Kilic shares devastation of Turkey earthquakes

LAURA MCFARLAND

Managing Editor

POWHATAN – Tony Kilic feels like he didn’t need to die to experience Judgement Day.

Two days after massive 7.8 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes on Feb. 6 devastated the countries of Turkey, where Kilic was visiting his family, and Syria, he stood by the grave of a friend and his mother who never even had the chance to get out of bed before their building collapsed.

As he mourned the loss of his friend, he watched as the horrifying reality of the situation afflicting his homeland unfolded all around him. A man pulled up to the cemetery in a pickup truck filled with the seven bodies of relatives. Public services in the south central town of Adana, where his parents live, were so overwhelmed that they couldn’t handle all of the burials themselves.

“The guy had to go to the morgue, pick up his family’s bodies in the bed of his truck because he couldn’t get anybody else to do it,” Kilic said.

Soon after, a van pulled up with four bodies in it needing to be buried. There were no coffins – just body bags.

“The backhoes are constantly digging holes and the other backhoes are putting dirt on the holes,” he said. “I am watching this scene and they bring this 10-year-old girl and put her in the dirt and cover her up. … Because of the weather conditions and the scale of destruction in the area everything was so complicated. It upsets me seeing that

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VIEW: Scan to make a monetary donation to the Turkish Philanthropy Fund

A Powhatan man who was arrested in October 2022 and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography was indicted on 18 additional criminal charges Tuesday, Feb. 14 by the Powhatan County Grand Jury.

As the result of an ongoing investigation by the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office, Stephen Russell Shaw of Powhatan was indicted on one count of production of child phonography first offense, five counts of production of child phonography second or subsequent offense, six counts of possession of child pornography, and six counts of unlawful filming of a nonconsenting nude minor, according to chief deputy Jeffery Searfoss.

Shaw was located on Thursday, Feb. 16 in Georgia and taken into custody without incident, Searfoss said. The Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office expressed its gratitude for the assistance provided by the Sandy Springs Police Department Vice and Narcotics Unit and Street Crimes Unit. Shaw will remain in custody in Georgia as extradition is sought by Powhatan County.

Tim Dustan, assistant commonwealth’s attorney, confirmed Friday, Feb. 17 that Shaw was not explicitly in violation of his bond conditions, which allowed him to leave the state, and was not considered a fugitive when he was arrested in Georgia. Shaw was previously arrested on two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography on Oct. 6, 2022. This was pursuant to evidence collected during a search warrant at his residence which was executed on Sept. 30, 2022. Those original charges are set for a preliminary hearing on March 24. County officials confirmed in October 2022 that at the time of his arrest, Shaw was a Powhatan County employee in the Building and Inspections Department. He was put on unpaid suspension following the initial charges but later resigned. He was also a member of Powhatan Volunteer Fire Department Fine Creek (Company 4) but voluntarily resigned.

At the time of his arrest, Shaw was also an active member of the Central Virginia Wrestling Officials Association (CVWOA, Inc.), which provides officials for middle schools and high schools within the tri-cities area, but had his membership put under suspension pending the investigation of the charges.

If anyone has any information, contact the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office at (804) 5985656.

Sandra Kemp of Powhatan stands next to a jumpsuit she created in college and later donated to The Valentine. It is on display through March at the museum.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VALENTINE

Kemp’s work featured at Valentine museum

LAURA MCFARLAND

Managing Editor

New Exhibit Celebrates Black Businesses In Powhatan

Jackie Watson of Powhatan and her children Katia Watson-Dickerson and Travis Taylor read information in the Powhatan African American Cultural Arts Museum’s new exhibit “The History of Black Business” during an open house on Feb. 19. The exhibit is located in the lobby of the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway. Daily walk through hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, and future open houses will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. March 4-5, April 1-2 and May 6-7.