***
***
*** RSSing Note: Article removed by member request. ***
***
***
*** RSSing Note: Article removed by member request. ***
***
↧
--- Article Removed ---
↧
Another Caroline man sentenced in drive-by shooting
BY PORTSIA SMITH / THE FREE LANCE–STAR
A second Caroline County man pleaded guilty this week to charges related to a drive-by shooting that prosecutors say was in retaliation for the 2007 death of a young family member.
J’uan “Keyz” Morris, 22, of Ruther Glen, pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempted murder, attempted malicious wounding by mob, maliciously shooting into an occupied dwelling and a firearm charge.
He was sentenced in Caroline Circuit Court to 30 years in prison with all but four years suspended.
The charges stem from a June 6, 2013, incident when a home on Brownstone Road in Ruther Glen was hit by gunfire in a drive-by shooting, said Caroline Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Diane Abato.
There were four people sleeping in the residence at the time, but no one was injured, she said.
Abato said in court that 24-year-old Shawn Terrell was the intended target in retaliation for the November 2007 shooting death of 16-year-old Raquel Hunter.
Hunter, who prosecutors say was related to the defendant, was shot in the head after a fight broke out at a classmate’s birthday party.
Terrell, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony malicious wounding by mob in the slaying. He received a suspended 20-year sentence.
Eight others were also convicted in the case and received sentences ranging from suspended jail time to 50 years in prison, court records show.
She said other witnesses were prepared to testify that Morris and his brother Jessee were in the area of the shooting with guns.
Jessee Morris, 23, was convicted of similar charges on Monday. He was sentenced to 32 years in prison with all but eight years suspended.
Kire Davon Worley, 20, who is also charged in the drive-by shooting, is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 11.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
psmith@fredericksburg.com
↧
↧
Fiber cable project advances with land purchase
SummitIG closed on a parcel in the Quantico Corporate Center for a utility facility this week.
The Northern Virginia-based firm that augments and installs network infrastructure and provides connectivity, is laying dark fiber cables along the Interstate 95 corridor, making high-speed Internet more accessible from Stafford County to Caroline County.
That means organizations that need a secure, high-speed connection, such as businesses, government contractors and universities, can get as large a connection as needed.
SummitIG made the deal with The Silver Cos. for an undisclosed amount to deliver new dark fiber to the mixed-use office park and the entire Quantico region.
According to Silver Companies vice president David Newman, the parcel, which is less than an acre, will allow SummitIG to regenerate the fiber’s signal in Stafford as it extends south.
It will also bring the line directly into the center, allowing companies to lease connection from SummitIG directly and offering businesses looking to move into the area an option for fast, secure broadband Internet.
The facility should be completed this fall.
“The dark fiber will provide virtually unlimited connectivity to tenants at QCCS. Our unique offering between Northern Virginia and Richmond passes through the heart of Stafford County and presents an opportunity to empower and support the growth of companies located within the region,” said Bill Cook, CEO of SummitIG. “The infrastructure has been designed to support other strategic facilities nearby, including an adjacent tract of land recently purchased by Stafford County for the development of its technology and research park initiative. We are happy to be part of the project that will have such a great impact on the region.”
SummitIG also closed with an individual landowner recently on a second regeneration facility location in Ruther Glen. The facilities are needed every 50 miles, or so, to boost signal.
Lindley Estes: 540/735-1976
↧
Area math SOL numbers better
Most school systems in the Fredericksburg area improved scores on math Standards of Learning tests last school year—reflecting the trend statewide, according to preliminary results released Wednesday.
But the percentage of students passing the tests in Colonial Beach and Caroline and Westmoreland counties fell short of the state’s pass rates in every subject. The largest gap was in Colonial Beach, where pass rates in English and math are nearly 20 percentage points lower than the statewide rates for the 2013–14 school year, according to the Virginia Department of Education.
Meanwhile, Stafford County was the only local school division to exceed statewide pass rates in all subjects—reading, writing, history, math and science.
Ironically, Stafford’s scores dropped slightly from the 2012–13 school year in every subject but math. Eighty percent of students passed the math tests, up one percentage point from the previous school year.
Statewide, the math pass rate jumped three points, from 71 to 74 percent, marking the second straight year of improvement since educators introduced tougher math tests in 2011.
“The gains students made show that—despite all of the weather-related interruptions last winter—the statewide focus on teaching students to be problem solvers and to apply what they have learned in mathematics in real-life situations is producing results,” Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said in a statement.
The state’s pass rates in reading, writing, history and science all dropped by one point.
Locally, pass rates in English, history and science stayed relatively flat, either dropping or increasing by a small amount.
The exception was in the town of Colonial Beach, where 58 percent of students passed the writing test—a 17-point drop from 2012–13. The town’s math pass rate of 56 percent was the same as the previous school year, but 18 points less than the state’s.
