to do what was best for students, the division has allowed 23 at-risk virtual high school students to return to the hybrid model since the first quarter ended on Oct. 23, Jones said. The schools have been using intervention techniques such as the Summer School Now after school and Saturday program and extra time with teachers on Wednesdays to help students. COVID numbers One positive fact the school division was able to report was that the social distancing in the schools is working so far. Dr. Lynn Clayton-Prince, director of special education, reported that PCPS has had 53 cases of either students or staff testing positive for COVID-19, including 30 positive tests in November. However, according to available data, those impacted seemed to catch the virus outside of school rather than in it.
C R I M E R E P O RT
FREE ADMISSION
Arrests
Directions: From the intersection of Route 522 (Maidens Road) and Route 60 (Anderson Highway) go west 6 miles and turn right on Trenholm Road (Rt. 629). Go 4 miles to the Nativity’s location in the field behind the church.
One male was charged on Dec. 1 with petty larceny (Misdemeanors).
One male was charged on Dec. 1 with driving with a suspended or revoked license and offenses relating to registration.
One male was charged on Dec. 1 with possession of marijuana, assault and battery of a family member (M), and threats to bomb or damage a building (M) and threats to bomb or damage a building (Felony). One female was charged on Dec. 2 with three counts of
CHURCH DIRECTORY The Bridge
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
SUNDAYS Live Stream Worship! www.stlukespowhatan.org All are Welcome For more information visit www.stlukespowhatan.org Route 711 at Three Bridge Road 794-6953
Genito Church Presbyterian “Building a Bridge of Hope� Isaiah 58:12 Church 2910 Genito Rd. Powhatan, VA
372-9074 Worship with us this Sunday Church service @ 9:30 AM Sunday school @ 10:30 AM
Sundays: Morning Worship 10:00 AM Wednesday: Family Life Night 7:00 PM 2480 Academy Road 598-7159 Pastor: Johnathan M. Whichard
Providence Presbyterian Church
EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHURCH (PCA) Proclaiming & Practicing the Gospel of Jesus Christ Indoor Worship Service at 10:00 AM Meeting at the Powhatan War Memorial Building at 2375 Skaggs Rd, Powhatan, VA 23139
ECCPCA.ORG
598-8844
Rev. Robert Barnes
Worship Service 10 AM Meeting in the gym
Meeting Sundays in Amelia, Farmville, Fork Union, Midlothian, Powhatan and Online. Visit pccwired.net for services times & locations. 598-1174 pccwired.net
598-4970 Located 1950 Ridge Road (Rt. 627) 2/10th of a mile north of Rt. 13
Powhatan United Methodist Church Living As Christ’s Disciples Within Our Hearts and Beyond Our Doors 2253 Rosson Rd.
Just off Rt. 13 in the Village
598-4438
Worship: 8:30 & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.
www.powhatanumc.us 598-6090
Mount Calvary Baptist Church 2020 Red Lane Road
Community Church Dr. Cavell W. Phillips, Pastor Where there is Unity, there is always Victory. A church “Where you are welcome� Wednesday: Bible Study Join Us For Sunday Worship 6:30 – 7:30pm ( 60 Minute 11:00AM – 12:30PM Warm Up To Sunday ) Powhatan Village Building 3910 Old Buckingham Road ucc4me.org Powhatan, VA 804-256-4411
petty larceny (M).
One male was charged on Dec. 3 with failure to appear (M).
One male was charged on Dec. 3 with burning or destroying a building (F).
One male was charged on Dec. 4 with trespassing (M).
Advertise in Church Directory.
Powhatan Christian Fellowship Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 am Wednesday Night 7:30 p.m.
Weekday Preschool (ages 2-5)
Powhatan, VA 23139 1801 Huguenot Trail Sunday School 9am Pastor, Larry B. Collins Sunday Worship 10am Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6:45pm Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study Bryan M. Holt, Pastor 7:30 p.m. 378-3607 www.EmmausChristianChurch.org Office 804-598-2398
Additionally, the school division was expecting an uptick in positive cases after Thanksgiving because of people traveling or being in large groups, she said. However, the numbers instead trended down after the holiday break. “We are doing great contact tracing through our administrators as well as our school teachers. So, we are following the guidelines and I feel like our schools are doing a great job with that,� she said. Because of this positive outcome, Jones said he wasn’t going to recommend having all students attend class virtually the week after the Winter Break, as he had mentioned a few weeks ago. However, aware of how quickly things can change in the current environment, including an order from the state to return to all-virtual for all students, Jones said the division is preparing accordingly. If that happened or Powhatan data necessitated a change, Jones said the division would inform families as soon as possible. Kim Hymel, who represents District 5, requested that if the schools were to decide over the break to return to virtual the first week back that Jan. 4 and 5, 2021, be made teacher workdays to give them time to prepare. The rest of the board agreed with this suggestion. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday. com.
3308 Pleasants Road, 1/4 mile off of Route 711 Russ Cress, Pastor 598-0733
St. John Neumann Catholic Church Rev. Walter G. Lewis, Pastor Saturday - 5 p.m. Sunday - 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. 598-3754 www.sjnpowhatan.org Located behind Flat Rock Village Shopping Center
Call 804-746-1235 ext. 2 for details.
Page 5A
Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
Company faces two fires in less than a week By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Moslow Wood Products recently suffered a heavy week of loss with two fires – one accidental and one a case of arson – only days apart. The family-owned Powhatan business suffered the first fire on Saturday, Nov. 28, when a fire broke out in the company’s laser engraving room, co-owner Karin Moslow said. The engraving room was destroyed by the fire. The second fire is believed to have been set in the early hours of Thursday, Dec. 3, when a man who had been fired from the company the day before and sent threatening texts then allegedly set a large storage building on fire, she said. The building and all of its contents were completely destroyed. That fire is still under investigation, but Dustin Litchfield was ar-
JUDES FERRY Continued from pg. 3
rating again and that feeling when all the lights were switched on for the first time. “When we turned them on it was awesome,” she said. The Wests love the idea that people might have a little burst of Christmas cheer because of their decorations and
rested within hours of the fire and charged with arson of an unoccupied building over $1,000, which is a Class 4 felony, said Detective Austin Schwartz. Moslow said her family is extremely grateful to the Powhatan Fire Department, which did an excellent job of responding to both fires and containing the damage so it didn’t spread to the rest of the factory. With the first incident, an employee working on holiday orders saw fire in one of the laser machines and attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher, Moslow said. Believing the fire might have been coming from one of the blowers outside, the employee ran outside to check and did see it going up the outside of the building. Unfortunately, the door locked behind her and she couldn’t get back in to call 911, so she had to go across the street to call, Moslow said. “The highlight is it didn’t affect
invite people to honk their horns to let the couple know they appreciated the display. “Shoot, they were beeping the horn when (Tommy) was decorating. They rolled down the window and yelled, ‘Yeah!’” Pam West said, adding that
operations in the manufacturing part of the factory. It did put engraving on hold but we have subsequently gotten three new lasers which were up and running Dec. 8,” Moslow said. The Dec. 3 fire occurred sometime after 3 a.m. and destroyed a 25,000-square-foot building that contained finished goods and fulfilment orders for customers, Moslow said. It was basically a cold warehouse without any electrical going to it, so there was no obvious way a fire could have started, making it suspicious. Schwartz said he became involved in the investigation when the fire marshal ruled it a suspicious fire. In the course of the investigation, Litchfield came up as a suspect and was later arrested. It is still an active investigation. Moslow said the company lost a good deal of inventory that has to be made again during an already busy season.
GOVERNOR Continued from pg. 2
and over to wear face coverings in indoor and outdoor public settings outside of their own household. These changes are consistent with new CDC guidelines, released Dec. 4, which recommend universal wearing of face coverings. Reduction in social gatherings: All social gatherings must be limited to 10 individuals, down from the current cap of 25 people. Social gatherings include, but are not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, regardless of whether they occur indoors or outdoors. This does not apply to religious services, employment settings, or educational settings. Restaurants and retail stores are already gov-
erned by strict social distancing requirements, and are not included in this limit. Continued limits on dining establishments: Virginia restaurants are currently governed by strict social distancing and sanitization requirements, which remain in place. The on-site sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol remains prohibited after 10 p.m. in any restaurant, dining establishment, food court, brewery, microbrewery, distillery, winery, or tasting room. All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms must close by midnight. Teleworking: Employees that can telework are strongly encouraged to do so.
their oldest son, Aaron, helped as usual. The lights are up from 5 to 10 p.m. daily and will be on display until Jan. 1, 2021.
FINE CREEK Continued from pg. 3
makes them smile. “I feel like a lot of people are down with everything going on. This is one more way to spread happiness. Even when I am in the driveway it makes me smile,” Shannon Allen said. Her husband agreed, saying they have heard from people who said their previous display brought them Christmas cheer, so they are hoping the bigger display will be even more of a gift to visitors. They hope to
SECOND ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
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grow the display next year, but he admitted that might involve doing some electrical work. Because of the wires in the yard, visitors are
asked not to enter the yard. The lights are up from 5 to 10:30 p.m. daily and will remain on display until Dec. 31.
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CHURCH DIRECTORY
Contemporary – 8:30 a.m. Sunday School – 9:45 a.m. Worship – 11 a.m. Children’s Worship – 11 a.m. Prayer/Bible Study – Wed. 6:30 p.m. 2095 Red Lane Road Children’s Worship (all ages) – 1/2 mile off Rt. 60 on Red Lane Road Wed. 6:30 p.m. 804-598-2455 New Generation Praise & Worship – www.redlanebaptist.org Sunday 6 p.m. Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Lighthouse Youth – Wed. 5:30 p.m. Small Groups 10:30 a.m. Miracles of God Sp. Needs Service: 2 p.m. the 2nd Sat. of each month Wednesday Night Classes for all ages at 6:15 598-3481 • 975 Dorset Road Dr. James Taylor, Pastor www.gracelandbc.org
1059 Dorset Road Powhatan, VA 23139 Reverend Mark A. Divens, Sr. Pastor
Praise and Worship Service Sunday School 9:45-10:45 Sunday Morning Worship will begin at 11:00 a.m.
GREENBRIER BAPTIST CHURCH “God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. We walk by faith and not by sight” – Pastor Darnell Carruthers
Sunday School: 10:00-10:45 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. 4731 Bell Road, Powhatan, VA 23139 804-598-5491
Holly Hills Baptist Church
5680 Cartersville Road Powhatan, Virginia 23139
(Independent Bible Believing)
Pastor Gregory L. Beechaum Sr. “The church where Jesus is Alive”
www.HollyHillsBaptist.org
Randy Blackwell, Pastor Sunday School - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship - 11:00 a.m. Youth Ministry 6:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:30 PM
379-8930 1659 Anderson Highway 3½ miles east of Flat Rock
9:00 a.m. ---- Sunday School 9:45 a.m.----- Prayer & Praise 10:00 a.m.--- Sunday Morning Worship 5th Sunday at 11 a.m. Hour of Power 7:30 p.m. ---- Tuesday Night Worship & Bible Study
Baptist Church “A Church Where Love Never Fails!” Pastor Otis B. Lockhart, Jr.
