see LARCENY

By Laura McFarland

Managing Editor

POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors recently further explored the issue of providing for senior needs with a presentation on efforts taken in Hanover County to supply transportation options for its underserved senior population.

During the meeting on Monday, July 25, representatives from Hanover County and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) gave a presentation to the board on the creation of Hanover DASH. The program’s mission is to provide an affordable and reliable countywide transportation option to increase access, reduce isolation and promote independence for older adults and persons with disabilities.

The subject of providing resources for seniors has been a prevalent issue in Powhatan County as local offi cials work to evaluate residents’ needs and how best to meet them.

Thanks to a grant from the DRPT, Hanover began offering specialized transportation service to older adults and persons with a disability on Dec. 12, 2019. The program allows eligible residents to book oneway rides to certain locations within Hanover County and a few approved medical facilities outside of it for a fl at fee. The rides can be to medical appointments; personal trips such as grocery shopping, banking, employment or recreation, and to county government buildings. Hanover County has contracted with UZURV to provide transportation using approved company owned/ branded vehicles or wheelchair accessible vans.

In addition to the program itself, the visitors discussed the DRPT grants the county applied for to help fund the program.

The presentation was followed with a series of questions from David Williams, who represents District 1, on how the program works and provides for the needs of Hanover seniors.

No action was taken on this topic at the meeting.

Other business at the meeting included: The board unanimously voted to pass a resolution committing to fully fund the Judes Ferry and Route 60 SMART Scale project.

In the 2018 SMART Scale round, a project to add an additional left turn lane on Route 60 onto Judes Ferry, add an additional thru lane on Judes Ferry between 60 and Batterson and construct a right turn lane on Judes onto Batterson was awarded at $2.4 million, according to board documents. Infl ation, utilities, signal, right of way and engineering costs, which increased from 2018 to today’s design phase, have increased the cost. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) worked to fi nd every possible alternative and cost savings, and now have a plan which brings the project to being $1.1 million over budget.

The board needed to pass a resolution committing to fully funding any cost over the $2.4 million previously awarded to keep the project alive, county administrator Ned Smither told the board. By passing the resolution, the board committed to funding the gap and assigning a portion of the general fund balance for this purpose in the future.

Karin Carmack, District 5, made the motion to approve the resolution and suggested the county use money from the now eliminated revenue stabilization fund for this guarantee. While those dollars had become part of the general fund without being assigned once the fund was eliminated, Carmack was

Rob Cerullo sworn in Aug. 1 as interim commonwealth’s attorney

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Powhatan Circuit Court Judge Paul Cella swears in Rob Cerullo as the interim commonwealth’s attorney on Aug. 1. Cerullo took the position after Richard ‘Dickie’ Cox retired. The ceremony was also witnessed by deputy commonwealth’s attorney Tim Dustan and the new assistant commonwealth’s attorney, Alice Sheridan, who started work with the office on Aug. 1.

LARCENY

Continued from pg. 1 tistics were derived from the offense listed by the offi cer in which petit larceny or grand larceny was the offense. These statistics do not represent the call volume of larceny calls, as a call may come into Powhatan Public Safety Communications as a larceny but may be determined to be of another nature upon deputies’ arrival.

The majority of the numbers can be attributed to shoplifting and catalytic converter theft cases, said Rob Cerullo, interim commonwealth’s attorney. All 27 of the grand larceny cases in the second quarter of 2022, for instance, involved the theft of catalytic converters.

With the shoplifting charges, “skip scanning” is a real problem with selfcheckout kiosks, chief deputy Jeff Searfoss said. An individual pretends to scan an item before putting it in a bag or basket, which is still shoplifting. He also noted the dramatic rise in these cases, pointing out that as he spoke, a deputy was currently responding to a shoplifting call at Walmart.

“There are cameras on all of those things, of course, so they are watching and they take notice when people are not scanning all the items, so their bill is not accurate. They might scan half of what is in their cart,’ he said.

While all of these crimes can’t be attributed to one cause, Cerullo said he doesn’t believe it is a coincidence that these numbers have gone up dramatically along with infl ation numbers.

“What I have noticed is the increases are attributable oftentimes to fi rst-time offenders, so I am seeing a lot of cases where this is the fi rst time the person has ever been arrested. I think that is consistent with the infl ationary trends,” he said.

The question that then follows is what can be done about the growing problem? Unfortunately, much of that will fall on businesses and residents since law enforcement’s involvement is usually reacting to a crime in these cases, Cerullo said. The best tools in the moment against shoplifting are loss prevention staff, video cameras and shoppers discretely informing a store employee if they see suspicious activity (only when it can be done safely and not tipping off a thief). The best guard against catalytic converter theft is taking measures to hide or monitor vehicles that may be a target.