Kevin Newman, who became Colonial Beach’s school superintendent at the beginning of the month, could not be reached for comment. Colonial Beach is the smallest school system in the Fredericksburg area, with just 570 students, according to the division’s website.
Westmoreland schools improved pass rates in most subjects, including a seven-point increase in math. Still, the division is between five and 10 points below statewide pass rates in every subject.
Caroline increased its writing pass rate from 65 to 66 percent, but that’s still nine points shy of the state’s rate. The county’s math pass rate stayed flat at 67 percent, or seven points below the statewide rate.
Rebecca Broaddus, Caroline’s assistant superintendent, said the division is working hard to improve scores. She said the school system is reviewing teaching strategies and is focused on providing mentoring and other support for new teachers.
The city of Fredericksburg’s math pass rate jumped six points, from 66 to 72 percent. And the city saw one-point gains in writing and science pass rates.
Still, statewide pass rates exceed the city’s in every subject but writing. Seventy-five percent of city students passed the writing SOL, mirroring the statewide rate.
King George County’s pass rates are better or equal to the state’s in every subject but math. The county’s math pass rate stayed at 71 percent, or three points below the state’s.
Spotsylvania County’s pass rates dropped slightly in writing and history, and stayed the same in reading and science. Seventy-three percent of Spotsylvania students passed the math test, up two points from the previous school year.
Spotsylvania Superintendent Scott Baker said in a statement that the majority of Spotsylvania’s schools improved scores in math and reading. “Recent test results reflect that SCPS, like many other school divisions across the state, continue to align and adjust to the more rigorous SOL tests implemented over the past few years,” he said in an email.
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
↧
Caroline fills Planning Commission post
The Caroline Board of Supervisors has appointed Charles L.E. Shewbridge Jr. to fill the seat representing the Madison district on the Planning Commission.
Pete Davis, who formerly held the seat, resigned to take a job in Belize.
Shewbridge served on the board of directors in Lake Caroline for 12 years.
His career included working as a sales manager for Levi Strauss for 25 years, and for eight years managing a clothing store in Fredericksburg. He also drove a hearse for a funeral home for eight years.
The Planning Commission will hold a work session Wednesday and will elect a new chairman and vice chairman. Its next regular meeting will be held Sept. 17.
—Robyn Sidersky
↧
↧
Charges dropped against third man in drive-by
All charges were dropped Thursday against a Ruther Glen man in connection with a drive-by shooting last summer.
Kire Davon Worley, 20, the man prosecutors had said was the getaway driver, had been charged in Caroline Circuit Court with attempted murder, attempted malicious wounding, attempted malicious wounding while part of a mob, discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling, conspiracy to commit murder and three firearms charges.
“He was the getaway driver that night,” said his defense attorney Jonathan David, “but after extensive investigation between the defense counsel and authorities, it was determined that his role wasn’t as substantial as first thought.”
He had been scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 11, but his case was pushed up to Thursday, David said.
Two brothers from Ruther Glen both pleaded guilty this week to similar charges in Circuit Court.
Jessee Morris, 23, was sentenced to 32 years in prison with all but eight years suspended.
J’uan Morris, 22, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with all but four years suspended.
The charges stem from a June 6, 2013, incident when a home on Brownstone Road in Ruther Glen was hit by gunfire in a drive-by shooting, said Caroline Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Diane Abato.
There were four people sleeping in the residence at the time, but no one was injured, she said.
Abato said in court that 24-year-old Shawn Terrell was the intended target in retaliation for the November 2007 shooting death of 16-year-old Raquel Hunter.
Hunter, who prosecutors say was related to the defendant, was shot in the head after a fight broke out at a classmate’s birthday party.
Terrell, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty in 2009 to felony malicious wounding by mob in the slaying. He received a suspended 20-year sentence.
Eight others were also convicted in the case and received sentences ranging from suspended jail time to 50 years in prison, court records show.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
↧
Man guilty in battery case
A former program director at a Christian boarding school for troubled teens in Caroline County has been convicted of sexual battery.
Nathaniel Daniel, who has since been removed as a program director at the Abundant Life Academy, entered an Alford plea to the misdemeanor charge as part of a plea agreement in Caroline Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Tuesday.
An Alford plea means that while he does not admit guilt, he acknowledges that there is enough evidence for a conviction.
He was given a suspended 12-month sentence, must have a sex offender evaluation and be under supervised probation.
A tip to police about an assault that occurred in June led to that charge. No other details were released in that case.
Abundant Life Academy is a therapeutic boarding school for troubled teens.
The school’s mission is to “equip students and families to live a life of love, acceptance and forgiveness through modeling and training of biblical principles, bridging the gap between parents and children,” according to its application when it filed to set up shop in the county.
