Powhatan Today –12/28/2022

Board considers larger issues as part ofre

By LauraMcFarland Managing Editor

Top 10 stories of 2022

Pumpkindecorationssparkjoy

LAURA MCFARLAND Managing Editor

POWHATAN – For the second

to vote to ask for Smither’s resignation (July 25 meeting) and then to fire him with cause (Sept. 26

of the divide defending Smither and his decisions opposite of David Williams and Bill Cox, who previously tried to get the board

their assertions that actions taken by the county administrator irrevocably damaged the fairness and equity of the plan. Evaluating its

By LauraMcFarland Managing Editor

Powhatan clean audit

Managing Editor

POWHATAN – Powhatan County learned last week it has once again received a clean audit report on the county’s June 30, 2022, Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Middle school rolls out variety ofclubs to engage students

current status is expected to be a significant focus of the board in

By LauraMcFarland Managing Editor

The matter came to a head at the Oct. 11 meeting when McClung read a statement saying the only way forward he could see after hearing from many constituents was to call for Smither’s resignation. The decision was ultimately approved 4-1, with Williams dissenting because he didn’t want to pay Smither a severance package. Smither then offered his resignation.

POWHATAN– PowhatanMiddleSchoolwillbe buzzingwithdifferentkinds ofactivitiesmovingforward asnew clubsallow students tobondwithotherstudents withsimilarinterests.

The board has not released any information about plans to hire a new county administrator.

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

2. Powhatan community comes back strong

The evidence of Powhatan County bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic started to materialize in 2021 with the return of several key community events. Special measures were often still in place to mitigate risk, but events like the Powhatan County Fair, Relay for Life, Powhatan Festival

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

“We startedwithstudent

During the Powhatan County Board of Supervisor’s meeting on Monday, Dec. 19, Megan Argenbright, a partner with Brown, Edwards & Company, LLP, presented the results of the independent auditor’s report her firm did on the county’s finances.

The county’s financial statements were prepared by Charla Schubert, finance director, and the auditor’s role is to review them and express an opinion. As has happened consistently in the past few years, the firm delivered an “unmodified” or “clean” opinion on the financial statement, which is “the opinion you would like to receive,” Argenbright said.

Schubert said in a separate interview that the county has received unmodified opinions since she was hired in fiscal year (FY) 2014.

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

Argenbright commended Schubert and her staff not only for achieving an unmodified opinion on the CAFR but because all of the work on the financial report was prepared in-house.

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

“It is kind of a huge deal. I just want to reiterate, No. 1 that Charla puts this report together. It is becoming increasingly rare for our clients to prepare their own financial report and Charla did prepare this report,” Argenbright said. “Not only that but not to have any findings on your single audit or any state compliance findings. … Pretty impressive. Worth noting more than once.”

Justsomeoftheclubtop-

Brown Edwards audited the county’s financial statements of

Community plans three daysof honoring veterans

Community Matters is on the move

Oscarthe

POWHATAN–

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.

LAURA MCFARLAND Managing Editor

POWHATAN – Community Matters – the resource that aims to connect Powhatan’s 55 and forward residents with new connections, entertainment and local services – is evolving again.

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

Starting in January 2023, Community Matters is increasing the number of days a week it will meet and relocating to a familiar place – the training room of the Pocahontas Landmark Center (PLC), according to program coordinator Jayne Lloyd. The change takes effect on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

“Thisisridiculous.These companiesputsomuchinto thisandthey dosuch a great jobdecoratingthesepumpkins. To know thekidsatthe children’s hospitalaregoing togettoseethisisgreat,” she saidafterthecontestended.

Starting the first week of the year, instead of having two sessions every Wednesday, Community Matters will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays in the training room of the gym at the center, which is located at 4290 Anderson Highway. The program is still free and open to Powhatan residents who are 55 and older.

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

Community Matters actually used to meet in the training room of the PLC gym but moved to the Powhatan Rescue Squad Building because it offered more room to grow.

Lloyd anticipates that spreading out the programming over several days will allow

Youth baking workshop has delicious results

POWHATAN – A group of young bakers recently got a crash course in making yummy treats during a two-day Powhatan 4-H Holiday Baking WorkNine youth participated in the event, which saw them learning basic skills and putting them to the test with recipes such as cranberry orange bread, apple crisp, fudge and

Powhatan 4-H Extension Agent Cathy Howland said the workshop held on Dec. 19 and 20 introduced the children to kitchen equipment and techniques, how to follow a recipe and how to put a few healthy

options in holiday baking – although there was still plenty of sugar, chocolate and other “good stuff,” she joked.

The workshop went really well, with some of the nine girls who participated following a recipe for the first time instead of following directions on a box mix, Howland said.

“These are life skills they will take with them. Hopefully, they will learn these basic recipes and continue into adulthood making recipes from scratch,” she said. “Honestly, I don’t think they are ever too young to get exposed to the kitchen, handling the kitchen equipment and learning what it takes to

B1 Knightsclose outregular seasonwith win

PHOTO BY LAUR A McFARL AND hteacher Phil Nu sbaumgives the second Rubik ’s Cube Club, being held every Friday at MiddleSchool.

commonwealth’s attorney

POWHATAN–roleofthecounty’ comprehensive plan, the expectationsofthe business community when making future plans andr dentperspectives wereallele ments in a decision byth Powhatan CountyBoardofSu pervisorson a rezoning issu on Page Road lastweek

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

for Stroud VenturesLLC to construct a contractor’s office alongwith thestorageof a limited quantityofmaterials,supplies and equipmentinside the building However, thediscussion by

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

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

BOARD, pg.6

FILE PHOTO/LAURA MCFARLAND

The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors listens on Oct. 11 as District 2 supervisor Steve McClung (back, far left) reads a statement about why he changed his mind and decided to vote in favor of asking county administrator Ned Smither to resign.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMUNITY MATTERS

Kathryn Glass, from left, Eleanor Delaney, Shirley Royal, Lynne LaPierre and Nobby Hicks play Mahjong during a recent Community Matters session. The program will now have game days at 10 a.m. on Thursdays at its new location.

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Annie Kimbrough, from left, Camryn Perkins and Caroline Chewning work on their apple crisp during the Powhatan 4-H Holiday Baking workshop.

see MATTERS, Page A2

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28

community matters is a resource for all 55 and forward interested in learning, staying active and engaging with peers. c hallenge and socialization are powerful combined and crucial at any age! Program is free; requires independent participation. Weekly sessions with a wide range of topics and activities are held on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the rescue squad building, 3920 marion Harland Lane. Information on various offerings, activities and topics presented can be found on Facebook: Powhatan county reach for active services. call program coordinator Jayne Lloyd at 804-698-0438 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. check for holiday closings. 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, dVds, and audiobooks 24/7 online at www.powhatanlibrary or by phone during open hours at 804-598-5670; 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 804598-5670 for more details, and like the library’s Facebook page for all the latest, up-to-date library news, information and program schedules.

business network International (bnI) 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. services 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. call for holiday hours. For more information or to make an appointment, call (804) 598-5637.

THURSDAY, DEC. 29

Just Kids, an affordable clothing shop selling gently used children’s clothes, sizes newborn to 8 plus, and warm winter coats is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and saturdays. 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.

The Powhatan Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays, saturdays and Tuesdays at 2500 batterson road. contact the pantry at 804-372-9526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@gmail.com. call for holiday hours.

extension specialists and industry experts share timely topics for farmers in the Virginia cooperative e xtension ag 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_2QUVzrPXdpysV2Hy11cH8KbrluifyO. contact stephanie romelczyk (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 rotar y c lub meets at 7:30 a.m. every Thursday at the county seat restaurant.

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

Powhatan state Park will hold a ranger-led hike of Pine Trail promptly at 10 a.m. on dec. 31. Would you like to have the chance to explore all of the trails in Powhatan state Park and meet new people? If so, you may enjoy our hiking series. each month we will hike a different trail in the park and learn about local history and wildlife. Pre-register by calling the park office at 804-598-7148, or by email at powhatan@ dcr.virginia.gov. Include “Hiking series” in the subject line and specify date(s), or alternates in the event a particular hike is fully booked. be sure to wear comfortable, closed toed shoes and to 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. Pre-registration required due to group size limitations.

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 saturday, 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 804-594-7009, 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.

SUNDAY, JAN. 1, 2023 Powhatan state Park is offering ranger-led and self-guided opportunities to explore the park on the first day of the new year on Jan. 1, 2023. Join a ranger for a guided walk along river Trail or participate in an on-your-own bingo adventure throughout the day. The guided walk begins at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is required and the group size limited to 12 participants. contact us at powhatan@dcr.virginia.gov to sign up. dress for the weather and wear footwear you don’t mind getting muddy. If you are participating in the bingo adventure, pre-register to receive a bingo card to print at home. Printed versions will also be available at the park office the day of the event. Take photos of the items found on the board. The first three successfully completed bingo boards submitted at the park office will be awarded a prize of items from the gift shop. Pre-register by email at powhatan@dcr.virginia.gov. Please include in the title “First day Photo Hike, bike or ride.” We will keep track of all email registrations, and send a mass reply containing a printable PdF file containing the bingo board required for participation the day before the event. detailed instructions will be included on the bingo board on how to participate, complete the board, and be eligible for a prize. dress for the weather, wear comfortable footwear, and stay hydrated during this Free parking day. We

hope you will enjoy the winter outdoors during this free parking day. The park is located at 4616 Powhatan state Park road. For more information, call 804-598-7148.

MONDAY, JAN. 2

The Huguenot ruritan c lub meets at 7 p.m. on the first monday of the month at m ay m emorial b aptist c hur ch. For more information, contact Tom Grasty at 804-598-0777.

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 anderson Highway, Powhatan, room 102. It is an open discussion meeting. Wheelchair accessible.

TUESDAY, JAN. 3

The Heart of Virginia beekeepers will meet Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Prince edward county extension Office (100 dominion dr., Farmville 23901) near Lowe’s. The program will be a demo of making a candy board and other aspects of Winter Feeding of Honeybees. also on the agenda are sign-ups for the Jan. 14 Longwood conference and for the 2023 bee school. For anyone who has bees or is interested in bees. For more information call mary Jane morgan at 434-315-1433 or visit Facebook or our website heartofvirginiabeekeepers.org.

