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Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Martha Hash
Vol. XXVII No. 37
September 17, 2014
Deputies do their part to fight ALS By Laura McFarland News Editor
H
ugh “Dickie” Dickerson knew the water was going to be cold and even thought knowing that made him prepared. But as Powhatan County Sheriff Greg Neal started emptying the contents of the bucket over his head, Dickerson still couldn’t help but feel shocked. “It was cold and it kept coming,” said Dickerson, a retired Powhatan County deputy. “I didn’t think it was going to stop.” With the slowing of the ice water being used to help him and Tommy Broughton – a part-time plete the ALS Ice Bucket Chal- off the rest of the bucket and courtroom deputy who had Un- lenge, the two turned to each other Dickerson was back to gasping in dersheriff Chris DeHart giving and grinned. smiling shock. him the same treatment – comDickerson and Broughton Then Neal actually finished
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DETECTIVE JEFF SEARFOSS
Left, Powhatan County Undersheriff Chris DeHart, left, pours ice water over the head of Tommy Broughton, a part-time courtroom deputy, while Sheriff Greg Neal does the same to Hugh “Dickie” Dickerson, a retired Powhatan County deputy. Broughton and Dickerson completed the Ice Bucket Challenge. Above, dozens of law enforcement officers and others watched and recorded the event
completed the challenge on ing the Virginia State Police, the Thursday, Sept. 4, on the steps of sheriff’s office, emergency serthe Powhatan County Courthouse with dozens of people representsee ALS page 3A
School division sets new budget By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Pocahontas Middle School principal Lynn Clayton-Prince, left, has fifth graders Nicholas Bailey and Peyton Henke hold a Freedom Flag while she explains the significance of its design during a Patriot Day assembly.
Middle schoolers mark Sept. 11 By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
ocahontas Middle School administration asked its students to pause and reflect on the past and future at a Patriot Day assembly held in honor of the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001
attacks. The school’s fifth- and sixth-graders gathered in the gymnasium on Thursday, Sept. 11, for the event. The assembly featured the combined sixth grade choir singing “The Star Spangled Banner,” words from Dr. Lynn Clayton-Prince,
principal, and watching a televised speech by President Barack Obama. The students also listened to a brief talk by members of the Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department and watched a slideshow featursee PATRIOT page 8A
Tanzanian visitors open new avenues in Powhatan By Laura McFarland News Editor
F
our Tanzanian leaders with the nonprofit organization Together for Tanzania are spending the month of September visiting Powhatan County to spread the word about their work. Together for Tanzania is a Powhatan-based nonprofit started in 2010 by Jeanette and Mel Brannan to identify and fill educational, medical and missional needs in Tanzania. The organization raises money in the United States that is then used in Tanzania for everything from supporting medical centers to funding educations of children and adults to assisting in renovations to churches in need,
she said. “These men and some others are really our hands and feet and inspiration,” said Brannan of Powhatan as she looked around the table at the four Tanzanian men staying with her and her husband. Dr. Whitson Mwaipola, the Rev. Frank Mganga, the Rev. Dickson Mwankanda and the Rev. Peter Undole had a packed month in store for them when they stepped off the plane on Friday, Sept. 5, Jeanette Brannan said. They will be in Powhatan until they depart on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The schedule this month sees the men speaking to churches, businesses, civic organizations and other groups on life in Tanzania, see VISITORS page 4A
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Four Tanzanian men who are part of the nonprofit organization Together for Tanzania are visiting Powhatan County during the month of September. Shown are, from left, Jeanette Brannan, co-founder of the nonprofit; Dr. Whitson Mwaipola and Mel Brannan, co-founder; and, back, the Rev. Dickson Mwankanda, the Rev. Frank Mganga, and the Rev. Peter Undole.
Inside
Sports
A3 High school fundraiser benefits food pantry.
B1 Blessed Sacrament football squares off against Blue Ridge.
T
he Powhatan County School Board has approved the Powhatan County Public Schools’ revised 2014-2015 budget, which reflects changes made because of reduced funding at the local and state level. During the school board’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9, members voted to accept a revised budget that reflects a $294,038 shortfall and changes that were made to create a balanced budget. The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors appropriated the last of the schools’ 2014-2015 budget at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, with changes that reflected funds held back on the local and state level, Superintendent Eric L. Jones said. The school system’s total budget for the new school year is $43,359,402. The change reflects $280,000 the supervisors held back to be used toward the school’s Supplemental Retirement Program trust fund. The figure also took into account a $14,038 shortfall because of a reduction in state funding for Powhatan County. After the supervisors appropriated the reduced budget, school staff was see BUDGET page 5A
Index Calendar Classified Crossword Horoscope Obituaries Opinion TV Listings
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