Powhatan Today –01/11/2023

Board considers larger issues as part ofrezoningdiscussion

By LauraMcFarland Managing Editor

POWHATAN–

PageRoad approximately 0.2 miles northwestoftheintersection withAnderson Highway

who representsDistrict 3; Steve McClung, District2; and Karin Carmack, District5, votedin favor ofthe rezoning,while David Williams, District 1, and Bill Cox, District 4, voted against.

Duringthe meeting held on Monday, Oct. 24,the board voted3-2in favor of rezoning a 5.93-acre parcel on PageRoad fromAgriculture (A-10) to CommerceCenter(CC). The propertyisonthe westsideof

Thecase dealt withthe decision of whetherto rezone the property which wouldallow for Stroud VenturesLLC to construct a contractor’s office alongwith thestorageof a limited quantityofmaterials,supplies and equipmentinside the building

However, thediscussion by

the board as well as the feedback from the community was nevera straightforwarddiscussion ofwhat the business would or wouldnot bringtothe countyasitalsodelvedintoissues of traffic impact,the role of the comprehensive planindeciding future development and county interactions, andtransparency with the local business community

Eleven speakersaddressed the board about the PageRoad project either duringthe public commentperiodor a public hearing associated withthe case, with 10speakersasking for theproject to bedenied and one backing the business’ap-

Pumpkindecorationssparkjoy

Park to get $750K

ADA

Habitat fulfills family’s dream

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

The Eggleston family is sched uled to move into their dream home by Christmas.

For James Eggleston, 10, and his sister, Aleah, 13, the news that their new home would have a dishwasher set off bounces and claps from the couch they sat on, and then dovetailed into a discussion about the many things James could whip up in his family’s new kitchen since no one would have to wash all the dishes by hand.

Stacey Eggleston and her two children will be the second family that Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan will partner with this year.

The Egglestons’ new home will be located in Holly Hills subdivision. Their expected move-in date will be before Christmas.

Middle school out variety ofclubs to engage students

Eggleston currently rents a single-wide trailer that’s in need of repair, and her family is outgrowing the space.

By LauraMcFarland Managing Editor

By LauraMcFarland Managing Editor

POWHATAN– Oscarthe Grouchandhisfurryfriends beatout a pairof Venus fly traps, a friendlyhedgehog and a scrumptiousicecream totakefirstplaceatthe12th annualPumpkinsforKids Project.

littlejoy alongthe way, said organizerRachelMassengill ofPowhatan.The eventraised morethan$3,000forthe foundation but isstillacceptingdonationsusingtheQR code.

State trooper charged with assaulting female student at private school

LAURA MCFARLAND Managing Editor

Theannualpumpkindecoratingcontestonce again saw businessesfromaround theregionparticipatingin a lighthearted(althoughstill competitive) competitionFriday, Oct.28atIndependence GolfClubinPowhatan.

Theannualbenefit forthe Children’s Hospital Foundationisalso a way bringthe businesscommunitytogether for a goodcauseandspread a

POWHATAN – A Virginia State Police trooper has been charged with three misdemeanor offenses in connection with the alleged assault of a female student, including one that was supposed to have taken place at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School in Powhatan. The trooper’s wife was head of school there until she resigned on Dec. 13, 2022.

The Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that earlier that day it had arrested Douglas Michael Ledbetter, 44, of Powhatan on two counts of assault and battery and one count of causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent or abused.

“Thisisridiculous.These companiesputsomuchinto thisandthe dosuch a great jobdecoratingthesepumpkins. w thekidsatthe children’ hospitalaregoing togettoseethisisgreat,” she saidafterthecontestended.

sult of an ongoing investigation into incidents that occurred on May 7, 2022, at a location in the 3000 block of Old Buckingham Road in Powhatan and on Dec. 3, 2022, at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School.

Judgesfromthechildren’s hospitalandfoundationnarrowedthisyear’s 35entries downtothetop10,andthen PowhatanCountySheriff BradNunnallyandassistant commonwealth’s attorney

Searfoss announced in a previous release on Dec. 9 that the sheriff’s office had received a report that an adult male had assaulted a juvenile female student on Dec. 3 at the school earlier that day. A criminal investigation was launched, but no information about the subject of the investigation was released at the time.

Eggleston has lived in Powhatan since coming home from the hospital 33 years ago. Her mother still lives in her childhood home. It’s been Eggleston’s dream to raise her family here and own a home here. She also now works for Powhatan County – in September, she joined the Community Development staff.

POWHATAN– PowhatanMiddleSchoolwillbe buzzingwithdifferentkinds ofactivitiesmovingforward asnew clubsallow students tobondwithotherstudents withsimilarinterests.

“I absolutely love my job and seeing how Powhatan is growing but is remaining in areas rural,” she said. “I have met amazing people in my new career journey and I love helping Powhatan citizens.”

Theweeklyclubs,which launchedonOct.21,willbe held everyFridayduringIndian Timefortherestofthe year accordingtoformer principalSamanthaMartin.

Eggleston learned about Habitat’s affordable mortgage partnership program three years ago. “At that point, I knew that I wasn’t quite ready yet.” She reviewed all the information and then applied in June 2022.

BeforetheCOVID-19 pandemic,themiddleschool hadclubs but they had a broaderfocus,shesaid.This new iterationinvolvesofferingmorespecializedclubs basedonstudentinterests.

Habitat’s Board President John Saber shared the news in person that the Eggleston family had been chosen as a partner family on Nov. 12, 2022, and would begin their homeownership

“We startedwithstudent

requests.Thestudentscompletedtheirrequestsofwhat they wereinterestedin first. Thentheteacherssignedup tobe a sponsorfor a club andwesentitbackoutfor studentstosignup.Soit was allfocusedonstudentinterest,” saidMartin,whohas now transitionedintothe roleoftheschooldivision’s coordinatorofinnovative learning.

journey, which will include 200 hours of sweat equity on their home or volunteering with Habitat in other capacities. Eggleston already has completed a required homebuying course.

Over the next few months, Eggleston and her children also will head to the showroom with Tyler Hudgins of hudginshomes. com in Moseley to select shingles, flooring, countertops and more for their modular or “factory-built or pre-fab” home, which will be delivered in two halves by flatbed and crane in the fall from Virginia Homes Building Systems. On the lot, the two halves will be placed on the foundation and joined. From there, it will be completed by Habitat contractors and volunteers.

With48clubsforstudentstochoosefrom,she hopes everymiddleschooler willhave theopportunityto interactwithotherstudents they mightnotnormally meet but withwhomthey mayshareanunexpected bond,shesaid.

Justsomeoftheclubtop-

Use of modular or factory-built home building is on the rise in Virginia, with a 24% increase in building registration seal approvals from 2020 to 2021 alone,

Community plans three daysof honoring veterans

Staff Report

Agent’s killer receives time in prison attacks

one of the facility’s day rooms. The victim suffered puncture wounds to his hand, scalp and neck and was hospitalized for three days.

formpatrioticselectionsand thePowhatanHighSchool JROTC willpresentthecolors.

According to a news release from chief deputy Jeff Searfoss, these charges are the re-

Ball was sentenced four years ago to serve 36 years for Walter’s murder in Richmond’s Mosby Court. About 12 months into his sentence, Ball stabbed another inmate with a shank at the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Richmond County in an attack in

PowhatanAmerican LegionPost201issponsoring a VeteransDayProgram tobeheldatthe War MemorialCulturalArts & CommunityCenteronFriday, Nov.

Then in April 2022, Ball joined another inmate at the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford County in beating and choking a third inmate over an insult about a gang affiliation. A fourth inmate intervened because he feared Ball would choke the victim to death.

Two elementary schoolscelebrate llfestivalfun

Ball’s jailhouse assaults have drawn the attention of prosecutors in the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, who filed a show cause motion seeking to revoke the suspended life sentence Ball received in the state police officer’s murder.

Library to showcase authors in Writer’s Roundup

LAURA MCFARLAND Managing Editor

POWHATAN – Powhatan County Public Library is welcoming the return of the Writer’s Roundup program with local and regional authors representing a wide variety of genres and interests.

The event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, will bring together

a growing list of at least 15 authors to showcase their work and interact with the public in a one-on-one setting, said librarian Charles Joynes. This event is free and open to all, and no registration is required.

The library held Writer’s Roundups before the COVID-19 pandemic, but this is the first time in several years. Joynes said he found information about the

past events when he first started and also heard feedback from patrons who enjoyed it and said they would love to have it back.

He agreed it would be a great fit.

“What I was trying to accomplish is just to bring the local authors – of which there are quite a few in the Powhatan, Chesterfield, Richmond area –to bring them out and bring attention that there are some

really interesting and great writers that are local,” he said.

Left Jaxton and Jemma Cabaniss tr y toeat doughnut s on a string without using their handsduring Powhat an Elementary’s Fall Game Night on Oc t. 27 See morePES photos on Page 6A.

Right, Karmen Rose enjoys her cotton candyduring Flat Rock Element ar y’s Fall Festival on Oc t. 27 See more

FRES photos on Page8A

The list of participating authors includes: Libby McNamee, historical fiction; Lydia Armstrong, slam poet; James River Writers, writing resources; Nancy Wright Beasley, historical fiction; Dale Brumfield, true crime/history; Maggie King,

On Thursday, Dec. 29, President Joe Biden signed into law U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s legislation that will provide

will help upgrade existing parks, playgrounds, fields, bleachers, sidewalks, parking lots, restrooms and concession facilities to cur-

local leaders in successfully securing this funding.”

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Holly Karonis of Powhatan walks her dog Lucy on the sidewalk along Mann Road on Jan. 5. Improving sidewalks and ADA accessibility in Fighting Creek Park will be one of the tasks accomplished using $750,000 in federal funding the county has been awarded.