The Women in ag network meets virtually at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. The organization’s mission is to foster female farmers. The Women in agriculture net work will hold monthly Zoom sessions highlighting women farmers, offering opportunities for women to network, and educational opportunities. register at https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FaIpQLsdZn-I3gWp0zjOaazwFhvrTWnTK4bbesTrg6UosH1b3l62o_a/ viewform or call 804-598-5640. Pre-registration required. recorded sessions and more information: https://www.facebook. com/ vawomeninagnetwork.

PowH er Hour+ m onthly Luncheon is held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at different locations throughout the county. Visit https://www.powhatanchamber.org/events/ powher-hour-monthly-luncheon/.

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

UPCOMING

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 sept. 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.

The Goochland Powhatan master Gardener association will hold a “Gardening 101” program on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. from January to march 2023. registration at gpmga.org has a deadline of Jan. 4, 2023. class size is limited. cost is $55 for 10 classes. no volunteer commitment; just the education. For more information, contact rebecca crow at 804-5987015 or gpmastergardener@gmail.com.

The american red cross is in urgent need

Ride Assist Services is compassion in action

Ride Assist Services is a volunteer transportation program for seniors of Powhatan County age 60 and above who are unable to drive for basic needs. Registered riders make requests for transportation through the program coordinator. Vetted volunteer drivers receive all request details as well

From A1

Mattersparticipants to choose the type of activities they are interested in and still connect with others. It is also likely to spread the attendance numbers out over the three days.

“In the last two years, I’ve learned the value of diversifying what is offered in order to broaden the appeal for the community. Interests, passions and schedules are all varied among the 55 and forward population,” Lloyd said. “As a community resource for this age group, we want to incorporate more classes, activities and opportunities to gather, socialize and experience something new among peers.”

Starting in January, Tuesdays will largely feature educational topics and lectures with the option for subjects spanning multiple weeks if necessary, she said. Wednesdays will focus mainly on activities such as The HumbleBee Project, skits, sing-alongs or a book club. Thursdays will feature games consistently since that is a

as ride information and routes from the program coordinator and fulfill requests as they have availability. To find out more about volunteering as a driver or registering as a rider, contact Jayne Lloyd, program coordinator, at 804-698-0438 or RAServices.PVA@gmail.com.

big demand by offering space to meet and mingle where games are made available or individuals can bring their own games and meet a few friends.

The schedule for the first week of January, with all programs at 10 a.m., will feature: Tuesday, Jan. 3, “Exploring iPad Basics”; Wednesday, Jan. 4, “Food Carving/Garnishing” (learning how to create a beautiful vase bouquet of roses made of radishes, parsley and green onions); and Thursday, Jan. 5, Game day, with lots of games made available (Taco/Cat/ Goat/Cheese Pizza, cards, Would You Rather, Scrabble, Boggle, jigsaw puzzles, checkers, etc.) or bring your favorite and a friend.

Lloyd said the participants she has told have been excited to know they have another option in the week if they have a conflict on Wednesdays. The offerings will now be “more along the lines of what you would find in a community center for 55 and up – that idea that you have different topics, different days of the week and different offerings so people can choose what they want,” she said.

of blood. a drive will be held Thursday, Jan. 5 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Powhatan moose Lodge, 4140 Old buckingham road, Hwy 13, Powhatan, Va 23139. To schedule go to: redcrossblood.org, the red cross app or contact elmorecook@aol.com.

“The ball on Little christmas,” a fundraiser to benefit the Powhatan christmas mother, will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at The Venue at Flat rock, 2480 batterson road. Tickets are $75 per person. dJ Jamey Timberlake has donated his skill and many others are donating their time and materials for decorating and serving. Tickets are limited to 100 so purchase yours online asaP at powhatanchristmasmother.org.

community matters is partnering with the Virginia cooperative extension again to launch a healthy lifestyle walking initiative for 55+ every Friday (beginning Jan. 6 and ending march 31) called movers & Pacers at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium at the Pocahontas Landmark center, 4290 anderson Highway. Participants will track cumulative steps weekly, log in with a facilitator first, then walk in the gym on Fridays throughout winter months. To register for this program, attend Friday, Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. and then login and walk weekly thereafter. meet others in the community finding more ways to stay active this winter! contact Jayne Lloyd, program coordinator, at 804-698-0438 or raservices. PVa@gmail.com with any questions.

Powhatan county Public Library has a wonderful line up of adult programs to get you out of your house on those wintery days. On saturday, Jan. 7 and Feb. 18, join other participants for Gentle beginner’s yoga with Joanna bartles. Learn breathing techniques, postures and movements to relieve tension and tightness in muscles and joints. bring a yoga mat or beach towel, and if able a firm pillow, block or towel for support. For details, contact Powhatan county Public Library at 804598-5670 or library@powhatanlibrary.net.

Powhatan county Public Library has a wonderful line up of adult programs to get you out of your house on those wintery days. every second and fourth monday throughout the winter at 11 a.m., the library will hold retro movie mondays. come in and enjoy some popcorn, watch a classic movie and reminisce. check out the library’s flyers, call us, or visit the Facebook page for movie title information. For details, contact Powhatan county Public Library at 804-598-5670 or library@powhatanlibrary.net.

The Powhatan anti-Litter council meets at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 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.

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 art will be at the library on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, 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.

r e gister now for our first Heart of Virginia b eekeepers c onference to be held s aturday, Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p .m. in the b l ackwood b a llroom 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. beekeeping for beginners school is designed for those who intend to start a honeybee colony. registration consists of four Tuesday night classes: Jan. 31, 2023, Feb. 14, 21 and 28 from 7-9 p.m. at the Prince edward county extension Office (100 dominion dr., Farmville, Va 23901) near Lowe’s. a Field day is planned for a date and location to be announced since it is weather-dependent. cost of $50 per person or Family Unit (Family Unit category subject to approval) includes all four classes, the Field day and one book and pre-registration is required. Presented by Heart of Virginia beekeepers. For more information or to register, text Tommy nelson at 434-5474225 or email tommyanelson@gmail.com. a fter a few years break, Powhatan county Public Library is pleased to bring back Writers roundup! come and meet some of our richmond area and Powhatan local authors, and also enjoy some snacks and conversation. mark your calendars! This event will take place Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. are you a local author? If so, and you are interested in participating, email charles Joynes at cjoynes@ powhatanlibrary.net.

ONGOING

The coalition of Powhatan churches has available resources to help people who would like assistance in learning to manage their finances. If you know of anyone who needs or would like to have this service, or to get more information, call robin cupka at 804-801-9851.

backpacks of Love, a nonprofit committed to eliminating hunger in school-age children by providing nourishing food for their weekend, needs help. bPOL is looking for delivery drivers that would be available to deliver on Thursdays. They are in immediate need of a driver to deliver to cumberland county and or amelia county. These are great jobs for students looking for community hours. always accepting food donations of single serve raviolis, spaghettios, apple sauce, cereal, cookies, crackers and more. contact Kevin Hardy at 804-350-1127 for more information.

Powhatan Food Pantry is currently seeking volunteer drivers who can pick up food from the local Food Lions on different days between 8:30 and 10 a.m. and transport them to the nonprofit at 2500 batterson road. contact the pantry at 804-372-9526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@gmail.com.

Powhatan county Parks and rec announced its Holiday Open Gym activities. The following programs will be held: special needs basketball (18+), monday 10 a.m. to noon; basketball Open Gym, monday to Friday, noon to 2 p.m. (dec. 19 to dec. 30; Pickleball, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 to 11:30 a.m. Holiday closures are Jan. 2, 2023. activities are free for residents and county employees/ $10 non-residents. minors under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Pocahontas Landmark center Gym is located at 4290 anderson Highway. For more information, call the rec center at 804-598-5275. Follow us on Facebook @ Powhatan county Parks & recreation.

The Friends of Powhatan county Public Library’s bookshop is open during library hours and accepting donations again. The bookshop accepts books, movies, audiobooks, cds, and magazines. materials can be given to a library staff member or placed in the book shop corner (tuck them by the file cabinet in the back), which is at the end

Movers & Pacers launches Jan. 6

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Community Matters is partnering with the Virginia Cooperative Extension again to launch a healthy lifestyle walking initiative for 55+ every Friday (beginning Jan. 6 and ending March 31) called Movers & Pacers at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway.

Participants will track cumulative steps weekly, log in with a facilitator first, then

Community Matters is also partnering with the Virginia Cooperative Extension again to launch a healthy lifestyle walking initiative for 55+ every Friday (beginning Jan. 6 and ending March 31) called Movers & Pacers. It will meet at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium at the Landmark Center. Participants will track cumulative steps weekly, log in with a facilitator first then walk in the gym on Fridays throughout winter months.

Lloyd said she is excited about a new collaboration with Megan Heatwole, director of Powhatan Parks and Recreation, and the latter’s ideas to better serve residents who are 55 and older. They began talking earlier this month and found many of their ideas meshed. Lloyd called the partnership between the two programs “pivotal.”

“Megan Heatwole offers so much insight from the experience she has with programming of this nature and having the program featured in that space enables us to be creative with scheduling, have better storage and accommodate more interests,” Lloyd said. “The Parks and Recreation Department is a vital mainstay in communities

walk in the gym on Fridays throughout winter months.

To register for this program, attend Friday, Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. and then login and walk weekly thereafter.

Meet others in the community finding more ways to stay active this winter!

Contact Jayne Lloyd, program coordinator, at 804-698-0438 or RAServices. PVA@gmail.com with any questions.

and we know the 55+ population accounts for a major segment of Powhatan, so revisiting this space for the program is a perfect fit and holds exciting potential in the future for more diversity and expansion.”

Heatwole said she met Lloyd within her first two weeks on the job and has found Community Matters to already be a fantastic local resource. The two agreed to partner and utilize the space at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, because Heatwole’s goal is “to get this place busy.”

“The ball has been rolling and it has not stopped since I’ve gotten here. This is such a wonderful partnership because senior recreation is one of the most popular and expanding recreation programs,” she said. “People are living longer and staying healthier because of medical technology and just the trend of preventative health care. It strongly meets the mission of a parks and recreation department. Research shows that older adults that participate in senior center programs can help manage and delay onset of chronic diseases or show improvements in their

physical, social, spiritual, mental health and well-being.”

Heatwole added that especially coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation in the 55plus community dramatically increased, “so as we are recovering from the pandemic, it is so important to be able to provide safe spaces where we can bring the community back together, especially for seniors who may be widowed or don’t have family close by,” Heatwole said.