“Short of putting a deputy in every store, which we can’t do, we are reacting to the fact. Now we can certainly punish people more harshly and make them do different things, but are you going to punish someone who is a fi rst-time offender really harshly when it is their fi rst time? No, we’ve got to try to help them and fi nd out why are you doing this,” Cerullo said. “There has got to be some punishment but I am not going to put a fi rst-time offender in jail for six months when they have never done anything wrong before.”

From the enforcement standpoint, the rise in fi rst-time offenders committing crimes of desperation has created more tricky issues, he said. When prosecuting, the commonwealth’s attorney’s offi ce already takes into account mitigating factors such as whether someone who is arrested cooperated and admitted wrongdoing versus fi ghting or running.

Powhatan has a fi rst-time offender program that includes probation, community service and fi nes that help someone avoid a conviction, Cerullo said, but “in order for them to take advantage of that program, it’s got to be a fi rst offense and it’s got to be something where we think it’s worth doing for these people because they made a mistake as opposed to someone who is just trying to pull the wool over our eyes, so to speak.”

“I think it is fair to say that we are not going to treat everybody the same. Obviously we are going to take into consideration their criminal record, and we are going to take into consideration the circumstances of the case,” he said. “Does it appear, based on the facts of the case, that they are stealing to support their family or does it appear like they are stealing to sell on the streets?” pointing out where the extra money could be accounted for, adding that the project would benefi t both the county and the schools. The board unanimously voted to approve a resolution aimed at opposing the proposed landfi ll in Cumberland County near the Powhatan border. The resolution said the “establishment of a mega-landfi ll is a direct threat to the quality of health and welfare to residents in portions of Powhatan County and to the general environment.”

It talked about the risk the landfi ll would pose to groundwater through wells and the watershed of the James River and its location in the Central Virginia Seismic Zone subject to ongoing seismic activity as severe as a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in 2011 and seven earthquakes in the past year.

According to the resolution, the board opposes “the establishment of a mega-landfi ll a mere 1,000ft. from the western county line between Cumberland and Powhatan Counties and urge district representatives to the State of Virginia legislature to propose and promote legislation that will afford the same or similar protections for residents of private water wells to reduce or eliminate the risks to the health of residents of fence line communities and the environment in general.”

After chair Mike Byerly, District 3, read the resolution, the board passed it unanimously without any discussion.

Six of the people who spoke during the public comment period were in favor of the resolution and any measures the board can take to help stop the landfi ll from moving forward. The board agreed to move to its August meeting a discussion on the Virginia Loggers Tax Exemption so it could hear on the topic from commissioner of the revenue Jamie Timberlake, who couldn’t be there that night.

The agenda item deals with requests the board has received to exempt personal property and machinery and tools taxes on off-road forest harvesting equipment. Smither said Timberlake has a good handle on the tax exemption and its possible impacts, which is why he suggested delaying the discussion.

Two people spoke during the public comment period in favor of the exemption. The board voted unanimously to add an approximately 100-acre piece of land into the Appomattox River Agricultural and Forestal District (AFD) Program. Once approved, the land joined 1,149.8 acres already incorporated into the Appomattox River AFD with the aim to limit the land to agriculture, forestry, land preservation and open space uses.

One person spoke in support of this motion during a public hearing associated with it. The board did not make any comments before approving it. One local resident also spoke during both public comment periods, the fi rst time talking about being denied a temporary event permit and not being given suffi cient reasons or an option to appeal the county’s decision. He requested an appeal from the board of supervisors. In the second public comment period, he talked about the length of time given to citizens – three minutes for an individual or fi ve minutes for a group – versus the much longer amount of time given to groups making a presentation, which makes the meetings longer.

ALL-STAR PAVING

598-0799

www.allstarpavingva.com

“AllWorkPersonallySupervisedbyOwner,RichardStanley”A LocallyOwned&Operated

ProudlyservingPowhatanandthesurroundingcountiessince1985 FullyLicensed&Insured• ClassAContractor• FreeEstimates

ThePowhatanMooseFamilyCenterwould liketothankthefollowingmerchantsand serviceorganizationsfortheirdonation toourfundraisinggolftournamentheld attheMillQuartergolfcourse.Please supportthemastheyaresupportingtheir community.Localrecipientsoftheproceeds willbeCoalitionofChurches,Powhatan FreeClinic,PowhatanFoodBankandMoose Charities.