MOUNT ZION
Muddy Creek BAPTIST CHURCH Baptist Church
Rev. Bryan Stevens, Pastor 11 a.m. – Worship Service 9 a.m. – Church School Wednesday Bible Study 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Sunday School - 9:45 am Worship - 11 am Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer Service - 7:00 pm Pastor Jeff Beard, MA, MBA 3470 Trenholm Road www.muddycreekbaptist.org
375-9212
Advertise in Powhatan Today’s Church Directory. Call 804-746-1235 ext. 2 for details.
804-375-9404
Hollywood
2591 Ridge Road Powhatan, Virginia 23139 804-598-2051
Graceland Baptist Church Dr. Ronald Wyatt, Jr., Pastor
OLD POWHATAN BAPTIST CHURCH 3619 Huguenot Trail Powhatan, Virginia 23139 www.finecreekbaptist.org Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. Traditional
2202 Old Church Road www.powhatanbaptist.org
“Your Community Church”
598-2763 Sunday School at 9:30 am Morning Service at 11:00 am Bible Study Every Wednesday Night at 6:30 pm 3964 Old Buckingham Road
Sundays 10:00 AM Wednesday 6:30 PM Experiencing the presence, power and person of Jesus Christ
Loving, Investing, Fulfilling, Empowering Senior Pastor Justin Wilson Sunday Service 10:30am 2410 New Dorset Circle www.Communitylifechurchpowhatan.org Feeding Powhatan Open 3rd Wednesday of the month
FIRST ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday 10am, 11am & 6pm Wednesday 7pm
3920 MAIDENS RD., POWHATAN
804-598-2301
Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Service times are 8:30AM and 10:15AM Worship online at 10:15AM
Family Worship Center 2901 Judes Ferry Road Powhatan, Va 23139 804-379-8223
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Mid Day Bible Study 11:30 a.m.
Brad Russell, Pastor 598-4241
Travis L. Keith- Pastor Church Office: 794.7054 1530 Cook Road (Rt. 636)
www.glbcpva.org
Just Across from South Creek Shopping Center!
Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
Page 6A
Powered Up POWHATAN Returning favorites
Pixel Family Lights 1376 Old Franklin Road
robably the most difficult to find of all the entries, the Pixel Family lights display is worth the drive because you get to stick around and enjoy it for a while. Found down a private gravel road, Logan Franklin of Powhatan started his light show in 2018 with a display made up of 3,100 pixels, his mom, Sharon Franklin said. He is determined to add to it every year, jumping up to 8,300 pixels in 2019. In 2020, the display is now 9,500 pixels and is set to 80 minutes of festive and Christmas music. Sharon Franklin said her son loves growing the display and bringing joy to fami-
P Llewellyn’s Towing and Repair 1460 Anderson Highway rosty the Tow Truck is an annual favorite for families who enjoy pulling into the parking lot of Llewellyn’s Towing and Repair, switching their radio station to 89.5 FM, and rocking out along with Frosty and his friends. Like a few of other Powered Up entries, owner Ernie Llewellyn said he struggled to get into the right frame of mind this year, so he didn’t add anything new. But he did still put together a great light show set to music and will continue to change the songs every Friday to make to make it worth a repeat visit. Llewellyn said his main inspiration this year was the birth of his first grandchildren, a granddaughter and grandson. He hopes that when they are older they want to come and help him with the display and take joy in watching it, so he wants to keep it going. “But I hope they never want to hear ‘Baby Shark’ so I don’t have to sit there and listen to it as I program the lights,” he said with a laugh. The light display set to music comes on daily at 5 p.m. and stops for the night at 10 p.m. It will be up through Jan. 1, 2021. When people park, they are asked to turn off their headlights so they and others can best enjoy the lights.
F
BUDGET Continued from pg. 1
Smither said the expenditure growth was slightly skewed because of timing. There is a 3% growth rate in expenditures for general government. The school board numbers are slightly higher at a 13% growth rate because PCPS started school earlier this year, which meant paying staff earlier in the fiscal year. Smither said he expects to see that balance out better later in the fiscal year. Also built into the good news Smither shared was the fact that debt service would be down $625,506, or about 6.4%. The board’s conservative approach in June 2020 means the county is
lies who come to sit inn their car and watch. 1609 Stavem “This is not just a ill Court light show that wass ordered off of Amazon. Logan Franklin designed-created every piece of this incredible show from installing by hand,” she said. People are invited to park in the fieldd in front of the The CONTRIBUTED PH OTO display, turn their headlights dli ht off, ff tune t light li h show h is i on in to 91.5 FM, and enjoy the show. nightly from 6 to 10 This year’s show includes new dis- p.m. and will be on display through plays and a great new lineup of music. Dec. 31.
DJ and Meghan Kaloski 3393 Lake Pines Place lways one of the busiest yards around, DJ Kaloski takes great pride and joy in building his display every year. The display even has its own Facebook page called Lights on Lake Pines. On this list since 2017, 3393 Lake Pines Place keeps coming back because it is a truly spectacular sight. DJ Kaloski said he added more lights to the house this Christmas as well as lighting up a new shed that a neighbor helped him build so it looks like Santa’s Workshop. The yard also has special lit up trees, Rudolph and his friends, a new elephant, and two items in memory of loved ones – a cactus for his father-in-law and a Buddy the Elf display in honor of the neighbor, who died this year. There are also all the returning favorites to see. Kaloski said it was difficult at first to get in the spirit, but once he started decorating the yard and thinking about how much people enjoy it, the excitement set in.
A
transferring just over $1 million, or 22.2%, less for capital projects than last year. “We are going to have a good fiscal year 2021 unless a surprise hits us in the last seven months, and we need it, because we are looking at long-term forecasting. That is all based on a good fiscal year (2021),” he said. After giving the update on the finances, Smither asked the board of supervisors to consider lifting a hiring freeze on 11 county positions that had been left vacant in the board’s conservative approach to the budget this year. The positions given to the board were for an assistant fire chief (part-time), deputy commissioner of the revenue, mainte-
“Once everything lit up and we got it going, I definitely felt the spirit this year. It definitely felt good to have everything lit up and the few people we had overr enjoying them-selves. Just too see my kids’’ smiles when it lit it up was special,” he said. said Kaloski also pointed out that iff people put letters to Santa in thee letter box in front and include a return address, the letters will be passed on to the Big Guy in red in hopes he has time to reply. The lights are up from 5 to 10 p.m. every day and will remain on display until Jan. 3. 2021.
adjusted around the vacancies and if the positions really need to be filled. When the vote was taken, it failed in a 2-2 vote. Bill Cox, who represents District 4, and Karin Carmack, District 5, voted to lift the hiring freeze for those positions. Larry Nordvig, District 2, and Mike Byerly, District 3, voted against it. Chairman David Williams, District 1, was absent. Byerly later explained a statement about why he voted no, saying he wanted to know exactly which of the 11 positions the county really needed to fill and that if he knew that, he likely wouldn’t have an issue with it. Smither said the board might re-address the issue at the Dec. 14 meeting.
nance worker, crime analyst, deputy sheriff, GIS coordinator, maintenance custodial worker, administrative services, animal control technician, planner I and recreation technician. It was pointed out that these were all existing positions that had not been filled yet. Originally it was estimated the positions would add about $290,000 in expenditures for the rest of the fiscal year, but by the time these positions could be advertised and filled, they would probably represent about a $250,000 increase, Smither said. He asked for the flexibility to hire the positions but said some of the jobs might not be a pressing need. He would talk to department heads to find out how they
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What Christmas memory makes you smile every time you think about it? E-mail answers to editor@powhatantoday.com or share them on the Powhatan Today’s Facebook page.
December 16, 2020
Page 7A
Embrace Christmas joy wherever you find it By Laura McFarland Editor
F
inally, the Christmas Spirit is starting to make its way known to me. Usually when I see Christmas decorations start appearing on the shelves before Halloween, I will get a little miffed. I understand that the stores are doing what they feel they have to do to make money, but sometimes it feels like it robs the holiday season of a little bit of specialness as it gets diluted so much. I wasn’t begrudging them their early start this year, though, because I think many of us needed something to look forward to in 2020. So much of this holiday season has been robbed from us that I firmly believe you need to capture whatever joy you can however you can without judgment. That said, I really wasn’t feeling it. Walking through the stores and seeing all of the stockings and decorations on display, I was pretty much immune to the heavy pull that makes you want to buy things you really don’t need, at least with Christmas stuff. Now put me in a fabric store with pretty quilting materials and the struggle was still very real. A good part of not being ready for the season was a feeling I imagine so many of us are experiencing right now – that COVID-19 has stolen too much from us this year. It breaks my heart to think of the lives lost and people who were extremely ill; the jobs lost and businesses closed or severely impacted; families forced to stay apart; children losing some of the carefreeness childhood should bring them, and so much more. And there is the loss of our sense of community. At this time of year, I am always juggling Christmas events, doing my best to attend as many as possible in the community because I believe they capture a lot about what makes Powhatan such a great place to live.
Yet this year, the absence is felt immensely. I miss the Christmas Parade, the Santa breakfasts, the craft shows, the opportunities to meet and take photos with Santa, and so much more. I was really heartened to see the Powhatan Volunteer Fire Department’s Company 1 and Company 4 holding their Santa Runs to bring a little Christmas spirit to local neighborhoods last week and this week. I hope everybody gets out and supports them and waves to Santa. I think I had the first inkling of holiday spirit on Nov. 20. I was at a local dollar store and saw a quaint little set of plastic buildings that you light up by putting electric tea lights inside. I spent $7 to buy a few little houses, some fake snow, and white Christmas lights to create a truly unimpressive little scene. Despite the plainness of the little village, setting it up was just the right hint of joy I needed after a long week of work. And I wasn’t even aware of it until I plugged the Christmas lights in, turned the overhead light off, and simply basked in the soft glow. I got another hit of the holiday spirit when I helped a few local nonprofit organizations I support wrap presents that will be given to children in need. My first job when I was 14 or 15 was working as a gift wrapper in a Houston department store, and — though I don’t claim to have the magic gift wrapping touch — I am glad some of what I learned has stuck with me all these years, because I admit to usually going the gift bag route. Still another great experience was driving through Graceland Baptist Church’s annual Christmas DriveThru to hear their retelling of Jesus Christ’s birth and death. I went to the Friday night show and thought it was amazing, as always, especially given the fact that they didn’t cancel it when it started raining. The participants held their positions and made it a special experience.
What put me over the top on being ready for the Christmas cheer was when I started traveling around the county doing interviews and taking photos for the Powered Up Powhatan List we have been running for the past four years. Talking to families who are so excited about bringing joy to others in their community that they will spend hour after hour decorating their houses and front yards, you can’t help but have some of the gaiety rub off on you. Meeting the families is always fun, but the highlight of the experience for me this year was dropping by Pam and Lonnie Combs’ house on Old Buckingham Road last week after I left a school board meeting. We had already talked on the phone and I simply texted to let her know I was there taking photos, as agreed. She came outside in the freezing weather, and, after she saw a few of the inflatables had deflated for the night, called Lonnie out to help get them running for the photo. Anyone watching us would likely have been highly amused as we stumbled around their very full yard trying not to trip over electrical cords and strings tying the inflatables down. Pam also was really sweet to point out that she made sure Lonnie fixed a lit up nativity scene that I previously said was my favorite but wasn’t working properly a few nights earlier. And did I mention it was freezing? So, I’m there now. Not quite 24/7 Christmas music there, but I am ready for the season and the joy and hope it brings. I have determined that I am going to find joy this season wherever I can and be thankful for those experiences. I have given myself permission to be sad that some things and some people will be missing this year, but the reason I personally celebrate – my faith – hasn’t changed, nor has my willingness to embrace the feeling of Christmas and not just the trappings. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.