She pointed out that a 2019 needs assessment done for parks and recreation found that “by 2033, 43% of the population in the county is projected to be 55 plus – which is huge – and 30% of Powhatan County households through the survey that was conducted at that time have shown a need for programs and services for adults 55 plus.”

For more information about Community Matters, call program coordinator Jayne Lloyd at 804-698-0438.

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

Ayers retires from MSWCD board

CONTRIBUTED REPORT

After serving on the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District (MSWCD) board since January of 2004, Richard Ayers attended his last meeting on Dec. 19. He was recognized with a resolution from the MSWCD board and refreshments for his outstanding service.

Ayers began his voluntary service at the District as an associate director in 2004 and was appointed as a director in 2011. The director position is also voluntary.

Ayers used his many talents and skills to enrich the leadership at Monacan. He is an aquatic ecologist retired from the Virginia Water Control Board. He served on the Powhatan Planning Commission for two decades. He is a member of the Goochland Powhatan Master Gardeners, specializing in native plants. That talent he has shared with the Fighting Creek walking trail, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and University of Richmond, to name a few entities with which he has worked.

The Monacan Board is comprised of several committees, and Ayers was ac-

From

the governmental activities, the business-type activities, the aggregate discretely presented component units, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of Powhatan County, according to the report. This report included Powhatan County Public Schools’ finances.

The firm’s opinion states that the financial statements referenced above fairly present the re-

tive on the personnel and agriculture committees throughout his service. He provided his time to assist with the Envirothon contest, leading the aquatics area of study, Powhatan County Public Schools fourht grade Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience events, AP Environmental Studies water quality monitoring training, and most recently, aquatic insect identification training for teacher professional development.

Ayers represented the public well. His engagement during Monacan committee and board meetings resulted in thoughtful policies, agricultural cost share application approvals and personnel decisions.

Powhatan supervisor Bill Cox and Monacan chair Jonathon Lyle provided reflections on Ayers’ faithful and extensive public service.

The Powhatan Board of Supervisors also honored Ayers with a resolution at its regularly scheduled Dec. 19 meeting.

Associate director Sebastian Volcker will fill Ayers’ position on the Monacan board beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

spective financial position of the governmental activities, the business-type activities, the aggregate discretely presented component units, each major fund and the aggregate remaining fund information of the county as of June 30.

The firm issued an opinion on the “uniform guidance,” which is the audit of federal rewards if they are more than $750,000, and did not report any findings, which is the desired outcome, Argenbright said.

The firm also issued a report dated Nov. 30 on its consider-

monacan soil and Water conser vation district provided biological and chemical water testing training at Fighting creek Park in november 2019 for aP environmental science classes and the newly formed envirothon team. shown here, richard ayers describes the difference between a caddisfly and dragonfly nymph. The nymphs had been captured from the stream. aquatic insects are collected because they are water

ation of the county’s internal control over financial reporting and on its tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements and other matters. While not an official opinion, the firm wrote that the audit “did not identify any deficiencies in internal control that we consider to be material weaknesses.”

The only questions on the audit report came from David Williams, who represents District 1. He brought up a letter regarding Powhatan County Public Schools’

ARRESTS

One male was charged on dec. 13 with petty larceny (misdemeanor).

One male was charged on dec. 13 with violating a protective order (m).

One female was charged on d ec. 14 with petty larceny (m).

One female was charged on d ec. 14 with petty larceny (m).

One male was charged on d ec. 15 with profane swearing/public intoxication (m).

One male was charged on dec. 16 with contempt of court (m).

One male was charged on d ec. 17 with weapon possession by a felon (Felony) and assault and battery of a family member (m).

One male was charged on dec. 18 with trespassing (m), concealed weapon violation (m), carrying a handgun in a bar under the influence (m), two counts of possession of blackjacks ( m ), profane swearing/public intoxication (m), disorderly conduct in a public place (m), obstructing justice (m), malicious bodily injury of a law enforcement officer (F), and two counts of assault and battery of a police officer or firefighter (F).

One male was charged on dec. 18 with petty larceny <$500 not from person (m).

WEEKLY INCIDENT REPORT DEC. 12-18 –

TYPE AND TOTAL CALLS

INCIDENT

abandoned vehicle 1

advice 21

animal calls 32

assault 1

assist 19

attempt to locate 11

bleed 1

bOL 2

hild welfare 2

civil 1

cPr adult 1

damaged property 1

disabled vehicle 8

disorder/disturbance 7

domestic 8

drugs 1

drunk in public 1

Follow-up 2

Found property 1

Fraud 6

Funeral 1

Gunshot noise 1

Hit and run 1

Investigation 7

Larceny 6

financial health and systems submitted by Lloyd Banks when he resigned as the division’s director of finance after less than two months. Lloyd’s letter, which he copied to members of both the school board and board of supervisors, outlined issues he saw with deficit spending, poor procedures and an outdated financial system.

Argenbright said the letter was brought to the firm’s attention and was taken seriously and that they performed some additional procedures related to it.

Lockout 12

missing person 1

mVas 19

Overdose 1

Panic alarm 3

Pd alarm 11

Phone threat 1

Project lifesaver 1

Psychiatric 5

reckless driver 12

road rage 2

shoplifting 8

suspicious 13

Traffic hazard 15

Traffic stop 52

Transport 1

Trespass 3

Underage possession 1

Unknown emergency 15

Vandalism 2

VcIn hit 1

Warrant service 2

Welfare check 12

“What we included in our management letter would be the items of concern and we did not say anything, as I recall, related to that particular email,” she said.

Williams noted a previous recommendation for a countywide purchase order system was not in this year’s audit report. Schubert said with the current software system, department heads are issuing purchase orders, usually for larger items.

Laura mcFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powahtantoday.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MONACAN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

retiring monacan soil and Water conser vation district board member richard ayers, center, is congratulated by monacan chair Jonathon Lyle and Powhatan supervisor bill cox after being recognized for his service by the msWcd board on dec. 19. Later that day, he was also honored by the Powhatan board of supervisors.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MONACAN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

quality indicators.

of the Grape, Powhatan Freedom Festival, Juneteenth, Veterans Day events and the Powhatan Christmas Parade were all good signs.

If Powhatan dipped its toes in the water in 2021, it completely jumped in during the course of 2022, with most of the regular communitywide events that were not canceled for other reasons coming back strong without restrictions and plenty of new and returning events offering residents more of a sense of normalcy.

Some – but certainly not all – of those events included a full in-person summer reading program; an additional July 4th event; full Halloween and fall festival offerings; Field of Honor; Color Me Active; Farm Day; and the aforementioned events held without masks or social distancing.

Throughout the seasons, people attending various celebrations talked about loving that life was finally getting back to “normal.”

3. County faces budget challenges

Starting in February, the Powhatan County School Board already knew it would be facing challenges with a projected reduction in state dollars combined with a 19.1% health insurance increase and proposed salary increases to stay competitive, all to the tune of an estimated $2.77 million. The school board took deep dives into the fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget and found some savings and staff did likewise, but county staff recommending a large increase in local funds would take a huge portion of that burden off.

Then the board of supervisors’ budget process hit its own snag in April. The board had already voted in March in a split decision to set the calendar year tax rate at a level rate of 79 cents per $100 of assessed value. However, after Williams made a request for information from the Virginia Department of Taxation, it came out in April that there had been a miscalculation in how the county’s assessment growth was calculated and that keeping the same tax rate would actually mean raising taxes.

Instead the actual equalized tax rate – the tax rate that would levy the same amount of real estate as last tax year when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate – would be 75 cents.

The board first set a timeline that would both give the public the opportunity to have input on the rate and get it adopted with

enough time to mail out the first half of the calendar year 2022 tax bills in June. The board extended the due date of the first tax bill initially to June 15 and then June 24. Several problems plagued the process, and the board eventually pushed the penalty date and interest date for late county taxes back to Aug. 1

The board made some big decisions in May for the budget that included adopting a reduced tax rate (77 cents) that still represented a 2-cent tax increase; adopting the fiscal year 2023 operating budget at $109.9 million; eliminating a $35 vehicle license fee levied on every vehicle in the county; eliminating the county’s revenue stabilization fund, and not taking action to reduce the

impact inflated vehicle valuations would have on personal property bills.

4. Three special elections held

Powhatan already knew it would be starting off 2022 with one special election after Joe Walters announced he was resigning from the District 4 school board seat the previous summer. Walters made the announcement that he would be resigning effective July 31, 2021. James Taylor was chosen

to serve as the interim representative for District 4 until a special election could be held on Feb. 15, 2022. He proceeded to win that special election with a little over 40% of the vote, which had an 11% turnout of District 4 registered voters.

Then, on April 19, District 1 school board representative Rick Cole announced his plans to retire at the end of the year, prompting the need for another special election. The special election was scheduled as part of the November General election since Cole

was willing to stay on through December. Vicki Hurt won that special election by a wide margin and was sworn in on Dec. 14 to begin serving in January.

Also in that General Election was a countywide special election for the commonwealth’s attorney after Richard “Dickie” Cox announced his retirement effective Aug. 1. With his announcement, Cox becomes the fifth local elected official elected in the November 2019 General Election to leave office before the current term is finished. Cox appointed Rob Cerullo to run the office as interim until the November special election, in which he ran unopposed and won easily.

5. High school band director arrested

The Powhatan community was shocked this summer by the news that Powhatan High School band director Andrew C. Snead had been arrested on June 30 and charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship.

In the weeks that followed, the commonwealth’s attorney’s office continued to bring charges against Snead in two more waves.

Interim commonwealth’s attorney Rob Cerullo said that after Snead’s arrest, the “floodgates” opened as more current or former students came forward with allegations of abuse by Snead in cases spanning from as far back as more than a decade ago to as recent as days before he was arrested on June 30.

As of a status hearing held on Dec. 13, Snead is facing eight charges of taking indecent liberties with a minor by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship and one charge of soliciting child pornography, all felonies. He has been in custody since his initial arrest after bond was denied on some charges. A trial by jury is set for July 26 to 28, 2023.

6. Thousands without power after winter storm

While not Powhatan’s worst weather on record, the Jan. 3 winter storm that dropped 5 inches of snow on the county left more than 9,000 homes without power, downed an untold number of trees, blocked roads and closed schools for most of the week.