Powhatan, Virginia

B1

Eighth grade mathteacher instructions during the seco one ofmany now being he Powhatan MiddleSchool.

The roleofthecounty’s comprehensive plan, the expectationsofthe business community when making future plans andresidentperspectives wereallelements in a decision bythe Powhatan CountyBoardofSupervisorson a rezoning issue on Page Road lastweek

ChairMike Byerly,

PHOTO BY LAUR A McFARL AND Powhat anCount ySherif f Brad Nunnally right and assistant commonwealth’s at torney Alice Sheridan judge the Pumpkins for Kid scontest to pick the topfive entries on Oc t. 28

PHOTOS BY LAUR A MCFARLAND

MARK BOWES Richmond Times-Dispatch

Travis Aaron Ball escaped a life sentence for the 2017 murder of Virginia State Police Special Agent Michael T. Walter, but prosecutors are trying to change that based on his actions since being incarcerated.

Little Christmas Ball celebrates Christmas Mother

standards to be primary focus of work

PHOTO COURTESY OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY-POWHATAN Stacey Eggleston and her children, James and Aleah, will be the second local family to fulfill their dream of homeownership in Powhatan this year with the help of Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan.

Life term, which was suspended, could be imposed

Ledbettter

Ball

Walter

Local dog trainer competes in prestigious dog competition

OBITUARIES

HAMILTON, Forrest K. , 78, of Powhatan, went to be with the Lord Monday, december 19, 2022. He is survived by his son, Ian Hamilton (sarah); grandsons, Karter shelton and Thomas Hamilton. Forrest was a u s army Veteran, worked as a realtor; he owned Brandywine Construction Company and Old Church Christmas Tree Farm. upon retiring from Brandywine, he focused all his attention to the Christmas tree farm. He enjoyed supporting Ian, with his love of motor cross and a good cigar. The family will receive friends 2 to 4 p.m. saturday, January 14, 2023 at Bennett and Barden Funeral Home in Powhatan. Interment will be private. Online condolences can be made at bennettbardenfh.com.

HUBBARD, Mary Ann N., 95, went to be with the Lord on Friday, december 30, 2022. Our “steel Magnolia,” she left a legacy of fun, hospitality and love to everyone she met. she was preceded in death by her husbands, John Guidon, Welbert e Lawson and Franklin Hubbard Jr.; sisters, ruth n. Heath and Jane n. Jones; brothers, Charles e alvin C., Kenneth P., roy W. and Louis W. nicholls. she is survived by her sister, nancy n alexander; children, Jo ann Woodson (James), Carol sue Moyers (Mike), Mary Gayle Guidon and John K. Guidon (Karen); stepchildren, Brett Lawson, Brenda and Bruce Hubbard; grandchildren, shelly d., Bill d. (Valerie), rusty d (Julie), Katie M. (andrew), Michael M., ann Marie W. Lawrence (nick), Jay W. (erin), Paul W. (Carly), John Patrick, natalie and Madeline Guidon and ruby; and 15 great-grandchildren. Mary ann was a graduate of smithdeal-Massey Business College and was employed by dMV in richmond, Va. for eight years and Powhatan County schools for 25 years. The family would like to thank her caretaker, sandra Knabe, as well as Beth sholom for their kindness and care during her stay. a memorial ceremony and reception will begin at 11 a.m. on January 27, at Providence Presbyterian Church, 1950 ridge road, Powhatan, Va. 23139. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the church, P.O. Box 417, Powhatan, Va. 23139.

SCHWEICKERT, Stephen Reed. It is with great sadness that the family of s tephen reed schweickert announce his passing surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, december 28, 2022, at the age of 54. He is survived by his parents, reed and Gail (Mc alpin) schweickert from Midlothian, Va.; his daughters, sage and Jade schweickert; the love of his life, Jacqueline Leon, from Mocksville, n.C.; his sister, susan (schweickert) roudabush; brother-in-law, Jay; his nephews, Kemper and Hayden; and his niece, Berkley, from Powhatan, Va. stephen graduated from Midlothian High school, and from Virginia Tech, receiving a Bachelor of science in art, where he discovered his passion for woodworking. as a gifted and skilled craftsman, he loved expressing his creative talents in wood sculptures, carvings and cabinetry. One of stephen’s greatest loves in life was music; he had a deep appreciation of the Grateful dead, especially in their early years. stephen earned the prestigious rank of eagle scout at a young age and continued to live his life by the principals and the truths of the Boy scout honor code. He loved the outdoors and felt at home in God’s quiet majesty, whether rock climbing or camping by the James river; stephen relished the quieter moments. stephen had a generous heart and never hesitated to help others. The family wishes to say thank you for the love, prayers and expressions of support and kindness shown to them during this time of sorrow. services will be held privately with family.

UTLEY, Gene Douglas, 76, of Powhatan, went to be with the Lord on January 3, 2023. He was preceded in death by his father, richard C. utley; and his mother, Blanche W. Hamilton. He is survived by his son, richard; daughter-in-law, Meredith; and his two grandsons, Gavin and Tucker. Gene was a wonderful father, grandfather and a friend to many. a Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 3 p.m. at Bennett & Barden Funeral Home, 3215 anderson Hwy. (rt. 60), Powhatan, Va. 23139. Condolences can be made at bennettbardenfh.com.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 11

Powhatan County Public Library has a wonderful line up of adult programs to get you out of your house on those wintery days. shelley Crawford with sunshine a rt will be at the library on Wednesday, Jan. 11, for winter-themed painting. Immerse yourselves in art-making, with a pre-planned drawn-in winter image. no supplies are needed. This is an amazing opportunity and space is limited, so you must be registered to attend. registration can be done on the library’s Facebook page, over the phone or on its website. For details, contact Powhatan County Public Library at 804-598-5670 or library@powhatanlibrary.net.

Community Matters is a resource for all 55 and forward interested in learning, staying active and engaging with peers. Challenge and socialization are powerful benefits and crucial at any age! Multiple weekly sessions with a wide range of topics and activities are held at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 anderson Hwy, in the training room of Powhatan Parks and recreation. This week’s schedule will feature: Jan. 11 – Potluck and skit by yaya sisters. Bring a dish (and serving utensils) to share and enjoy a skit by the talented yaya sisterhood called “Going south — Let it s now!” Jan. 12 – Game day. Many games will be made available and you’re welcome to bring your own. Connect with friends, old & new over a cup of coffee or tea and a game. Jan. 17 – History of Belgrade Plantation and Bon air. More information on various offerings, activities and topics presented can be found on Facebook: Powhatan County reach for ac tive services. Program is free; requires independent participation. Call program coordinator Jayne Lloyd at 804698-0438 for more information.

Powhatan County Public Library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p .m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on saturdays. Meeting rooms are available by reservation; study rooms are available first come, first served. The library offers e-books through Overdrive and materials to borrow in person or by using Books to Go. With Books to Go, patrons may reserve print materials, dV d s, and audiobooks 24/7 online at www. powhatanlibrary or by phone during open hours at 804-5985670; once the patron is notified that their order is ready, they have three days to pick it up at the to-go shelf. The outdoor library book drop is open 24/7 for returning library items; however, patrons must return mobile hotspots to the circulation desk inside the library. The library accepts donations and the Friends of the Library bookstore is open during library business hours. Visit www.powhatanlibrary.net or call the library at 804-5985670 for more details, and like the library’s Facebook page for all the latest, up-to-date library news, information and program schedules.

Powhatan County Public Library will hold a weekly stor y Time on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Participants will read stories, sing songs, learn finger plays and more! story Time generally meets in front of the fireplace, and occasionally in our outdoor space.

Business network International (B n I ) Powhatan chapter meets virtually from 8 to 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Visit Www.BnIVa com for information. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/BnIOnFire or contact executive director dawne Gulla at dawne@bniva. com or 804-690-9220 for more information.

The Free Clinic of Powhatan serves residents from Powhatan, amelia and Cumberland Counties as well as select Chesterfield areas. s ervices include medical, dental, counseling and women’s

healthcare by appointment. eligibility requirements on website www.freeclinicofpowhatan.org/ patients. registration for new patients by appointment Mondays 5-8 p.m. or walk-in Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call (804) 598-5637.

The Powhatan anti-Litter Council meets at 1 p.m. in the Powhatan County Cooperative extension Office in the basement of the Village Building, 3910 Old Buckingham road. For more information, contact detective rudy Gregory at 804-598-5656.

The Powhatan Lion’s Club will meet at 6 p .m. at the County s eat resta urant. Contact Mike Jones at 804-794-1440 for more information.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12

Just Kids, an affordable clothing shop selling gently used children’s clothes, sizes newborn to 8 plus, and warm coats, is open. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and s aturdays. The shop is located in the Memorial Baptist Church youth House, 3926 Old Buckingham road. Just Kids is a ministry of May Memorial Baptist Church. Clothes cost $2 per bag.

a Caregiver s upport Group will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. the second Thursday of every month at May Memorial Baptist Church, 3922 Old Buckingham r oad, Powhatan. Build a support system with people who understand. For more information, contact Jayne Lloyd at 804-6980438. Visit alz.org/grva to learn more about caregiver programs and resources.

The Powhatan Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays, saturdays and Tuesdays at 2500 Batterson r oa d. Contact the pantry at 804-3729526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@gmail.com.