Guest commentary
State sees some steps forward, caution still needed By Del. Lee Ware Special to the Powhatan Today
The signs of a financial recovery for Virginians, and for the coffers of state government, as registered in reports from our Finance Department, are modestly improved in recent weeks and months. In my role as a ranking member (and former chairman) of the House Finance Committee, which reviews revenues, there are heartening indicators from some sectors of the private economy, which have remained fairly strong during the long “lockdown” and slow-down of recent months, and other sectors seem to be reviving. And, as I always emphasize in such reports, when the Commonwealth's revenue picture brightens it is a broad register of the well-being of the allimportant private economy. This is true because Virginia’s revenues derive mainly from personal income taxes (63%) and sales and use tax (18%). Together those two taxes generate over four-fifths of the revenue to the Commonwealth. Individual and small business income make up the first, and citizens’ purchasing – and the consumer confidence that drives purchasing – brings the second. I hasten to add that sustaining the improving economic data will depend on the Governor and others not unduly “locking down” Virginia and Virginians, owing to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, in the weeks and months ahead. Moreover, while it is true that the economy is doing better in the big picture, there are many
individuals and small businesses that have not benefitted from the economic recovery to date, since early in the year. Here are some factors that suggest why the comeback is occurring. Virginia’s economy – mirroring that of the nation at large – was in a strong posture as March began. Unemployment was under 3%, the lowest rate in 50 years. Many businesses struggled to find workers at that time. Two federal decisions taken in Washington have also significantly aided the finances of Virginia and many individuals. One was an authorized delay in filing federal income taxes into the current fiscal year. Although Virginia did not follow suit, many citizens deferred filing taxes until July, and that deferral boosted the State’s revenue by $250 million in the new fiscal year, which began July 1. The other federal enactment was the CARES Act, which supplemented the budget of the Commonwealth and her localities by a total of over $3 billion, and enhanced unemployment checks for many people by an extra $600 weekly for 13 weeks. (The effect of increasing the national deficit and debt by that staggering amount is a separate topic for another day.) Statewide, Virginians lost 438,000 jobs immediately following onset of the pandemic. Thankfully, private businesses have since re-hired almost half of the furloughed individuals. One of the disparities in this rebound has been that high-wage jobs have come back more strongly than lowerwage employments. That inconsis-
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tency benefits the state revenue picture, but emphatically not the personal situation for many of our neighbors. Also on the plus side, sales tax revenue is up 7.8% above projections. As noted above, that strength reflects improving consumer-confidence. Since the sales tax mainly applies to goods, not services, the economic growth in sales of consumer goods reflects increased spending for home-improvement and recreational and sporting products, among others. Medical research seems to promise to save lives—and help the economy. The coronavirus vaccines under review are reported to be 90% effective; this is an interesting contrast to flu vaccines, which the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates to be effective between 40% and 60% of the time. Much of this predominantly good news comes from Finance Department reports, and reports at the annual General Assembly money committee retreat I attended recently. I also serve on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates (GACRE), a group of Virginia businessmen and women, and senior legislators, which met on Nov. 23. (Acting on these sources, the Governor on Dec. 16 will meet, only virtually, alas, with those legislators, including me, who sit on money committees, to unveil his 2021 budget proposal.) Though we have hopes for a coronavirus vaccine and improved social and economic exchange in the new year, I also believe that caution must be the watchword when the General
Assembly convenes, for only 30 days, in mid-January. Prudence remains paramount because there remains a lot of uncertainty about the near-term, both for the health of Virginians and for the prospects of further economic recovery. The federal Congress may provide yet another fiscal stimulus, but the burgeoning federal debt is something none of us can ignore forever. Additionally, the tax and regulatory policies of an incoming federal administration can dramatically re-shape our economy – for either good or ill. For example, as recently as 2017, then-Governor Terry McAuliffe inherited a $1.5 billion shortfall in our state budget largely because of changes in federal, not state, tax policies. More uncertainty derives from the disruption to our children’s education owing to the coronavirus. Virginia’s public schools have seen a 3.2% decline in enrollment, or almost 40,000 of the Commonwealth’s student population of 1.25 million. The burdens borne by many families, and the loss of in-class instruction for our schoolchildren, will each take terrible tolls that it is too early to calculate. There are other dislocations that our people and especially our small businesses have experienced that have not garnered headlines in major newspapers. For example, almost every day I receive a plea for help from someone who has been waiting months for the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) to provide long-awaited unemployment assistance. Though the VEC see WARE pg. 8
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Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
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Christmas Mother elves hard at work
Photos by Laura McFarland
Powhatan Christmas Mother volunteers handed d d outt presents t and d COVID-19 COV supplies over three days of scheduled pick-ups and deliveries on Dec. 8, 9, and 11.
WARE
BANE
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has labored admirably, many hundreds of applications for help remain to be adjudicated. I have received many requests, too, to help navigate license-renewals with a DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) whose offices have been closed here and there, off and on, for months. All of these troubles and more dramatically affect our social well-being and therefore therefore our economic vitality—and private and state revenues. As many an historian across the centuries has observed, the enlightened ruler—or governing body—is heedful, and the good general is guided by caution. So, I trust, and so I will advocate, may our General Assembly be in the new year just ahead.
proved the benefit of their partnership within days, with Bane deployed on two narcotics cases in their first three shifts together, Henderson said. “He is a great dog. He is always willing to work. He has a real high drive to work. That motivates me to work even harder,” Henderson said of his new canine partner. Bane was instrumental in numerous cases during his initial years of service and received national attention for finding two children lost in the woods in March 2019. For a while, the sheriff’s office thought Bane’s career might be over. His original handler, Quinn Pasi, left the sheriff’s office to pursue a career outside of law enforcement, said Sheriff Brad Nunnally. That left Bane seemingly without a handler and too old (a good career is about 10 to 11 years) to justify spending thousands of dollars to send a deputy through a 13-week certification course. Then it became known that Henderson, who was hired in October 2019, had previous experi-
ence as a dog handler when he worked for the Virginia Department of Corrections and was eager to get back into the role. “We decided since we had a veteran handler we didn’t know we had that it worked out real well for us. It worked out well for Bane, too. We wouldn’t have put him back into service otherwise,” Nunnally said. Henderson came to the sheriff’s office with a great deal of experience. The Powhatan native served four years in the U.S. Army and has been in the U.S. Army Reserves for the past eight years, including one deployment to Afghanistan. He is currently a captain in the reserves. He graduated from Norfolk State University in 2012 with a degree in criminal justice before he went to work for the department of corrections at Sussex I and II State Prison. He worked in a few different roles in the prison before applying and being accepted to the K-9 program. He worked with a Dutch Shepherd named Barron, a patrol dog, for two and a half years. Henderson said he had always wanted to be a Powhatan deputy,
but a good position opened up with the Richmond Police Department, where he went to work for three years before coming here. He also wanted to work with dogs again, so when the opportunity arose to work with Bane, he was ready for it. Lt. Mike Wentworth said Henderson went through a four-week in-house training with experienced K-9 handlers in the sheriff’s office, including himself. Wentworth has been working with dogs since 1987, including search and rescue, patrol, and narcotics dogs. Also of huge help in training Henderson and Bane to work together were Deputy Mark Koontz, a veteran handler with 25 years of experience, and Sgt. Michael Boggs, who has 11 years of experience. Wentworth added he also appreciated the Harrisonburg Police Department, which has master trainers that took Henderson and Bane through the certification process. Bane is a dual purpose dog, so he is certified in both patrol and narcotics duties. The training he and Henderson went through together focused on narcotics skills, where the deputy needed more in-
struction, Wentworth said. Although having that much experience to help guide Henderson through four weeks of training was important, Wentworth credited the duo’s quick bonding and good progress from the first day and looks forward to watching them continue to develop together. “B.J. is very patient and doesn’t react. You could just see the bonding after the second week. The dog just wanted to work for him. It was incredible the way he handles him. There is no apprehension. He is fair with his handling. He is not heavy-handed,” Wentworth said. In addition to the satisfaction of watching Bane and Henderson thrive in training, Wentworth said he was extremely pleased Nunnally agreed to capitalize on Henderson’s skills so Bane’s years of experience wouldn’t be lost and the sheriff’s office wouldn’t have to pay upwards of $15,000 for a new dog and training. Now back in service, Bane continues to be one of two K-9 officers owned by the sheriff’s office. Deputy Kaitlyn Crane works with K-9 partner Argie, who is a narcotics dog.
HAPPY SMALLIDAYS. Keep celebrations small to fight COVID.
For many of us, being with friends and family is a holiday tradition. But this year, instead of having large gatherings, it’s smart to keep things small. To help prevent spreading COVID-19, limit the number of people in your home. And instead of personal visits, opt for video chats or long phone calls. Keeping it small can make a very big difference.
December 16, 2020
Powhatan, Virginia
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Preview: BSH girls basketball
By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor
FILE/POWHATAN TODAY
Powhatan’s Jon “L.J.” Alston defends against a Midlothian player in a 2019-20 season game. Alston, a senior, returns to help lead the Powhatan varsity boys basketball team in 2020-21.
Looking ahead to a new year By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor For last year’s mostly young and inexperienced Powhatan boys basketball team, the 2019-20 season was rough. The team won just two games against 20 losses in its first year playing in the grueling Dominion District. But to say there were positives would still be an understatement. The Indians never gave up, earning both of those wins late in the season and triumphing over Clover Hill on Senior Night. They also stayed together that entire year, and they kept getting better as the season went on. As they prepare for games to begin in January, this group is one that Ryan Marable, in his second year as Powhatan’s head coach, can’t wait to compete with. “From our season last year, I feel like we still have something to prove to our new district,” added returning FILE/POWHATAN TODAY leader and senior Brylan Rather. Senior Brylan Rather, seen practicing during “By winning two games and everything last year, I still feel like we’re the 2019 preseason, returns to help lead the Powhatan varsity boys basketball team the underdogs and I just want to prove to everyone that we can comin the upcoming 2020-21 season.
pete with everybody else in our district.” Another senior with key experience, Jon “L.J.” Alston, is back to lead the team, as are fellow seniors Scott Wyman and Luke Buzzard. “We experienced a lot coming into a new district, and I feel like, as leaders of this team, we learned also how to prepare our teammates as well as prepare ourselves for what’s coming up,” said Alston, who this year was able to play AAU basketball, with his opponents including players that he and his teammates are slated to face this regular season. Rather said last year “helped a lot…experience-wise,” and that it can help them help the other players joining varsity this winter. Players who are not only moving up from last year’s JV group but also picked up some varsity minutes in the 2019-20 stretch include sophomores Paul Bonner, Austin Hurt and Oscar Whitely. Peter Rusin is also moving up from JV, and point guard Matthew Hempfield, a junior who played in middle school with his current teammates, has transferred back to Powhatan from Fuqua. see POWHATAN, pg. 2B
For head coach Phil Villiott and his extremely young Blessed Sacrament Huguenot girls basketball team, the shortened 2020 – 21 season is a chance to build towards the future. “Just to get them out there to play against competition and to compete – that in itself … is a plus,” Villiott said. “Just gaining that experience – the critical experience – is what I’m looking forward to for them – and to have all the ups and down that come see GBB, pg. 2B
FILE/POWHATAN TODAY
Sophomore and three-year starter Madelyn Mitchell returns to the Blessed Sacrament Huguenot girls basketball team in 2020-21.