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a huge crowd came out June 10 for the combined event of the rotar y club of Powhatan’s Field of Honor and the Powhatan chamber of commerce’s Village Vibe. a large number of events came back strong without restrictions in 2022, showing the community’s readiness to get past the isolation of the cOVId-19 pandemic.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO James Taylor was elected as the district 4 school board member in one of three special election races held in 2022.

Snead

PHOTO COURTESY OF POWHATAN FIRE AND RESCUE

Volunteer firefighters Grayson Walker, left, and Jackson Kieran cut up trees downed in the winter storm that hit Powhatan on Jan. 3 and left thousands without power.

A wet early morning followed by a heavy snow was a dramatic difference from the weekend’s almost spring-like temperatures. The storm hit hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses across the region hard, leaving power companies working around the clock to restore power.

At its peak, 4,052 Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) members and more than 5,300 Dominion Energy customers lost power during the storm in Powhatan. According to the respective companies, SEC had all customers restored by the evening of Jan. 6 and the last Dominion customers were restored by the evening of Jan. 5.

Powhatan was one of the hardest hit areas of SEC’s 18-county service area, which caused extensive damages due to heavy snow. More than 400,000 Dominion Energy customers statewide lost power during the storm, making it one of the five worst winter storms in Dominion Energy Virginia’s history.

7. New school superintendent hired

In December 2021, Powhatan County Public Schools (PCPS) Superintendent Eric Jones announced he would retire from his position effective July 1, 2022.

Rather than a quiet search to fill the open position, the school board made the process of hiring a new superintendent as inclusive as possible. The board hired search consultant firm McPherson and Jacobson, which had consultants come in March to gather input from the school board as well as students, staff, parents and community members about what they valued most in the next superintendent.

After considering the candidates put forward by the firm, the school board voted unanimously on June 14 to hire Dr. Beth Teigen to lead the school division. She was already a Powhatan resident and had been chief of staff/ deputy superintendent in Henrico County Public Schools.

In her months in office, Teigen has already led the school division through the start of a school year unrestricted by COVID-19 measures; dealt with helping the division weather key staffing changes, including a turnover in the finance department; schools being hit with large numbers of flu cases; getting a stop-arm camera policy through both the school board and board of supervisors; and helped the board in its discussions of desired policy changes.

Teigen said last week that she looks forward to engag-

ing PCPS families, business partners and staff in the strategic planning process in 2023.

“Together, we will redefine teaching and learning to meet the individual needs of students and develop pathways to ensure every student graduates with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to navigate life beyond high school,” she said. “Students need to be prepared to enroll is college, join the workforce and/or enlist in the military when they leave Powhatan County Public Schools.”

8. School division lifts COVID-19 restrictions

Although it might seem like a world away, at the beginning of 2022, Powhatan was leading the way among many school districts in its policy about COVID-19 restrictions. At the school board’s Dec. 7, 2021, meet-

ing, the members proactively voted to approve making masks voluntary inside school buildings once the Virginia Health Commissioner’s order was lifted. This gave the school division the ability to make plans immediately without having to wait for another school board meeting to vote.

So when on Day 1 in office, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order empowering parents to make the decision on whether their child wears a mask to school, PCPS was ready. Then-superintendent Eric Jones sent an email to PCPS families informing them that the division would begin complying when the order became effective on Jan. 24. In February, the school division ended the practice of contact tracing as part of its COVID-10 mitigation efforts based on information released by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

While not all effects are gone, as the year has progressed, more and more school activities and events have returned closer to pre-pandemic standards, bringing smiles to the faces of staff, students and parents as beloved school traditions have come back.

9. BSH launches $8.25M capital campaign

Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School was already preparing for some big changes in 2022 thanks to

more than $3 million donated by the Brower family for major improvements in facilities, curriculum and staff retention efforts.

In recent years, retired army Col. Keith Brower and his wife Kathleen had already had a huge impact on the private school where their late granddaughter, Arabella Stuart Brower, once attended. As they got involved with and came to love the school, their support continued.

In February 2022, the school announced funds from the couple would allow BSH to fund major renovations to several buildings, updates to every classroom and the creation of a new creative arts center for the upper school students

But a change to one of the school’s most significant planned construction projects that could have been seen as a setback instead challenged its leaders to double down and grow their plans and expectations even more, leading to the announcement in late April of an $8.25 million capital campaign.

The Knight’s Charge capital campaign had all but about $2 million of the needed funds already raised or committed when it was announced. The school made many improvements over the summer, including updates to paint and lighting in all classrooms and a gym renovation. Also included in the major changes to the school are a new arts center, which is the first new building added

to the campus since 1959, and the construction of the new Brower Student Center, set to open in fall 2023.

10. Family protests handling of hate crime

In May, the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office announced that a special prosecutor would be investigating a September 2020 incident in which mostly white teenage attendees of a party in Powhatan County wrote racial slurs and a swastika, among other markings, on a 16-year-old black teen while he was intoxicated and unconscious. They also draped him with a confederate flag and took multiple pictures of the teen and distributed them via social media.

Sheriff Brad Nunnally said his office took the accusation of a hate crime seriously and conducted an investigation with assistance from the Powhatan Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office but the family did not cooperate in pursuing the matter.

The parents of the teen, later identified as Jerry Chambers Jr., who is now an adult, claimed law enforcement failed to “do their job” regarding the investigation.

Powhatan County authorities disputed this account, providing a timeline and details they said showed the family refused to follow up on the initial allegations and only returned to pursue them 15 months later, after the statute of limitations on the offense they could have pursued was already passed.

The Chambers family and supporters organized two protests about the 2020 incident and what they say had been a lack of willingness by law enforcement to pursue the matter. A crowd of about 30 people attended a rally on May 5 on the steps of the Powhatan County Courthouse, which stayed peaceful but had some tense moments. About the first 45 minutes of the rally were focused on several speakers standing at the steps of the courthouse, including members of the Chambers family.

The focus shifted away from the matter at hand when protestors began to engage with law enforcement officers stationed across the street from the courthouse as well as customers on the porch of a local business. The incident never evolved past shouting and stayed confrontational yet peaceful.

In October, the special prosecutor from Petersburg that was appointed to investigate the incident wrote that he ended the probe after being told Chambers would be unable to participate in the investigation due to an ongoing medical issue.

make something.”

Halli Chewning, 10, of Powhatan participated in the workshop with her sister, Caroline, 9.

Although she had a great time overall, the aspect of the workshop Halli liked the most was that they were given freedom to experiment within the recipes they were given.

“They let us have creativity of our baking. With the cranberry bread, we decided we didn’t want to put cranberries in there so we made it orange and put more fruit in there,” she said.

Caroline said she had baked cakes, pies and bread before the workshop, which she took because she loves baking. She signed up to gain friends with similar interests and learn new skills.

“In your life, if you don’t know how to bake and cook, you won’t know how to provide food for your young or people in your family,” she said.

Amelia Chavez, 10, of Powhatan also came with her younger sister, Cici, 9. Amelia said she had made different kinds of baked goods before and she wanted to do the workshop because

she enjoys the results.

“It tastes better when you make it yourself,” she said, adding the gingerbread cookies were her favorite.

Camryn Perkins, 11, of Fluvanna took the workshop while visiting her grandmother in Powhatan. She had baked before and wanted to take the workshop because she loves doing it. She learned how to use new tools, such as a grater, which they used to grate lemons and oranges for the bread.

Molly Schwend, 8, of Powhatan said she had made breads and cookies before and thought she

would have a good time in the workshop. She said she likes baking and experimenting with recipes and appreciated the new perspective she gained.

“I learned that baking doesn’t always come out perfect like you want it. Today, when we made fudge, when we put it in the oven, it melted. But we could turn it into a chocolate dressing,” she said. “I learned if something turns out bad, you can always make something better.”

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

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Halli chewning, from left, Kaylee mawyer and Kenya rose work on their apple crisp during the Powhatan 4-H Holiday baking workshop.

a rally was held m ay 5 on the steps of the Powhatan county cour thouse to protest the handling of a 2020 incident in which Jerry c hamber s Jr., center, was photographed with racial slurs written on his face and a confederate flag draped over him while he was passed out at a party in Powhatan.

LAURA MCFARLAND PHOTOS , FILE PHOTO

beth Teigen was hired as the school division’s new superintendent.

On June 1, blessed sacrament held the groundbreaking ceremony for its new 2,664-square-foot visual arts center.

OPINION

Christmas Mother elves ride again

LAURA MCFARLAND Managing Editor

Elwood Yates’ sleigh – aka a shiny blue crew cab pickup truck – was packed this year for the annual delivery of the last of the Powhatan Christmas Mother presents.

Continuing a tradition of seven years, I arrived at Christmas Mother headquarters on Dec. 16 ready to ride the roads with Elwood and whoever joined us this year. Dozens of volunteer elves take on this mission every year of delivering the last of the presents to homes that couldn’t pick them up. In our vehicle, the place of navigator for many years was occupied by Roy Harrison, who we lost on Sept. 29, 2021.

Once again Roy’s wife, Mary, wanted to do the ridealong and she brought one of her grandsons, Reilly Dickerson, who joined us the day after getting home from a two-day drive from Kansas State University, where he is a senior. Another special guest this year was the 2022 Christmas Mother herself – Kathy Ware.

For those who aren’t familiar with this annual tradition, it is literally a short foray around the county with a now 93-year-old man with an incredibly rich knowledge of Powhatan history talking about anything that comes up. The conversation always veers from personal to historical and back again and is never boring.

Arriving that morning at headquarters, I learned more people than expected had picked up their presents directly at headquarters, so there were fewer deliveries to make. We were assigned two houses in the western end of Powhatan, which always makes for a pretty drive.

Loading up the truck, we set off down Anderson Highway and immediately turned onto Route 522.

The early part of the conversation surrounded first Reilly describing his college exams and then the future potential development of the property opposite the highway from the post office.

As we turned onto Jefferson Landing Road to find our first stop, Kathy asked a question about a town called Jefferson that used to be at the end of the road. The question was sparked by a friend’s recent Facebook post.

Elwood said his late father, Floyd Yates, moved to Powhatan in 1927 and the town had pretty much died out by then so he didn’t know much about it. If anyone has more insight into the town’s history, feel free to write a letter to the editor to share its history.

It didn’t take long to arrive at the first house, where we were greeted by a senior client who was excited to see us. She and Mary exchanged a few special words because Mary had once taught her children in school. I love the connections you can make in Powhatan that just keep coming back around.

