Inside A5 County holds comp plan open houses
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan field hockey sweeps the week
Vol. XXXV No.. 15
October 13, 2021
Public safety ready to take big step forward By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN - Powhatan is less than a week away from the go live date of a new state-of-the-art land mobile radio (LMR) system that will see the county’s public safety personnel and residents served with vastly superior new capabilities and attention to their safety. The weeks and months leading up to the official Oct. 19 launch of the new system that serves Powhatan’s 911 dispatchers, deputies, firefighters, and emergency services have been unbelievably hectic, said Tom Nolan, director of public safety communications. But with test results in on the new system showing it is expected to far exceed expectations and heavy training underway to prepare those who will be using the system, Nolan said he is approaching the run to the finish line with a sense of joy and relief. “This is a significant step forward.
ers,” he said. Nolan is currently in the middle of several weeks of console and portable training sessions with the county’s paid and volunteer first responders. He and county staff have been working with L3Harris, the company contracted to build the new LMR system, to prepare them on how to use the LMR P25 trunk system. The new system has more than 50 talk groups (similar to channels) that will allow first responders today many more options to handle a variety of tasks or emergencies at one time without interfering with other calls but it is expandable to give the county plenty of future capacity, Nolan said. PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND “It is made to split up the air time so Tom Nolan, director of public safety communications, leads a training ses- it has much more high functionality. We sion on Oct. 4 with a group of Powhatan first responders on how to use have a lot more options now than we the county’s new land mobile radio system. ever had before,” Nolan said. The system is also capable of interWe are implementing cutting-edge tech- vide 15 to 20 years of good to excellent see LMR, pg. 8 nology that is going to allow us to pro- coverage for our public safety respond-
Students show love with book drive Former supervisor Roy Harrison dies
By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN — Powhatan Elementary School students recently lent a helping hand across the miles with a book drive to benefit children who were victims of Hurricane Ida. In September, the school held a countywide book drive that brought in 1,077 books that will be sent to an elementary school in Thibodaux, Louisiana, said kindergarten teacher Robyn Hall, who organized the event. She heard about the damage the hurricane left in its wake and thought of all of the chilPHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND dren who lost so much. WantStudents in Robyn Hall’s kindergarten class at Powhatan ing to have her students, and Elementary hold up some of the books collected by the school to send to children in Louisiana who were victims of Hurricane Ida.
Managing Editor
POWHATAN — Roy Harrison, a former Powhatan County Supervisor and strong community leader, was remembered by family and friends recently for his service to and love of his community. Harrison, who brought his family to Powhatan in 1974, died on Sept. 29 at age 75 following an unexpected illness. He left behind a legacy of always wanting to serve others, whether it be as an elect-
ROY HARRISON
ed official, a member of local nonprofit groups, or through his faith and family. see HARRISON pg. 8
PHS students Pink Out to raise breast cancer awareness
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
see BOOK, pg. 3
By Laura McFarland
PHOTO BY BROOKS ANN SMITH
Powhatan High School students and staff came together to Pink Out the home football game on Oct. 1 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Everyone was invited to wear pink and donations were accepted for the fight against cancer. See more photos Page 6