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Powhatan, Virginia B1 Powhatan volleyball takes down Lions, Knights
Vol. XXXII No.. 14
September 19, 2018
Supervisors hear proposal to finance $23.9 million By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last week heard their first presentation on a possible $23.9 million financing package to complete a long list of capital improvement projects. During a workshop on Thursday, Sept. 13, the board heard a presentation from Kyle A. Laux, senior vice president of Davenport & Company LLC, the county’s investment firm. He presented different ways the board might consider financing up to 12 projects on its capital improvement plan (CIP). Laux presented three options to the board that involved either financing all 12 projects at once, which he did not recommend; doing only about half of the projects; or doing all of the projects but splitting them up into two phases done two years apart. The meeting was purely informational and the board did not take any action as this was the first time they were hearing the presentation. Davenport presented a schedule that
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Kyle Laux, right, senior vice president of Davenport & Company LLC, gives a presentation to the board of supervisors on possible options to consider to finance 12 capital improvement projects for the county during a workshop on Sept. 13.
see FINANCING, pg. 8
Returning serviceman surprises his children School board
considers strategic plan
By Laura McFarland News Editor
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POWHATAN – As 6-year-old Lilianna Rocklein and her brother, 3-yearold Nathan John, sat with their combined classes hearing about heroes, they were totally unaware their own hero was creeping up behind them. The students in a kindergarten class and the 3-year-old preschool class at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School had no idea why they were meeting together that day, listening to a poem about heroes. But as two staff members unfurled a banner that read “Welcome Home” with all of their handprints on it, a gentle voice at the back of the room simply said, “Hey guys.” Almost as one, the little heads turned to see Lieutenant Commander Nathan Rocklein in a sand-colored military uniform standing behind
By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF BLESSED SACRAMENT HUGUENOT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Lieutenant Commander Nathan Rocklein returned from deployment with the U.S. Navy and he and his wife, Rose, suprised their children, Lilianna and Nathan John, at school.
them. It took about two seconds, but then Lilianna was jumping to her feet
and yelling, “Daddy, Daddy” with a see HOME, pg. 6
County learns from storm prep By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – Virginia dodged a bullet last week when Hurricane Florence detoured off an early trajectory that caused fears of high winds and catastrophic flooding in the region. As of press time, 18 people had been killed in the storm, hundreds were trapped in their homes in the Carolinas, and the authorities were saying more damage was on the way because of flooding. Powhatan County
Emergency Management released on its Facebook page on Monday, Sept. 17 that the two rivers that surround Powhatan were expected to crest near 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18. James River at Cartersville was forecasted to reach 17 feet and Appomattox River at Farmville was forecasted to reach 14 feet, and interests along these two rivers should be aware of the rising water levels. While the hurricane didn’t materialize here, county officials still had to be ready for any eventuality should the storm have
headed north. They spent a good portion of last week planning for the various eventualities and the rest monitoring the situation just in case the hurricane changed direction again. County administrator Ted Voorhees said he executed a declaration of local emergency on Monday, Sept. 10, which relaxes procurement rules so if emergency supplies are needed, there isn’t an impediment. The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors has 14 days to ratify the declaration, at see STORM, pg. 3
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County School Board last week received the first received an overview of a draft Strategic Plan that could chart the course for Powhatan County Public Schools for the next six years. During the board’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11, Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent, presented the draft of the Strategic Plan, which took hundreds of hours of work over the last year by staff and community members. Work started on the plan in October 2017, when a steering committee of 39 staff and community members created a mission, vision and core values that were later flushed out by staff. The board did not take action on the strategic plan at the meeting. Jones asked them to review it and give feedback. The core parts of the plan will come back before them for a vote at the board’s meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the cafeteria at Pocahontas Elementary School. If that happens, it will be rolled out to staff members at their convocation on Monday, Oct. 8. Jones started the presentation with an introduction to a new logo for the school district that features the tagline, “Inspiring Empowering. Innovating.” The logo’s symbolism not only speaks to some of the key elements of learning and creativity but draws a connection to the community and how the schools are part of the fabric of Powhatan County, he said. If approved, the logo would be used to begin a rebranding process on the division’s website, correspondence, and promotional materials, Jones said. see PLAN, pg. 4
Quilters honor veteran with gift of patriotic quilt PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
The Country Piecemakers Quilt Guild continue its tradition of honoring local veterans and thanking them for their service by presenting them with patriotic quilts made by the guild members. During the guild’s meeting on Sept. 8, Don Paz, center, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956, was presented with a quilt. Several family members were present to watch him accept the quilt.