Powhatan star s Cancer s upport Group, formerly known as Powhatan s upporting the a lliance and respec ting s urvivors (sTars), meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at The County seat restaurant in the back room. The group is for survivors, caregivers and family members to listen and support each other. For more information, contact sue Bird at 804-212-8651 or Patty Hicks at 804-375-3499. e xtension specialists and industry experts share timely topics for farmers in the Virginia Cooperative e xtension a g Today, held virtually at 9 a.m. every Thursday. These updates are relevant and brief and are recorded for folks who can’t join on that day and time. Podcasts (audio only) are posted on Westmoreland VCe webpage and youTube video recordings can be found at https://www.youtube. com/ playlist?list=PL7_2Q u VzrPXdpysV2Hy11CH8KBrluifyO. Contact s tephanie r omelc zyk (sromelcz@vt.edu) for information on joining the meeting live. Watched or listened to VCe aG Today? Let us know how we are doing! Find our survey here: https:// vce.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ sV_6fiyBb914ayrdn7

The original Powhatan aa meets from 7 to 8 p .m. every Thursday in the Powhatan Village Building.

The Powhatan r otar y Club meets at 7:30 a.m. every Thursday at the County seat restaurant. The Powhatan republican Committee’s monthly meeting will be held on the second Thursday of every month at r osa’s Italian restaurant. social time is at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14

Powhatan County Public Library will have Craft Time! From 10:30 to 11 a.m. elementary school aged children are invited to participate in this arts and craft program. registration required.

register now for our first Heart of Virginia Beekeepers Conference to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Blackwood Ballroom of

Longwood university in Farmville. For conference details and on-line registration, go to these links: bit. ly/HOVBconference or https:// www.eventbrite.ca/e/heart-of-virginia-beekeepers-1st-annual.

Habitat For Humanity — Powhatan depends on volunteers and donors. Habitat is blessed with the community’s helpful and generous participation. The Habitat restore at 1922 urbine road will be open every s aturday, come november 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The office is located upstairs at the Habitat restore and the office number is 804-5947009, ext. 2. Call and volunteer. Help us at the restore, perform critical repairs and/or with our upcoming builds.

Powhatan aa meets at 8 p.m. every saturday at Manakin episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.

MONDAY, JAN. 16

The Coalition of Powhatan Churches meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at May Memorial Baptist Church. The Coalition lends hands and hearts to people in need in the Powhatan community. all are welcome to the meetings. For more information, call 804-598-2454.

a Powhatan Hope n arcotics a nonymous ( na ) meeting will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday at PCC Church, 4480 a nderson Highway, Powhatan, room 102. It is an open discussion meeting. Wheelchair accessible.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17

Library for a ll is Powhatan County Public Library’s club for adults with disabilities and their caregivers. There will be crafts, stories, movies or even a guest speaker. Caregivers are required to stay with attendees during the program. The upcoming program is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 17.

Lonesome d o ve e q uestrian Center, which is located at 6137 Old Buckingham road, provides year-round therapeutic horseback riding exclusively for veterans with special needs and disabilities. Focusing on veterans in Central Virginia, the goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for the participants through activities that are positive to their cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being. as of Jan. 1, 2021, the program is also welcoming first responders to come ride with the program. From January through March, volunteers are asked to arrive at 10 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 11 a.m. upcoming dates are: Jan. 17 and 25; Feb. 7, 14 and 22; March 7, 14 and 22. From april through september, volunteers are asked to arrive at 9 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 10 a.m. upcoming dates are: april 4, 18 and 26; May 2, 16 and 24; June 6, 20 and 28; July 11, 18 and 26; aug. 1, 15 and 23; s ept. 12, 19 and 27. From October through n ovember, volunteers are asked to arrive at 10 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 11 a.m. upcoming dates are: Oct. 3, 17 and 25; nov. 7, 14 and 29. There are no sessions in december. LdeC is able to provide a variety of services to the veterans because of dedicated volunteers. Those who would like to help and have fun at the same time are asked to consider becoming a member of one of these teams. For more information about Lonesome dove, visit http://ldequestrian.com/ or contact 804-356-6327.

The Beef Cattle Production 360 discussion Group typically meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. new members are always welcome to join if you are a seasoned beef cattle producer or just getting started. The group typically starts with a pot luck meal and are held mostly in-person on farms or at the Goochland or Powhatan extension Offices. For more information, contact rachel Henley at 804-598-5640 or rachelhenley@vt.edu.

The new Bridge of reason aa meeting is held at 7 p.m. every

Tuesday at Powhatan Mennonite Church, 3549 Old Buckingham road, Powhatan. It is an open, decision and literature meeting for Powhatan, Goochland, and Cumberland counties.

The Powhatan Junior Woman’s Club meets at 7 p .m. the third Tuesday of every month from september to May. The nonprofit volunteer organization is open to women over the age of 18. The club promotes friendship, community service and leadership. For information about the club, meeting locations or becoming a member, call Joy Matkowsky at 804-492-3038.

aa meets at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at st. Luke’s episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.

UPCOMING

Powhatan anti-Litter Council (aLC) and yard Works will offer real Christmas tree recycling free of charge to Powhatan County residents in January. “real Christmas trees are a renewable resource that clean our air and water. recycled trees are most often shredded into mulch to use in landscaping, which eventually breaks down into soil. In Powhatan, yard Works has collected more than 200 trees on average to as few as 63 trees during a season. a LC is asking residents to give your real trees a life after the holidays by recycling them free at yard Works. This tree recycling service has been offered to the Powhatan community at no cost for more than 18 years. Trees may be brought to the yard Works in Powhatan, located at 1990 anderson Highway, between Jan. 3 and 31, 2023. Hours for tree drop-offs are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trees will be ground into mulch. according to robbie urbine of yard Works, “Please make sure trees are free of all lights, tinsel and ornaments.” no artificial trees will be accepted. For more information, call yard Works at (804) 639-0311.

Girl scout Troop 3029 is helping the Huguenot Volunteer Fire department achieve a long-held goal of building a memorial to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks of s ept. 11, 2001 at the station. The Girl scouts are selling 411 bricks inscribed with the name, rank and company of a firefighter, law enforcement officer or paramedic killed during the attacks. a donation of $23 will cover the cost of one inscribed brick in honor of a first responder. To purchase a brick, visit www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/memorial911. Checks payable to Troop 3029 may also be mailed to Laura Baltz at 1510 Holly Hills road, Powhatan, Va 23139.

For more information, contact Baltz at 804-467-4313 or Ljbal65@aol.com.

aarP Tax-aide volunteers will be offering free tax return preparation again this year at the Powhatan County Public Library. due to COVId-19 restrictions last year, volunteers were only able to provide drop-off services for most of the season. However, this year, the plan is to return to face-toface appointments. Tax preparation appointments can be made online beginning Jan. 25, 2023, through a link on the Powhatan Library website. To better manage appointments, volunteers will only be opening a few appointment days at a time. additional appointment times will be added as earlier times are filled. Make an appointment only once you have received all your tax documents.

When you come to your appointment, bring the following items: prior year tax return; social security cards for everyone on the tax return and drivers photo Id to confirm your identity; all your tax documents; and copy of a voided check for direct deposit of any tax refund. Free tax return preparation appointments will be in the large conference room of the Powhatan Library between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1 through Friday, april 14, 2023.

Community Matters releases January schedule

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

subject to change.

„ Jan. 11 – Potluck and Skit by YaYa Sisters. Bring a dish (and serving utensils) to share and enjoy a skit by the talented YaYa Sisterhood called “Going South — Let it Snow!”

along with his granddaughter,

WATSON, Dowe Jr., 91, of Powhatan went to be with the Lord on Friday, december 30, 2022, and joined his loving wife of 70 years,

Moore; and son-in-law, Hubert Moore. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Moore; and grandson, Hugh Moore; and many other cherished family members and friends. The family received friends Monday, January 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bennett & Barden Funeral Home, 3215 anderson Hwy., Powhatan. Funeral services were held at the funeral home chapel, 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 3. Interment Powhatan Community Cemetery following the service. Online condolences may be made at bennettbardenfh.com.

Community Matters is excited to announce expanded program offerings in its new home at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway. This community resource for 55 and forward features opportunities to learn, connect and stay active.

The new schedule for the January is packed with plenty of opportunities for local residents.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday classes and sessions begin at 10 a.m. Expect inclement weather cancellations upon Powhatan Public School closings or delays. Topics are

„ Jan. 12 – Game Day. Many games will be made available and you’re welcome to bring your own. Connect with friends, old and new, over a cup of coffee or tea and a game.

„ Jan. 17 – History of Belgrade Plantation and Bon Air.

„ Jan. 19 – Game Day.

„ Jan. 24 – Mahjong Basics. This strategic game is noted for being effective in improving short-term

memory, attention and logical thinking. Come learn the basics — regular players are looking for others to join in!

„ Jan. 25 – HumbleBee Project. This ongoing project is featured monthly. No-sew anti-pill fleece blankets are created and tagged which offers the opportunity to socialize while doing good for others. Completed blankets are taken to Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and given to pediatric inpatients adjusting to the demands of their medical care and treatments.

„ Jan. 26 – Game Day.

„ Jan. 31 – Learn Digital

Book options and app use from Powhatan Library staff. Any technology-related class, you’re welcome to bring your own device, although that’s not required for learning. Community Matters is also sponsoring Movers & Pacers, a 12-week walking initiative held at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium. Participants log in with facilitator, tracking cumulative weekly step counts then enjoy indoor walking with friends during winter months. Collaboration with Virginia Cooperative Extension — Powhatan to see more active-aging opportunities made available.

Forrest K. Hamilton

Mary Ann N. Hubbard

Stephen Reed Schweickert

Gene Douglas Utley

Mary Morris Watson;

angela

Dowe Watson Jr.

Morning fire destroys barn, threatens property

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Since December 1, 2022, Powhatan County Fire and Rescue was dispatched to 13 reported structure fires in not only Powhatan, but Amelia and Chesterfield as well. Thankfully, most of these were minor in nature, but three did result in significant property damage.