Previewing BSH boys basketball in 2020-21 By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor The Knights are entering a new era. Raymond Avery and Robbie Kurtz, who both reached 1,000 points scored in the same game this past winter, graduated this summer after helping lead the Blessed Sacrament Huguenot varsity boys basketball team for four seasons. As seniors, the versatile duo helped BSH secure its first winning season (12-10) since 2015. But while this year’s very young Knights will no longer be able to
turn to Avery and Kurtz for their tremendous leadership and scoring ability on the court, they do have their stellar example to follow. This year’s returners include last season’s breakout player Zander Nadeau, clutch shooter Henry Kiefer and Carson Conner, who did not play much last year but showcased his athleticism in this spring’s short-lived baseball season. “I will never be able to replace kids like Raymond and Robbie. They were two very special young men,” said BSH head basketball coach Chris Hamner, who
along with coaches Griffin Flinn and James Poore have been together on the staff for four years including 2020-21. “They did, however, help Zander, Henry and Carson tremendously by showing them how to work hard. “As good as Raymond and Robbie were, they had to work extremely hard for everything that they accomplished,” Hamner said. “If guys on the team this year, especially Zander, work that hard, we will be just fine.” Nadeau was a consistent threat FILE/POWHATAN TODAY to score in the double-digits last Junior Zander Nadeau (23, seen competing in a season, and his impact this year is see BSH, pg. 2B
2019-20 season game) returns to help lead the Blessed Sacrament Huguenot boys basketball team.
C&F BANK’S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK RACING ALL-STAR
WHO: GARRETT MANES WHAT HE DID: The racecar driver from Powhatan earned his first eNASCAR iRacing Pro Series win on Dec. 1, 2020, when he charged from 23rd to first to win Round 3 at Richmond Raceway as the track celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Manes reached first place around the halfway point of the 200-lap event before green-flag pit stops and a caution for a crash on lap 111 relegated him back to 12th. But a two-tire stop one more caution flag later catapulted Manes into the lead. He gave up the top spot to Alex McCollum but got it back with 30 laps to go, then fended off his teammate Ashton Crowder to grab the first eNASCAR Pro Series win both
for Manes himself and his race team, Elliott Sadler eSports. On Dec. 8 at Dover, Manes took 17th and his teammate Crowder won the race to make it two wins in a row for ESE. According to his team, Manes has locked himself into the top-level Coca-Cola iRacing Series, the virtual equivalent to the NASCAR Cup Series. (Photo from iRacing.com)
Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
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Marshmallows, ugly sweaters part of new golf event Contributed Report This holiday season, get your frustrations out about 2020 by whacking a giant Santa marshmallow as far as you can while wearing your best ugly golf sweater during Habitat for HumanityPowhatan’s longest marshmallow drive contest, presented by RHB Insurance. Then, jump in a cart with a friend or family member to play a quick nine holes on Independence Golf Club’s Mentor Course. Players can keep track of their scores on a tournament app or the old-school way. Finish with a cup of hot chocolate, courtesy of Independence. From Dec. 19 to Dec. 27, teams of two can choose their own tee time over nine days and compete in one of three prize divisions: adult; adult with teenager; and adult with child (12 and under).
Division sponsors include RVD Advisors LLC, Mikkon Construction and the Rotary Club of Powhatan. Prizes include full rounds of golf on championship courses at Independence Golf Club and Stonehenge Golf & Country Club, a Windy Hill gift certificate and more. Each participant receives a stocking full of goodies, sponsored by Kempsville Building Supplies. A team of two can register online for $60 at http://bit.ly/HomeForetheHolidays. All participants can compete in an ugly sweater competition, and participants’ families or business associates can compete in a gingerbread house competition on Dec. 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Independence. The raffle drawing, sponsored by New Horizon Bank, will also benefit TRIAD through the Powhatan Sheriff’s Department.
Home has taken on a heightened meaning during 2020, and proceeds from this new holiday event will benefit Habitat’s critical home repair and home building efforts throughout. Applications for critical home repairs have doubled during the pandemic. Sponsors also include C&F Bank, Barnett’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School, Canopy Adventure Park, Clean & Sharp, RC Goodwyn & Sons, Royall Pump and Well, Luck Stone, Virginia Asset Management, Powhatan Today, Christine and Eric Jablon, Wilton Construction Services, Yardworks, Lummie Jones & Team/Napier ERA, Montague and Sons Custom Homes and Spring Arbor of Salisbury. For more information, call 804-5947009, email hfh.powhatan@gmail.com or visit habitatpowhatan.org.
GBB Continued from pg. 1B
FILE/POWHATAN TODAY
Senior Henry Kiefer (12), seen shooting in a 2019-20 season game, returns to help lead the Blessed Sacrament Huguenot boys basketball team in 2020-21.
BSH Continued from pg. 1B
expected to increase. He grew a couple inches, now standing tall at 6-foot5, and he’s able to both shoot the ball well and get it to the rim. Conner and Kiefer, the latter of whom was another last year who could break into the double-digits any given night with his three-point shot, also bring shooting ability to this year’s unit. More scoring potential arrives with David Mann, who averaged 17 points last year on the JV team. Hamner expects the team to be good in the half-court. As far as improvements that he still wants to see from the team, he added that they will need to get a lot better with handling the ball. “Defensively we will have to fill in a lot of spots,” he said. “I am hoping some of these young guys will step up.” Hamner was hoping they would be able to build upon what last year’s team did, but he said it’s “just very hard to tell, with all of the stuff going on in our world right now, how this year’s team will do.” “We have only had three practices and there is so much emphasis on taking the proper health procedures that our practices look completely different,” Hamner said earlier last week. “This virus is just so scary and contagious that as a school, the first priority has been to keep them in the physical classroom, which they have been able to do, which is great. We will just have to see how things go.” This year’s season, to Hamner, will be a successful one if, as a team, they compete every day and try to get better, and also if, as a coach, “I somehow make a positive impact on my players.” He expects that the Virginia Colonial Conference, in which they will play exclusively this season, will be “very good top to bottom.” According to the rSchool calendar, the BSH Knights will begin their season on Jan. 5 when they host Tidewater Academy, with the girls playing at 5 p.m. and the boys at 6:30 p.m. “The thing that I am mostly looking forward to is just playing...I have been coaching [one of the kids on my team] since the fifth grade,” Hamner said. “I just want them to be able to put the uniform on and be able to compete as seniors safely!”
along with that.” The Knights graduated three of the five players who led them to a firstround victory in the 2020 VISAA state tournament and to a runner-up result in the Virginia Colonial Conference tourney. From that five, BSH brings back sophomore and third-year starter Madelyn Mitchell, freshman and secondyear starter Hailey Holcombe and, with those two players, 60 percent of the team’s offense from last year, acFILE/POWHATAN TODAY cording to Villiott. Freshman and second-year starter Hailey Holcombe returns to the 2020While both players have AAU expe21 Blessed Sacrament Huguenot girls basketball team. rience in addition to their contributions to BSH, they’re still part of a young core that includes six freshmen and two noted they’ve been trying to develop experience that should benefit them in more consistent scorers in addition to the seasons to come. sophomores on the 10-player roster. It’s expected that there will be misVilliott said returning freshman Holcombe and Mitchell. takes, but as the season progresses, The team is not expected to change Charlie Potter has really improved her Villiott said that “those mistakes hopea whole lot defensively. They’ll still ball-handling skills, her shooting and fully will become less and less.” have a variety of defenses to turn to, her confidence. Lone senior Alyssa “You’ll know how to break a press, whether it be man, zone or pressure. Shively played in spots last year, and you’ll know how to make free throws Villiott did note that, this season, her contributions to the team are exin critical situations, etcetera,” he said. there’s going to be “a lot of teaching, a pected to increase this winter. The regular season is here now, and lot of learning.” Newcomers include Savannah Rid“But I told them the other day – they’re taking precautions – Villiott dell, a post player who transferred in this young group, if they all stay here, wears a mask, the players are required from St. Mary’s in Henrico and has it’ll be a couple years, but ... having six to wear masks on-campus, Villiott done well previously according to Vilfreshmen is definitely an advantage if cleans the basketballs after practice liott, and Berkley Roudabush, who every day, he and the school both they stay with it,” he said. will also play in the post with Mitchell. check the players’ temperature, they This particular season should also With Elizabeth Carter, Sidney Mchave hand sanitizer out and they keep help in that regard. Minn and Katie Schiefer all graduatdistance in practice – but the practices There won’t be the pressure of ing, Villiott said this year’s players are going to have different roles, with striving to win the Virginia Colonial themselves remain a constant. The main goals for this season, Vilthose changes include Holcombe also Conference championship and qualify liott noted, are getting the season off for states. As it stands, there will be no running the point. the ground, making it safe for everyVCC tournament this year, and anyone “In the long run, looking past high body and giving the players a chance who wants to play in the upcoming school, I think it’s going to benefit Haito grow and participate in the sport. VISAA state tournament will be able ley a lot for running the point, especial“They are improving,” he added. “If to do so. ly for ball handling,” Villiott said. they can become more comfortable Those changes, Villiott said, will He complimented the team’s cohesiveness and ball movement – they give him a little more freedom to play and more confident in their game when next year rolls around, then that’s a seem to be passing to each other pretty people for the sake of experience. plus, and the only way they’re going to It also gives the young players a well and also getting along with each be able to do that is by playing.” chance to gain the necessary gametime other pretty well, he said – but he
POWHATAN Continued from pg. 1B
Football players JaySun Carroll, Ethan Dowdy and Aaron Nash and baseball player Alex Reeves should all bolster the team with their length, speed, strength and athleticism. They should also add depth to the lineup and more competitiveness to practices, which in turn should better prepare the Indians for what they’ll see from their opponents in future games. They’ll be able to see the game a little faster now, Marable said, as well as get up and down the court quicker and space the floor out more, Alston said. The returners have been putting in the work this offseason, which Marable pointed to and praised. In addition to AAU, Alston participated in a couple of Hoop Group camps up North, including one in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. He spoke to working a lot on his own athleticism and shooting this offseason. Rather has been focused on getting better through working in the gym and during practices, and as a team, he said they’ve been working on their ball handling and shooting. Marable anticipates that the players will really cut down on their turnovers, which he noted really hurt them last year. “This group, we can trap, we can press a little bit more, and we can turn good defense into easy opportunities for us to … maybe get some layups that we really didn’t get last year,” Marable added. Powhatan wants to put more pressure
on opposing teams and force those teams into making more turnovers than they did last year. “We’re going to have to buy-in to team rebounding because we don’t have that natural center,” Marable added. “Our little guys are going to have to stick their heads in there and grab some rebounds – and knowing that, if they grab it, they can go and they can push it and we can get back down to the offensive end. “A rebound is going to be like a turnover for us,” Marable added. “We can really capitalize on bad shots from the other team and use that to our advantage like teams did against us.” As the season goes on, returning seniors Alston and Rather want to continue to see team improvements in communication, chemistry and knowing each other’s tendencies and capabilities. Alston also emphasized the importance of being leaders on the team. “Our leadership this year – us being leaders and really pushing each other will help us,” Alston said. “It all starts at the top, and so I think, from coach to us to our teammates, that we’ll really be able to push each other and definitely help each other and have a better season this year.” And this year’s team, Marable said, is getting along really well. “Practices are really fun because they’re all friends off the court and they’re all together off the court, and then they bring that togetherness onto the court,” Marable said. “We think that’s really going to help us in the long run, and they’ve experienced adversity
together on the football field and in their middle school seasons and things like that …it’s kind of like getting the band back together a little bit.” While Powhatan did lose two opponents in George Wythe and Huguenot due to the Richmond school system’s decision not to play winter sports this year, the team will play its 14 regularseason games against the remaining schools – all from Chesterfield County – in the Dominion District. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Chesterfield County schools are planning to start playing games the first week of January. Powhatan’s first scheduled game is on the road at L.C. Bird on Monday, Jan. 4. Varsity is supposed to play at 7:15 p.m. following the JV team’s game at 5:45 p.m. But uncertainty over whether the season will take place in full or at all still remains as the pandemic continues and schools could still opt out of winter sports. After all of the work he’s put in this summer and fall, Alston aims to reap the benefits of all that hard work by just getting out there and playing on the court this season. And if the players do get to compete this year, then they deserve it, Marable said. “They followed all the protocols all offseason and really put us in a position to be here,” he said. “I’m proud of those guys and … all the sacrifices they made, and really all the other sports and students have at Powhatan, too, because they’ve gone above and beyond with what they needed to do and made us be in the position to practice and to participate.”
Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
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Masks won’t be required in play Contributed Report Richmond Times-Dispatch CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Virginia High School League on Monday said it won’t require masks to be worn in practices and in games. Initially, on Dec. 10, the VHSL announced that it “is requiring each school to follow the recommendations of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)” that students and coaches wear masks while participating in sports. This requirement was issued in response to information that the Governor’s Requirement to Wear Face Coverings would include such a provision. However, Executive Order (EO) 72 when issued stated that face coverings requirements “do not apply to … individuals exercising or using exercise equipment.” “VHSL apologizes for any confusion created by its original release,” said VHSL Executive Director, Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun. “We ask the public to understand that it is the first mission of VHSL to make sure that athletics are conducted in a safe and healthy environment, and it was that desire that motivated the original decision.” Accordingly, the VHSL is rescinding its requirement that face coverings be worn during training and competition and is reissuing its guidance to conform with the intent of EO 72 that face masks are “strongly encouraged” but not required. Each school may continue to exercise its discretion and judgment as to safety steps within its athletics programs as it pertains to face coverings, the league said Monday. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has been requiring youth and amateur athletes to wear masks while playing indoor and outdoor sports, according to The Charlotte Observer. On its website in September, the Mayo Clinic Health System said it’s safe to wear a mask while exercising,
“but considerations should be made. For example, it’s recommended that you perform low- to moderate-intensity exercise rather than vigorous exercise while wearing a mask. This is because of the decreased airflow allowed through the mask, which can affect breathing and your ability to properly regulate body temperature.” On its website, the World Health Organization says that “even when you’re in an area of COVID-19 transmission, masks should not be worn during vigorous physical activity because of the risk of reducing your breathing capacity.” Basketball tryouts and practice started Dec. 7 for VHSL schools. Games can begin on Dec. 21. Other winter sports — gymnastics, indoor track, swimming and diving and wrestling — can start tryouts/practice this coming Monday, with contests beginning Dec. 28. A few area private schools already have played basketball games while others are in wait-and-see mode. Chesterfield County schools, which began practices on Monday along with some other area public schools, are planning to start playing games the first week of January. Mickey Swartz, the activities director at Cosby High in Chesterfield, said: “Cosby athletes and coaches handled COVID protocols great this week and will continue to do so. … Play on.” School systems in Henrico County and the City of Richmond have decided their teams will not play winter sports, and the Hanover County school system has suspended practices and conditioning. A decision on whether to play will come no later than Dec. 18, according to a release from the school system. Gov. Ralph Northam also amended spectator limits for high school/recreational sports. The limit remains at 25 people per field for indoor sports, Northam said, but two guests per player will be allowed at outdoor sports.
LAURA MCFARLAND/POWHATAN TODAY
Powhatan High School head varsity baseball coach Gregg Conner was recently recognized by the Powhatan County School Board for his future induction into the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame on April 25.
Conner honored for HOF selection Contributed Report
The Powhatan County School Board recently recognized Powhatan High School baseball coach Gregg Conner, who is being inducted into the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony on April 25, 2021, in Charlottesville. Coach Conner has had quite the career so far in leading the Indians baseball program for the past 36 years. He is 516-231-1, one of only five VHSL
baseball coaches to have over 500 career wins. He has guided the Indians to 16 district championships, six region titles, two region runner-up finishes and state AA championships in 2008 and 2012. Coach Conner joins two other Powhatan coaching legends with his induction into the VHSL Hall of Fame: retired Powhatan head football coach Jim Woodson (Hall of Fame Class of 2013) and Powhatan head softball coach Marie Crump (Hall of Fame Class of 2014).
New requirements for DWR facility use Contributed Report
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources wants to alert customers to new legislation going into effect Jan. 1, 2021. The legislation states: Beginning January 1, 2021, any person using a Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)owned or managed facility, including - Tim Pearrell of the Richmond boating access sites, must have a valid Times-Dispatch contributed to this re- Virginia hunting, trapping or fishing permit, a Restore the Wild membership, port. an access permit or current certificate of
boat registration issued by DWR to use the facility. This does not apply to persons under the age of 17 or passengers with a permitted operator. The operator must have a permit. Acceptable access permits include: a VALID VA Trapping, Hunting or Fishing license; a VALID VA Boater Registration (must be Virginia); a VALID Daily or Annual DWR Access Permit; and a CURRENT Restore the Wild Membership. For an updated FAQ, please visit: https://dwr.virginia.gov/boating/access-faq/.
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Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
Page 4B
POWHATAN TODAY TV LISTINGS WEDNESDAY EVENING C 3 4 8 9 11 12 15 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 39 40 44 47 48 53 54 55 58 60 61 62 66 127 138 146 177
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College Basketball: Butler at Villanova. Boxing: PBC Fight Night. (N) (Live) Å NFL Breaking College Basketball College Basketball: Duke at Notre Dame. SportsCenter Virginia Vaccinates: The Great Christmas Light Fight (N) For Life (In Stereo) News Kimmel News Holly The Amazing Race SEAL Team (N) S.W.A.T. (In Stereo) News Colbert Big Bang Big Bang The Masked Singer The Masked Singer Fox News at Ten DailyMail Mod Fam ET Inside Christmas: Saturday Night Live (In Stereo) Å News J. Fallon Last Man Last Man NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation Å David’s Gift Favorites (N) (Live) Å The Wrap It Up Gift Event (N) (Live) Å PBS NewsHour (N) Nature (In Stereo) NOVA (In Stereo) NOVA (In Stereo) Amanpour-Co Portraits Time/By Sanditon-Mast Sanditon-Mast Sanditon-Mast PBS NewsHour (N) E. B. OutFront Anderson Cooper Cuomo Prime Time CNN Tonight CNN Tonight The ReidOut (Live) All In With Rachel Maddow The Last Word The 11th Hour Shepard Smith Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank The Story Tucker Carlson Hannity (Live) Å Ingraham Fox News at Night NCIS (In Stereo) WWE NXT (N) (In Stereo Live) Å ››‡ “San Andreas” (2015, Action) “The Equalizer” All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite (Live) Å ››‡ “The Equalizer” (2014, Action) Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Full Conan Full Court Court Court Court Court Court Rescue Rescue Court Court Con Air ›› “Four Brothers” (2005, Crime Drama) ››› “The Italian Job” (2003) Mark Wahlberg. Å South Pk South Pk South Pk South Pk South Pk South Pk South Pk South Pk The Daily Show Expedition X Josh Gates Tonight Expedition X Å Expedition Un. Expedition Un. My 600-Lb. Life My 600-Lb. Life My 600-Lb. Life My 600-Lb. Life (In Stereo) North Woods Law North Woods Law: Uncuffed (In Stereo) North Woods Law North Woods Law “Santa Clause 3: Escape Clause” The 700 Club Å ›› “The Santa Clause 2” (2002) Å Andy G. Andy G. Raymond Love-Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond King King “Where Eagles” ›››› “Vertigo” (1958) James Stewart. ››› “Marnie” (1964) Tippi Hedren. Å “Hanukkah!” “Christmas She Wrote” (2020, Romance) “The Christmas Cottage” (2017, Drama) “Candy Cane” “Twinkle All the Way” (2019, Romance) “My Christmas Inn” (2018, Drama) Å Home Town Å Home Town Å Home Town Å Hunters Hunt Intl Hunters Hunt Intl Guy’s Games Guy’s Games Guy’s Games Guy’s Games Guy’s Games “Holiday Heart.” Payne As. Liv Tyler Perry’s Sistas Games People Play Tyler Perry’s Sistas ›› “The Last Witch Hunter” (2015) Vin Diesel. Å Tim ››› “The Goonies” (1985) Sean Astin. “Scrooged” (1988) “National Lamp. Christmas” “National Lamp. Christmas” Last Man Last Man Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Forged in Fire Forged in Fire Forged in Fire (N) Forged in Fire Forged in Fire
FS1 ESPN 8 6 35 12 WGN-A QVC 3 57 CNN MSNBC CNBC FOXN USA TNT TBS A&E PARMT COM DISC TLC ANPL FREE TVL TCM HALL LIFE HGTV FOOD BET SYFY AMC CMT HIST
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DEC. 17
College Basketball College Basketball SmackDown College Basketball NBA Preseason Basketball: Warriors at Kings SportsC. Wheel Jeopardy Station 19 (N) Å Grey’s Anatomy (N) Million Little News Kimmel News Holly Sheldon B Posi Mom (N) Unicorn Star Trek: Disc News Colbert Big Bang Pregame NFL Football: Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders. (N) News ET Inside “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” Dateline NBC Å News J. Fallon Last Man Last Man NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation Å Merry & Bright David’s Down-Home Christmas (N) (Live) Å PBS NewsHour (N) Currents America The Judge: Mark Twain: Amanpour-Co Untamed Wine Christmas at St: Queen Elizabeth I: St. Olaf Cmas: PBS NewsHour (N) E. B. OutFront Anderson Cooper Cuomo Prime Time CNN Tonight CNN Tonight The ReidOut (Live) All In With Rachel Maddow The Last Word The 11th Hour Shepard Smith Shark Tank Å Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank The Story Tucker Carlson Hannity (Live) Å Ingraham Fox News at Night Chrisley Chrisley Chrisley Chrisley Chrisley Chrisley Chrisley Miz & Chrisley Chrisley Bones (In Stereo) ›› “A Christmas Carol” (1999, Fantasy) ›› “A Christmas Carol” (1999, Fantasy) Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Conan Seinfeld The First 48 Å The First 48 The First 48 Killer Cases Å The First 48 Å ››‡ “The A-Team” (2010, Action) Liam Neeson. Å ››‡ “Con Air” (1997) Nicolas Cage. Office Office Office Office Office Office Office Office The Daily Show BattleBots (N) Å BattleBots “Stop! Hammer Time!” Å Rocket-Tree Rocket-Tree Stories of the ER Stories of the ER Stories of the ER Stories of the ER Stories of the ER Gold Rush: Alaska Gold Rush: Alaska Gold Rush: Alaska Gold Rush: Alaska Gold Rush: Alaska ››‡ “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992) The 700 Club Å ››› “Home Alone” (1990) Andy G. Andy G. Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond King King Escape MGM ›››› “Going My Way” (1944, Musical) ››› “King of Kings” (1961) Å “Christmas Hou” “Christmas Comes Twice” (2020) Å “A Nashville Christmas Carol” (2020) “Christmas Vine” “Rediscovering Christmas” (2019) Å “The Christmas Temp” (2019, Drama) Flip Flip Flip.-America Flip Flip Hunters Hunt Intl Hunters Hunt Intl Beat Beat Christmas Cookie Christmas Cookie Christmas Cookie Christmas Cookie Martin ›› “Daddy Day Care” (2003, Children’s) ›› “Meet the Browns” (2008) Tyler Perry. Å ››‡ “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004, Action) Å Movie Red 2 ››‡ “Red 2” (2013, Action) Santa: ››› “The Polar Express” (2004) Å ››› “Scrooged” (1988) Bill Murray. Å Last Man Last Man ››‡ “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005, Action) Brad Pitt. Å “Gone in 60 Sec” Swamp People: Swamp People: Swamp People: Swamp People Swamp People:
