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Powhatan, Virginia
Vol. XXXVII No. 18
The hometown paper of Nancy Cole
Overbey found guilty Contributed Report
P
owhatan Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Beasley announced last week that Jason Merritt Overbey of Amelia was found guilty by a jury of two counts of first degree murder and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony for the May 22, 2011, murders of Kenneth Moore Jr. and Robert Mann Jr., both of Powhatan. The trial was held on April 21 in Powhatan Circuit Court. The jury recom-
mended Overbey be sentenced to two life sentences for the murder convictions and to three- and five-year mandatory sentences for the firearms convictions. Moore and Mann were found dead of gunshot wounds on May 22, 2011, on Moore’s family farm in Powhatan. The evidence revealed that Overbey was, at times, an employee of Moore, who worked on the farm. “This has been a long and difficult road for the Moore and Mann families,” Beasley said. “But
Supervisors consider axing school retirement program By Jodi Deal Richmond Suburban News
Jason Overbey today, justice was carried out in this case.” Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard K. Cox tried the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. A date for the judge to formally sentence Overbey will be set during the June term.
Cooks to compete May 3 at Powhatan’s BBQ Jamboree By Korey Hughes Special Correspondent
If you’ve got a craving for cooked meat, you should check out Powhatan’s Annual BBQ Jamboree on Saturday, May 3. The event, which exhibits the efforts of Virginia-based barbecue cooks, will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the field behind Frisby’s Side Door at 2150 Anderson Highway in Powhatan. Proceeds from Powhatan’s Annual BBQ Jamboree will benefit the Powhatan Fire, EMS and Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Virginia Wounded Warrior Project Region IV, which includes Powhatan County. The Virginia Wounded Warrior Project provides support services to
“The competition will include pork, chicken, briskets, ribs and a people’s choice award,” Meg Anderson event co-organizer
The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors is considering taking official action on when and how to end the county school division’s controversial Supplemental Retirement Program, and a discussion of whether and how to do so sparked heated debate at an April 21 meeting. During an hour-long discussion, supervisors took issue with the assertion that the program saves money, expressed concerns about lack of communication and transparency from the school division and pointed specifically to former superintendent Margaret Meara being allowed to participate as an example of mismanagement of the program. Supervisors also scolded the school division for choosing to reappropriate money saved in last year’s
Richmond Suburban News
Taste, a restaurant located at Fort Pickett. Anderson said she collaborated with her business partner, Chris Bliley, and with Dean Cejek and Janet Chamberlayne, co-owners of Jadean’s Smokin’ Six O, to organize the event. “At the time, we were see BBQ page 6A
PHOTO BY JODI DEAL
District 1 supervisor David Williams said “there’s plenty of blame to go around” for problems with the school division’s Supplemental Retirement Plan, which the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors discussed on April 21. Here, he looked on as Powhatan County School Board chairman Rick Cole offered rebuttals to supervisors’ comments on the matter.
budget, $690,000, to the a piano dropped on us program just before the from a 10-story window,” end of the fiscal year. “That was like having see SCHOOL page 4A
Powhatan County budget public hearing set for May 5 By Jodi Deal
military veterans and their families. Although 2014 marks the first time the event will occur, Meg Anderson, one of the event’s co-organizers, said she is already looking forward to being able to bring the get-together back to Powhatan year after year. Anderson is one of the co-owners of In Good
April 30, 2014
The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 5, at the Village Building on the proposed 2014-2015 county budget and real estate tax rate. The board is set to take a final vote on the budget one week later, at a meeting set for 7 p.m. on Monday, May 12, also at the Village Building. The board’s proposed $45.6 million spending
plan has a few changes from county administrator Pat Weiler’s original $45.7 proposed General Fund budget. Supervisors agreed — but not unanimously — to trim $180,908 from the local appropriation for schools, which Weiler had proposed be set at $21.09 million. While supervisors reconsidered two Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office deputies and three 911 dispatchers requested by Sheriff Gregory Neal, they opted, as Weiler did
before them, not to fund the extra positions. They also did not grant a request to provide a $6,000 contribution toward new uniforms for the Powhatan Volunteer Rescue Squad. Supervisors did include in their proposed budget a 2 percent merit raise for all county employees, and — although supervisors can’t technically dictate how their contribution to schools is spent — they urged the see BUDGET page 5A
STUDENTS’ ARTWORK SELECTED FOR DIGITAL HOLIDAY CARD
W
atercolor artwork by students from Powhatan County Public Schools was selected by Richmond CenterStage to be part of the organization’s digital holiday card, which included “Winter Wonderland”themed student art from around the region set to music. Some of the students were on hand to be honored at an April 8 Powhatan County School Board meeting. They included from left, front row, Izabelle Snyder, Jami Martin, Lindsey Freeman and Abby Baldwin, all of Pocahontas Elementary School. Other participants from their school included Ruby Conner, Garrett Albert, Isabella Lipkey, Taylor Jarrett and Brynne Smith. Shown in the second row are Alec Rowley, Trey Thompson and Maria Conti, all of Powhatan High School, along with Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent of Powhatan County Public Schools. Other Powhatan High School participants included Katie Poque and Zach Frame. The digital holiday card can be seen online at vimeo.com/82136165#t=0. PHOTO BY JODI DEAL
Inside
Sports
A3 School Board honors Scholastic art winners. Right: Niomi Kaiser “Self Portrait”
B1 After two knee surgeries, PHS keeper Kyle Knapke is having a successful senior season.
Index Calendar
A9 Letters
A8
Classified
B6 Obituaries
A2
Crossword
A9 Opinion
A8
Horoscope
A9 TV Listings
B8-9