50¢
Powhatan, Virginia
The hometown paper of Luann Meaker
Vol. XXIV No. 25
June 23, 2010
The secret life of sunflowers See page 8A
Back to
Ballsville
Once a thriving community, area is welcoming home former residents and newcomers alike
Delegate ‘optimistic’ about change in range plan Ware says he has been in talks with Secretary of Public Safety and others about looking at new locations for shooting facility By Michael Copley Staff Writer
There’s still no definitive answer on a Virginia State Police shooting range and training facility that has been proposed for land in Powhatan County, but Del. R. Lee Ware said he’s “guardedly optimistic” that the facility won’t be built off of Old River Trail in Powhatan. At a Powhatan Board of Supervisors meeting June 14, Ware said the state Ware police “heard what was said” at the June 8 town hall meeting and “understand the depth of concern.” Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Marla Decker reportedly told Ware that the state is now “actively looking at other alternatives.” Supervisor Carson Tucker and other residents who spoke out against the proposal June 8 were careful to note that they are not anti-
By Roslyn Ryan Editor
“[Just after the Civil War] Ballsville was the place. I know you never heard of it. It had six families then, two small stores, and one blacksmithshop. Only five families now, and no blacksmith-shop. But Ballsville was, and is, a good place to be born, especially when the birthplace is a big farmhouse one mile away. The sun comes up over Richmond every morning, forty miles to the East. The mantle of night is spread reverently over Appomattox every evening, fifty miles to the West. No, Ballsville is not a bad place in which to be born. ‘Tis really in the middle of things.” — From “This is My Story” by John Jeter Hurt, 1957
J
ust in case you’re interested, you can actually Google Ballsville. You can find a map of it – even a slightly limited Wikipedia entry on it – if that’s what you happen to be looking for. As far as pinpointing its location, however, that’s probably about the best you’re going to do. Because the one way not to find out where Ballsville is, is to ask. In fact, asking most Ballsville residents where Ballsville actually starts – or where Belona or Tobaccoville stops, depending on your orientation or allegiance – is the fastest way to get yourself very, very confused. Cartographically speaking, “Ballsville starts in the big curve [on Route 13, past Belona] and ends at the straight stretch,” says Page Clark, an avid historian and lifelong Ballsville resident, whose family has been part of the community since before the Civil War. Clark’s father was the community’s
see Range page 5A
PHOTO BY PATRICK DOBBS
Top: a photo taken in front of Netherlands store in the early 1900s. Netherlands was one of several popular local retailers providing necessities for Ballsville residents. Above: Porter Smith says he made a promise while serving in WWII: “I said if God would let me come back to Ballsville, I’d never leave.”
Tension remains over funding given to schools
Former resident Lillian Lambert will appear at book signing
By Michael Copley
Former Ballsville Resident Lillian Lincoln Lambert, who holds the distinction of being the first black woman to earn her MBA from Harvard Business School, will be the guest of honor at a book signing and reading on June 26. Lambert’s recently published memoir, “The Road to Someplace Better” details her early years growing up in Powhatan and her road to success in the business world. The book signing will take place at the home of Carolyn Mayo, 2075 Ridge Rd. in Powhatan. For more information or to RSVP, please call (804) 598-7169.
The Powhatan County School Board will have to cut another $1.5 million from its 20102011 budget, says School Board Member Valerie Ayers, because the Board of Supervisors decided to appropriate, for now, only 11 out of 12 months of local funding to the schools. Supervisors are withholding $1.5 millionone month’s worth of local funding- until after March 1, 2011 to give them time to evaluate revenue collections next year. $1.5 million, or a portion of it, will be appropriated after March 1, based on the “availability of funds,” according to a resolution passed June 14. Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Cosby disagrees with Ayers’ analysis: “We have adopted their entire budget,” he said, noting that other localities appropriate whole
see Ballsville page 3A
Staff Writer
see Budget page 4A
Inside
Sports
Index
A2 Reading and riding County students take part in literacy event with area motorcyclists.
B1 Meet Southside’s District Soccer Player of the Year Indians’ Ethan Beard earns top honor for on-field skills
Calendar A7 Letters Classified B9-11 Opinion Crossword A11 Quotes Extra Points B1 Real Estate Horoscope A11 TV Listings
A9 A10 A2 B11 B5-6