Inside A3 Habitat Store set to re-open June 6
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Seniors contributed to Powhatan softball’s successes
Vol. XXXIII No. o. 47
June 3, 2020
PHS honors top students of 2020 By Laura McFarland Editor
P
OWHATAN – Rachel Stegner and Talmadge “Wheat” Fralin lead the 2020 Class of Powhatan High School as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, with grade point averages of 4.6607 and 4.5837. Stegner of Powhatan is the daughter of Christine Stegner. She plans to attend the University of Virginia to study biochemistry and environmental science. After college, she wants to continue her academic career with plans to earn a MD-PhD. Ultimately, her goal is to pursue a career in medical research pertaining to how environmental health impacts human health, she said.
“At the University of Virginia, I am entirely eager to continue my scientific studies. Additionally, I anticipate joining numerous environmental and social activism organizations as well as academic societies,” she said. “I look forward to the new academic challenges and experiences that I have been preparing for. Mostly, I am so excited to connect with my peers and establish a new network as strong as the one I am leaving behind.” While a student at the high school, Stegner was a founder of the Planeteers; served as president of Mu Alpha Theta and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, was vice president of the National English Honor Society, and was secretary of the National Honor Society.
She also was community service coordinator for the National Science Honor Society, was a member of the Computer Science National Honor Society, and participated in Powhatan Tutoring. Outside of school, she was involved in the Powhatan Earth Day Coalition and Special Olympics, was an academic tutor, and was a community litter cleaning group leader. For the past four years, Stegner said the high school has truly facilitated her passion for academics. She added that she has always felt encouragement to succeed in every regard from her teachers as well as her peers. “Without PHS, I may never have recognized my eagerness to study the sciences. It was
through dedicated teachers that I discovered the career path I intend to pursue. Above all, the amazing teachers I have had the pleasure of knowing and learning from have prepared me in every aspect for the future ahead,” she said. “The combined efforts of my incredible teachers, family, and friends ultimately fostered my academic growth as valedictorian. I truly appreciate their constant support and devotion. They have all profoundly encouraged me in all of my pursuits and I am truly thankful for all of their support over the past four years. I am honored to be named valedictorian of Powhatan High School’s class of 2020.” Fralin of Powhatan is the
Stegner
Fralin
see PHS, pg. 4
Spud Rick to retire as executive director of Habitat for Humanity
ABOVE PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND/ INSET PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19
Bucky Tilman stands in front of the building that used to be Crump’s Store in the Village. He dismantled it last week and hopes to restore it at another location.
Bucky Tilman preserves historic building in Village By Laura McFarland
DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139
Editor
POWHATAN – When Bucky Tilman talks about the building that once housed Crump’s Store in the Powhatan Village area, there is almost a reverence in his voice. He can remember where signs hung in the store, recalls with laughter when he would eat the broken cookies and sneak slices of cheese to the annoyance of owner Judson Crump, and talks about listening to stories of the old men who gathered there regularly, including his grandfather, Zip Tilman. “Occasionally they would tell a risqué story and Grandfather
would tell them to ‘hush up around the boy,’” Buck Tilman says with a grin. Although it has been more than five decades since the store closed and the building went on to serve other purposes, for Tilman, it will always be Crump’s Store. So when he heard the old building situated next to the County Seat Restaurant and Gathering Place was set to be taken down, Tilman said he would do the removal. But instead of throwing everything in a dumpster, he is preserving as much of the salvageable original construction materials as possible in hopes of reconstructing the building and see TILMAN pg. 8
PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Roseleen ‘Spud’ Rick is retiring as executive director of Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan this month.
By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Ask Roseleen “Spud” Rick what she has accomplished in the last two years serving as executive director of Habitat for Humanity – Powhatan and the responses always start with “we.” “We” finished two houses and the families have moved in successfully. “We” purchased two additional lots, one of which has already been cleared. “We” opened the Habitat Store to take donations of usable items that can be sold and the profits used to help others. “We” held two very successful annual fund
drives, Valentine Galas, and golf tournaments. “We” built up the critical repair program from helping with eight or nine repairs a year to serving 45 families since July 1, 2019, so they have more livable homes. And she’s right – it has taken a village. Board members, donors, volunteers, and businesses all make up an integral part of making Habitat’s mission a reality, she said. “We could not live without our volunteers; we couldn’t survive. We depend on the volunteers for staffing the store, for helping with critical repairs, for helping us build houses, for helping us with the golf tournament and the gala. see HABITAT, pg. 3
Seniors honored with surprise parties By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Local residents Harvey Paquette and Gloria Aspinwall were recently surprised by friends and family to celebrate their 95th and 90th birthdays, respectively. Harvey marked his 95th birthday on May 19 with a special surprise drive-by celebration spearheaded by fellow members of the Powhatan Lions Club and Powhatan United Methodist Church. He said he was taken completely by surprise see BIRTHDAY, pg. 5
LEFT CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ RIGHT PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND
Friends and family celebrated Harvey Paquette, left, and Gloria Aspinwall, right with surprise 95th and 90th birthday parties, respectively. Each also got a sheriff’s office drive by. Right is deputy Brandon Tole.