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DEC. 18
7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30
FS1 ESPN 8 6 35 12 WGN-A QVC 3 57 CNN MSNBC CNBC FOXN USA TNT TBS A&E PARMT COM DISC TLC ANPL FREE TVL TCM HALL LIFE HGTV FOOD BET SYFY AMC CMT HIST
Football NFL WWE Friday Night SmackDown (N) Å Talking Smack SmackDown Football College Football: MAC Championship: Teams TBA. (N) (Live) NBA Preseason Basketball Wheel Jeopardy Olaf’s Shrek: 20/20 (N) (In Stereo) Å News Kimmel News Holly MacGyver (N) Å Magnum P.I. Å Blue Bloods (N) News Colbert Pac-12 Preg College Football: Pac-12 Championship: Teams TBA. (N) (In Stereo Live) News ET Inside Weakest Link Dateline NBC (N) (In Stereo) Å News J. Fallon Last Man Last Man NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation Å JAI Jewelry (Live) Vault - Gemstone Diamond Jewelry Largest Jewelry Gift Sale of the Year (N) PBS NewsHour (N) Wash Hoover Ella Wishes You: Lucy Worsley’s 12: Amanpour-Co VCU R. Antique Roadshow Legacy List Craft in America PBS NewsHour (N) E. B. OutFront Anderson Cooper Cuomo Prime Time CNN Tonight CNN Tonight The ReidOut (Live) All In With Rachel Maddow The Last Word The 11th Hour Shepard Smith Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank The Story Tucker Carlson Hannity (Live) Å Ingraham Fox News at Night Chicago Chicago P.D. ››› “Ant-Man” (2015, Action) Paul Rudd. Mod Fam Mod Fam Grinch: Grinch: ›› “Jingle All the Way” (1996) Å ››‡ “Shrek Forever After” (2010) Å Seinfeld Seinfeld ››‡ “Central Intelligence” (2016) ›› “Let’s Be Cops” (2014, Comedy) The First 48 Å The First 48 Live Rescue “Live Rescue -- 12.18.20” (N) (In Stereo) Å ››‡ “The A-Team” (2010, Action) Liam Neeson. Å ››‡ “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” (2017) Office Office Creek Creek Creek Creek Creek Creek Dunham: Gold Rush Å Gold Rush (N) (In Stereo) Å Gold Rush: D. Turin The Family Chantel 90 Day Fiancé “Shame on You” 90 Day The Family Chantel 90 Day River Monsters River Monsters River Monsters: Deadliest Man-Eaters Big Cat Tales (N) “Santa Clause 3: Escape Clause” ››‡ “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” (2018) “The Star” (2017) Andy G. Andy G. Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond King King “Best Yrs-Lives” “Remember the Night” (1940) ›››› “The Apartment” (1960) Jack Lemmon. Å “Check Inn to” “Once Upon a Christmas Miracle” Å “Reunited at Christmas” (2018, Drama) “Merry Liddle” “Christmas on the Menu” (2020) Å “A Christmas in Tennessee” (2018) Å Dream Dream Dream Dream Christmas Home-Cmas: Hunters Hunters Diners Diners Diners, Drive Diners, Drive Diners Diners Diners, Drive Tyler Perry’s Sistas Payne As. Liv ›‡ “Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son” (2011, Comedy) ›››‡ “Shrek” (2001, Children’s) Å Futurama Futurama ›››‡ “Shrek” (2001, Children’s) Å “Polar Express” ›› “Four Christmases” (2008) Å ››› “Love Actually” (2003) Hugh Grant. Last Man Last Man Bar Rescue Å Bar Rescue Å Bar Rescue Å Bar Rescue Å Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens Ancient Aliens (N) Ancient Aliens Å Ancient Aliens
SATURDAY EVENING C 3 4 8 9 11 12 15 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 39 40 44 47 48 53 54 55 58 60 61 62 66 127 138 146 177
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7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30
FRIDAY EVENING 3 4 8 9 11 12 15 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 39 40 44 47 48 53 54 55 58 60 61 62 66 127 138 146 177
DEC. 16
7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30
FS1 ESPN 8 6 35 12 WGN-A QVC 3 57 CNN MSNBC CNBC FOXN USA TNT TBS A&E PARMT COM DISC TLC ANPL FREE TVL TCM HALL LIFE HGTV FOOD BET SYFY AMC CMT HIST
THURSDAY EVENING 3 4 8 9 11 12 15 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 39 40 44 47 48 53 54 55 58 60 61 62 66 127 138 146 177
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C=COMCAST
DEC. 19
7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30
FS1 ESPN 8 6 35 12 WGN-A QVC 3 57 CNN MSNBC CNBC FOXN USA TNT TBS A&E PARMT COM DISC TLC ANPL FREE TVL TCM HALL LIFE HGTV FOOD BET SYFY AMC CMT HIST
College Football: Teams TBA. (N) (Live) Å Update College Football: Teams TBA. College Football: Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl: Teams TBA. (Live) College Football Primetime Football Football College Football: American Conference Championship. (N) (Live) Å News Football Football College Football: SEC Championship -- Alabama vs Florida. (N) Å News Football Update College Basketball: Virginia vs Villanova. News America Cosmos: Possible 12 News MAXX Global Citizen: The Wall (In Stereo) Saturday Night Live News SNL Blue Bloods Å NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation Å Under The Tree Andrew Shawn Saves Christmas (N) (Live) Å Lawrence Welk Durrells in Corfu Doc Martin Å Sun Stud Sun Stud Song of Mountains Judi Dench: Nature (In Stereo) NOVA (In Stereo) Reel Reel Dialogue in Metal: Situation Room Situation Room Pandemic: CNN Special Report Å American Voices Week-Johnson Week-Johnson American Voices Week-Johnson Undercover Boss Undercover Boss Undercover Boss Undercover Boss Undercover Boss Life, Liberty Watters’ World Å Justice Judge Greg Gutfeld Watters’ World Å ››› “Ant-Man” (2015, Action) ››› “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017) Chris Pratt. Nurses “Smallfoot” (2018) Grinch: ›››› “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) Judy Garland. “Wizard of Oz” ››‡ “Old School” (2003) Luke Wilson. Full Wipeout ››‡ “Central Intelligence” (2016) Most Daring Å Most Daring Å Most Daring Å Most Daring Å Most Daring Å ›› “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002) Å ›› “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002) (In Stereo) Å Pretty › “Grown Ups 2” (2013, Comedy) Adam Sandler. “Longest Yard” ›‡ “Grown Ups” (2010) Å Homestead Rescue Homestead Rescue Homestead Rescue Homestead Rescue Homestead Rescue Unexpected Unexpected Unexpected Unexpected Unexpected Mega Zoo Mega Zoo Mega Zoo Mega Zoo Mega Zoo ›› “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) Å Miracle ››‡ “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” Two Men Two Men Two Men Two and Half Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men “Bishop’s Wife” ››› “We’re No Angels” (1955, Comedy) ››› “Lady on a Train” (1945, Suspense) “Cmas Starlight” “A Christmas Carousel” (2020) Å “Love, Lights, Hanukkah!” (2020) Å “Too-Christmas” “A Christmas Exchange” (2020) Å “Christmas Ever After” (2020, Romance) Good Bones Å Chateau Love It or List It Love It or List It Love It or List It Diners Diners Diners, Drive Diners, Drive Diners, Drive Diners, Drive ›‡ “Blue Streak” (1999) Å ›› “Rush Hour 2” ›‡ “Rush Hour 3” (2007, Action) Jackie Chan. Å “Harry Potter-Prisoner of Azkaban” “Letters to Satan Claus” (2020, Horror) Futurama Futurama “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989) “National Lamp. Christmas” Fred “Top Gun” (1986) ››› “Tombstone” (1993, Western) Kurt Russell. Å “Con Air” (1997) History’s Greatest Mysteries (In Stereo) History’s Greatest Mysteries (In Stereo) History’s Greatest
SUNDAY EVENING C 3 4 8 9 11 12 15 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 39 40 44 47 48 53 54 55 58 60 61 62 66 127 138 146 177
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College Basketball College Basketball World Poker Tour Poker SportsCenter (Live) SportCtr Championship Drive (N) (Live) SportsCenter (Live) News NCIS ›››› “The Sound of Music” (1965, Musical) Julie Andrews. (In Stereo) Football 60 Minutes (N) Å Garth & Trisha: Home-Holiday: NCIS (In Stereo) News Simpson Burgers The Moodys Å Burgers Fam Guy News America This Week ROH Football Night in America (N) NFL Football: Cleveland Browns at New York Giants. (N) Å News Last Man Last Man NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation Å philosophy - beauty (N) (Live) Å Under The Tree Guarantee - Gifts (N) (Live) Å Christmas at St: Sanditon-Mast Sanditon-Mast Sanditon-Mast Austin City Limits Craft in America Reconstruction: America After Richmond Memories: Currents Situation Room Situation Room Pandemic: This Is Life State of the Union American Voices Week-Johnson Week-Johnson American Voices Week-Johnson Shark Tank Empires-New York Empires-New York Shark Tank Shark Tank Å Fox News Sunday Life, Liberty Revolution Greg Gutfeld Life, Liberty Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU ››› “Wonder Woman” (2017, Action) ››› “Wonder Woman” (2017, Action) Gal Gadot. Å (DVS) ››› “Wonder Woman” (2017, Action) ››› “Wonder Woman” (2017, Action) Gal Gadot. Å (DVS) “White House” ››‡ “The Magnificent Seven” (2016) Denzel Washington. “Jurassic Park III” ››‡ “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” (2009) Kristen Stewart. ››‡ “Twilight” (2008) Kristen Stewart. ›› “50 First Dates” (2004) Å South Pk South Pk South Pk › “Grown Ups 2” (2013) Å Expedition Un. Expedition Un. Expedition Un. Gold Rush (N) Å Gold Rush WW 90 Day Fiancé 90 Day Fiancé “Bless This Mess” (N) Unexpected (N) Counting 90 Day North Woods Law North Woods Law North Woods Law North Woods Law North Woods Law Dr. ››› “Home Alone” (1990) Macaulay Culkin. Å ››‡ “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” Two Men Two Men Two Men Two and Half Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men Two Men “Going My Way” ›› “It Happened on 5th Avenue” (1947) ›››‡ “The Holly and the Ivy” (1952) “If I Only Had” “Cross Country Christmas” (2020) Å “A Veteran’s Christmas” (2018) Å “Dear Christmas” “A Christmas Break” (2020, Romance) “A Christmas Winter Song” (2019) Å Property Brothers Renovation Inc Å Renovation Inc Å Home Town Å Home Town Å Christmas Cookie Christmas Cookie Candy Land Å Holiday Baking Holiday Baking ›‡ “Blue Streak” (1999) Martin Lawrence. Å Martin Martin Martin ›‡ “Rush Hour 3” ›‡ “Robin Hood” (2018, Action) Taron Egerton. John ››› “John Wick: Chapter 2” (2017) ››› “Elf” (2003, Children’s) Will Ferrell. Santa: ››› “Elf” (2003, Children’s) Will Ferrell. Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom The Bible: Å The Bible: (In Stereo) Å The Bible: (In Stereo) Å
FS1 ESPN 8 6 35 12 WGN-A QVC 3 57 CNN MSNBC CNBC FOXN USA TNT TBS A&E PARMT COM DISC TLC ANPL FREE TVL TCM HALL LIFE HGTV FOOD BET SYFY AMC CMT HIST
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DEC. 16 - DEC. 22