The most recent fire was received in the early morning hours of Jan. 3, 2023, when the Powhatan Public Safety Communications Department received several calls for a barn fire near the intersection of Old Buckingham Road and Ridge Road. Because of the

time of day, the blaze was very large before anyone noticed it. When personnel arrived, they found a large two-story barn well involved in fire with several cars and homes threatened by the fire. Three engines and five tankers along with many support vehicles and chiefs responded with a total of 33 personnel. Although the fire was under control within 25 minutes, firefighters operated for over two additional hours. Water was drafted from a nearby pond, and the cause of the blaze is under investigation by the fire marshal’s office. No injuries were reported to the occupants.

Lonesome Dove shares 2023 schedule

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center, which is located at 6137 Old Buckingham Road, provides year-round therapeutic horseback riding exclusively for veterans with special needs and disabilities.

Focusing on veterans in Central Virginia, the goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for the participants through activities that are positive to their cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being. As of Jan. 1, 2021, the program is also welcoming first responders to come ride with the program.

From January through March, volunteers are asked to arrive at 10 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 11 a.m. Upcoming dates are: Jan. 17 and 25; Feb. 7, 14 and 22; March 7, 14 and 22.

From April through September, volunteers are asked to arrive at 9 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 10 a.m. Upcoming dates are: April 4, 18 and 26; May 2, 16 and 24; June 6, 20 and 28; July 11, 18 and 26; Aug. 1, 15 and 23; Sept. 12, 19 and 27.

From October through November, volunteers are asked to arrive at 10 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 11 a.m. Upcoming dates are: Oct. 3, 17 and 25; Nov. 7, 14 and 29. There are no sessions in December.

CHORAL GROUPS TO PUT ON DINNER AND A SHOW

LDEC is able to provide a variety of services to the veterans because of dedicated volunteers. Those who would like to help and have fun at the same time are asked to consider becoming a member of one of these teams. For more information about Lonesome Dove, visit http://ldequestrian.com/ or contact 804-356-6327.

Powhatan County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mike Byerly, who represents District 3, said the county is excited and appreciative for this funding opportunity and fortunate to have exceptional athletics and parks facilities to serve its citizens and visitors.

“It is important to the Powhatan Board of Supervisors that our public facilities be accessible to community members and visitors of all abilities. This funding will advance the ADA access projects at Fighting Creek Park and other Parks and Recreation spaces in Powhatan County,” he said. “We are so appreciative for the advocacy and representation that Representative Abigail Spanberger and her team have provided on the county’s behalf to have these important projects included in the House Appropriations Committee’s funding for Community Projects.”

Bret Schardein, interim county administrator, said Thursday that county staff would meet with Spanberger’s staff within the next few weeks to talk about the specifics of the grant and how they can get the ball rolling. The Powhatan County Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments will examine the capital improvement plan (CIP) projects and put together a plan with more specifics. Fighting Creek Park bathroom updates and ADA improvements were already identified projects, he added.

“This will free up $750,000 that can be used on some other projects so that will elevate other projects that would have fallen behind these two,” Schardein said.

The bathrooms will likely take up a large chunk of the money as it is expensive to build to public commercial standards and the sidewalks will also be a significant cost, Schardein said. Once county staff

meets with Spanberger’s staff, they will have a better idea of the timeline of when funds are released and how quickly plans can move forward, he added.

For FY2023, the U.S. House of Representatives allowed Members of Congress to submit Community Project Funding requests — as it did in FY2022. This allowed for specific, community-driven requests — like upgrades to Fighting Creek Park.

Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in all 10 counties of the Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that Members of Congress, in concert with the communities they represent, may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of

the yearly appropriations process.

To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or nonprofit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding. The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications needed to demonstrate significant local support for the projects.

Earlier in 2022, Biden signed into law funding for 10 Virginia projects that Spanberger successfully secured as part of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate-passed FY2022 appropriations bill. Among those was $150,173 Spanberger secured in 2021 for the construction of the new “Education Connection Trail,”

which is expected to begin construction this year.

A request for proposals is expected to be sent out in the next few weeks on the trail, Schardein said.

Last summer, county staff took a GPS unit and walked the trail layout.

“We walked through the woods with that unit to track in real time the layout for it. We were able to take that data, put it in our GIS system and have a real map overlay,” he said. “Then we spent a little time refining that, trying to get the best route that would make it the most interesting and also balancing ease of construction and avoiding difficult access but also taking the trail through interesting areas.”

Once staff members had that draft layout, they worked with the school division to make sure any input they had for how the trail con-

nects to the school was addressed.

“We want to have signage and physical barriers so people using it don’t enter school property unless they are students authorized to use it,” he said.

Reiterating something he told the school board and board of supervisors at their Nov. 1, 2022, joint meeting, Schardein said the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), acknowledging concerns about both erosion and people walking along or beside Mann Road between the soccer field, has agreed to donate materials to improve culverts for erosion as well as create a gravel path on the east side of Mann Road, which would create a true and complete loop around in the Fighting Creek Park.

Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHS CHORAL PROGRAM

Powhatan high school Choral Program’s dinner and a show is on tap for tuesday, Jan. 24 at the high school, 1800 Judes Ferry road. this is the opportunity for families, friends and community members to be the first to preview one Voice, radiance and resonance as they debut their 2023 competition shows. dinner service begins at 6 p.m. with show time at 7 p.m. tickets for both the dinner and show are $25 and must be pre-ordered by Jan. 20. tickets for the show only are $10 and may be preordered or purchased at the door while they last. all proceeds go directly to support the Phs choral programs during the 2023 season. direct any questions to through the Phs Choral Boosters Facebook page directly or email choralboosters@powhatanchoirs.com. Links to purchase tickets can be found at https://www.powhatanchoirs.com/copy-of-the-diamond-classic.

tanker 702 from huguenot Volunteer Fire department Company 2 prepares to leave the fill site and respond back to the barn fire.

PHOTO COURTESY OF POWHATAN FIRE AND RESCUE

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF POWHATAN COUNTY the education Connector trail will add 1.61 miles to the current trail network in Fighting Creek Park.

ARRESTS

one female was charged on dec. 23, 2022, with petty larceny (Misdemeanor).

one male was charged on dec. 24 with drinking while driving/open container (M) and profane swearing public intoxication (M).

one male was charged on dec. 24 with assault and batter y of a family member (M).

one female was charged on

dec. 25 with assault and batter y of a family member (M).

one male was charged on dec. 27 with violating a protective order (M).

one male was charged on dec. 29 with driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated (M), dWI, refusal of test, first offense (M) and reckless driving general rule (M).

one female was charged on

dec. 31 with driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated (M).

WEEKLY INCIDENT REPORT DEC. 19-JAN. 1– INCIDENT

TYPE AND TOTAL CALLS

abandoned vehicle 1

advice 44

animal calls 45

assist 28

attempt to locate 6

B&e 1

BoL 7

Breathing difficulty 1

Child welfare 3

Civil 1

CPr 2

death investigation 3

deliver message 1

disabled vehicle 17

disorder/disturbance 5

domestic 10

drunk in public 2

dumping 2

Fingerprints 1

Fire public assist 1

Fireworks 2

Found property 1

Panic alarm 2

Pd alarm 29

Project lifesaver 3

reckless driver 25

shoplifting 1

suspicious 21

test law 2

Missing person 4

MVas 23

noise 2

FinnandTrey(myfriendsattheshelter).If you’dliketomeetmepleasecalltheshelterat804-598-5672toschedulean appointment.Ihopetoseeyousoon! P.S.Don’tforgetaboutourfundraiser$$CashforKennels$$.Thepurposeisto raiseenoughmoneytopurchasenewcagesforourfurfriends.Wewouldalso liketoThankEveryonewhohascontributedtothiscause.Ifyouwouldliketo makeadonationyoucandosobydroppingitoffattheshelterlocatedat4000 OldPlantationRdormailtoP.O.Box133ATTN:AnimalControl.Inthememo write$$CashforKennels$$.Ifyouhaveanyquestionspleasecall804-598-5672 PowhatanSheriff’sOffice|DivisionOfAnimalControl Phone:804-598-5672|Fax:804-598-5109

Habitat

according the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development. Overall project timelines on each modular build vs stick-built can be reduced between 20% to 50%, according to a recent McKinsey & Co. study cited during Dec. 19, 2022,

Planet Money report. Supporting this lot purchase and build is WellsFargo, the Schaberg Foundation, Virginia Housing, Reed and Gail Schweickert and other private donors, but more fundraising needs to be done. Habitat-Powhatan plans to issue a challenge to area Realtors to sponsor and to physically help with the build itself.

“Owning my own home is going to be such a relief and blessing,” Eggleston said. “I will now have a safe, healthy environment in which to raise my children with no worries or fears about stability. Finally, a place to call our home.”

Habitat’s first “Crane Day” is scheduled for Feb. 23 off Old Tavern Road for the Chrimes family.

State park offers Ranger Led Hikes

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Powhatan State Park has planned a series of monthly Ranger Led Hikes to explore the park throughout 2023.

Each month, park visitors can join in a hike on a different trail in the park and learn about local history and wildlife.

All hikes begin at 10 a.m. Registration is required and limited to nine hikers per trip.

Email Powhatan@dcr. virginia.gov with the subject line “hiking series” including the desired date/hike to reserve your spot.

Upcoming events are:

„ Feb. 25: River, Gold Dust and Turkey Trail, meet at Equestrian Lot.

„ March 25: Cabin Trail/Big Woods Trail, meet at the playground area.

„ April 29: Pine Trail, meet at Yates Parking Area.

„ May 27: Coyote Run Trail, meet at Equestrian Lot.

