Inside A6 PMS Student Showcase highlights hard work
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Indians top Chiefs at home
Vol. XXXV No.. 46
May 18, 2022
Richard Cox to retire as commonwealth’s attorney By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – Richard “Dickie” Cox has announced his retirement as the Powhatan County Commonwealth’s Attorney effective Aug. 1, closing out 23 years serving in the office in various positions. Cox made the announcement on Thursday, May 12 in an email to local county officials and the Powhatan Today that “serving with you for the wonderful people of Powhatan has been (an) honor and a blessing but it’s time for me to pass the torch.” Rob Cerullo, who is the deputy commonwealth’s attorney, will become the interim commonwealth’s attorney until a special election can be held. Cox’s more than four decades in public service saw him working nine years as a police officer in Chesterfield County until he went to law school and became an attorney. Except for three years in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne division right out of high school and one year in private practice, the entire rest of his
PHOTOS BY LAURA McFARLAND
Above, despite rain putting a damper on attendance at times, when the skies were clear, people were ready to come out and have a good time at the Powhatan County Fair. Below, siblings Greyson and Jordyn Batchelor of Powhatan have a great time riding one of the carnival rides. See more photos Page 8A. RICHARD ‘DICKIE’ COX
career as an attorney has been in commonwealth’s attorney’s offices. He came to work in Powhatan in January 1999, hired as the first full-time assistant commonwealth’s attorney by then-commonwealth’s attorney Jack Lewis. He also worked under Bob Beas-
Powhatan County Fair returns for 103rd year
see COX, pg. 6
School board hears update on preschool center proposal By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
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POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board received an update on possible options they may consider if they decide to consolidate the division’s preschool programs into a single location. During the meeting on Tuesday, May 10, the board heard a presentation from Jason Tibbs, director of facilities, and Lynn Clayton-Prince, assistant superintendent for special education/equity and diversity, on a
proposal to house a combined preschool center at the Pocahontas Landmark Center. Powhatan County Public Schools currently has nine preschool classes spread between its three elementary schools. They are comprised of one Head Start, three Early Childhood Special Education and five Virginia Preschool Initiative classrooms. Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, pointed out in a fall 2021 discussion about the center that the division’s three elementary schools are nearing capacity. By removing the preschool classes from each school and putting them in the landmark center, it would offer the double advantage of having the program housed together in one place and freeing up capacity at the elementary schools to stave off the need to build a new school. PCPS staff has been gathering information to understand the needs of the preschool programs, the scope of the project as a result, the costs depending on the different options the board is asked to consider, and the timeline necessary to have it open in time for the 2023-2024 school year. On May 10, Tibbs and Clayton-Prince presented the school board with the findings of their research to date, including offering two possible options to consider, but said that, based on those findings, they can’t offer updated projected costs of the project until they do further evaluation of the property’s existing conditions. While the school board has seemed cautiously supportive of the idea of a preschool in previous discussions, it has not formally voted to move forward with a plan. At last week’s meeting, chair Kim Hymel, who repsee PRESCHOOL, pg. 4
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Sarah Reilly of Powhatan and her son Sam plant milkweed in Powhatan State Park as part of a pollinator garden planned by Doug Jergenson.
Pollinator garden aimed at helping monarch population By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – Powhatan State Park recently saw an increase in its visitor attractions, although its target audience is of the winged variety.
Volunteers planted 128 milkweed plants Friday morning to build on existing plants there to create more of a pollinator attraction for monarch butterflies. Doug Jergenson, a recent graduate with the James River Master Naturalists, see POLLINATORS, pg. 7
Powhatan School of Dental Assisting holds graduation By Laura McFarland Managing Editor
POWHATAN – Nine young women were honored May 3 in a ceremony marking their graduation from the Powhatan School of Dental Assisting. After completing the 10-month course, all nine of the graduates in the local school’s sixth graduating class may now test to become nationally registered certified dental assistants, said Melinda Hitt, registered dental assistant and founder of the school. This is the first class to be offered two different certification tests, CertiCONTRIBUTED PHOTO fied Dental Support Technician and Nine students graduated from the Powhatan School of Dental Assisting in a Registered Dental Assistant Certifica- special ceremony held May 3. The graduating students are: Katy Castillo, Katie tion, she added. The program pre- Baker, Selenia Capatti, Shaylyn Patterson, Mariah Dalton, Kameron Creasey, see GRADUATION, pg. 3
Kristen Goodman, Sydney Gaskin and Ari Taylor.