Herd Var. Programs Speak for Your. Var. Programs Fox Skip Var. Programs SportsCenter Jalen Ques The Varied NFL Live Around Pardon SportsCenter GMA3: What General Hosp. Drew Barrymore Dr. Phil 8 News 8 News News ABC Young Bold The Talk Ellen Show CBS6 News News News News CBS Funny Funny Wendy Williams Maury Steve Wilkos Judge Judge Fam Fam Days of Lives Kelly Clarkson Tamron Hall News at 4PM News News News News Heat of Night Heat of Night Blue Bloods Blue Bloods Blue Bloods Last Last Varied Programs Curious Elinor Cat in Arthur Wild Odd Cyber Curious SciGirls Biz Kid News BBC Varied SciGirls Curious Biz Kid Varied Programs Amanpour-Co CNN Newsroom CNN Newsroom CNN Newsroom Jake Tapper Situation Room Situation Room MTP Daily MSNBC Live MSNBC Live Deadline: White House The Beat With The Exchange Power Lunch Closing Bell Fast Varied Mad Money Outnumbered Daily Briefing Bill Hemmer Neil Cavuto The Five Special Report Varied Programs Supernatural Varied Programs Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Amer. Amer. Amer. Amer. Family Family First 48 Varied Programs First 48 Varied First 48 Varied Programs Bar Rescue Varied Programs Two Two Two Two Two Two South South South Varied South Varied Office Office Office Office Office Office Varied Programs Varied Programs Varied Programs Movie Varied Programs Gunsmoke Gunsmoke Gunsmoke Griffith Griffith Griffith Griffith Griffith Griffith Movie Varied Movie Varied Programs Movie (12:00) Movie Movie Movie Movie (12:00) Movie Movie Movie Movie Varied Programs Varied Programs Movie Varied Movie Varied Programs Movie Varied Movie Varied Programs Movie Varied Programs Movie Varied Programs Movie Varied King King King King King King Last Last Last Last Last Last Varied Programs
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DEC. 21
7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 FS1 ESPN 8 6 35 12 WGN-A QVC 3 57 CNN MSNBC CNBC FOXN USA TNT TBS A&E PARMT COM DISC TLC ANPL FREE TVL TCM HALL LIFE HGTV FOOD BET SYFY AMC CMT HIST
To Be Announced College Basketball Herd Holid. Monday Night NFL Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals. (Live) SportsCenter Wheel Jeopardy The Bachelorette (In Stereo) Å (DVS) CMA Country: News Kimmel News Holly Neighbor Bob Kid of the Year: Bull (In Stereo) Å News Colbert Big Bang Big Bang NEXT “FILE 8” (N) Cosmos: Possible Fox News at Ten DailyMail Mod Fam ET Inside Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical!: Weakest Link Å News J. Fallon Last Man Last Man NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation Å Fashion’s Night In Å iNNOVATIONS Fashion & Accessories Clearance (Live) PBS NewsHour (N) Antique Roadshow Legacy List Independent Lens (In Stereo) Aman VCU Passion: The Judge: Evening-Smokey: Craft in America PBS NewsHour (N) E. B. OutFront Anderson Cooper Cuomo Prime Time CNN Tonight CNN Tonight The ReidOut (Live) All In With Rachel Maddow The Last Word The 11th Hour Shepard Smith Shark Tank Å Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank Å The Story Tucker Carlson Hannity (Live) Å Ingraham Fox News at Night Chicago P.D. WWE Monday Night RAW (N) (In Stereo Live) Å Mod Fam Mod Fam “Blended” (2014) ›››› “A Christmas Story” (1983) ›››› “A Christmas Story” (1983) Family Guy Fam Guy Fam Guy Fam Guy Fam Guy American American Conan Seinfeld The First 48 Å The First 48 Å The First 48 Å The First 48 Å The First 48 “Twilight-Dawn” “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2” (2012) “Dark Knight” Office Office Office Office Office Office Office Office Office Office Street Outlaws: Full Street Outlaws: Fastest in America (N) (In Stereo) Å Street Outlaws Å The Family Chantel 90 Day Fiancé Dr. Pimple Popper Feet-Killing Me Dr. Pimple Popper Homestead Rescue Homestead Rescue: Survival Shelter (N) Homestead Rescue: Survival Shelter (N) “Santa Clause 3: Escape Clause” The 700 Club Å ›› “The Santa Clause 2” (2002) Å Andy G. Andy G. Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond King King “Penny Serenade” “Come to the Stable” (1949) ››‡ “The Miracle of the Bells” (1948, Drama) Å “Cmas Twice” “Mingle All the Way” (2018) Jen Lilley. “Cross Country Christmas” (2020) Å “Christmas in” “Spotlight on Christmas” (2020) Å “The Christmas Edition” (2020, Drama) Home Town Å Celebrity IOU Å Celebrity IOU Å Flip Flip Flip Flip Holiday Baking Holiday Baking Holiday Baking Championship (N) Å Christmas “Christmas Ltry.” “Twas the Chaos Before Christmas” “Holiday Heartbreak” (2020) Å ›‡ “Death Wish” (2018) Bruce Willis. ›› “Green Lantern” (2011, Action) Å ›‡ “Robin Hood” “Scrooged” (1988) “National Lamp. Christmas” “National Lamp. Christmas” Last Man Last Man Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars “Dueling and Dealing” (N) Pawn Stars Å
TUESDAY EVENING C 3 4 8 9 11 12 15 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 39 40 44 47 48 53 54 55 58 60 61 62 66 127 138 146 177
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1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:30
MONDAY EVENING 3 4 8 9 11 12 15 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 39 40 44 47 48 53 54 55 58 60 61 62 66 127 138 146 177
DEC. 20
7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 FS1 ESPN 8 6 35 12 WGN-A QVC 3 57 CNN MSNBC CNBC FOXN USA TNT TBS A&E PARMT COM DISC TLC ANPL FREE TVL TCM HALL LIFE HGTV FOOD BET SYFY AMC CMT HIST
DAYTIME AFTERNOON 3 4 8 9 11 12 15 22 23 24 27 28 29 30 33 34 35 37 39 40 44 47 48 53 54 55 58 60 61 62 66 127 138 146 177
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DEC. 22
7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 FS1 ESPN 8 6 35 12 WGN-A QVC 3 57 CNN MSNBC CNBC FOXN USA TNT TBS A&E PARMT COM DISC TLC ANPL FREE TVL TCM HALL LIFE HGTV FOOD BET SYFY AMC CMT HIST
College Football: B1G Championship To Be Announced NFL Sports College Football: Boca Raton Bowl: Teams TBA. (N) (Live) SportsCenter W/Van Pelt Wheel Jeopardy The Bachelorette (N) Å (DVS) Supermarket News Kimmel News Holly Price Is Right: Let’s Make a: NCIS (In Stereo) News Colbert Big Bang Big Bang NEXT “FILE 9; FILE 10” (N) Å (DVS) Fox News at Ten DailyMail Mod Fam ET Inside The Voice Å Saturday Night Live (In Stereo) Å News J. Fallon Last Man Last Man NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation (Live) NewsNation Å Accessories Shoe Shopping with Jane Clearance (N) Cheers! to Shopping With Leah/Shawn PBS NewsHour (N) “City Hall” (2020, Documentary) Premiere. (N) (In Stereo) Å R. Keep Up Durrells in Corfu Sherlock on Masterpiece Å Unwine’d PBS NewsHour (N) E. B. OutFront Anderson Cooper Cuomo Prime Time CNN Tonight CNN Tonight The ReidOut (Live) All In With Rachel Maddow The Last Word The 11th Hour Shepard Smith Shark Tank Å Shark Tank Å Shark Tank Å Shark Tank Å The Story Tucker Carlson Hannity (Live) Å Ingraham Fox News at Night Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU Mod Fam Mod Fam NBA Basketball: Golden State Warriors at Brooklyn Nets. Å NBA Basketball: Clippers at Lakers Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Misery Conan Misery Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage Storage “The Karate Kid” (1984) Å ››‡ “The Karate Kid Part II” (1986, Drama) Å Movie (In Stereo) Office Office Office Office Drunk Drunk Drunk Drunk Office Office Moonshiners: Deck Moonshiners “No Ordinary Run” (N) Å Moonshiners: Deck the Stills (In Stereo) Welcome 7 Little Johnstons Fat Fabulous Welcome Invasion: Lights: To Be Announced Tanked: Sea-Lebrity Edition (N) (In Stereo) Å Tanked (In Stereo) Home ››‡ “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992, Children’s) “The Night Before” (2015) Andy G. Andy G. Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond King King “Lion in Winter” ›› “Christmas in Connecticut” (1945) “In the Good Old Summertime” (1949) “Twelfth Day” “A Christmas Carousel” (2020) Å “Marry Me at Christmas” (2017) Å “The Santa Squad” “The Christmas High Note” (2020) Å “Inn Love by Christmas” (2020) Å Fixer to Fabulous Fixer to Fabulous Fixer to Fabulous Hunters Hunt Intl Hunters Hunt Intl Chopped Å Chopped Å Chopped (N) Å Supermarket Chopped Å ›‡ “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas” (2013) Tyler Perry. ››‡ “The Best Man Holiday” (2013) ›› “Transformers: The Last Knight” (2017, Action) Mark Wahlberg. Futurama ›‡ “Death Wish” “Love Actually” ›› “Four Christmases” (2008) Å ›› “Fred Claus” (2007) Vince Vaughn. Last Man Last Man Last Man Last Man Last Man Last Man Cheerleaders Reba Reba Curse-Island Digging Deeper Curse-Island Beyond Oak Island Curse-Island
Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
Virginia Redistricting Commission applications open through Dec. 28 Contributed Reports Applications to serve as a citizen member on the Virginia Redistricting Commission (the Commission) are open to Virginia residents through Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. The 16-member commission, created following the passage of an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia in the 2020 general election, will consist of eight citizen members and eight legislative members who will be tasked with proposing plans for redrawing districts for the United States House of Representatives, the Senate of Virginia, and the House of Delegates. Eligible applicants are required to have been Virginia residents and registered voters in Virginia for the past three years and to have voted in at least two of the last three general elections. Eligible applicants must not have held partisan or political office or other related employment. Virginia citizens are invited to apply for membership on the Commission regardless of education level, work experience, or socioeconomic status. The application for service on the Commission and additional information, including specific criteria for eligibility, are available on the Division of Legislative Services' Redistricting website beginning Nov. 30: redistricting.dls. virginia.gov. The eight citizen members will be selected by the Redistricting Commission Selection Committee (the Selection Committee), composed of five retired judges from the circuit courts of Virginia: the Honorable Pamela Baskervill, Chair, the Honorable Joanne F. Alper, the Honorable William C. An-
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First snow of the season
drews III, the Honorable Larry B. Kirksey, and the Honorable David Pugh. The Selection Committee will select citizen members from lists of candidates chosen from the pool of eligible applicants and presented to the Selection Committee by the majority and minority leadership of the Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates. In making its determinations, the Selection Committee is required to ensure that the makeup of the Commission is representative of the racial, ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity of the Commonwealth. The Selection Committee held its first meeting on Nov. 25, 2020, to approve the application process. After the close of the application period and receipt of candidate lists from legislative leaders, the Selection Committee will convene again to conduct its review of applicants and notify candidates of their selection in January 2021. Once citizen and legislative members are selected, the Virginia Redistricting Commission will hold its first public meeting by Feb. 1, 2021. The Commission will begin its work to develop redistricting plans for proposal to the General Assembly upon receipt of 2020 census data. Applications may be submitted by email to varedist@dls.virginia.gov, faxed to (804) 698-1899, or mailed to the Division of Legislative Services, Attn: Selection Committee, 900 E. Main St., Richmond, VA 23219. Applications must be received by the Division of Legislative Services by Monday, December 28, 2020. For more information, visit: redistricting.dls.virginia.gov.