With our first set of packages delivered, we headed off to the second stop on Ridge Road. Before we left, Elwood handed back a photo album he brought along of the 2010 Shad Planking held by the Wakefield Ruritan Club. This was the first I had heard about the event, which was an annual political gathering that took place every April. In addition to the political goings on, the way they cooked the meal was its own tradition, by nailing the bony fish to planks and using fires to cook them.

“Back in the old days, that is where all the political things were settled behind the scenes,” Elwood explained.

In this particular photo album, the focus of most of the photos was Elwood’s father, who was 107

Often, change can be a major challenge

ROSLYN RYAN Richmond Suburban News

Unless you make a habit of spending the last week of the year ensconced in an isolation chamber, you probably, like millions and millions of other people, have been unable to avoid the usual torrent of self-help systems and gadgets that are always on offer this time of year. No matter where you look in the days leading up to the New Year, there seems to be an offer of something that will, with very little effort on your part, fix your life or turn you into a far better version of yourself.

Are you a chronic procrastinator? There’s an app for that. Want to make more money? Invest here. Always late? Here’s a watch that is also a planner and a phone (so you can make calls as you are sprinting to your next meeting, maybe?). Are you out of shape, or maybe shaped in a way you don’t like? Call this gym NOW. Are you extremely good at making meticulously detailed lists and ridiculously bad at ever fully finishing anything on those lists? Here is someone who will, in just a few short-yet-extremely-expensive one-on-one sessions, explain to you exactly why you do that.

What would help most of us inveterate self-improvers the most—though I have yet to see it on offer at any reasonable price—is someone to simply follow us around all day every day and deliver a gentle nudge whenever one is needed.

“Is that the best use of that

$50?” they might ask, or perhaps, very kindly, “Looking for a new coffee table does sound super fun, but let’s get that project done that you’ve been putting off for three weeks first, shall we?”

The truth about changing ourselves, of course, or anyone for that matter, is that it’s always going to be hard. Our lives are challenging, life is unpredictable, and the path of least resistance is almost always more attractive. We make progress and keep promises and then, inevitably for many of us, we backslide.

It was while pondering all of this last week that I happened to notice a small magnet on my refrigerator, one that has been stuck on there so long that I no longer really see it. I can’t remember who gave it to us or when, but the message is one that so many of us are familiar with. You’ve probably heard it, even if you didn’t know that name of it. It’s the Serenity Prayer, and here is the first and most well-known verse:

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

During a time when the pressure to be perfect is ratcheted up, and when many of us don’t feel like we are enough, these simple words can serve as a much-needed balm.

The best part? No app needed.

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at the time and would pass away a few months later. He was well known for representing Powhatan and Chesterfield counties as a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly for three terms; was a Ford-Mercury dealer for 54 years; and was a member of the Virginia Game Commission, among many other involvements through the years both locally and statewide.

Mary shared Roy’s favorite memory of Floyd Yates, which saw the then 100-year-old attending his regular Lions Club meeting and answering a question about why he was still driving. His response was, “It’s easy, because I don’t want too well.”

The shad planking story sparked a discussion in the front seat between Elwood and Reilly about good fishing spots that soon spread to the entire truck.

Turning onto Ridge Road, Mary pointed out Mount Zion Baptist Church, which serves as one of

Powhatan’s polling precincts, and talked about being an election official there. Elwood promised a related story when we were on the return trip as we made our way to our second delivery.

The second went just as smooth as the first, with the client greeting us warmly and thanking the group for bringing the Christmas presents to her. It is a side of the program most people don’t get to see because they shop for presents or donate without ever meeting a recipient. Believe me when I say they are grateful.

Living up to his promises, Elwood stopped along Ridge Road shortly before Anderson Highway and pointed out the former location of the Smiths Crossroad polling precinct – an old one-room building on the edge of the woods (on county-owned land) behind a private property. At the time of its use, the building was used by black residents to cast their vote.

The oldest voting precinct in the county that is still standing, according to Elwood, the building had no phone, heat or electricity. Elwood said when they lit the fire in the building to warm it up in November, in the afternoon “the wasps would start coming out – they thought it was summertime.”

We took a “field trip” by walking up to the building and it is surprising how sturdy it still looks. Elwood expressed a wish that the building could be restored and I agree it would be a nice piece of history to preserve.

As we made our way the remaining journey back to headquarters, the conversation flitted between old stores along Route 60 that have been remodeled into homes, Reilly’s drive home from college and hunting and fishing trips.

All too soon we were parking the truck, another morning of delivering presents complete and a fun time had by all.

I asked first-timer Kathy Ware what she thought about the experience. She said it was a fun outing and heartwarming to see the recipients who are so appreciative of the gifts they receive.

Once again, I feel the need to point out this short delivery excursion, while important, is just one of many steps taken in the Powhatan Christmas Mother program undertaken by volunteers and community businesses and families. It really does take a village to accomplish this program. Fortunately, Powhatan has a strong community of people who love to pitch in and help make the season brighter for so many Powhatan children, seniors and adults with disabilities.

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

Dreaming of a White Christmas

JIM RIDOLPHI Contributing Columnist

Those of you who wished for a white Christmas didn’t get what they wanted this season; but, it did look close for a while.

A recent cold snap heightened hopes for that segment of the population who envision a storybook scene each year – a wish that comes up short most years.

Honestly, Richmond is not ground zero when it comes to holiday precipitation, and it has been noted in published reports there is only a 7% chance the metro area will experience snow on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

But, what exactly defines what qualifies as a White Christmas? Does snow left on the ground from a previous snowfall count? What if it snows but none sticks? According to Google, a White Christmas is defined as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground at 7 a.m. on Christmas Day.

Richmond’s last qualifier came in 2009 when around a couple of inches remained on the ground from a previous snowfall on Christmas morning.

In more recent years, snow has fallen on Christmas Day, but not at the correct time to satisfy the sticky requirements. In 2010, the city experienced what most of us would consider a White Christ-

mas. Snow began falling in the afternoon and continued through the night resulting in a major winter storm for the area.

That episode provided snow whisperers a realistic glance to what a snowstorm can actually do to disrupt holiday plans, delay family visits or cancel some of those favorite holiday activities. That path to Grandma’s house could be covered, and ice covered roads are not conducive to those seeking that special after Christmas shopping special.

But, for those who still insist that snow and Christmas have an unbreakable connection, there are places where snow during the holidays is almost a regular occurrence.

The answer is almost nostalgic. Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, is a good bet for a White Christmas with an 80% chance of the snow on Dec. 25. The state is the setting for one of the season’s iconic movies, White Christmas.

Unfortunately, the storm heading for town days before Christmas is expected to be more wet than white, and another year passes without the illusive White Christmas coming to Richmond.

In a lifetime, one would be considered lucky if they awoke to one Christmas with windows fogged and blocked with snow.

We often spent the holidays

of the passageway once you

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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.

with my grandmother in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Now a thriving suburban hub, the town was then small town America to a tee at that time. That part of Maryland is located in a well chronicled snow belt, and the area often experienced heavy snowfalls throughout the winter season.

But the storm that hit one eventful Christmas morning was unexpected; or maybe we just didn’t enjoy the benefits of the Weather Channel.

It snowed more than a foot that evening, and Christmas morning arrived with an eerie stillness as a frigid sleet continued to fall. Nothing moved on the street.

My grandmother led us on a death defying walk though deep snow for the traditional trip to church. As a child, I only remember the hall leading to the sanctuary lined with boots, each surrounded by a puddle of water.

The weather didn’t hamper my grandmother’s ability to cook a giant meal; or my uncle’s ability to pull out an old accordion and perform a collection of Christmas songs.

That Christmas many decades ago provided me with that one special White Christmas, and the memory has left me hoping for another.

There’s always next year. Think snow!!

Help

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PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

during a delivery day ridealong, elwood yates, from left, showed off what he described as the oldest standing polling precinct in Powhatan. With him are 2022 christmas mother Kathy Ware and local resident reilly dickerson.

Coalition holds church tour

BY LAURA MCFARLAND

The Coalition of Powhatan Churches offered a historical adventure for visitors on Dec. 3 by holding a tour of four Powhatan churches and the Drexel-Morrell Center as a fundraiser. Providence Presbyterian Church, New Walk Bible Church, Hollywood Baptist Church, Mount Pero Baptist Church and the Drexel-Morrell Center decorated for the holiday season and then opened the doors to share some of their history and traditions.

Pastor steve battaglia, dennis King, Pat schollaert, michael Wray, Janis battaglia, Trudy martin, maggie schollaert and sandra Wray at new Walk

Habitat helps light up family’s Christmas

COURTESY OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY-POWHATAN

On the evening of Dec. 14, before the Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan’s December board of directors meeting, board members caroled in front of a special house that Habitat’s critical repair coordinator helped “light up” as a surprise for the children who live there. Board members who participated were Robin Cupka, Danny Murphy, Tiffany Smith, Bill Carlson, the Rev. Greg Beechaum Sr., Matt Thompson and Amy Varela along with business manager Deedee Newman. Also thanks to volunteer Bill Rush for making the star and for Rev. Beechaum of Little Zion Baptist for offering a holiday house blessing.

PHOTOS

bible church.

Tammie Woodson talks about the history of Hollywood baptist church.

PHOTOS

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

photo of the salzburg Lions club (represented by vice president Paul Hofmann and secretary alexander Fuchs) sending christmas greetings to the Powhatan Lions club

PHOTO

Powhatan’s top sports stories of 2022

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

The year 2022 was excellent for the sports community of Powhatan. With multiple teams putting up program-best seasons, first-time appearances in the state tournament and the types of athletic accomplishments that brought the community together, there was a great deal to choose from for this year’s list of top stories, but only 10 were singled out for the impact they had in Powhatan.

1. Mitchell Johnson claims state title glory

Topping the list is the underdog story of Mitchell Johnson taking the 195-pound VHSL Class 4 state championship crown in his first full season of wrestling at Powhatan.

In his four matches during the tournament, three of them were decided by two points or less, including multi-overtime battles in the semifinal and championship matches. Johnson ran the gauntlet by perfectly executing the art of the escape, earning multiple crunchtime points through the method.

After beating Deep Creek’s David Adjepong with a 39-second pin in the opening round, Johnson carried that momentum into a thrilling quarterfinals matchup with Loudoun Valley’s Brendan Hartley.