It is in the location of the former Easter Seals and Remuda Ranch building off Passing Road near Sparta.
This is not the first school employee to face criminal charges in recent months.
Jovany Rivera, 21, Timothy Jordan, 26, Liam Galligan, 44, and 49-year-old William Honea are each charged with assault and battery and assault by mob. The charges are misdemeanors. They are accused of committing a continuous assault on a student at Abundant Life.
None of them still works at the school.
An Oct. 9 trial has been set for the four in circuit court.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
↧
Samaritan Summer keeps volunteers hopping
Juanita Johnson’s home has a new heating system, water heater and roof thanks to the efforts of a local church group. (SUZANNE CARR ROSSI / THE FREE LANCE STAR)
The Rev. Ernest Custalow glanced around the tidy brick rambler, certain there was something else he needed to do.
The home, in Caroline County’s Ruther Glen, was immaculate—with fresh vacuum tracks in the carpet, gleaming furniture and thriving house plants.
Still, Custalow felt there was something wrong with Juanita Johnson’s house.
He’d visited to check on the roof. Custalow planned to challenge his congregation at Grace Church of Fredericksburg to tackle 30 service projects over the summer, and a roof repair for Johnson was one of those projects.
He’d called the Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging and learned about Johnson’s predicament: She was on the waiting list for the agency’s winterizing program but wouldn’t qualify unless her roof was fixed first.
Custalow checked out the roof, confident his congregation could get it fixed.
“Is there anything else you need?” he asked Johnson a few times.
She demurred.
Custalow persisted.
Finally, Johnson admitted that her home had neither heat nor hot water. And hadn’t for three years.
She made do with fires in the wood stove, until her son injured his back and could no longer chop wood for her.
Since then, the widow heated her home with two kerosene heaters and a small space heater. She warmed her bath water on the stove, which also needed repairs.
Last fall, she’d had open heart surgery. And she spent the winter dragging buckets from her stove to her bathtub.
On weekends, she drove to Richmond to shower at her daughter Tonya’s home.
Grace Church of Fredericksburg started a Samaritan Summer, where members volunteer on Saturdays throughout the summer to help area residents in need. They have helped at the homeless shelter, built a shed and playground fro the domestic violence shelter and renovated homes for several senior citizens. (SUZANNE CARR ROSSI / THE FREE LANCE STAR)
Tonya wanted to buy her mother a new hot water heater.
“I got an estimate on how much it would be,” she said. “And it was expensive, very expensive.”
So Johnson continued to carry buckets from the stove to the bathtub.
“I’m from the old school and I’m from down South, so I can survive,” said Johnson, who worked in a chicken processing plant for 40 years, retiring at age 70.
She endured the broken stove, the tepid baths and the kerosene heaters. But each night, she prayed that they would be fixed.
Still, she hesitated to tell Custalow about the problems. A new roof seemed generous enough.
As soon as he learned about her needs, Custalow was determined to help. But the project would be daunting.
His congregation had raised about $30,000 for the projects—as part of a Samaritan Summer project. Custalow launched the effort while preaching the parable of the Good Samaritan, a story in the New Testament where a man from Samaria helps a stranger who’s been robbed and beaten.
Divided between 30 projects, the $30,000 could put in handicapped ramps, fix roofs and do a few more repairs. But a new heating system and hot water heater would cost $10,000 or so.
Custalow returned to Grace Church of Fredericksburg and told the congregation about Johnson. He showed a picture and video of the widow.
That afternoon, a couple wrote Custalow a note and a check for $8,000, asking him to use the money for Johnson’s home repairs.
Church volunteers helped with the work—and Habitat for Humanity provided some of the supplies.
This summer, Johnson received a new heating system, hot water heater, stove and like-new roof.
“I used to get on my knees every night and pray and I would ask for this,” she said, gesturing toward her home. “And he answered in his own time.”
Juanita Johnson, 77, looks out the backdoor of her home in Frog Level as she waits for the volunteers to finish working on her home. She has a fixed income and cares for her disabled adult son. Grace Church of Fredericksburg started a Samaritan Summer, where members volunteer on Saturdays throughout the summer to help area residents in need. They have helped at the homeless shelter, built a shed and playground fro the domestic violence shelter and renovated homes for several senior citizens. (SUZANNE CARR ROSSI / THE FREE LANCE STAR)
For Custalow, the Samaritan Summer effort was eye-opening. The congregation partnered with area agencies—the Spotsylvania Department of Social Services, the Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity, the Rappahannock Area on Aging, Empowerhouse and the Thurman Brisben Center.
The congregation provided Vacation Bible School and meals for families living in motels; fed people at the homeless shelter; built a playground for children affected by domestic violence; repaired roofs; remodeled bathrooms; added handicapped ramps and more.
