By Laura Geller - bio | email
Posted by Terry Alexander - email
POWHATAN, VA (WWBT) - Will Wal-Mart be good for Powhatan? For one group of residents sounding off, the answer is clear. They say the big box chain will ruin what they love about their small community.
Wal-Mart made its intentions clear of opening a store along Route 60, when it filed rezoning papers just over a week ago.
The group organizing tonight's meeting has compiled a long list of "cons" to try and spread the message, "Wal-mart is not smart growth" for a rural county like Powhatan. "It takes a village to stay a village," that's the call to action Powhatan residents are using to gain support against Wal-Mart.
Debbie Markel is a local business owner and one of the loudest voices of opposition. This meeting is her chance to get more signatures for the anti-Wal-Mart petition.
"Once you have one big box store come to a community, other big box stores follow. It just completely changes the personality of a community," she said.
Wal-Mart wants to open a store on a 53-acre plot near the Luck Stone plant on Route sixty. While some tout the benefit of a possible boost in tax revenue, Markel says the competition will kill small businesses.
There are those who say a new Wal-Mart would be great for Powhatan County. They say in tough economic times, the discount giant's prices could help struggling families and a new store would bring some much needed jobs inside county lines.
"For every job that Wal-Mart creates, you're going to lose ten of the local jobs in Powhatan," said resident Travis Ryan.
He wonders if the county's fate is sealed, especially when he considers the the recent examples in Orange County and Ashland. In those two cases, citizens fought Wal-Mart and lost.
County leaders tell us nothing is set in stone just yet. The rezoning process alone requires at least two public hearings before the board of supervisors can vote.
(c) 2009. WWBT, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Amazon says it will hike up the price of its Prime membership fee by 20 percent next month.
More >>Amazon says it will hike up the price of its Prime membership fee by 20 percent next month.
More >>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on underage use of a popular e-cigarette brand called Juul after months of complaints from parents, politicians and school administrators.
More >>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on underage use of a popular e-cigarette brand called Juul after months of complaints from parents, politicians and school administrators.
More >>The Coalition Against Violence is partnering with police for Richmond’s Second Annual Missing Persons Day Rally.
More >>The Coalition Against Violence is partnering with police for Richmond’s Second Annual Missing Persons Day Rally.
More >>Bike lane construction along Franklin Street downtown is causing some parking headaches for businesses and customers in the area.
More >>Bike lane construction along Franklin Street downtown is causing some parking headaches for businesses and customers in the area.
More >>The woman who adopted OJ and Blue Dozer from Richmond Animal Care and Control is speaking for the first time after the two dogs were reunited Wednesday night.
More >>The woman who adopted OJ and Blue Dozer from Richmond Animal Care and Control is speaking for the first time after the two dogs were reunited Wednesday night.
More >>The jury in Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial has reached a verdict: guilty on all counts.
More >>The jury in Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial has reached a verdict: guilty on all counts.
More >>The suspected Golden State Killer became less prolific but deadlier after losing his job as a police officer.
More >>The suspected Golden State Killer became less prolific but deadlier after losing his job as a police officer.
More >>The parents and husband of a 25-year-old Midlands woman have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines.
More >>The parents and husband of a 25-year-old Midlands woman have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines.
More >>Police said a 911 caller thought he saw the body of Tyrell Holmes crawling on the ground while still on fire. Holmes died from smoke inhalation, thermal injuries and stab wounds.
More >>Police said a 911 caller thought he saw the body of Tyrell Holmes crawling on the ground while still on fire. Holmes died from smoke inhalation, thermal injuries and stab wounds.
More >>The incident happened in Kitty Hawk along NC's Outer Banks.
More >>The incident happened in Kitty Hawk along NC's Outer Banks.
More >>The job pays $4,500 a month and you get to take your best friend along too.
More >>The job pays $4,500 a month and you get to take your best friend along too.
More >>Forrest Hunter wanted to buy a hunting license and was tired of waiting for help.
More >>Forrest Hunter wanted to buy a hunting license and was tired of waiting for help.
More >>OJ, a blind dog adopted alongside his guide dog companion Blue Dozer, was adopted over the weekend. OJ was then found wandering more than 100 miles away.
More >>OJ, a blind dog adopted alongside his guide dog companion Blue Dozer, was adopted over the weekend. OJ was then found wandering more than 100 miles away.
More >>A Kentucky Walmart customer is getting a lot of attention for his resourcefulness.
More >>A Kentucky Walmart customer is getting a lot of attention for his resourcefulness.
More >>