Lucia Kuykendall recognized by school board The Powhatan County School Board recognized Lucia Kuykendall, vision specialist for PreK-12, at its Nov. 10 meeting. Kuykendall was recognized for the completion of her Braille certification course through the Library of Congress and the National Federation of the Blind. Kuykendall had to complete 19 assessments, a ready exam and a 35-page manuscript titled, “Old New York,” by Edith Wharton. Her transcript has been accepted by the Library of Congress and now she is officially a certified braille transcriber. This has been a professional goal and a personal goal for her and it will help with any student that we might have that will require Braille.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Powhatan County saw its first snow of the season on Dec. 7. The light dusting was mostly gone by the end of the day, but people and animals alike had fun playing in it.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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Eagle Scout finishes projects at Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center
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Contributed Report The Rank of Eagle Scout is the highest in the Boy Scouts. Within the order, an average of only 4% of all Scouts achieve this rank. Part of the reason why this is such a small margin is due to one of the requirements for it being the complete leadership over a community service project. But how does one get to that point in the first place? Vincent Torrijos began his journey as a Tiger Cub Scout in cub scouts, which is a youth branch of the Boy Scouts. From there, he rose through the ranks until he was old enough to join the real Scouts. After that, all he needed were the five preceding ranks, Tenderfoot, Second class, First class, Star, and Life, and then was eligible to complete his Eagle requirements. Initially, he had nowhere to begin, but the location of his project, Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center, was actually the location of the Eagle Project created by a fellow Scout in his group. Torrijos helped with the project, and by the time they finished, he knew what he was going to do for his own project. Lonesome Dove was given a multi-tiered stand for helmets and other items to store and a flag stand for the service flags, said Karen Ylimaki, the secretary of Lonesome Dove. These are
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Residential for Rent Apartment Referral Services Policy Apartment referral service companies sell lists of available apartments for rent in your area. Please read contracts thoroughly to ensure that you understand and agree to all the terms and the cancellation policy of the contract. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Vincent Torrijos presents his Eagle Scout project to Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center. He gave the center a multi-tiered stand for helmets and other items to store and a flag stand for the service flags.
upgrades to what the nonprofit previously had. Anyone who rides must wear helmet, and the military flags are important to the veterans. “We take their picture, on horseback, with their flag,” she said. Ylimaki was his friend’s beneficiary, and naturally was his as well. Torrijos chose the location because it was the first location that had an actual project that needed to be done, he didn't have to wait or work with the benefactor about what he was going to do, as they already knew what needed to be done, so he could get right into the work. While the physical work was not difficult, the plan-
ning was a nightmare for anyone who doesn't like paperwork. The planning required multiple reviews and signatures from his council, the beneficiary, and Torrijos’ Troop. He needed to fundraise and get materials. Even with all the materials provided by Home Depot, Torrijos still fundraised over $400 to provide the resources that Home Depot could not provide. An Eagle project is a process Torrijos recommends that everyone try to complete, whether they are an Eagle Scout or not. It puts the perspective of community service and general projects in the real world into perspective. According to the Board
of Lonesome Dove: “We truly enjoy having Eagle Scout projects done at Lonesome Dove. Of course Lonesome Dove and the veterans benefit from the Scout's hard work, but likewise the Scout gets to interact with the veterans and all the volunteers. We are amazed at what they do. From planning the projects, to raising the funds for it and following the project through. If there are any funds left over from what they raise - those proceeds have come to Lonesome Dove. We are thankful for the two young men who have helped Lonesome Dove and to any other upcoming Eagle Scouts - we have plenty of projects.”
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Powhatan Today, December 16, 2020
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Powered Up POWHATAN Returning favorites
Pixel Family Lights 1376 Old Franklin Road
robably the most difficult to find of all the entries, the Pixel Family lights display is worth the drive because you get to stick around and enjoy it for a while. Found down a private gravel road, Logan Franklin of Powhatan started his light show in 2018 with a display made up of 3,100 pixels, his mom, Sharon Franklin said. He is determined to add to it every year, jumping up to 8,300 pixels in 2019. In 2020, the display is now 9,500 pixels and is set to 80 minutes of festive and Christmas music. Sharon Franklin said her son loves growing the display and bringing joy to fami-
P Llewellyn’s Towing and Repair 1460 Anderson Highway rosty the Tow Truck is an annual favorite for families who enjoy pulling into the parking lot of Llewellyn’s Towing and Repair, switching their radio station to 89.5 FM, and rocking out along with Frosty and his friends. Like a few of other Powered Up entries, owner Ernie Llewellyn said he struggled to get into the right frame of mind this year, so he didn’t add anything new. But he did still put together a great light show set to music and will continue to change the songs every Friday to make to make it worth a repeat visit. Llewellyn said his main inspiration this year was the birth of his first grandchildren, a granddaughter and grandson. He hopes that when they are older they want to come and help him with the display and take joy in watching it, so he wants to keep it going. “But I hope they never want to hear ‘Baby Shark’ so I don’t have to sit there and listen to it as I program the lights,” he said with a laugh. The light display set to music comes on daily at 5 p.m. and stops for the night at 10 p.m. It will be up through Jan. 1, 2021. When people park, they are asked to turn off their headlights so they and others can best enjoy the lights.
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Smither said the expenditure growth was slightly skewed because of timing. There is a 3% growth rate in expenditures for general government. The school board numbers are slightly higher at a 13% growth rate because PCPS started school earlier this year, which meant paying staff earlier in the fiscal year. Smither said he expects to see that balance out better later in the fiscal year. Also built into the good news Smither shared was the fact that debt service would be down $625,506, or about 6.4%. The board’s conservative approach in June 2020 means the county is
lies who come to sit inn their car and watch. 1609 Stavem “This is not just a ill Court light show that wass ordered off of Amazon. Logan Franklin designed-created every piece of this incredible show from installing by hand,” she said. People are invited to park in the fieldd in front of the The CONTRIBUTED PH OTO display, turn their headlights dli ht off, ff tune t light li h show h is i on in to 91.5 FM, and enjoy the show. nightly from 6 to 10 This year’s show includes new dis- p.m. and will be on display through plays and a great new lineup of music. Dec. 31.
DJ and Meghan Kaloski 3393 Lake Pines Place lways one of the busiest yards around, DJ Kaloski takes great pride and joy in building his display every year. The display even has its own Facebook page called Lights on Lake Pines. On this list since 2017, 3393 Lake Pines Place keeps coming back because it is a truly spectacular sight. DJ Kaloski said he added more lights to the house this Christmas as well as lighting up a new shed that a neighbor helped him build so it looks like Santa’s Workshop. The yard also has special lit up trees, Rudolph and his friends, a new elephant, and two items in memory of loved ones – a cactus for his father-in-law and a Buddy the Elf display in honor of the neighbor, who died this year. There are also all the returning favorites to see. Kaloski said it was difficult at first to get in the spirit, but once he started decorating the yard and thinking about how much people enjoy it, the excitement set in.
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transferring just over $1 million, or 22.2%, less for capital projects than last year. “We are going to have a good fiscal year 2021 unless a surprise hits us in the last seven months, and we need it, because we are looking at long-term forecasting. That is all based on a good fiscal year (2021),” he said. After giving the update on the finances, Smither asked the board of supervisors to consider lifting a hiring freeze on 11 county positions that had been left vacant in the board’s conservative approach to the budget this year. The positions given to the board were for an assistant fire chief (part-time), deputy commissioner of the revenue, mainte-
“Once everything lit up and we got it going, I definitely felt the spirit this year. It definitely felt good to have everything lit up and the few people we had overr enjoying them-selves. Just too see my kids’’ smiles when it lit it up was special,” he said. said Kaloski also pointed out that iff people put letters to Santa in thee letter box in front and include a return address, the letters will be passed on to the Big Guy in red in hopes he has time to reply. The lights are up from 5 to 10 p.m. every day and will remain on display until Jan. 3. 2021.
adjusted around the vacancies and if the positions really need to be filled. When the vote was taken, it failed in a 2-2 vote. Bill Cox, who represents District 4, and Karin Carmack, District 5, voted to lift the hiring freeze for those positions. Larry Nordvig, District 2, and Mike Byerly, District 3, voted against it. Chairman David Williams, District 1, was absent. Byerly later explained a statement about why he voted no, saying he wanted to know exactly which of the 11 positions the county really needed to fill and that if he knew that, he likely wouldn’t have an issue with it. Smither said the board might re-address the issue at the Dec. 14 meeting.
nance worker, crime analyst, deputy sheriff, GIS coordinator, maintenance custodial worker, administrative services, animal control technician, planner I and recreation technician. It was pointed out that these were all existing positions that had not been filled yet. Originally it was estimated the positions would add about $290,000 in expenditures for the rest of the fiscal year, but by the time these positions could be advertised and filled, they would probably represent about a $250,000 increase, Smither said. He asked for the flexibility to hire the positions but said some of the jobs might not be a pressing need. He would talk to department heads to find out how they
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