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By Laura McFarland
Editor
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POWHATAN – For the second time, the Virginia Court of Appeals has denied an appeal on behalf of Karina Rafter, who was found guilty last October in the 2016 murder of her estranged husband in Powhatan.
Rafter was sentenced by a jury to serve 20 years for fi rst-degree murder and three years for one count of use of a fi rearm in the commission of the murder of John Richard Rafter Jr., 48, on Dec. 9, 2016, at his home in the 2100 block of Flint Hill Road in Powhatan.
Following a fi ve-day trial, a jury decided on Oct. 25, 2019, that Karina Rafter was guilty of shooting her husband in the head with a shotgun while he lay in his bed and recommended the 23-year sentence. Powhatan County Circuit Court Judge Paul Cella upheld the jury’s sentence on Feb. 19, 2020.
Karina Rafter’s attorney fi led an appeal on the verdict, contending the evidence was insuffi cient to support her convictions. Included among those claims was the theory that John Rafter committed suicide or was murdered by another person.
In November 2020, an unsigned opinion issued from the Virginia Court of Appeals denied Rafter’s request for an appeal.
In a second document issued on Jan. 13, 2021, a three-court panel of appeals court judges denied Rafter’s petition. The short letter gave no details other than to refer to the previous appeals court judge’s opinion. It was signed by Chief Judge Marla Graff Decker, Judge Randolph A. Beales, and Judge Glen A. Huff.
Miriam Airington-Fisher, Rafter’s attorney, argued Rafter’s petition in a virtual hearing held on Jan. 7 with the three
see APPEAL, pg. 8
SCHOOL BOARD
Continued from pg. 1 has held before. The school board reorganizes every January for the upcoming year.
Hymel, who has been a board member since February 2014, said she appreciated her fellow board members’ confi dence in her to lead the school board through this year.
She praised Joe Walters, who served as chairman for four years, for his hard work to bring the board together. Walters announced in December 2020 and reiterated last week that he would be stepping back and allowing someone else to helm the board this year.
“I plan to continue with that (work) because I believe proactive lead-
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PowhatanSheriff’sOffice|DivisionOfAnimalControl Phone:804-598-5672|Fax:804-598-5109 ership gets thoughtful and focused results,” Hymel said. “All board members have the same responsibility and authority; it’s my turn to do the additional duties. I will bring my many past leadership experiences throughout my career to my new role as school board chair.”
In the year ahead, the biggest challenge facing the school board and the school division as a whole is providing students with a solid education during this pandemic in a safe environment, Hymel said.
“It is critically important to ensure the utmost Please meet Amber,
cleanliness and hygiene in all our schools for everyone’s safety so that they do not contribute to COVID-19 transmission,” she said.
Parents are sharing the burden more than ever in the education of their children this year, and the division needs to continuously hone in and improve on its techniques for virtual and hybrid learning, Hymel said.
“As a parent of two children in our school system, I am acutely aware of the challenges with virtual/hybrid learning. This is something that needs continued attention. We can’t allow our children to be disenfranchised with our unfortunate pandemic situation,” she said. “Just as businesses have adjusted to operate with a virtual staff using technology, we need to keep evolving our delivery methods. What can enrich our virtual/hybrid learning experiences? This is where we need to continue to work together even more closely with parents.”
Powhatan’s teachers and staff have shown that they are called to teach and willing to do whatever it takes, Hymel continued. They have shown their passion and determination to provide their students’ education.
“Clearly, they are overworked and under paid. It is imperative they are compensated fairly for their work,” she said.
Hymel added that this is an extremely stressful time for all, with added anxiety and possible depression. The need to focus on the mental health and well-being of Powhatan’s students, teachers, and staff is vital right now. Cole, who has served on the board for 10 years, said he was happy to serve as vice chairman with Hymel as chairwoman. In a normal year, Cole said he would be excited to see what the year brings, but this year, the focus will be “getting back to whatever normal happens to be.”
