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Powhatan, Virginia B1 Scenes and full results from Mid-Atlantic Open in Powhatan
Vol. XXXIV No. o. 9
September 2, 2020
Woodsons named Powhatan Christmas Mother and Father By Laura McFarland Editor
P
OWHATAN – Stepping into the role of the Christmas Mother without fully understanding what lies ahead is a well-established tradition in Powhatan County. But when JoAnn and Jim Woodson agreed to take on the roles of the Christmas Mother and Father for the 2020 season, they were making an even bigger leap than usual. The Woodsons know they are continuing a beloved tradition that dates back more than five decades in the county and holds a special place in the hearts of many. But in a time when COVID-19 precautions have turned so many traditions on their head, the couple had more than the usual questions about how the program would work. While they don’t have all of those answers yet, the Woodsons say that they have seen the list of members on the Powhatan Christmas Everyday Committee and know the caliber of
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
JoAnn and Jim Woodson have agreed to take on the roles of the 2020 Powhatan Christmas Mother and Father.
Supervisors deny rezoning request
volunteers who will be helping them along the way. “I am not worried because I feel like we are part of a well-oiled machine whose goal is to get it done,” JoAnn said. “You look at that list and say, ‘Hey I am not worried about this. We are going to get it done,’ ” Jim agreed. “On the other hand we are not going to be naïve to the fact that we are going to take the safety precautions in certain areas where it is needed.” Despite some uncertainty about what the year ahead will bring, the Woodsons said they are excited for the opportunity to serve the community in this new way. It will be an electrifying challenge and something completely different for them, even having been married 43 years, having three children together, and having held well recognized positions in the county through their careers with Powhatan County Public Schools. JoAnn is a Powhatan native (Powhatan High School Class of 1973) see CHRISTMAS, pg. 4
BSH heads back to class
By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last week denied a rezoning request related to bringing a proposed agerestricted neighborhood to the eastern part of the county. During its meeting on Monday, Aug. 24, the board voted 4-1 in favor of denying a request by Markel Eagle Partners LLC to rezone several properties on 43.15 acres off of Route 60
Division returns for busy first week of school By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – Powhatan County Public Schools was a hive of activity last week as the division returned for the first week of the 20202021 school year. With 80 percent of returning students in the hybrid model split between Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday in-school schedules and 20 percent experiencing school virtually only, the first week made for a variety of experiences, said Tracie Omohundro, assistant superintendent for instruction. But while there were hurdles the schools and staff members had to overcome, it was overall a great start to a very unusual school year, Omohundro said on Friday, Aug. 28. “There are always going to be challenges when you start something new, and we certainly had some challenges. However, we appreciate the patience of our parents and the innovation and the hard work of our classroom teachers to make this work. Under all of the challenging circumstances, it has been a tremendous first week of school,” she said. One of the chief concerns going into the week was always going to be he health precautions regarding COVID-19 with students and educators once again sharing space. Omohundro said the schools did a great job embracing the health plan to try to keep students and staff as safe as possible. The schools saw “tremendous compliance with students wearing masks” and had good instruction on social distancing and sanitizing as they went through the week. Powhatan High School and Powhatan Middle School employed one-way hallways in many areas in the transitions between classes and kept reminding students of the need for social distancing. Elementary students don’t see PCPS, pg. 3
PCPS first day of school
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see REZONING, pg. 5 PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
More Photos
Teacher Terry Clapper takes a student’s temperature on the first day of school at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School.
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Conditional use permit approved for new Verizon cell tower in county By Laura McFarland Editor
POWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved a conditional use permit (CUP) to allow a telecommunications tower up to 200 feet tall to be built in southeastern Powhatan. During its meeting on Monday, Aug. 24, the board discussed and ultimately approved the CUP requested by Cellco Partnership doing business as Verizon Wireless at a property in the 3000 block of Moyer Road. The property, which is zoned Agricultural-10, consists of 148.30 acres of land located on the south side of Moyer Road between Timber Trace Road
and Pineview Drive. The proposed telecommunications tower will be located within a fencedin gravel compound (2,500 square feet) located on a portion of the property (10,000 square feet) that will be leased by the applicant. No one spoke at the public hearing held on this case, and afterward the discussion turned not to the tower itself but what would go on it. The county had been in negotiation with the applicant to possibly allow Powhatan to co-locate on the tower with public safety equipment, hopefully in the top 20 feet. Some of the board members wanted to see that agreement formalized before granting the CUP, but it was
HOME SAFES!
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Students in the hybrid model get off the bus at Powhatan Elementary School on the first day of school.
see TOWER, pg. 8
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