His semifinal victory over Great Bridge senior Jared Williams saw him battle back from

two deficits, one in the final minute of the third period and the other in the first overtime. Both were tied up with an escape as Johnson won with a game-winning point in a sudden death 30-second third overtime.

In the final against Dominion’s Jimenez Jacob, Johnson scored the first points of the match through yet another escape in the second period, but Jacob tied things up with a penalty point late in the third.

What happened next will be remembered forever in Powhatan wrestling history, as Johnson won the intense match with yet another escape to cap off an incredible run that left him as the last man standing.

“I don’t think it really hit me until I got off the mat. It started to sink in that man, that just happened, and you realize that this doesn’t happen for everyone. I was truly blessed,” he said.

Johnson, a multi-sport athlete, is currently a running back for the Emory & Henry Wasps football team.

2. Powhatan girls lacrosse has program-defining season

Powhatan’s girls lacrosse team did what no other team in the program’s history has ever done, reaching the VHSL Class 4 state tournament for the first time ever while going undefeated all the way to the Region 4B Championship game.

Led by head coach Laura Camp, the Indians were 14-0

before their first loss came in the regional championship game against Western Albemarle.

Led by marquee scorers like Jordan Krauss, Kate Adams and Kendall McMullin, the Indians were a dominant force in the Dominion District, scoring 20 or more goals on eight different occasions.

“I want them to be really proud of what they’ve accomplished this season,” head coach Laura Camp said after the region final.

Now with the 2022-23 season approaching, the Indians are looking to build off that success and become a powerhouse program within the district.

3. Faith Henderson becomes girls basketball’s alltime leading scorer, leads team to state quarterfinals

Faith Henderson’s final season with the Powhatan girls basketball team was one for the history books, as she capped off a historic career as an Indian by becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer while leading them to their first ever appearance in the VHSL Class 4 state tournament.

Henderson became the leading scorer just before the VHSL Class 4, Region B Tournament kicked off, with the star forward scoring her 1,276th point late in a game against the Mechanicsville Mustangs that passed the record previously held by Montiera “Monty” Johnson, who had

Lyla Devereaux finds her calling in wrestling

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Lyla Devereaux likes to prove a point.

The multi-sport Powhatan freshman athlete has tried her hand at a multitude of sports over the past four years, including flag and tackle football, ice hockey and track and field, but right now, her attention is directly aimed at wrestling with the Indians. With wrestling, Devereaux wants to prove that anyone can be great at it if they’re willing to put in the work.

“I love proving a point that you don’t need to be a certain size, a certain shape or a strength or age to be good at wrestling,” she said.

“It’s just how hard you work for it. You can show a lot of improvement really quickly like that.”

Starting with the junior varsity team in the eighth grade, Devereaux says it took her a month to get the hang of the sport and all its intricacies, but in that time, it became a passion for her. So much so that she put aside sports like hockey, another sport she says she loves to play, to make time for her practice on the mats.

Her experience playing hockey, which she played two

seasons as a left wing with the U14 Richmond Generals, and football, which was spent with the Powhatan Chiefs youth football team, prepared her for the physicality of wrestling.

Being the first girl to ever play on the seniors level for the Chiefs in tackle or flag, it also prepared her for how to handle being one of a few girls in generally male-dominated sports, something she relished as a chance to prove she belonged.

“I think that I stood out more,” she said. “I felt like a role model for younger girls who want to go try something that they’re not used to.”

Now, with Powhatan wrestling seeing a rise in female wrestlers and the hopes of a full girls wrestling team on the horizon, Devereaux says she’s excited to be a part of the expanding wrestling community.

After her first season on JV, she didn’t take a break from wrestling, spending much of the offseason at local wrestling clubs, wrestling camps and with Blackhawk Wrestling so that she could catch up beyond her status

Reflecting on a year in Powhatan

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Ifind it hard to write about myself, or even write in a first person point of view. The AP Style lessons from college that were hammered into my brain likely play a role in that, but it’s actually always been the case.

Rarely have I been interested in detailing my own experiences as a sports writer because the reason I’ve always wanted to call myself a journalist was to tell the stories of others and to shine a light on the people that use sports as a way to express themselves and entertain or inspire others. But between my recent one-year anniversary working for the Powhatan Today and the fast-approaching end of 2022, it seemed appropriate to reflect back on my

Chesed Russell commits to Bluefield

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

One of Powhatan’s top volleyball players is taking her talents to the next level.

Indians senior Chesed Russell announced on Dec. 16 that she has committed to Bluefield University to continue her academic and volleyball career.

“So thankful God has blessed me with this opportunity and for everyone who has made this next step possible,” Russell said in a statement announcing her commitment on Twitter.

Russell, who started the season

as a middle hitter and later moved to outside hitter, was instrumental to Powhatan’s success this year as they finished with a 14-8 overall record and an 11-4 regional record with an appearance in the regional quarterfinals.

Now she heads to Bluefield to play with the Rams, who compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and finished with a 22-10 record this season, making it to the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals. They are coached by Buddy Gallemore, who took over at the program in 2015.

Russell was one of Powhatan’s primary scoring threats in front of the net in her senior year, consistently leading or near the top of the team’s stat sheets for most kills in a game.

After making the switch to outside hitter late in September, it was one of a few positional changes that head coach Cindy Bryant says helped the team play some of their best volleyball of the season. In her first game at the new position against Manchester, Russell led the team with 12 kills as the Indians

time working with the Powhatan community.

Yes, it’s been over a year now since I took on this job, which is a pretty wild concept to me. When I was fully onboard and ready to go out and cover games, the winter sports season was just starting up. Powhatan wrestling, basketball and indoor track were just getting underway, and with those sports now in full swing this year, I’ve come full circle.

Every season and every batch of new teams to cover presented a new challenge and opportunity for me to learn something about these student-athletes, coaches and the sports that they play. Now, there’s familiarity, which is quite honestly

daVId m . L aWrence , FILE PHOTO

Mitchell Johnson won the 195-pound VHSL Class 4 state championship in his senior season with the Powhatan Indians.

PHOTO BY ROBBY FLETCHER

Senior Chesed Russell announced that she will be attending Bluefield University, where she’ll continue her volleyball and academic career.

just as exciting.

I can wholeheartedly say I’m incredibly lucky to work and interact with an amazing and helpful selection of coaches in Powhatan. These are people that make my job easier, my stories more in-depth to the reader and my time in the area more enjoyable.

Now that there is that year of familiarity, those relationships and those times after games spent talking with these coaches feel more valuable. Even when I stumble through a question or ramble to the point of losing sight of what I was even trying to ask, I have coaches I can trust to salvage that unceasing half-question and provide me with the details

that make a story interesting to the reader and provide a glimpse into their minds and what makes their team run the way that it does.

Even after a year, I know there’s a lot more to learn as a writer, but I am still so proud of the stories I’ve been able to tell to this point. There’s this feeling I get when I’m driving home from a game or after an interview where I just want to run to my computer and start typing the ledes that my brain spits out while sitting at a stoplight. That feeling has been happening quite a lot over the last year, and it’s one of the best feelings you can get as a writer.

Pure inspiration. There’s nothing like it.

In Year 2, I expect those moments to come out just as much as I work through

the rest of the winter and the upcoming spring sports season. The goal this time is to provide even better coverage and understanding of these teams and the players that make them what they are.

All this just to say, thank you to everyone who has ever pitched a story, has been a part of a story or has worked with me to make these stories more engrossing to the reader. To everyone who has reached out with concerns, criticisms or praise, you too have been instrumental to making this sports section better.

This was in all honesty the hardest year of my life, but this job and this community made things a lot better. I lost my sister Sara about two weeks after I started this job and there were times where it was

difficult to find the motivation to approach a competitive game with the same enthusiasm. It wasn’t easy being out in the field while my family was at home working together to raise the three kids my sister left behind. As a matter of fact it was the farthest thing from easy.

But more often than not, it was actually therapeutic in a way to be sitting courtside and just focusing on a game of basketball and the stories that arose from those four quarters of play. If not for this job and the wonderful colleagues I work with, it would have likely been a lot harder.

But now as the new year approaches, it’s time to look forward to what I can do to enhance the sports culture in Powhatan and make the community proud of its local news

source. I am so lucky to be given the chance to make this paper better. It’s been a wonderful experience being the sports editor of Powhatan Today, or “the guy from the newspaper” as I was once referred to as by someone who walked by me after a boys lacrosse game. Either title works for me honestly. Next time you see me sitting on the gymnasium floor with a camera in hand, don’t hesitate to stop by and say hello or pitch a story idea my way. There’s no such thing as a bad story idea. As long as it gives me the opportunity to explore another aspect of this sports community, I’ll always take you up on it.

robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@ powhatantoday.com.

From B1

held the record at 1,269 points. Johnson set the record in 2015.

Soon after, Henderson and the Indians booked a trip to the state tournament after finishing as the regional runner-up. In the state quarterfinals, Henderson scored 20 points in her last appearance at Powhatan as they fell to King’s Fork, 71-52.

Henderson was named the regional player of the year and a first-team All-State, All-Metro and All-Region honoree. She is now in her first season with the Christopher Newport Captains, where she has logged 109 minutes in her first 11 games.

4. Powhatan boys soccer has first state tournament appearance in 25 years

Much like their colleagues on the girls basketball and lacrosse teams, the Powhatan boys soccer team had one of the most memorable seasons in school history.

The Indians, led by head coach Willie Miles, earned their first VHSL Class 4 state tournament bid since 1995 after the team finished with a 17-4-1 record and nearly came away with a regional title.

In the region final, Powhatan hosted Chancellor in a classic that featured multiple storm delays and an overtime finish that ended with Chancellor pulling away in a 2-1 finish.

Days later, the Indians participated in an even closer finish in the state quarterfinals against Region 4A champs Great Bridge. The game went scoreless after regulation and a thrilling overtime stretch that had the Indians playing down a man for the entirety of it, but the game was decided by a nail-biting penalty shootout that nearly resulted in a semifinals appearance for the Indians.

In 2022-23, the Indians will look to get back to that main stage led by the scoring talents of senior Fischer Daniel, goalie Tucker Thomas and a defense led by senior Paul Bonner.

5. Hakeem Abdul-Saboor makes second Olympic appearance

Powhatan native Hakeem Abdul-Saboor represented his country at the 2022 Beijing Olympics while competing in multiple bobsled events.