PlatinumSponsors

GroverGaming DebBeranRealty CerroAzulRestaurant KBS,Inc. S&KDozer AndersonAutomotive,LLC HankCosbyRealEstate AdamsOil PatrickCarpet AllGoodAutomotive Jimmy’sCarpet,Inc HanoverInsurance BehrenGroup RaymondHawkinsCoffee Crew S&NTransmission Murry&KuhnDentistry UkropsHomestyleFood PremierMed LuckStone UnitedPaper,Inc MattressDirect,LLC CountySeatRestaurant,LLC VillageConceptRealty

GoldSponsors

R.C.Goodwyn&SonsInc. PowhatanCollision&Glass Stanton’sAuto&Truck,LLC

SilverSponsors

RoyalPump&Well

BronzeSponsors

LawrencevilleBuilding Supply HomeBaseCreditUnion PowhatanCardBoys Arnold/BetteGunderson ColonyConstruction NixonBros.Excavating AdvanceAuto UltimateCycle BarhamSeafood Allen’sChineseRestaurant PowhatanPharmacy RaymondCrump,CPAPC ClodfeltersHeating&Air ThreeCrossesDistilling Company Dwayne&SusanDudley L&GConstruction Tom’sMeats,Amelia NewHorizonBank Rosa,sItalianEatery SportsBar WildwoodBarbecue AmericanFamilyPawn &Guns JonisClipperClub PowhatanOverheadDoors B&LFlooring J.T.LacyAppliances,Inc Light&Raphael,LLC PowhatanPowerWashing

AtkinsonIns MurrayAutomotive CozyAcresCampground

James Madison University announces spring 2022 graduates

James Madison University is pleased to announce the following students who graduated during the May 2022 commencement exercises.

Kathryn Long of Moseley graduated with a bachelor's degree in art history.

Jack Overstreet of Moseley graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication studies.

James Stearns of Moseley graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication studies.

Matthew Ellis of Moseley graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer information systems.

Patrick Wolstenholme of Moseley graduated with a bachelor's degree in integrated science and technology.

Clare Connolly of Moseley graduated with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary liberal studies.

Sally Houston of Moseley graduated with a bachelor's degree in social work.

Sophia Jaconski of Powhatan graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry.

Zachary Tillery of Powhatan graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer information systems.

Madison McGee of Powhatan graduated with a bachelor's degree in health sciences.

Taylor Durham of Powhatan graduated with a bachelor's degree in health sciences.

Joseph Santiago of Powhatan graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.

Samuel Tomlinson of Powhatan graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing.

Rebecca Kim of Powhatan graduated with a master's degree in education.

The following students graduated with honors during the May 2022 commencement exercises:

Felix Taylor of Moseley graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Matthew Mathes of Moseley graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in intelligence analysis.

Noah Tressler of Moseley graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

Alexandria Shearer of Moseley graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Samantha Smith of Powhatan graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary liberal studies.

Fred Badman of Powhatan graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems.

Isabelle Torrijos named to 2022 Dean's List at Lehigh University

Lehigh University Dean's List status, which is awarded to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses, has been granted to Isabelle Torrijos in Powhatan in the spring 2022 semester.

For more than 150 years, Lehigh University has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. The institution is among the nation's most selective, highly ranked private research universities. Lehigh's fi ve colleges - College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Health, and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science - provides opportunities to 7,000+ students to discover and grow in an academically rigorous environment along with a supportive, engaged campus community.

Samford University names Jarad Mitchell to spring 2022 Dean's List

Jarad Mitchell of Moseley was among the 1,720 students named to Samford University's Dean's List for the 2022 spring semester.

To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must have earned a minimum 3.5 grade point average out of a possible 4.0 while attempting at least 12 credit hours of coursework. The Dean's List is the highest academic recognition given by the school at the end of each semester.

Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools.

Simmons among 2022 graduates at University of Alabama

The University of Alabama awarded 5,907 degrees during its spring commencement ceremonies on May 6-8, 2022.

With a beautiful campus, dozens of challenging academic programs, expert faculty and numerous opportunities for service and growth, The University of Alabama is a place where legends are made. UA offers its students a premier educational, cultural and social experience with more than 200 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

Kelly Simmons of Moseley has received the following degree from The University of Alabama: Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration, Master of Science.

The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state's fl agship university.

Academic honors announced for University of Alabama in 2022

A total of 11,224 students enrolled during Spring Semester 2022 at The University of Alabama were named to the Dean's List with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the president's list with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's). The UA dean's and president's lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate students or undergraduate students who take less than a full course load.