„ June 24: River, Gold Dust and Turkey Trail, meet at Equestrian Lot.

„ July 29: Cabin Trail/ Big Woods Trail, meet at the playground area.

„ Aug. 26: Pine Trail, meet at Yates Parking Area.

„ Sept. 30: Coyote Run Trail, meet at Equestrian Lot.

„ Oct. 28: River, Gold Dust and Turkey Trail, meet at Equestrian Lot.

„ Nov. 25: Cabin Trail/Big Woods Trail, meet at the playground area.

„ Dec. 30: Pine Trail, meet at Yates Parking Area.

Wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes and bring plenty of water. Children are welcome but be aware that some hikes may exceed 4 miles and require navigating uneven terrain in all weather conditions.

COURTESY

PHOTOS BY LAURA MCFARLAND

The Ball on Little Christmas, a fundraiser to benefit the Powhatan Christmas

Mother,

held Jan. 6 at The Venue at Flat Rock. About 100 people attended the entertaining event, which included food, mu-

sic and dancing, fellowship and a special thanks from 2022 Powhatan Christmas Mother Kathy Ware.

Tax-Aide ready for new tax season

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will be offering free tax return preparation again this year at the Powhatan County Public Library. Due to COVID-19 restrictions last year, volunteers were only able to provide drop-off services for most of the season. However, this year, the plan is to return to face-to-face appointments.

Tax preparation appointments can be made online beginning Jan. 25, 2023, through a link on the Powhatan Library website. To better manage appointments, volunteers will only be opening a few appointment days at a time. Additional appointment times will be added as earlier times are filled.

Make an appointment only once you have received all your tax documents. When you come to your appointment, bring the following items:

„ Prior year tax return;

„ Social security cards for everyone on the tax return and drivers photo ID to confirm your identity;

„ All your tax documents; and

„ Copy of a voided check for direct deposit of any tax refund.

Free tax return preparation appointments will be in the large conference room of the Powhatan Library between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1 through Friday, April 14, 2023.

Cooperative seeks Youth Tour applicants

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

High school juniors across Southside Electric Cooperative’s service area are encouraged to apply for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour as the trip heads back to the nation’s capital for a week next June.

SEC will take several high school juniors on the June 1923 trip that will include visits to many of Washington, D.C.’s iconic sites and museums, a Nationals baseball game, a dinner cruise on the Potomac, a night at the theater and a day on Capitol Hill to meet legislators. SEC pays all the expenses for its students.

The deadline to apply for Youth Tour is Jan. 31, 2023.

This summer’s Youth Tour will be the first trip to D.C. since 2019 due to the pandemic. SEC’s delegation will join students representing electric cooperatives from other parts of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware along with participants from across the nation to experience the sights and sounds of Washington, D.C.

Any high school junior who lives and attends school (or homeschool) in one of SEC’s 18 counties is eligible to apply. Students’ parents do not have to get electricity from SEC.

Students must fill out an application and submit a written essay of no more than 500 words explaining an issue they are interested in that could be discussed with a legislator. The application, complete rules and more information is available at sec. coop/YouthTour.

Students and parents with questions about the trip should contact Stump at 434645-3219 or joy.stump@sec. coop or SEC’s other community relations coordinator and chaperone, Mark Thomas, at 434-645- 3276 or mark. thomas@sec.coop.

Miracles of God makes a joyful noise

Graceland Baptist Church held its annual Miracles of God Christmas Service on Dec. 12. The service, which is now in its seventh year, is meant to offer an opportunity for people with special needs and their families to worship in an all-inclusive atmosphere. The service includes music, stories, testimonies, poetry and more. Every year it is open to all. In December 2022, about 60 people attended this year’s Christmas service. There were two day support groups, Monacan Services of Powhatan and Inspiration Group. Participants also included

Prison

From

When Ball was sentenced in September 2018 for Walter’s killing, Richmond Circuit Judge Beverly Snukals imposed a punishment of life in prison, but suspended all but 36 years of that time.

The unexpectedly light sentence for killing a law enforcement officer shocked then-Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Herring and police in the courtroom when it was imposed. Herring had sought a 60-year term, the maximum allowed under a plea deal that guaranteed that Ball would be convicted of a capital crime — typically punishable by death or life in prison.

Had the case gone to trial, the defense planned to argue that Ball’s gun went off accidentally in the midst of a struggle between Walter and Ball, which could have led to a verdict on a lesser charge like first-degree murder or second-degree murder, Herring said at the time.

Now that Ball, 33, has been twice convicted of prison assault, Richmond prosecutors will get a second bite at the apple in potentially extending Ball’s punishment for Walter’s slaying.

As a condition of his suspended life sentence in the capital murder case, Ball was ordered to “keep the peace and be of good behavior” and not violate any other state laws while he’s incarcerated — or after if he’s ever released.

A hearing on the matter has been set for March 10.

20 years in prison

The prison attacks for which Ball was convicted were brutal, and he was sentenced to prison time for both.

However, the sentence Ball received for the first attack will be served concurrently with the sentence he received for killing Walter, so his time behind bars wasn’t extended. In the second attack, prosecutors succeeded in adding time to Ball’s existing term.

That incident occurred April 25, while Ball was being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. According to evidence, Ball joined a fellow inmate, Collins Turner, in attacking a third prisoner, Jareal Wilkins, after Wilkins called them “fake” members of the Bloods, a criminal street gang.

Seconds after Turner began the fight, Ball joined in and the two of them began to beat Wilkins.

At one point during the beating, Ball put Wilkins into a choke hold and “another inmate intervened because he feared that [Ball] would choke Mr. Wilkins to death,” said Stafford Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Sarah Watkins, who prosecuted the case. Ball then began to beat the prisoner who intervened on Wilkins’ behalf.

The brawl left Wilkins with a broken nose.

On Dec. 20, Stafford Circuit Judge Michael E. Levy sentenced Ball to 20 years in prison with

five years suspended, giving Ball 15 years to serve on his earlier guilty pleas to attempted malicious wounding by mob and conspiracy to commit malicious wounding by mob.

Ball’s first prison attack was more violent than the second. He stabbed and seriously wounded inmate Ronnell Lewis on Dec. 18, 2019, while being held at the Northern Neck Regional Jail.

‘Never able to determine a motive’

Security video of the assault showed that Lewis was watching television in a common area of a jail pod when Ball, armed with a shank, attacked him from behind. Lewis was larger than Ball and able to fight him off a bit, but Lewis still suffered 14 wounds, said Richmond County Commonwealth’s Attorney Libby Trible.

“We were never able to determine a motive,” the prosecutor said.

The video showed Ball leaving the common area and entering an adjacent bathroom, where the shank was found containing Lewis’s DNA, Trible said.

Although Trible said jail staff were able to contain the attack without further injury, “the lack of initial law enforcement response severely limited the Commonwealth’s ability to interview witnesses who were sent to other facilities, or the defendant who was interviewed by jail staff but not provided with Miranda

warnings.”

Those issues “ultimately affected the prosecution,” Trible said.

Trible said in order to secure a guilty plea from Ball from which his ability to appeal would be limited — “and because our case had been hobbled by a lack of early law enforcement investigation”—an agreement was struck that limited Ball’s punishment.

On Oct. 3, Ball pleaded guilty to aggravated malicious wounding and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with five years suspended. But the five years of active time Ball received will be served concurrently with the 36 years he received for killing the officer.

“I discussed this negotiation and its benefit with Jamie Walter (the widow of special agent Michael Walter) shortly after the case concluded,” Trible said.

In addition to being convicted of the prison attacks, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Richmond secured a conviction against Ball in February 2020 on charge of possessing the .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol that he used to fatally shoot Walter.

Five months later, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson sentenced Ball to 10 years in prison. The judge ordered the sentence to run consecutively to the term Ball received in the capital murder case.

As it stands now, Ball’s time behind bars has been extended 25 years on top of the 36 years he originally received. A Richmond judge will consider extending it even more in March.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRACELAND BAPTIST CHURCH

members of Graceland Baptist Church, including the Special Buddies Sunday school class.

To the people who help create the mosaic of me

LAURA MCFARLAND Managing Editor

My personality, like my life, is what I like to call eclectic.

Between a job that covers such a wide scope of life in the community, friends with some similar and some widely differing interests, and my own penchant for switching back and forth between hobbies and activities instead of devoting myself entirely to one, it does seem like an appropriate description.

But as much as I like to think of myself as unique, I do appreciate that who I am is not only a reflection of who I am deep inside but also the people who have been part of my life, in big and small ways.

Social media can be annoying, dreadful and a black hole of wasting time, but occasionally you see little nuggets of wisdom that hit home and stick in ways you didn’t expect. I read recently where someone described themselves as a “mosaic of everyone I’ve ever loved, even for a heartbeat.” It made me sit back and reflect a little on how who I have known has shaped me, even in small or seemingly insignificant ways.

I love music videos as a form of storytelling because of my sophomore year roommate, who forcibly introduced me to MTV, VH1 and a whole new world of music that went beyond the country and Christian pop dominant in my house growing up.

Similarly, I gained a deep appreciation for classic films from sitting with my grandparents on their living room couch watching everything from westerns to musicals to silly romantic comedies from the 1940s and 50s.

Occasionally, I find myself saying “my dear” to someone in just a certain way that reminds me of a friend who I lost touch with because she lived a world away and when I reached out to reconnect was incredibly saddened to learn she had passed away.

A listening ear with no drive to “fix” things can make an incredible difference in someone’s ability to cope with a bad situation – a lesson truly brought home during a late night talk

with a girl going through a breakup who I haven’t spoken to in 20 years.

I discovered how much I adore Brussel sprouts when a friend’s aunt living in England made them for dinner while we were visiting. The friend and I each tried a sprout for the first time on the count of three – I loved it and she hated it.

