Inside Business and Professional Guide
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Injuries start softball on wrong foot
Vol. XXX No. 11
March 15, 2017
Local voter turnout named top in Virginia By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – The importance Powhatan County residents place on their civic duty to vote was highlighted this month when the county was recognized with an award for the highest voter turnout of active registered voters among all counties in the commonwealth during the 2016 General Election. The Virginia Electoral Board Association (VEBA) named Powhatan County as the winner of the Summa Suffragari Award on Saturday, March 4 during its annual meeting, recognizing Powhatan for having 85.93 percent of active registered voters either vote absentee or come out to the polls on Nov. 8, 2016. That is the highest percentage of all 133 jurisdictions in Virginia. In the 2016 General Election, 16,929 residents cast a ballot in Powhatan County. As of Nov. 8, there were 20,943 total registered voters, meaning the county had a total voter turnout of 80.8 percent of registered voters, said Karen Alexander, the county’s director of elections. However, the Summa Suffragari Award is determined by the county with the highest turnout of active registered voters, which in Powhatan was 19,701 residents, leading to the 85.93 percent turnout, she said.
Contributed photo
Karen Alexander, left, director of elections; Jeanie Renger, electoral board secretary; Cecil Jordan, electoral board chairman; Paula Price, electoral board vice chair, and Jamie Swemba, deputy registrar, hold the county’s Summa Suffragari Award. Powhatan earned the award from the Virginia Electoral Board Association for having the highest voter turnout of active registered voters.
see VOTER, pg. 9
Cottages and brewery opening this spring By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The Mill at Fine Creek is doing its part to help increase Powhatan County’s appeal as a tourism destination with guest cottages and a farm brewery opening this spring. The new projects will both be open to the public but still compliment the event planning business run by co-owners Lisa and Mark Benusa, who are mother and son. The Benusas used a 5-acre lot across the street from The Mill to build 13 guest cottages as well as the new home of Fine Creek Brewing Company. They are all located in the 2400 block of Robert E. Lee Road. PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND The cottages, which are expected to open in The Mill at Fine Creek has built 13 cottages that will mid April, have 20 guest rooms spread out over be available to rent by anyone on a first come, firstsee FINE CREEK, pg. 6
served basis.
Foster named regional YMCA staffer of the year By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – When Adam Foster recently heard his name announced as the winner of staff member of the year for YMCA of Greater Richmond, he said a myriad of emotions washed over him. He was shocked and a little embarrassed to be singled out, but quick on the heels of those emotions was excitement and pride at having been chosen, said Foster, who is the executive director of the Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan YMCA. Foster was announced as the winner of the 2017 Luther Gulick Outstanding Staff of the Year Award on Feb. 24, during one of the quarterly staff meet-
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
see FOSTER, pg. 3
Local man to speak on connection with grandfather, famous author
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
By Laura McFarland
lic Library called “Harper Lee’s Favorite Books.” The program News Editor will be from 11 POWHATAN a.m. to 2 p.m. on – Having a PulitSaturday, March zer Prize-winning 25 and is free and bestselling author open to the pubas a pen pal is an lic. extraordinary exLee, who died perience. on Feb. 19, 2016, Having that is best known as same author be the author of “To an admirer of Kill a Mockingyour grandfather, bird” and the who was also an more recently reauthor, and say leased “Go Set a she was influWatchman.” enced by him Schulkers said he early in life elecorresponded vates the experiwith Lee for 11 SCHULKERS ence to a new years after first level. making contact with her in 1998. Randy Schulkers of Powhatan Lee had been a fan of Schulkwill talk about those experiences ers’ grandfather, the late Robert F. in at upcoming program he is put- Schulkers, who wrote a series of ting on at Powhatan County Pub-
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Tim Joyce, left, president and CEO for the YMCA of Greater Richmond, congratulates Adam Foster, executive director of the Elizabeth Randolph Lewis Powhatan YMCA, on his outstanding staff of the year award.
see SCHULKERS, pg. 8
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