01/23/2013

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Powhatan, Virginia

The hometown paper of M.T. Wilson

Vol. XXVII No. 4

January 23, 2013

Keeping the faith: Indians basketball coach, players maintain focus despite tough start to season. See 1B Powhatan’s Manes races to fourth straight win in arena racing series. See 1B

State park opening remains on hold Phase 1 of project is complete, but funds needed to staff facility are not in 2013 budget By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Anyone surveying the site of Powhatan’s yet-to-open state park might wonder what – if anything – is missing. The site, located on 1,564 pris-

tine acres along the James River in northern Powhatan, features picnic shelters, playgrounds and plenty of parking. There is a contact station, two ranger residences and even a boat slide to access the river. Nearly 200 eager volunteers are at the ready to help maintain the facilities and welcome visitors. According to Virginia State Parks Director Joe Elton, the only thing needed now is the funding to staff the park, as well as about $300,000 worth of one-time funds for maintenance equipment and ve-

hicles. And that, he said, is where the problem comes in. “The Phase 1 things that the General Assembly funded are just about done,” said Elton last week, but the Governor’s budget this year included no further funding for the Powhatan state park project. “What we need to do now is figure out how to get from here to there.” In hopes of getting “there,”

US- 522 Old River Trail

Powhatan

Rt . 6

0

see Park page 3A

A change in the

Ruritans seeking citizen of the year

forecast

Former NBC 12 weatherman Tom Patton talks about getting out of the weather and into the classroom

Group looking for nominations from community members Contributed report The Huguenot Ruritan Club is seeking nominations for the outstanding Powhatan Volunteer Citizen of the Year award for 2012. The award recognizes a Powhatan resident who, in the opinion of a panel of judges, volunteered an exceptional amount of their time and effort in 2012 to improve the quality of life in Powhatan County. The deadline for receiving nominations for this award is March 1, 2013. Nomination forms can be obtained by contacting Jim Cox at (804) 598-9099 or e-mail to coxmitchell35@verizon.net. The selected volunteer will be awarded a plaque recog-

Site of Powhatan’s state park

PHOTO BY EMILY DARRELL

Before coming to the Richmond area, Powhatan teacher Tom Patton worked for a time as a forecaster in Iowa.

T

hree years ago, Tom Patton left his longtime gig as a TV weatherman at Richmond’s Channel 12, and joined the staff of Powhatan High School as a ninth grade earth science teacher.. Recently the Powhatan County School Board approved a new elective that Patton will begin teaching next school year: Meteorology and Forecasting. Recently he sat down with PT reporter Emily Darrell to talk about tornados, earthquakes, and the joy of bonding with strangers in the grocery store bread aisle in the face on an impending blizzard.

see Volunteer page 3A

You came to teaching in Powhatan after quite a few years as a TV weatherman. That’s a job that many people would think to be fun and exciting and maybe even a little cushy. Why did you decide to leave that for the field of teaching? I think the key there is the broadcast industry. I don’t think a lot of people grow old in that industry. If you’ll look around town, there’s usually not a lot of older folks. Maybe one or two per market. Usually you get a lot of attrition in general. see Patton page 1A

Inside

Sports

Index

A2 Happy Trails Grant will help county refurbish, connect Fighting Creek Park’s walking trails.

B1 Sports roundup YMCA basketball season gets underway; Breaking down sport of arena racing.

Calendar Classified Crossword Horoscope Letters

A4 B9 A9 A9 A8

Obituaries Opinion Quotes Real Estate TV Listings

A4 A8 A2 B9 B4-5

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