I discovered a passion for board games in my 30s because a couple who has since moved away invited me over for a Sunday afternoon game day, showing me that there really was more to them than Monopoly.

I learned that sometimes there are two types of people in the world – those who listen and those who wait to talk – from a relative who made me feel like

everything I said was a jumping off topic for something she wanted to say. She made me want to be a person who listens.

The number of my habits, phrases, preferences and idiosyncrasies tied to people throughout my life is endless, and there are probably so many I don’t even notice about myself, much less the influence someone else had on my life to help form them.

But when I think about all of those people, whether gone, forgotten or still very much a part of my life, helping create the mosaic that is me, for better or worse, I can only feel grateful and blessed.

Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.

Where is the outcry for youngest victims?

ROSLYN RYAN Richmond Suburban News

As news of Buffalo Bills’

safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during a Jan. 2 game traveled around the world last week, reaction from the public was swift.

Billboards went up, donations poured in, and all manner of celebrity voices filled the airwaves—and the social media channels—with heartfelt messages of support. Since then the eyes of the nation, it seems, have been riveted to the story of the stellar young athlete cut down by a cruel twist of fate during what should have been one of the most exciting nights of his life.

None of this, of course, has been surprising. After all, tweet-

ing a “praying” emoji or pledging a donation for a person who, through no fault of his own, has suffered a life-altering event is something of an easy call. And while Hamlin’s story has already touched off the expected debate about the inherent dangers of a sport that involves violent collisions and myriad ways for players to be seriously injured, you’d have to turn over quite a few rocks before you found a person who didn’t at least offer a few grudging words of support.

So what then, you might ask, could possibly be the problem?

I’ll tell you.

Last week, as the world was discussing Damar Hamlin, Hopewell resident Brionna Taylor was still reeling from the

loss of her 8-year-old daughter, P’aris Moore, a sweet-faced elementary schooler who was shot to death while riding her bicycle in her neighborhood. Few of us who don’t work in the medical field will ever have to know the destruction that a bullet will do to a child’s tiny body, or the trauma the loss of that child inflicts on a family and a community. But what we do know is that, almost certainly, within a few years the story of P’aris Moore’s brief life will be forgotten by most of the people outside her immediate family and her community. The law enforcement officers who worked the case and the medical personnel who tried desperately to save her will remember. But

to the rest of us she will become just another statistic, one of the many innocent children struck down in this country every year by gun violence.

Maybe we don’t pay attention because we don’t feel like these is anything we can do, that the problem is too big. Maybe we look away because we can’t imagine such a thing happening in our own neighborhoods. Whatever the reason, a solution will never be found until we are no longer able to look away.

So why bring this up? Why conflate these two events that, in almost every sense, have nothing to do with each other?

Because I want a billboard for P’aris. I want a Google search of her name to pull up more than

TO THE EDITOR

a handful of local news stories and a link to her obituary and for her story to be known far and wide. I want the names of Akeem Briscoe, Kyhara Tay and Briana Palmer, just a small fraction of the children under the age of 12 who were killed last year by stray bullets, to be familiar to all Americans. I want a memorial to fallen children and an annual day of mourning.

I want people to understand that a professional athlete suffering a life-threatening medical crisis is a truly horrible event, but a child being murdered should be the bigger headline.

We need to protect our athletes. But the fact that we can’t protect our children is the real tragedy.

The things that matter

JIM RIDOLPHI Contributing Columnist

It has often been said it takes a village to raise a child, and if that son or daughter is disabled, the saying takes on new meaning.

My twins, Jack and Emma, are preparing for their second semester at VCU, both having successfully negotiated the challenges of a new environment and a new set of challenges of a freshman first semester.

I must admit I didn’t know how this would all play out, and there were times when I considered the obstacles facing the twins as they entered college.

I should have known better. As soon as living arrangements were finalized and Emma was placed in a suite with Jack, I was relieved and satisfied that Jack’s chances of success were greatly improved with his twin sister’s presence.

In reality, Jack’s siblings have stepped up and shown enormous resolve since his diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy more than a decade ago. They have endured the broken legs and disappointing

drug trials and supported him every step of the way. Honestly, I sometimes have questioned the negative effect of having a sibling with a chronic illness might have on them, but I’ve learned the experience has been more motivating and positive than any negative impact.

It’s instilled a sense of compassion and caring that seems almost noble to a parent looking on from afar, and I’m thankful for the amazing example they display.

Jack’s older sister, Sophia, participated in a webinar broadcast last year featuring siblings of Duchenne patients, and expressed how her life had been enhanced by Jack’s experiences and the positive impact it had on her outlook for the future.

Emma recently provided remarks for a fundraiser for Parents Project for Muscular Dystrophy, a dedicated community comprised of supporters and affected families.

“I love being Jack’s twin, and we share a special bond. Seeing the effects of Duchenne manifest in the people we love is

hard. I want to do everything I can to make sure Jack stays healthy for as long as possible,” Emma said in her post.

Speaking in support of a cardiac initiative sponsored by PPMD, Emma said, “Keeping Jack’s heart strong means that he feels healthier for longer, he can do more of the things he likes to do, and stay mobile. It will give him a better quality of life for longer, and that means we get to make even more memories together in the years to come.”

These efforts are just a small example of the importance of Jack’s siblings to his well-being, a statement of true dedication and compassion that has become a way of life for them.

The promise of a new year and the possibilities it presents offers new hope of cures and treatments, but all of us live with the reality of a cruel disease with no known cure. But, Jack also lives with the promise of a dedicated support group headed by his siblings who will not waiver in providing him with the things he treasures the most — the love and respect of his family.

Local man grateful for help from strangers

Dear Editor,

I am writing about my car accident that occurred on October 19, 2022, and to thank the individuals that selflessly assisted me. My accident occurred on Huguenot Road in Powhatan at about 11 on the morning of October 19 when another driver turned into my lane and hit my car head on. As a result of the crash I suffered several injuries including multiple broken bones. I recall that three people came to my aid – two men and a woman that identified herself as a nurse. They talked with me, keeping me calm, and helped me out of the car when it was smoking and threatening to catch on fire. The nurse called my wife to let her know what happened as well as my employer. All stayed with me until local EMS and police could take over. I do not recall their names due to the event that was unfolding, but I would like to express my gratitude to all of the people who aided me that day.

I’m luck in that I am recovering well from my injuries and thank God that there are caring people in the community that take time out of their busy schedules to render aid when it is needed. I hope that this letter is published in the Powhatan Today so

that my gratitude might find its way to all of those that helped that day.

Todd D’Ambrosio Powhatan

Christmas

Mother thankful for community’s kind support

Dear Editor, Well. The Christmas Mother Christmas gifting season is all wrapped up (pun intended) for 2022.

A HUGE thank you to all the folks who gave donations (both monetary and purchased items) and to those who volunteered to help the Powhatan Christmas Mother program fulfill its mission of providing Christmas gifts to local families who struggle to procure gifts for their children and senior family members.

It was heartwarming to experience the generosity of the Powhatan community – both businesses and individuals. From hosting angel trees and toy drives and “benefit nights” and raffles, to cash collections at check-out, “adoption” of a family or individual and shopping their wish lists, shopping for special items, ordering from our wish list on Amazon, making handmade dishrags and blankets, hats and scarves, crafts. Every school in the county participated in some way, whether it was

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Powhatan today welcomes your Letters to the editor on topics of concern to you and the community. Letters, which should be no longer than 400 words, must include the name, address and telephone number of the author. the deadline is noon thethursday before publication, but letters may be held until the following week upon the editor’s discretion. the publisher or editor of Powhatan today reserves the right to edit or withhold from publication any letter for any reason whatsoever. once received, all letters become the possession of Powhatan today. Letters reflect the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of Powhatan today or its staff.

making stocking stuffers or collecting toys and sports items.

Volunteers helped pick up, sort and organize donations, shop, wrap, pack and deliver gifts. The members of the Christmas Everyday Committee have worked countless hours behind the scenes to make the operation run like a “well-oiled machine.”

And the engine that drives that machine is everyone who contributed and encouraged us during the process. Thank you, thank you to each and every one of you.

We won’t go completely dormant until next September, for as the Christmas Everyday Committee we are here to help folks in emergency situations throughout the year.

It is an honor and a privilege for me to serve as the 2022-23 Powhatan Christmas Mother, to meet many folks I didn’t know, to see the next generation(s) stepping in to help their neighbors. I am truly blessed!

Powhatan is a great place to live, and you all make it so.

Kathy Ware

Powhatan Christmas Mother

P.S. For anyone who intended to donate to the Christmas Mother, it’s not too late. Send your check to Powhatan Christmas Mother, P.O. Box 461, Powhatan, VA 23139 or donate on-line at PowhatanChristmasMother.org.

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LETTER

The Powhatan County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office requested a special prosecutor be assigned due to a conflict of interest. Jennifer Guiliano with the Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office was assigned by the court.

Ledbetter was taken into cus-

tody without incident Friday and released on bond by the magistrate, according to Searfoss. He is scheduled to appear in the Powhatan Juvenile Domestic Relations Court on Jan. 31.

Corinne N. Geller, public relations director for the state police, replying to a question about Ledbetter’s status in December, confirmed only that he had been placed on administrative leave effective Dec. 6 and that no more

information would be released pending the outcome of an ongoing criminal investigation and a subsequent internal administrative investigation.

Geller said Saturday that upon his arrest, state police suspended Ledbetter without pay pending the outcome of the judicial process. Ledbetter was hired in June 2004 and has been assigned to Virginia State Police Safety Division since March 2019.