Benjamin Amonette of Powhatan was named to the Dean’s List.

Bryant University announces Dean’s List for spring 2022

Bryant University is pleased to recognize the students who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and achievement. To earn a place on the Deans' List students must have a GPA of 3.4 or better for at least 12 semester hours of work.

Amira Rainer, Class of 2025, of Moseley was honored for the outstanding achievement.

For nearly 160 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. Bryant delivers an innovative and uniquely integrated business and liberal arts education that inspires students to excel. It has about 3,700 graduate and undergraduate students from 38 states and 49 countries.

Shenandoah University honors over 1,200 spring graduates

Shenandoah University is pleased to announce the 1,204 graduates who received their degrees or certifi cates during the 2021-22 academic year. These included 236 August 2021 graduates, 332 December 2021 graduates and 636 May 2022 graduates. Shenandoah's 2022 University Commencement took place on May 21.

The following students were among those who graduated from Shenandoah during the 2021-22 academic year:

Esther Charles Jacob, of Moseley with a doctorate in non-traditional pharmacy.

Briana Shearer, of Moseley with a master of science in applied behavior analysis.

Shenandoah University was established in 1875, and is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with additional educational sites in Clarke, Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Shenandoah is a private, nationally recognized university that blends professional career experiences with liberal education. With approximately 4,000 students in more than 200 areas of study in six different schools, Shenandoah promotes a close-knit community rich in creative energy and intellectual challenge.

De Haas named to Wheaton College Spring 2022 Dean's List

Wheaton College student Alexis De Haas of Powhatan was named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2022 semester.

To earn Dean's List honors at Wheaton, an undergraduate student must carry 12 or more credit hours and achieve a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher on the 4.0 scale.

Wheaton College is a coeducational Christian liberal arts college noted for its rigorous academics, integration of faith and learning, and consistent ranking among the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

Radford University announces 2022 graduates for spring 2022

Radford University presented undergraduate and graduate degrees during the spring 2022 commencement exercises. On Friday, May 6, 250 graduate degrees were awarded during a hooding ceremony at the Dedmon Center on campus in Radford, Virginia. On Saturday, May 7, 915 undergraduate degrees were presented on Moffett Lawn at the Radford campus.

In all, Radford University conferred degrees on 1,165 undergraduate and graduate students from main campus and Radford University Carilion (RUC) including:

Clara Margaret Defazio of Moseley, Bachelor of Business Administration in Management;

Megan Nicole English of Powhat-

see STUDENT NEWS, pg. 6

CHURCH DIRECTORY

St.Luke’sEpiscopalChurch SUNDAYS 8:00AMinpersonserviceinthechurch 10:30AMinpersonserviceinthechurch (livestreamed) www.stlukespowhatan.org

AllareWelcome Formoreinformationvisitwww.stlukespowhatan.org Route711atThreeBridgeRoad794-6953

EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHURCH (PCA) Proclaiming&PracticingtheGospelofJesusChrist WorshipServiceat10:00AM Meetingat2375SkaggsRoad,Powhatan. ECCPCA.ORG 598-8844

SundaySchool10AM WorshipService11AM

PastorJohnEngle 603-933-0141

3540OldBuckinghamRd. www.pmchurch.net

1801 Huguenot Trail SundayWorship 10am BryanM.Holt, Pastor 804-378-3607

MeetingSundays inFarmville, 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

Genito Presbyterian Church

2910GenitoRd.Powhatan,VA 372-9074

WorshipwithusthisSunday Churchservice@9:30AM Sundayschool@10:30AM

Providence Presbyterian Church

“WorshipingandWitnessing inWesternPowhatan since1825” WorshipService11:00am AllAreWelcome! 598-4970

Located1950RidgeRoad (Rt.627) PowhatanChristian Fellowship

SundayMorningWorship 11:00a.m. SundaySchool10:00a.m. WednesdayNight7:30p.m. 3308PleasantsRoad, 1/4mileoffofRoute711 RussCress,Pastor 598-0733

Advertisein

Church Directory.

Call 804-746-1235 ext.2 fordetails.

St.JohnNeumann CatholicChurch

LivingAsChrist’sDisciplesWithinOur

HeartsandBeyondOurDoors 2253RossonRd.

JustoffRt.13intheVillage 598-4438

Worship: 8:30&10:30am

www.powhatanumc.us

WeekdayPreschool(ages2-5) 598-6090 Rev.WalterG.Lewis,Pastor Saturday-5p.m. Sunday-8:30a.m.&11a.m. 598-3754 www.sjnpowhatan.org LocatedbehindFlatRock VillageShoppingCenter