Inside A5 Huguenot Fire Dept. holds Santa Runs
Powhatan, Virginia B1 Remembering 10 great local sporting moments from 2020
Vol. XXXIV No. o. 26
December 30, 2020
TOP 10 STORIES 2020 1
Worldwide pandemic impacts all areas of life
Board builds conservative FY 2021 budget
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COVID-19 wreaks havoc on 2020 #1 By Laura McFarland
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Powhatan schools adjust to restrictions
High school organizes special graduations
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Presidential election divides nation
Towers further land mobile radio project
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Powhatan changes county administrator
Curtis family donates to schools, social services
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Group holds peace march in Village
Local voices heard on Second Amendment
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OWHATAN – Having a worldwide pandemic affect the state of public health, shut down schools, businesses, and social gatherings, and impact almost every aspect of life in Powhatan County is the top story of 2020. It will come as no surprise to almost anyone to see the COVID-19 crisis topping the list since it has dominated so much of residents’ lives since the impact was first felt in March 2020 in the United States. In fact, it is one of several reasons so many people can’t wait to see the back of this year. Powhatan local government received word on March 25 from the Virginia Department of Health regarding the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the county. At around the same time, the impact of the pandemic was felt severely with the governor ordering schools to shut down for the remainder of the school year, the county declaring a local state of emergency, business closing, people losing their jobs, and the public being asked not to go out unless absolutely necessary. And all of this was on top of the general fear surrounding a virus scientists were still studying and couldn’t provide enough concrete data on; hoarding and runs on items such as Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper; the desperate push to have enough face masks for people to wear in public (before masks became a battleground issue), and the most comprehensive hand washing instructions most people have received since kindergarten. As the year progressed, so did the ups and downs of the restrictions to
help prevent the spread of the virus. Restrictions on social gatherings tightened heavily this spring, gradually loosened over the summer, and, as numbers started to spike in late fall, Virginia has seen Governor Ralph Northam tighten them again in the last few weeks to only allow 10 people, either inside or outside, to gather. As of Dec. 27, Powhatan County had seen 757 positive cases reported, 34 hospitalizations and six deaths, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health. Teleworking and talking to people working behind Plexiglas have become the new norm in workplace environments – if people are working at all. Many businesses came back from the initial shut down but some either never came back or didn’t last. Unemployment claims data from the Virginia Employment Commission showed a sharp rise in claims in late March. Powhatan went from having 55 continued claims and four new claims the week of March 14 to reaching a peak of new claims filed in the week of April 4, when 390 people filed new claims. The new claims, while fewer, still kept coming, and the continued claims reached its peak the week of May 16, when 1,004 filed alongside 86 new people. Since then, both numbers have steadily decreased. The week of Dec. 12, there were 100 continued claims for unemployment and 15 new claims, according to the commission. In the midst of all of the bad news that COVID caused, it would be wrong not to mention how the Powhatan community rallied around each other. Birthdays, retirements, and other spesee TOP 10, pg. 3
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Editor
PHOTO COURTESY OF LONESOME DOVE
Volunteers lead a veteran around the ring during a therapy session at Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center in Powhatan.
Lonesome Dove to begin serving first responders
PHOTO BY LAURA McFARLAND
Gale Wheeler works on fixing his telescope so he and his wife, Terri, have a better view of the Great Conjunction on Dec. 21. While he couldn’t get the telescope working, another person who came to watch the planetary event in the parking lot of Graceland Baptist Church allowed other onlookers to use his telescope.
Residents look to the Heavens By Laura McFarland
By Laura McFarland
Editor
Editor
POWHATAN – Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center will expand its services to more heroes in need when its doors re-open in January 2021. The Powhatan-based nonprofit has always been known around the region for providing year-round therapeutic horseback riding exclusively for veterans with special needs and see LONESOME, pg. 4
POWHATAN – Many Powhatan residents looked to the Heavens last week for a planetary alignment that made the longest night of the year a little brighter. When Jupiter and Saturn aligned perfectly to create the Great Conjunction on the evening of Monday, Dec. 21, stargazers could see the pairing
popularly known as the “Christmas Star” even without the aid of binoculars or a telescope. While many people watched from their own porches, yards, or fields, a sizeable group of people had an impromptu gathering at the parking lot of Graceland Baptist Church. The group included several church members, but a number of those gathered simply apsee PLANETS, pg. 5