The Catholic Diocese of Richmond issued a statement on Dec. 9 saying it was made aware of an incident involving a student and parent volunteer on the school grounds of Blessed Sacrament and that the school and staff were cooperating with the sheriff’s office while it conducted its investigation.

Ledbetter is the husband of former Blessed Sacrament head of school Paula Ledbetter. A di-

ocese spokesperson confirmed in December that she had stepped down as head of school.

Searfoss said Friday that this is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information related to the alleged offenses should contact the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office at (804) 5985656.

Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.

authors? I am more comfortable in a library than I am anywhere else,” she said.

She acknowledged the library is doing the local authors a great service by highlighting and promoting them as well as introducing them to potential new readers.

“In this general area there are a lot of writers, and a lot of people are not aware of that. I think this is one way to spread the word that this is a very artistic community.

Members of the Friends of the Library will also be on hand with information on membership and opportunities.

Authors interested in participating may still request to do so by contacting Joynes at the library. The last day to apply is Jan. 13.

“Our readers have a range of interests too, and we are happy that our participating authors’ work will offer something for everyone,” library director Chandra McPherson said. “And, a potential author may not know that the story they have to tell is something others would want to read. That person may see one of these authors telling a similar story and be inspired to write.”

The Writer’s Roundup checks off several boxes: it’s a fun social event, it promotes local writers, and it gives readers a chance to discover new authors and maybe even be inspired to become authors themselves, McPherson said.

“We hope authors will find new readers, and may find inspiration for the next project by getting feedback from those readers,” she said.

The event will have a different format this year; instead of being congregated in one area, authors will be spread throughout the li-

brary for people to visit, Joynes said.

“I know in the past all the tables were in the atrium. I felt like that was too cramped. This year, I am going to have tables spread throughout the library using that nice big window with the wooded area so that the conversations can be a little more organic and people can come up and talk to the authors – just having a chance to talk to the authors without it being so jam packed,” he said.

All of the authors have been invited to bring their books to sell at the event.

Bev Baker of Powhatan will be there promoting her children’s book, “Best Friends,” which she self-published at the end of 2022.

The book tells the story of two unlikely friends, a goat named Henry and a Doberman named Corky.

Baker said the story was inspired by a story she heard from a local man, Tony Hertzler, and that she thought it would make a great book. She illustrated the book with her own whimsical drawings, which were a departure from the watercolors she usually does.

As a member of the Friends of Powhatan Library, Baker said she was already in support of the event even before she decided to participate.

“The library does such a great job entertaining and educating young children and young people. What the library does enticed me to contribute in some way,” she said.

Nancy Wright Beasley of North Chesterfield will be selling her three books, “Izzy’s Fire: Finding Humanity in the Holocaust,” “The Little Lion: A Hero in the Holocaust,” and “Reflections of a Purple

“Izzy’s Fire” and “The Little Lion” both

of the incredibly brave acts of some people during World War II to try to save the lives of Jewish people under threat from the Nazis. “Reflections of a Purple Zebra” is a compilation of 60 of Beasley’s columns published in Richmond magazine.

Beasley said she was delighted about the opportunity to participate in the Writer’s Roundup, which she saw as a wonderful opportunity not only to meet new people but to do it in such a wonderful setting.

“I am always excited to be in a library. Heaven to me would be to be in a library with unlimited supplies of coffee and chocolate. I could spend my life in a library. … The library is made up of books so why shouldn’t it be a place to showcase

Yet another author participating in the Writer’s Roundup is Abigail Olson of Richmond, who will be selling her book, “The Haywagon,” which was published in 2020. The book is a memoir told through a collection of short stories and was a 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award finalist in the Women’s Issues (Non-Fiction) and Short Story Collections categories. The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools also included it on their Books of Interest list for parents and educators of grades nine to 12.

Olson said she learns best with stories, so she hopes people of all ages can take something away from her stories.

“It sounds like a great way to get involved in a reader community that I am not really familiar with right now,” she said.

For details about this and all programs, contact Powhatan County Public Library at 804-598-5670, visit www.powhatanlibrary.net, or look for special program updates on the library’s Facebook page. The library will be showcasing the different participating authors on its Facebook page leading up to the event.

Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com.

Richmond-based mysteries; Gail Timberlake, children’s literature; Maria Tucciarone, poetry; Abigail Olson, memoirist; Beverley Baker, children’s literature; Joe Ondishko, haikus; Sandra Kemp, local historian; Anne Blankman, young adult/ juvenile fiction; Laura McFarland, journalism; R.T. Walton, poetry; and Carolyn Greene, romance/ inspirational. Illustrator Robert Meganck will also participate.

Zebra: Essays of a Different Stripe.”

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Left: Bev Baker of Powhatan will participate in the Writer’s roundup promoting her children’s book, “Best Friends.” she is one of at least 15 authors scheduled to attend. Right: author abigail olson will be selling her book, “ the hay-wagon,” at the Writer’s roundup

DeBord’s 27 points help topple Cavaliers

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Coming off an 18-day break since their last game, the Powhatan boys basketball team started the rest of its season off on the right foot with a close regional victory over the Clover Hill Cavaliers on Jan. 4.

The 57-53 victory, which pushed Powhatan to a 3-6 record on the season, was a tight battle from the jump, with the Indians trailing by two entering the final eight minutes of play before outscoring the Cavaliers 16-10 in the fourth quarter.

Powhatan’s defense swarms Clover Hill in blowout win

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Behind a lethal half court press and unselfish play that sparked constant fast break buckets, the Powhatan girls basketball team jumped ahead early and never looked back in a 53-22 thrashing of the Clover Hill Cavaliers on Jan. 3.

The win was Powhatan’s sixth of the season and after a loss to L.C. Bird two days later, it pushed the Indians to a 6-5 record as they reached the midway point of the season.

From the opening tipoff, the Cavaliers (1-9) struggled mightily with the defense of the Indians, who waited for them to reach half court before trapping the ball and swallowing up passing lanes. Powhatan’s defense creating easy offense is a philosophy head coach Steve Washburn has preached all season, and it was in full effect in the team’s 10th game of the season.

That tone-setting defensive intensity helped guide the Indians to a 21-5 advantage at the end of the first quarter, with sophomore Emma Terry leading the way with eight points and senior Katherine Cerullo chipping in seven more points behind her.

After Clover Hill scored the opening bucket of the game, Powhatan railed off 14 unanswered points, six of which came from Terry on fast break layups. Cerullo, meanwhile, showed off her confidence as a jumpshooter,

Sophomore forward Matt Henderson added nine of his 15 points in just the fourth quarter alone, including two-of-three shooting from the free throw line, which helped propel the Indians ahead late in the game, but it was the 27-point outburst from senior guard Jack DeBord that led the way for Powhatan throughout the night.

The senior marksman was white hot coming out of the gate, knocking down three triples in the first quarter and scoring 19 of his 27 points in the first half to set the tone and help keep the

Indians within striking distance of the lead. Aside from a bucket from big man Austin Hurt and a free throw from Henderson, DeBord accounted for 14 of the team’s 17 first quarter points in what was one of his most impressive outings in a Powhatan uniform.

After a close first quarter where the Indians led 17-15, the Cavaliers battled back and took control of the lead with John Allen, Bryce Matthews and Mikea Lewis scoring four points apiece.

In the third quarter, DeBord

added seven more points and his fifth 3-pointer of the night while center Paul Bonner knocked down another three to help cut the deficit down to just two entering the fourth quarter, 42-41.

With more attention on DeBord, it was Henderson’s time to take over, and the sensational sophomore did just that, carving up the Cavaliers defense to carry the scoring load for his team and help them win their third game of the season. Credit also goes to freshman Ryan Flippo, who took advantage of his opportunities with two buckets for four points

in the fourth quarter.

The Indians played one more game last week, falling to a tough L.C. Bird team (7-3) 64-43 that moves their record to 3-7 heading into matchups against Maggie Walker and Cosby. Their matchup against the Titans (7-4) on Jan. 11 will be another big test for the Indians, with the Titans entering the matchup riding a three-game winning streak. That home matchup for Powhatan will start at 7:15 p.m.

Robby

Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

dog trainer competes in prestigious dog competition

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Moments before competing in the finals of the 2022 American Kennel Club Agility Invitationals, Powhatan dog trainer Nina Cosgriff stood alongside her dog Leia and basked in the surreal environment that surrounded them.

There were cameras everywhere, a TV film crew, commen-

tators and a massive audience encircling them as they prepared to embark on their biggest run together at one of the largest dog competitions in the country.

But getting to this point together wasn’t easy. In fact, it took years of dedicated training and work for Cosgriff to get Leia ready for this massive moment, which ended in Leia placing third among 126 competing dogs in the

16-inch height category.

“She was spectacular and so relaxed,” Cosgriff said of Leia’s performance. “I could hear the audience getting louder and louder with each obstacle we cleared.”

Born and raised in Sweden, where she lived on a horse farm training and competing in showjumping with ponies and horses, Cosgriff has been a resident of

Powhatan since 2012. In that time, she started her own dog training business while training and competing with her own three dogs in several different sports both on the local and national level.

Leia, a 3-year-old Australian Kelpie, is one of those dogs. Leia is also a native of Sweden, and in

Proffitt wins, Indians place fourth at Bristol Brawl

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

The Powhatan Indians traveled all the way to Bristol, Tennessee for the 2023 Bill Brimer Brawl in the Hall on Jan. 6-7, one of the biggest competitions they’ll face this season.

The Indians impressed against a field of 33 teams, placing fourth with 171 points led by a masterclass performance from senior Britton Proffitt, who won the 145-pound class and improved his record to 16-4 on the season.

While Proffitt was the lone Powhatan wrestler to win his bracket, the team still had multiple big outings from wrestlers like Luke Wells, Gavin Utley and Ricky Huber, with Wells placing second in the 120-pound class

and Utley and Huber placing third in the 138 and 220-pound classes.