It was Abdul-Saboor’s second time representing

the United States for bobsledding, as he also competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

In 2022, he placed 13th in the 2-man event and 14th in the 4-man bobsled competition.

Pairing with Frank Delduca in the 2-man, the two were the only Americans to make the 20-team field for the 2-man competition and in their performance at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre on Feb. 15, they recorded a final time of 4:00.10, 3.21 seconds behind gold medalists Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis, who hail from Germany.

In the 4-man event, Abdul-Saboor competed alongside Delduca, Carlo Valdes and James Reed. The 34-year-old Powhatan native was the youngest competitor of the bunch and helped the team improve on the 2018 result with a time of 3:57.65, 3.35 seconds behind first place.

Before starting his bobsled career, Abdul-Saboor was a multi-sport athlete at Powhatan, competing in the long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hurdles and the 100 and 200-meter dash. He focused his talents on football when he went to UVA-Wise, where he was a standout running back that finished his career fifth in school history in rushing touchdowns with 31 scores.

6. Powhatan wrestling wins back-to-back region titles

Winning one region wrestling title is hard enough, but Powhatan’s wrestling team took it one step further, running through the competition to win its second consecutive title and book a trip to the state tournament yet again.

The Indians had three wrestlers win their weight class tournaments in Luke Wells, Britton Proffitt and Mitchell Johnson.

It was a landslide victory for Powhatan too, with the team pulling out 214.5 team points by the end of the tournament. In comparison, second place finisher Eastern View finished up with 194 points.

Senior Dylan Coward also placed second at the tournament, while Talon Harness and Adam Camp took home third place honors to help the Indians to victory.

This year, the Indians look to win their third consecutive crown in the region. They’ve started the season off with a senior night victory over Dinwiddie, a sixth

place finish in the Mechanicsville Holiday Classic and a third place finish in the Cosby-hosted Titans Invitational.

7. BSH makes its second consecutive appearance in the state championship

After entering the season with a target on their back as the reigning state champs, the Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Knights football team overcame the odds and returned back to the state championship yet again in 2022 with a chance at their second title in as many seasons.

The Knights ultimately lost that final in a 35-20 game against Brunswick Academy, but the season was a success as they finished with a 7-4 record and big wins over Broadwater, Kenston Forest and Greenbrier Christian Academy.

“A lot of people left us out for dead, and people were thinking we’d go .500 or something, but we surprised some people,” head coach Gary Brock said.

The Knights were led to the championship match thanks to monster seasons by players like running back Hunter Case, tight end and edge rusher David Mann and running back Will Fichter.

8. Parker Sloan is named VA Gatorade Player of the Year

Having been on the team since he was an eighth grader, Parker Sloan developed into the face of the Powhatan soccer team through hard work, constant practice sessions and a lot of beautiful goals.

In his final season at Powhatan, Sloan was instrumental to the team’s success, scoring 35 goals and chipping in 17 assists as they made it down to the state quarterfinals. For his efforts, Sloan was not only named the Region 4B Player of the Year, but the

VA Gatorade Player of the Year as well.

“We can rave about his attributes, his stats, everything, but that is one of the most complete individuals that I’ve ever met in my life,” head coach Willie Miles said. “He’s got the wisdom of a young adult, he’s got the physical attributes that will get him going at the D1 level and he has that focus and that drive.”

Sloan recently finished his first season with the University of Virginia soccer team, who ranked No. 11 in the country entering the NCAA Tournament.

9. Krauss’ two goals upset Atlee in field hockey thriller

The Powhatan field hockey team had an excellent season, capped by a regional runner-up finish and an appearance in the Class 4 State Quarterfinals, but one particular highlight of the season came on Sept. 29 in a matchup against the Atlee Raiders, a field hockey juggernaut in the region.

Battling down to the wire and down by a single goal in the final seconds of regulation, sophomore Erica Krauss displayed true heroics by putting a shot through the back of the net with just 13 seconds left, sending the game to overtime. There, Krauss was again the one taking control, weaving through defenders to set up a oneon-one with the goalie, which she won and sent the Indians past the Raiders for a huge upset.

“To win a game against any team is a great feeling, but being able to come together like we did in the last quarter and into the double overtime was surreal,” Krauss said.

The Raiders entered the contest allowing just four goals through eight games and no more than one goal in a single game, making the

Indians a rare team to get in their way.

The two teams met again in the region finals, where Atlee got its revenge in a close 1-0 finish to win the title at Henrico High School.

10. Steve Washburn and Paulette Bowman return to the Powhatan bench

Powhatan girls basketball received big news during the offseason after head coach Kristy Henderson announced she was leaving the position. The program saw the return of two significant figures in Powhatan basketball with Steve Washburn and Paulette Bowman returning to the sideline to coach this year’s team and build off a successful 2021-22 season.

Washburn, now the head coach, brought with him 13 years as the head coach of the boys team, which included the 2006-07 Southside District regular season title, the first in program history in 50 years.

“I just thought the program was in a really good position, and I thought it was a good time for me to get in with a well-established program that [Kristy Henderson] built up and work with them and hopefully continue to have the success that she’s already developed,” Washburn said after he was announced as the new head coach.

With Washburn also comes Bowman, another major figure in Powhatan athletics.

Bowman has decades of experience as an all-around coach that worked not only with Powhatan’s girls basketball team, but also with the school’s cheerleading and track and field programs as well.

So far this year, the Indians hold a 5-4 record and a 2-4 regional record.

as a wrestling rookie.

Devereaux’s love for trying new sports stems from a desire to be a collegiate athlete, and while she’s found she’s enjoyed her time in different sports like hockey, it’s in wrestling that she says she’s found her right fit.

“I’ve always wanted to continue my athletic career outside of high school, and I was taking a ton of different chances to find the perfect fit and I finally did,” she said.

“I love hockey as much as I do wrestling, but I thought I’d have more of a future in wrestling.”

Lyla’s mom Angela says they have always encouraged Lyla and her sister to branch out and try new things to see what catches their eye. When Lyla started learning how to ice skate at 4 years old, Angela noticed Lyla’s love for entertaining, maybe seeing her one day become a figure skater or working at Disney on Ice. By the time she was 8 years old, the idea she might be into hockey or other sports started to seem like more of a possibility.

“Lyla has always been extremely active, and I just wanted her to channel it into anything she wanted to try,” Angela Devereaux said.

Both Angela and her husband David shared that active quality their daughter has, with David playing football in college and up to the semi-pro level with the Virginia Ravens. He even got to coach his daughter when she played. They’d spend time outside of practice working on plays, practicing in the backyard and further developing a father-daughter bond that seamlessly transitioned into a coachplayer relationship.

“She is eager to learn and goes all in,” David Devereaux said. “In football and other sports, I have felt proud, scared and excited to see her play. No matter what male-dominated sport she participated in, I feel like she has the respect of her teammates by being an athlete and having a good attitude.”

Now in the middle of her first year of varsity wrestling, Devereaux has a long journey with wrestling as she aims to continue her development in the program and get to the point of attracting colleges. As she’s shown time and time again though, this is just another point that she knows she can prove.

Didyouhearthat??SantaPawsison theway!

shelteronChristmas.IpromiseI’vebeena

From B1

captured a four-set victory against the district rival.

In the team’s win over James River on Oct. 18, one of the most impressive of the year for the Indians, Russell had a monster performance, leading the team with 19 kills while they held off the Rapids in a five-set thriller at home.

Russell’s impact as a leader and as a scoring

threat will undoubtedly be missed by Powhatan as it tries to replace her and the rest of a stacked senior class from this year’s team, but as she prepares to move forward with the game at the collegiate level, her time with the Indians acts as a reminder of the special things she and her teammates were able to accomplish and how she was able to grow in her time as a Powhatan Indian.

robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.

FILE PHOTO/ROBBY FLETCHER Parker sloan was named Va Gatorade Player of the year after a strong senior season for the Powhatan soccer team.

2001CAMAROZ28,72kmiles,

VIRGINIA:INTHECIRCUITCOURTOFTHE COUNTYOFPOWHATAN COUNTYOFPOWHATAN,VIRGINIA, aPoliticalSubdivisionoftheCommonwealth ofVirginia, Complainant, v.

GUSMICHAUX,ETAL, Respondent(s). CaseNo.CL22-742

ORDEROFPUBLICATION

Theobjectofthissuitistoenforcethelienof theComplainant,CountyofPowhatan,Virginia,fordelinquentrealestatetaxesagainstcertainrealpropertylocatedintheCountyof Powhatan,Virginia,describedasfollows:

TaxMapNo.024-19 AccountNo.2147

Allofthatonecertaintractorparcelofland, togetherwiththeimprovementsthereonand appurtenancesthereuntobelonging,lyingand beinginHarrisDistrict,PowhatanCounty,Virginia,containing6.0acres,moreorless,and bearingthedesignationTaxMapNo.024-19, referencetoCountyrecordisherebymadefor amorefulldescriptionoftheproperty.

AndbeingthesamepropertyconveyedtoGus andElizaMichauxfromWileyandAdaYoung byDeeddatedFebruary6,1905,andrecorded intheClerk’sOfficeoftheCircuitCourtof PowhatanCounty,VirginiaonFebruary8,1905 inDeedBook32atPage338.

Thisdescriptionismadesubjecttoalleasements,conditions,agreements,restrictions, andreservationsofrecordwhichaffectthe propertyhereindescribed.