Continuing to respond to COVID-19, improving the responses to the virus and its impacts, and improving instruction no matter how it has to be delivered are the most important challenges in the year ahead, he said. Staff and the school board also need to work on better articulating some of their efforts and offerings.
“We are getting a lot of comment and questions about different areas of operations, and that is all well and good. We need to be able to communicate in a way that is effective, that people will understand what we are doing and have confi dence in what we are doing,” Cole said. “In today’s society, there is always questioning. Sometimes people tend to be critical before they know all the information. So I think one of our challenges is to make sure we get information out in an effective way so that people have it available to them.”
Cole said he is “heartened and excited by the efforts that teachers are making and the successes some teachers are having with online learning.” Because of his work with Reynolds Community College and its partnership with Powhatan High School, he has good opportunities to interact with hybrid students.
“They are so excited to be back in school. They are so excited to see their friends. That part of it, the more opportunities we can build student interaction and do face-toface instruction safely, the better off we are going to be,” he said. “We will just see where it goes. We will continue to watch what happens with COVID. We will continue to watch the safety and health of students. That is going to have to be our top priority over the next few months until we get vaccines in people and start to see a downward trend in COVID.”
Before the nominations began, Walters thanked his fellow board members for the opportunity to serve as chairman for the last four years.
“I think we have accomplished quite a bit together during that period of time, and I thank you for your confi dence in selecting me for that position and look forward to continuing to work with you as a member of the board,” he said.
Valarie Ayers, who represents District 3, then nominated Cole for chairman but didn’t receive a second to her motion. Then Susan Smith, District 2, nominated Hymel, which received a second from Walters.
After Ayers had received Hymel’s assurance that she would receive the chairman training from the Virginia School Boards Association, the vote proceeded and Hymel was elected unanimously .
CHURCH DIRECTORY
St.Luke’sEpiscopalChurch SUNDAYS LiveStreamWorship! www.stlukespowhatan.org
AllareWelcome Formoreinformationvisitwww.stlukespowhatan.org Route711atThreeBridgeRoad794-6953 Genito Presbyterian Church TheBridge Church “BuildingaBridgeofHope” Isaiah58:12 2910GenitoRd.Powhatan,VA Sundays: 372-9074 WorshipwithusthisSunday MorningWorship10:00AM Wednesday: FamilyLifeNight7:00PM
Churchservice@9:30AM 2480AcademyRoad Sundayschool@10:30AM 598-7159 Pastor:JohnathanM.Whichard
EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHURCH (PCA) Proclaiming&PracticingtheGospelofJesusChrist IndoorWorshipServiceat10:00AM MeetingatthePowhatanWarMemorialBuildingat 2375SkaggsRd,Powhatan,VA23139 ECCPCA.ORG 598-8844 Rev.RobertBarnes
WorshipService10 AM
Meetingin thegym
1801 Huguenot Trail Sunday School 9am Sunday Worship 10am Wednesday BibleStudy 6:45pm Bryan M.Holt, Pastor 378-3607 www.EmmausChristianChurch.org
MeetingSundaysin Amelia,Farmville, ForkUnion,Midlothian, PowhatanandOnline. Visitpccwired.netfor servicestimes&locations. 598-1174 pccwired.net
MountCalvary BaptistChurch 2020RedLaneRoad Powhatan,VA23139 Pastor,LarryB.Collins SundaySchool9:45a.m. SundayWorship11:00a.m. WednesdayBibleStudy 7:30p.m. Office804-598-2398
Providence Presbyterian Church
WorshipService11:00am SundaySchool10:00am 598-4970 Located1950RidgeRoad (Rt.627) 2/10thofamilenorthofRt.13
Powhatan United Methodist Church LivingAsChrist’sDisciplesWithinOur HeartsandBeyondOurDoors 2253RossonRd. JustoffRt.13intheVillage Worship: 8:30&11a.m. 598-4438 SundaySchool: 9:45a.m. www.powhatanumc.us WeekdayPreschool(ages2-5) 598-6090
CommunityChurch
Dr.CavellW.Phillips,Pastor WherethereisUnity,thereisalwaysVictory. Achurch“Whereyouarewelcome”
JoinUsForSundayWorship Wednesday:BibleStudy
11:00AM–12:30PM 6:30–7:30pm(60Minute
PowhatanVillageBuilding WarmUpToSunday) 3910OldBuckinghamRoad Powhatan,VA 804-256-4411 ucc4me.org PowhatanChristian Fellowship SundayMorningWorship 11:00a.m. SundaySchool10:00a.m. WednesdayNight7:30p.m. 3308PleasantsRoad, 1/4mileoffofRoute711 RussCress,Pastor 598-0733
St.JohnNeumann CatholicChurch
Rev.WalterG.Lewis,Pastor Saturday-5p.m. Sunday-8:30a.m.&11a.m. 598-3754 www.sjnpowhatan.org LocatedbehindFlatRock VillageShoppingCenter
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Board approves African-American history class
By Laura McFarland
Editor
POWHATAN – A proposed African American history class once again drew attention from the community as the Powhatan County School Board recently approved the Course Planning Guide for the new school year.