Proffitt’s impressive senior season continued with a dominant display complete with three consecutive pins leading up to the semifinals. Each pin came at a lightning fast pace, with Proffitt’s longest match of the first three clocking in at just 39 seconds when he pinned down Ravenswood’s Kaden Hamel in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Proffitt matched up against Morristown-Hamblen West’s Braiden Shelton, and though it didn’t end in a fourth straight pin, Proffitt still dominated nearly every second of the match, cruising to a 16-1 tech fall victory.

In the final, Proffitt had his closest match of the day against Cannon Mullins from Dobyns Bennett. Proffitt opened with a 2-1 lead after the first period after recording a takedown. The second period had a similar result, with Proffitt getting his second takedown of the night while Mullins picked up his second escape. Holding onto a 4-2 lead in the third period, Proffitt escape from Mullins to earn one last point and win the day with a 5-2 decision victory.

Wells, holding a 17-2 record on the season, placed second after pinning four straight opponents on the way to the championship match. Taking on Rural Retreat’s

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Powhatan senior Britton Proffitt stands atop the podium after winning first place in the 145-pound class at the Bill Brimer Brawl in the Hall in Bristol, Tennessee on Jan. 6-7.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREAT DANE PHOTOGRAPHY

Nina Cosgriff and her dog Leia (third from the left) stand with their third place ribbon after competing in the finals of the 2022 AKC Agility Invitationals on Dec. 16-18, 2022.

Parker Sloan honored at basketball game

class, only 12 made it to the finals.

2019, Cosgriff flew to Denmark, took a train to Sweden and added Leia to her family. The Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized dog and a common breed in Europe, with Sweden having the second highest population for the breed. It’s a breed known for excelling in dog sports such as agility, obedience and tracking as well as in police work and search and rescue operations.

In the case of Leia, Cosgriff says training her proved to be a difficult task early on. At a young age, Leia was attacked by dogs on several occasions and developed a fear of other dogs and an anxiety for loud noises. Cosgriff worked tirelessly over the past two years to help Leia regain her confidence and overcome these fears, and with the AKC Invitationals being a loud and very crowded event, it was a test she hoped Leia was ready to take on. It turns out, Leia was ready for the challenge.

After competing in local and national competitions in a pointbased qualifying process that sees the top-5 dogs in each breed get an invitation to the event, Leia was one of 745 dogs from 43 represented states to make it to the invitational.

Cosgriff and Leia drove 12 hours to get to the event held in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center from Dec. 16-18. The invitational featured two days of competition and four rounds: standard, jumpers, hybrid and one last jumpers course. The four rounds lead to a cumulative score, and the dogs with fewest faults and fastest times in each height class advance to the finals round. Of the 126 dogs in Leia’s

Wrestling

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Parker Stone in the semifinals, Wells won with his fourth pin just as the first period ended, recording it at exactly two minutes to set up a matchup against Avery County’s Benjamin Jordan in the final.

Wells lost 4-0 in the final

Cosgriff says in order to make the finals, four “clean” rounds are necessary to have a chance, and while they didn’t have the fastest times, Leia finished with four clean rounds that were enough to advance her to the final round.

“I knew we didn’t have the fastest times in each round, but I was so proud of how she handled this environment and how confident and happy she had been all weekend,” she said.

With all of the lights, cameras and eyeballs centered on Cosgriff and Leia in the finals, Cosgriff says her canine companion was spectacular and relaxed.

Toward the end of the course, Leia had to run over the dog walk and hit the yellow contact zone, over a jump, then to the weave poles before finishing off the course with one last jump. Leia increased speed and cleared that last jump, giving her yet another clean run that placed her on the “hot seat” where the leader of the class sits. The spot was surrounded by cameras, and all Cosgriff could do was applaud Leia for an incredible achievement on the big stage.

They were eventually upstaged by another competitor, but once they received their trophy and ribbons and headed back to their hotel, Cosgriff likened the experience to floating on little clouds. After such an exciting and eventful day, she said she had trouble sleeping that night.

“All the years of training: the early mornings, the driving, the blistered feet and sunburnt arms, the lifting and setting up heavy agility equipment, it is so worth it,” Cosgriff said. “Not just to compete with your dog, but to build that relationship and work, train and learn with your dog, your best friend. It is truly priceless.”

against Jordan, who earned an early two points through a first period takedown and picked up two more in the third through a reversal. Though a tough result in the final, it was another strong performance from Wells, who has established himself as one of Powhatan’s top performers this season.

Utley (16-6), much like Wells, was a machine in his early

Basketball

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knocking down a long two early in the game and swishing a 3-pointer from the wing to cap off a quarter that was all-Powhatan all the time.

The second quarter was even better for the Indians, who didn’t allow a single point on their home court while scoring 14 of their own.

matches, pinning his first four opponents on the way to the semifinals. His first three pins came in the first period, and the fourth came with four seconds left in the second period. Though Utley lost by a pin in the semifinals, he ended his appearance in Bristol on a high note with two more wins, one a consolation win over Abingdon’s Michael Maxfield in a 4-1 decision and another

Cerullo added eight more points in the second and finished her night with a team-high 21 points.

By the end of the second quarter, Washburn was able to clear the bench and get a look at the depth of the team with the Indians holding a comfortable 35-5 lead.

The Indians let their foot off the gas a bit in the second half with the lead firmly in their fa-

in the third place game against Donavan Smith Peters from Sullivan East in a 7-5 decision.

In an exciting opening period, Utley trailed 3-2 after two minutes with a takedown, then recorded a late takedown and an escape in the third period to win the match.

Huber responded from an early loss in his second matchup of the tournament to win six straight on

vor, and they were able to cruise to their fifth double-digit victory this season.

Up next for Powhatan is a meeting at home with the Manchester Lancers (9-2) on Thursday, Jan. 12. The Indians faced the Lancers in their season-opener on Nov. 29, which the Lancers ran away with in a 60-22 defeat. Their second meeting of the season tips off at 7:15 p.m.

the way to his third place finish, with the run featuring four pins. In the third place match, a medical forfeit against Dobyns Bennett’s Branson Carswell ended the meeting early and gave Huber a solid result to cap off a positive tournament performance.

Next up for Powhatan is a meet hosted by Cosby High School that’ll feature Benedictine and Atlee on Jan. 11.

STAFF REPORT

Powhatan’s Parker Sloan was honored by the fans in attendance at a basketball game on Jan. 7 with a banner commemorating his Gatorade Player of the Year honor from his senior season.

The decorated soccer star, who currently plays at the University of Virginia, was named the player

of the year after a brilliant senior season where he helped guide the program to a state tournament appearance.

Sloan scored 35 goals in his final season as an Indian while also contributing 17 assists. He was also named the Times-Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year for boys soccer.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

Parker sloan (right) stands with his Gatorade Player of the year banner next to Powhatan head coach Willie Miles.

PHOTO BY ROBBY FLETCHER

Freshman addison delaney drives down the floor in Powhatan’s win over Clover Hill on Jan. 3.

Jenkins qualifies for states at East Coast Elite

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Powhatan’s track and field team traveled to Lexington, Virginia on Jan. 7 for another scheduled meet featuring 67 competing schools at East Coast Elite, hosted by VMI at the Corps Physical Training Facility.

At the top of Powhatan’s day was a fantastic performance from junior Mayson Jenkins, who qualified for states already in the 500-meter dash. Among a field of 89 timed runners in the 500, the speedy Powhatan runner was at her very best, blasting to a sixth place finish with a time of 1:21.64. Jenkins says now that she’s qualified in the 500, she can focus her attention on qualifying for the 300-meter dash this season.

“I’m really excited to have auto-qualified for states in the 500,” Jenkins said. “Qualifying this early allows me the opportunity to focus on qualifying in the 300. I plan to continue training hard to improve my times before regionals and states.”

Jenkins says the team has been building steadily throughout the early parts of the season, and the progress has been showing in their times on the track.

“Everybody’s working really hard and motivating each other a lot,” Jenkins said. “Our girls 4x400 relay team is three seconds off the school record and my 500 is less than one second off the school record, so those are goals I still hope to achieve personally and with my teammates.”

Another strong performance came from freshman Dylan Mapes in the boys 1600-meter run, with Mapes placing 34th among 134 timed runners with a time of 4:58.92. His teammates Caleb Edling, Giovanni Hernandez and Owen Kerns also competed in the race, and Edling had Powhatan’s second best time at 5:20.19, earning him the 68th best time.

In the 1600 for the girls side,

Powhatan’s Ella Green and Elizabeth Weimer competed among a field of 75 runners, with Weimer recording the 14th best time of 5:32.71 and Green placing 34th with a 5:55.88 result.

The Indians found a winner in the boys 500-meter middle school finals as well, with eighth grade runner Aiden Tuck placing first with a 1:22.63 time. His teammate Calvin Wilson was close behind with a time of 1:32.55 to finish in fifth. Tuck later competed and won in the middle school 4x400 relay alongside Morgan Powers, Peter Stallings and Mason Epps, with that group

finishing with a time of 4:36.31.

In the boys 300-meter middle school run, Powhatan Middle School’s Sam Stout also took home some first place glory, just getting past a Kettle Run competitor with a winning time of 43.72 seconds.

Up next for the Indians track team is a Midlothian-hosted Dominion District Polar Bear Meet on Jan. 12 that’ll feature Clover Hill, Cosby and Huguenot.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Powhatan’s track and field team traveled to Lexington, Virginia on Jan. 7 to compete in the East Coast Elite championships.

Powhatan’s Caleb Edling had a time of 20.19 in the 1600-meter run.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO