Inside A3 Dolhouse raffle to benefit Christmas Mother
Powhatan, Virginia
B1 Knights fall to Falcons in D3 state semifinals
Vol. XXXII No.. 21
November 14, 2018
Powhatan sees 69 percent voter turnout By Laura McFarland News Editor
P
OWHATAN – Voter turnout in Powhatan County for the 2018 General Election wasn’t quite as high as election officials were expecting but was still significantly high for a mid-term election. Official results from the Nov. 6 election showed 15,021 out of 21,621 registered voters cast ballots, or 69.5 percent, according to Karen Alexander, director of elections.
Still, the 2018 election represented a substantial increase from a comparative General Election in 2014, when 9,739 out of the county’s 19,341 registered voters, or 50.4 percent, cast a ballot, she said. Overall, the election went very smoothly, Alexander said, with almost PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND no negative feedback from voters about the pro- Powhatan residents at the Smith Crossroads cess. The main hiccups in precinct wait in line to vote on Nov. 6. the day were weather related, including storms routes to the precinct at than we had and I believe during part of the day and Manakin Episcopal that was because of the a road washout on Hu- Church, she said. rain and wind. Had it been guenot Springs Road, “We were expecting a a nicer day, I believe we which is one of the main slightly higher turnout would have seen a larger
turnout,” she said. In Powhatan County, for the race for U.S. Senate, Corey A. Stewart, republican, received 10,254 votes; Timothy M. Kaine, democrat, received 4,384 votes; and Matt J. Waters, libertarian, received 310 votes. There were also 20 write-ins, 49 under votes and four over votes. Statewide, Kaine was re-elected with 56.97 percent of the vote, beating Stewart, who had 41.03 percent, Waters at 1.84 percent, and write-ins with 0.15 percent. In Powhatan County, for the race for House of
Representatives 7th District, Dave A. Brat, republican received 10,434 votes; Abigail A. Spanberger, democrat, received 4,333 votes, and Joseph B. Walton, libertarian, received 223 votes. There were also eight write-ins and 23 under votes. Statewide, Spanberger earned a narrow victory with 50.33 percent, beating Brat, who received 48.42 percent, Walton with 1.21 percent and write-ins with 0.04 percent. see ELECTION, pg. 6
Planning commission sees pushback on efforts to eliminate R-C zoning
Flat Rock Elementary turns 10
By Laura McFarland News Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY WALLACE
Flat Rock Elementary School celebrated its 10th birthday on Nov. 5. Students and staff wore their orange and black spirit wear to take a school-wide picture on this very special day. More than 700 students, teachers and staff gathered on the bus loop to take the FRES big 10 photo and sing the "Happy Birthday" song. Powhatan Fire and Rescue Company 1 loaned the use of its ladder truck for the occasion. The FRES PTO decorated the hallways, served a delicious lunch to staff and provided cake for everyone in the school to commemorate the special occasion. During lunches, students enjoyed watching a slideshow about the first year at FRES.
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Planning Commission saw pushback from local residents and business owners last week regarding the county’s plan to eliminate the Residential-Commercial zoning. A public hearing was held during the commission’s meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 7, to consider an amendment to the county’s Code of Ordinances that would eliminate Residential-Commercial (R-C) zoning and reclassify all parcels currently zoned as R-C to another zoning dis-
trict, depending on the current use of the parcel and its location within a platted subdivision or planned development. During the public hearing, 16 people spoke against eliminating R-C zoning and one person, former planning commissioner Richard Ayers, for it. They ranged from new property owners to ones who have owned parcels zoned as R-C for years. Ultimately, the planning commission still voted 3-1-1 in favor of recommending approval of the amendment to the board of supervisors. Chair Karin Carmack, who represents see PLANNING, pg. 5
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Powhatan Elementary thanks local veterans
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Veterans attending Powhatan High School’s Veterans Day program on Nov. 6 stands so they can be honored.
PHS program honors those who served By Laura McFarland News Editor
POWHATAN – U.S. Army veteran Michele S. Jones had a bone to pick with Powhatan High School students – four of them in fact. When the retired command sergeant major spoke as the keynote speaker at the school’s annual Vet-
erans Day program on Tuesday, Nov. 6, she talked about what she learned about being a veteran in her 25-year military career and challenged students to embrace the idea of four key bones they need in their lives. They need a backbone to have the courage to stand up and be who see PHS pg. 6
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Powhatan Elementary School fifth-graders use sign language while singing ‘Thank a Vet’ during the school’s annual Veterans Day concert on Nov. 9. More photos page 8.
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