During the board’s meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12, the board voted unanimously to approve the Course Planning Guide with nine changes, including several new courses at the middle and high schools. However, the African American History class proposed at Powhatan High School was the only one that drew any discussion.
Approval of the course guide does not mean the class will automatically be offered during the 2021-2022 school year. When it is time for students to choose their courses, only if enough students sign up for a course is a course put on the schedule and a teacher (with help from others) begins creating a full curriculum. CHANGING Continued from pg. 3 between Jan. 2 and 8, the fi rst week after winter break.
The division is monitoring attendance and the number of students in quarantine as a percentage of total absences, Jones said. He estimated it has represented between 2% and 3% of the student body. Those who are able to participate virtually are doing so and are counted as being present.
So far, the staff members that have had to quarantine have been covered by substitutes without any major disruptions to operations, he added.
The division is working with the county on plans to provide COVID-19 vaccines for all employees that involve different priority levels based on their exposure to students.
School nurses and those administrators who may have to enter the schools’ designated COVID-19 isolation rooms are the only ones currently in the priority groups to be vaccinated.
Jones pointed out that getting the vaccine is currently voluntary because it is under emergency approval by the FDA. However, they are encouraging staff to receive the vaccine as soon as they are allowed.
“I think there is good momentum at the state level and now at the federal level with expanding access to the vaccine and getting it out there. We are prepared to do what we can to get those individuals vaccinated who are choosing to do so and we
During the Jan. 12 public comment periods, 10 people spoke in support of offering the class as a possibility. Among those were students who asked for the chance to take a class focusing on the history of “black and brown people” that look like them.
However, the journey for the proposed course has not been totally smooth. At the school board’s Dec. 10, 2020, joint meeting with the board of supervisors, 10 people spoke during the public comment period about the ideology behind the terms equity, diversity, and inclusion. While most of those commenters did not mention the course by name, a few made references to it and raised objections to at least one of the source materials included in the possible course materials by the Virginia Department of Education, the 1619 Project.
As part of the school board’s discussion before approving the course guide, Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, pointed out that the development of the African American History class wouldn’t be any will encourage them to do so,” Jones said.
Facilities
In 2020, the division did a bulk purchase with the county of personal protective equipment using CARES Act before it was originally supposed to expire, Jones said. He said the schools should have enough PPE to get them through this year.
The school division purchased bipolar ionization units, which are integrated into HVAC systems to provide continuous disinfection. Dr. Jason Tibbs, director of facilities, said Powhatan Middle and High Schools and Flat Rock Elementary all have rooftop air handling units that serve large sections of the buildings, and bipolar ionization units were installed in those systems. Pocahontas and Powhatan Elementary schools have standalone units in each classroom, so each individual system received a bipolar ionization unit. The elementary schools also have air purifi ers in the hallway purchased earlier.
