Free clinic founder retiring

GWEN SADLER

Contributing Writer

Connie Moslow began her career as a school teacher, but after a few years she left the profession to raise her family and pursue volunteer work wherever she saw a need. The talents she discovered in herself and the skills she developed along the way led her to start the Powhatan Free Clinic in 2008. A few years after moving to Powhatan, Moslow wondered

Mission To Bring Healthcare To The Uninsured

why there was no affordable, or free, healthcare provided in the county for those in need.

“Powhatan was one of the only counties of its size in the area without services,” she said.

She set out on a quest to gather information and see whether the need existed, and what she could do to make that happen. After visiting free clinics in other localities throughout the state, she contacted Dr. Bill Nelson, then-di-

Local Students Shine At

Last month, Powhatan students from Flat Rock Elementary, Pocahontas Elementary, Powhatan Middle School and Powhatan High School attended the Future Problem Solvers Virginia finals, competing against schools from around the state. Powhatan students made up four of the 10 teams competing and Powhatan High School would go on to win the Community Problem Solvers award. Future Problem Solvers is a non-profit educational program that encourages students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to imaginary future situations rector of the Chesterfield district of the state’s health department, which includes Powhatan and Chesterfield counties, as well as the City of Colonial Heights.

“I asked him about the need for funding a free clinic in Powhatan, and he said, ‘What took you so long?’” Moslow said. Almost immediately, Nelson arranged for the Bons Secours Care-A-Van, a free mobile medical unit which serves unin- sured and underinsured people throughout the region, to come to Powhatan. Moslow arranged for the unit to set up at the county’s fairgrounds.

“The medical personnel on the van were supposed to begin at 9 a.m., and people were lining up at 7 a.m. By the end of the day, two people had been taken directly to a hospital in ambulances.” introduced last Wednesday evening, said the fault ultimately rests with the county leadership.

“It’s not the treasurer’s fault, it’s not the commissioner of revenue’s fault—it’s our fault because we have not held accountable the software vendor who is responsible for implementation of the system,” Williams said. Williams also pledged to ensure that the matter is handled once and for all, regardless of what the county has to do to fix it.

“This is going to be discussed and there is going to be closure and people are going to be held accountable, especially those of us on this stage,” Williams said.

Hit-and-run victim was Powhatan High School graduate

ROSLYN RYAN Editor

A local family remains in mourning this week after a former Powhatan resident was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Richmond on May 10. Richmond police say Ryan Howell, 28, was struck by a vehicle while walking in the 5200 block of Orcutt Lane near his home. He was pronounced dead shortly after rescue workers arrived on the scene. The driver involved left the scene and at press time had not been identified.

A 2013 graduate of Powhatan High School, Howell was also a member of St. James Baptist Church. According to an obituary published last week, he leaves behind three young children.

A funeral service was held on Friday, May 19, at Passion Community Church in Powhatan.

Police continue to search for any information that might help identify who struck Howell, and ask anyone who might be able to provide information to call police at (804) 646-1369 or call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.