County Health Department offering free flu shots Nov. 8
The Powhatan Health Department will offer 500 free influenza vaccinations during a simulated emergency exercise on Nov. 8 The vaccinations will be given between 10 and 11 a.m. at Pocahontas Middle School.  The free flu shots are only for those aged 19 and older.

This vaccination program is part of a statewide exercise called FLUEX ‘08 sponsored by the Virginia Department of Health that will be conducted during November.

This exercise will focus on the vaccination of a large number of people within a limited timeframe to simulate a mass vaccination during a pandemic influenza outbreak.

“This will be a test of our plans and abilities,” said Dr. William Nelson, director of Chesterfield Health District.  “What we learn from this exercise will improve our response to any future threat.”

For more information about influenza, visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov.

Boy Scouts will attempt to break food collection record Saturday
This Saturday, hundreds of local boy scouts and scout leaders will comb neighborhoods throughout Central Virginia, looking for grocery bags filled with food.  They’ll collect the filled bags and deliver them to the Central Virginia Foodbank for the biggest one-day community food drive in our area.

While no drop-off points have been designated in Powhatan, residents are being encouraged to bring food to the nearest Ukrop’s store, located at 1220 Sycamore Sq, in Midlothian (in the Sycamore Square Shopping Center)

In 2007, Scouting For Food generated a record 287,588 pounds of non-perishable food, including much-needed canned meats, fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, cereals, pasta and more. This year they are hoping to surpass that mark.

The food collected will help replenish supplies at the Central Virginia Foodbank, where this fall’s historical lows have coupled with a high demand for food in the 31 county, five-city Central Virginia service area. 

Military news
Army Reserve Pfc. Michael C. Meade has graduated from Basic Combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.

Meade is the son of Powhatan’s Linda and Peter Meade.