All of the buildings except the Pocahontas Landmark Center and the joint transportation facility are fully covered with bipolar ionization units, he said. The division is in the process of getting pricing to outfi t those two buildings.
Extracurricular activities
Before the winter break, the fi ne and different from adding any other course. It is a state-approved course that PHS has the opportunity to offer, but the process of building it for local use would be the same.
The state course includes an outline with objectives and a list of dozens of approved sources to choose from, he said. That information will be turned over to the social studies specialist and the teacher who has agreed to teach the course, who will work with the instructional department and other teachers who may want to help develop it.
“Then they will build out the course outline – a course outline that has a list of resources that will be used from that master list or from other verifi ed resources that may exist and then create a syllabus and course outline,” Jones said.
Rick Cole, who represents District 1, said he is excited about the possibilities of the course but understands that some people have concerns. He suggested that if the course has enough students sign up for it that it will be offered, staff can upperforming arts programs did shows and competitions. The division posted more than 25 videos of holiday music shows and virtual art shows online. There were also competitions in dance, show choir, and band.
“I think our band directors are already planning their next performances coming up for Music in Our Schools Month in March, so we look forward to seeing those again,” he said.
In terms of VHSL athletics, since Powhatan joined the Dominion district, most of the division’s competition is in Chesterfi eld or Richmond. Richmond is not participating in winter sports this season, but the 14-game regular season for boys and girls basketball has made it so that Powhatan’s teams can face each of their remaining seven district opponents twice.
Currently in season are boys’ and girls’ basketball, cheerleading, boys’ and girls’ indoor track, swimming, and wrestling. Doing out-of-season practice are baseball, football, lacrosse, softball, and volleyball.
Jones pointed out the school has begun streaming through its NFHS camera that was installed in the gym. The highspeed, high action camera will allow the school to show activities in the gym and people can pay a subscription fee of $10.99 per month.
Football and cheerleading will begin their season on Feb. 4. On Feb. 15, cross country, fi eld hockey, golf, and volleyball will begin. date the school on the development of the course, including the sources they end up referencing.
All of the board members talked about the overwhelming amount of calls and emails they had received about the class, many of them earlier that day. A few mentioned that they didn’t get any feedback from people outright opposing the class; they were against the possible use of the 1619 Project and approving the course without knowing if that would happen.
The residents who spoke about the course were overwhelmingly in support of it, whether they were parents, students, alumni, or community members. Several pointed out the class is an elective and thus would be taken by choice.
DaLynn Prince-Jones spoke as a resident, member of the Powhatan AntiRacism Coalition, and, most importantly, a mother of three African-American children. She said she was saddened by
see HISTORY, pg. 6
people who are against her children
Jones pointed out that balancing that many different sports in a compact schedule in a safe way is a “herculean task that the high school staff and coaches are doing.” It requires a great deal of juggling, he said, but the division has a robust health and safety plan that covers everything from cleaning schedules to masks (worn during practices but not competitions).
The budget for athletics took a hit this year by not having the football season, which is a revenue generator, but that was offset by not having spring sports during the 2019-2020 school year after a regular full fall season, Jones said.
“We were able to move into this year with a positive balance. We will be fi ne this year and not need to reallocate funds to the athletic department,” Jones said.
Jones also talked about Community Service Learning, a program that sees students meeting certain requirements in order to receive a Community Service Learning Seal on their high school diplomas. Students are required to complete 80 hours of community service to nonprofi t organizations during high school to receive the seal.
Because of the pandemic and some nonprofi ts not allowing volunteers, the school will still track community service hours but will suspend the requirement for a certain number of hours. Seniors are the ones who will experience the most immediate impact, but it will be weighed for all students with the loss of this year in mind.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
SECONDANTIOCH BAPTISTCHURCH
1059DorsetRoad Powhatan,VA23139 ReverendMarkA.Divens,Sr. Pastor PraiseandWorshipService
SundaySchool9:45-10:45 SundayMorningWorship willbeginat11:00a.m.
GREENBRIER BAPTISTCHURCH
“Godusesordinarypeopletodo extraordinarythings. Wewalkbyfaithandnotbysight” –PastorDarnellCarruthers
SundaySchool:10:00-10:45a.m. WorshipService:11:00a.m. 4731BellRoad, Powhatan,VA23139 804-598-5491
HollyHills BaptistChurch www.HollyHillsBaptist.org (IndependentBibleBelieving) RandyBlackwell,Pastor SundaySchool-10:00a.m. SundayMorningWorship-11:00a.m. YouthMinistry6:00p.m. AdultBibleStudy6:30p.m. WednesdayPrayerMeeting7:30PM 379-8930 1659AndersonHighway 3½mileseastofFlatRock
MOUNTZION BAPTISTCHURCH 2591RidgeRoad Powhatan,Virginia23139 804-598-2051
MuddyCreek BaptistChurch SundaySchool-9:45am Worship-11am WednesdayBibleStudy& PrayerService-7:00pm PastorJeffBeard,MA,MBA 3470TrenholmRoad www.muddycreekbaptist.org 375-9212
5680CartersvilleRoad
Powhatan,Virginia23139
PastorGregoryL.BeechaumSr. “ThechurchwhereJesusisAlive” 9:00a.m.----SundaySchool 9:45a.m.-----Prayer&Praise 10:00a.m.---SundayMorningWorship 5thSundayat11a.m. HourofPower 7:30p.m.----TuesdayNightWorship& BibleStudy
804-375-9404
Hollywood
BaptistChurch
“AChurchWhereLove NeverFails!” PastorOtisB.Lockhart,Jr. 598-2763
SundaySchool at9:30am MorningService at11:00am BibleStudy EveryWednesdayNight at6:30pm 3964OldBuckinghamRoad
FIRSTANTIOCH BAPTISTCHURCH
3920MAIDENSRD.,POWHATAN 804-598-2301 SundaySchool10:00a.m. SundayMorningService 11:00a.m. WednesdayMidDay BibleStudy11:30a.m. EveningBibleStudy7:00p.m.
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Family WorshipCenter “YourCommunity Church” 2901JudesFerryRoad
Powhatan,Va23139 804-379-8223
Sundays10:00AM Wednesday6:30PM Experiencingthepresence, powerandpersonofJesusChrist
2095RedLaneRoad 1/2mileoffRt.60onRedLaneRoad 804-598-2455 www.redlanebaptist.org WorshipService 9:00a.m. SmallGroups 10:30a.m. WednesdayNightClassesforallagesat6:15 Dr.JamesTaylor,Pastor
GracelandBaptistChurch Dr.RonaldWyatt,Jr.,Pastor Contemporary–8:30a.m. SundaySchool–9:45a.m. Worship–11a.m. Children’sWorship–11a.m. Prayer/BibleStudy–Wed.6:30p.m. Children’sWorship(allages)–Wed.6:30p.m. NewGenerationPraise&Worship–Sunday6p.m. LighthouseYouth–Wed.5:30p.m. MiraclesofGodSp.NeedsService: 2p.m.the2ndSat.ofeachmonth 598-3481•975DorsetRoad www.gracelandbc.org
3619HuguenotTrail Powhatan,Virginia23139 www.finecreekbaptist.org SundaySchool:9:45a.m. WorshipService:11:00a.m. Traditional
OLDPOWHATAN BAPTISTCHURCH
BradRussell,Pastor 598-4241
Servicetimesare 8:30AMand10:15AM Worshiponlineat10:15AM 2202OldChurchRoad www.powhatanbaptist.org
Loving,Investing,Fulfilling,Empowering SeniorPastorJustinWilson SundayService10:30am 2410NewDorsetCircle www.Communitylifechurchpowhatan.org FeedingPowhatanOpen3rdWednesdayofthemonth
Sunday10am,11am&6pm Wednesday7pm