ITAPPEARINGthatanAffidavithasbeenmade andfiledstatingthatduediligencehasbeen used,withouteffect,toascertaintheidentity andlocationofcertainpartiestobeserved, thatthelastknownaddressesfortheRespondentshereinareasfollows:GusMichaux, whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselast knownaddressisunknown;TaxMapNumber 024-19;AccountNumber2147whoselast knownaddressisunknown;ElizaDean Michaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;Mary Michaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;Rosa Michaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;Martha Michaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;MonroePalmer,whoisbelievedtobedeceased andwhoselastknownaddressisunknown; SylviaMichaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;WinstonTinsley,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;MatthewTinsley,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;GustavusMichaux,whoisbelievedto bedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressis unknown;EdwardMichaux,whoisbelievedto bedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressis unknown;MariaRandolphMichaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;GeorgeEdwardMichaux, whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselast knownaddressisunknown;MariaMichaux, whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselast knownaddressisunknown;AnnaMichaux Heyliger,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;WilliamHeyliger,whoisbelievedtobedeceased andwhoselastknownaddressisunknown; PlummerMichaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;MarthaHenryMichaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;AnnaMichaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;PeytonWashington,who isbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselast knownaddressisunknown;PeytonWashingtonJr.,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;BeatriceWashingtonHalls,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;SilasHalls,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;LillianJamesWashington,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;JohnJames,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;SallieMichaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;MarshallWilliams,whois believedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;AnnaL.Williams,whois believedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;EvaWilliams,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;MontgomeryWilliams, whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselast knownaddressisunknown;ArthurWilliams, whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselast knownaddressisunknown;StephenMichaux, whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselast knownaddressisunknown;NelliePittman Michaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;StephenMichauxJr.,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;VirginiaMichaux,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;HarveyL.MichauxSr.,whoisbelieved tobedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddress isunknown;AlbertaCabinessMichaux,whois believedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;HarveyL.MichauxJr., whoselastknownaddressis1315 TStreet, Richmond,Virginia23223;SamuelMichaux, whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselast knownaddressisunknown;MarieBartley Michaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;Gloria MichauxTrent,whoselastknownaddressis 2700BallsvilleRoad,Powhatan,Virginia 23139;FredArcherMichaux,whoisbelievedto bedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressis unknown;ElizabethThorntonMichaux,whois believedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;ArcherMichaux,whois believedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknown addressisunknown;MaryLouiseBirch Michaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;Emma Michaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedand whoselastknownaddressisunknown;AndrewMichaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceased andwhoselastknownaddressisunknown; AnthonyMichaux,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;MinnieMichaux,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;LillianMichaux,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;MiltonSims,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;BeatriceSims,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;WalterC.Sims,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;SylvesterC.Sims,whoisbelievedto bedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressis unknown;BeverlySims,whoisbelievedtobe deceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;MaryL.SimsHarris,whoisbelievedto bedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressis unknown;DorisJollySims,whoisbelievedto bedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressis unknown;GarySims,whoisbelievedtobedeceasedandwhoselastknownaddressisunknown;andthatanyofficers,heirs,devisees, andsuccessorsintitleoftheRespondent namedhereinaremadepartiesRespondentto thisactionindividuallyand/orbythegeneral descriptionofPartiesUnknown,itishereby ORDERED thatthepartieshereinandallPartiesUnknownand/orwhoselocationcannot beascertainedappearonorbefore January27, 2023 intheClerk’sOfficeoftheCircuitCourtof theCountyofPowhatan,Virginia,anddowhat maybenecessarytoprotecttheirinterestsin thiscause.

Enteredonthe19thdayofDecember,2022.

IAskForThis:

TeresaHashDobbins Clerk

JohnA.Rife,Esq.(VSBNo.45805) JeffreyA.Scharf,Esq.(VSBNo.30591) MarkK.Ames,Esq.(VSBNo.27409) AndrewM.Neville,Esq.(VSBNo.86372) PaulL.LaBarr,Esq.(VSBNo.91609) GregoryL.Haynes,Esq.(VSBNo.37158) SethR.Konopasek,Esq.(VSBNo.97065) TaxingAuthorityConsultingServices,PC P.O.Box31800 Henrico,Virginia23294-1800 Phone:(804)545-2500 Facsimile:(804)545-2378 TACSNo.:659578

NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

POWHATANCOUNTYPLANNINGCOMMISSION

Noticeisherebygiven,pursuantto §15.2-2204oftheCodeof Virginia, thatthePlanningCommissionof PowhatanCountywillconducta publichearingon Tuesday, January3,2023at6:00PMinthe Powhatan County VillageBuilding Auditorium,3910OldBuckingham Road, to considerthe following request: 22-09-CUP: Woofy Wellness (District#2: PowhatanStation/Graceland) requests aconditionalusepermit(CUP)tocreate acanine wellness facilityanddogschoolintheCommerceCenter(CC)zoningdistrict perSec83.242oftheZoningOrdinanceoftheCountyof Powhatan. Theproposeduseislocatedon TaxMap #43C-4-2intheOakridge Industrial Park.Thesiteaddressis1595StandingRidgeDr.,located southofAndersonHighway (Rt.60)and approximately0.3miles west oftheChesterfield/PowhatanCountyline.Thesubjectpropertyconsists of3.4acres.The2021Long-RangeComprehensive Plandesignatesthe subjectpropertyasGatewayBusiness..

Themeetingmaybewatchedlive by visitinghttp://powhatanva.gov/432/ Live-Stream-of-Powhatan-County-Meetings.

AllPlanningCommissionmeetingsareopentothepublicandinterested personsareencouragedto attendonthedayandtimespecified above. Copiesoftheproposedplans,ordinances,andamendmentsmaybe reviewedintheDepartmentofCommunityDevelopmentinthe PowhatanCountyAdministrationBuilding(3834OldBuckingham Road)between8:30AMand5:00PMofeach businessday. Copies ofstaffreportsareavailablepriortothePublicHearingupon request andwillbe availableonline at least five (5)dayspriortothemeeting at http://powhatanva.gov/agendacenter.Pleasecall(804)598-5621with anyquestions.

PowhatanCounty Agriculturaland ForestalDistrict(AFD) AdvisoryCommittee

RegularMeeting

TheAgriculturalandForestalDistrict (AFD)AdvisoryCommitteewillholda regularmeetingonThursday,January12, 2023 (9:30 a.m.) at the Extension Office (basementof3910OldBuckinghamRd). Foradditionalinformation,contactthe DepartmentofCommunityDevelopment at(804)598-5621.

TRUSTEESALEOF 2433MountainViewRoad, Powhatan,VA23139 InexecutionoftheDeedofTrustdatedMay 16,2018,intheoriginalprincipalamountof $131,325.00,recordedasInst.180001828,assignedasInst.202204301,intheClerk’sOffice oftheCircuitCourtfortheCountyofPowhatan,Virginia,defaulthavingoccurredinthe paymentoftheindebtednesstherebysecured andattherequestoftheholderofthenote, theundersigned,asSubstituteTrustee,will sellatpublicauctionatthefrontentranceof theCircuitCourtfortheCountyofPowhatan onJanuary25,2023,at10:00a.m.,theproperty locatedattheaboveaddressanddescribedas Lot 2asshowninplatrecordedinPlatBook9, page47,CountyofPowhatan.TERMS:CASH. PROPERTYSOLDASISWITHSPECIALWARRANTYOFTITLE. Adepositof$12,000.00or 10%ofthesuccessfulbidamount(whichever islower)willberequiredimmediatelyofthe successfulbidder,incashier’scheckorcertifiedfundsonlypayabletoorsignedoverto "DOLANREIDPLLC,TRUSTEE",balancedue within15daysfromdateofsale.Nopersonal checksaccepted.Saleissubjecttopostsale confirmationandauditofthestatusofthe loanincluding,butnotlimitedto,determinationofwhethertheborrowerfiledforandobtainedbankruptcyprotection,enteredintoany repaymentagreement,reinstatedorpaidoff theloanpriortothesale.Inanysuchevent,or iftrusteeisunabletocompletethesale,orifit issetasideornotfullycompletedforanyreasonexceptpurchaser’sdefault,thesaleshall benullandvoid,andthepurchaser’ssoleremedy,inlaworequity,shallbethereturnofthe depositwithoutinterest.Uponpurchaser’sdefault,thedepositshallbeforfeitedandthe propertyresoldattheriskandcostsofthe defaultingpurchaser.Saleissubjecttoallpriorliens,easements,restrictions,covenants, reservationsandconditions,ifany,ofrecord, aswellasinchoateliensandanyothermatterswhichwouldbedisclosedbyanaccurate surveyorinspectionofthepremises.Realestatetaxeswillbeadjustedtothedateofsale. Allcostsofconveyance,deed,examinationof

29,2005,intheoriginalprincipalamountof $194,464.00,recordedinDeedBook646,page 996,intheClerk’sOfficeoftheCircuitCourt fortheCountyofPowhatan,Virginia,modified totheamountof$166,793.20asInst. 190000750,defaulthavingoccurredinthepaymentoftheindebtednesstherebysecuredand attherequestoftheholderofthenote,theundersigned,asSubstituteTrustee,willsellat publicauctionatthefrontentranceoftheCircuitCourtfortheCountyofPowhatanonJanuary12,2023,at10:00a.m.,thepropertylocated attheaboveaddressanddescribedasLot3, SectionB,FoxrestatIndianFields,Countyof Powhatan.TERMS:CASH.PROPERTYSOLD ASISWITHSPECIALWARRANTYOFTITLE.A depositof$15,000.00or10%ofthesuccessful bidamount(whicheverislower)willberequiredimmediatelyofthesuccessfulbidder,in cashier’scheckorcertifiedfundsonlypayable toorsignedoverto"DOLANREIDPLLC,TRUSTEE",balanceduewithin15daysfromdateof sale.Nopersonalchecksaccepted.Saleis subjecttopostsaleconfirmationandauditof thestatusoftheloanincluding,butnotlimited to,determinationofwhethertheborrower filedforandobtainedbankruptcyprotection, enteredintoanyrepaymentagreement,reinstatedorpaidofftheloanpriortothesale.In anysuchevent,oriftrusteeisunabletocompletethesale,orifitissetasideornotfully completedforanyreasonexceptpurchaser’s default,thesaleshallbenullandvoid,andthe purchaser’ssoleremedy,inlaworequity,shall bethereturnofthedepositwithoutinterest. Uponpurchaser’sdefault,thedepositshallbe forfeitedandthepropertyresoldattherisk andcostsofthedefaultingpurchaser.Saleis subjecttoallpriorliens,easements,restrictions,covenants,reservationsandconditions, ifany,ofrecord,aswellasinchoateliensand anyothermatterswhichwouldbedisclosed byanaccuratesurveyorinspectionofthe premises.Realestatetaxeswillbeadjustedto thedateofsale.Allcostsofconveyance, deed,examinationoftitle,recordingcharges, grantor’staxandpossessionwillbeattheexpenseofthepurchaser.Allrisksofcasualty immediatelypasstothesuccessfulbidder. Timeisoftheessence.Winningbiddermust sign amemorandumofsaleimmediatelyupon completionofsale.Additionaltermsmaybe announcedatthetimeofsale.Trustee’saffidavitand acopyofthenoticeofsaleavailable attheforeclosuresale.Theopeningbidisnot announceduntilthesale.Currentsalestatus availableatdolanreid.com/foreclosure-sales.