At times, managing the projects was taxing. As he drove to check the progress at Johnson house, Custalow called church members to arrange getting the lumber to a home for the next project, and to arrange a ride to the doctor for one man who had a hospitalization during the time church members were doing yardwork and home repairs for him.
“With 30 projects, it’s very, very hard to manage,” Custalow said as he dialed the numbers for yet another call.
Still, he hopes to continue the momentum from the Samaritan Summer and help year-round. While calling the agencies, Custalow learned there is a constant need for volunteers to perform home repairs for people who are elderly, disabled or poor.
He’d like to partner with other congregations and more agencies and find a way to combine money from grants with sweat effort from volunteers.
“The need has been even bigger than I expected,” Custalow said.
↧
Caroline YMCA numbers growing
Membership at the new Caroline YMCA is growing by 7 percent per month, the new executive director of the branch told the county’s Board of Supervisors at a recent meeting.
About four months after its opening, the Y’s newest branch has 888 membership units, which is more than 2,500 members, said Paul Gehring, the new executive director. He also oversees the Ron Rosner YMCA in Spotsylvania County.
He said the membership so far is 68 percent families, 28 percent individuals and 4 percent students.
Gehring took over as the executive director in Caroline about two months ago.
He has been at the Ron Rosner YMCA since 2003, when it opened, where he has more of an overseer role. In Caroline, he’s more involved in the day-to-day operations.
“I’m a big believer in the Y and the Y mission and all the good it’s done,” he said. “I think we are already a success in Caroline.”
Gehring said over the summer there were 366 children in the Y’s programs at Caroline.
The Y runs before-school and after-care at all three elementary schools as well.
There were 62 children in the Y’s summer camp, and 208 children have taken swim lessons there, he said. Another 38 participated in gymnastics.
“As membership grows, programs will grow and more and more people will be affected,” Gehring said.
The YMCA won’t turn anyone away who can’t pay for a membership. Instead, he noted, they work with them. Gehring said the Caroline Y has given away about $16,000 in financial aid.
About 74 membership units—50 families and 74 single adults—receive financial aid.
The Y has plans to partner with community organizations in Caroline and offer more programs.
The Sting Rays, a year-round swim team, use other Y facilities for practice and will use the Caroline YMCA as well. The swimming facility has also been offered to the high school to use for a swim team.
Robyn Sidersky 540/374-5413
↧
↧
Caroline man gets 16 years for sex offenses
A Caroline County man will spend more than 16 years in prison for molesting two young girls.
David Surasit Ornitz, 44, of Ladysmith was sentenced to 46 years and six months in prison with 30 years suspended on two counts of object sexual penetration by force in Caroline Circuit Court.
He pleaded guilty to those charges in May as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for his guilty plea, 40 other charges were dropped and the girls did not have to testify in court.
According to Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Diane Abato, the molestation began in Prince William County and continued when Ornitz moved to Caroline County.
The victims, now 15 and 6, told authorities that Ornitz had sex with them a few times a week for a period of about two years.
An investigation began after the older victim told her mother what was going on, Abato said.
It wasn’t until speaking with an investigator with the Caroline Sheriff’s Office that the younger victim told anyone that she also had been molested.
In addition to the prison sentence, Ornitz must register as a sex offender, have no unsupervised contact with children and have no contact at all with the victims, who have since moved out of state.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
↧
Caroline will publicize names of tax delinquents
The Caroline County Board of Supervisors approved the publishing of the names of the top 500 tax delinquents in two newspapers.
Since May, the board has been discussing publishing the names of those who owe personal property taxes from 2008 to 2013.
There are 4,094 people who owe personal property taxes to the county for the years 2008–13, for a total of $1.6 million. That doesn’t include people who have declared bankruptcies, people who the county know are deceased and people who have set up formal payment plans.
Of the 4,094 people, 1,475 owe less than $100, according to a memo from the county treasurer, Beth Curran, to the county administrator. Those names won’t be published in print. The top 500 names will fit on one page of both The Free Lance–Star and The Caroline Progress.
It will cost the county about $3,288 to publish one page in The Free Lance–Star and $1,714 in The Caroline Progress.
The board was mostly in agreement about publishing the top 500 names, as a kind of test, to see what it could collect.
Any further action will be determined after the county can see what is collected as a result of publishing the list.
Western Caroline Supervisor Jeff Black, who proposed the idea, said he wishes more names would be published. He thinks the people whose names are lower on the list would be more likely to pay their taxes because they owe less.
“The bottom line is, if everyone is paying their bills, we are less likely to increase taxes in the future,” he said. “We have to do our part, as government, to be efficient, before we can go to people for tax increases.”
Port Royal Supervisor Calvin Taylor wanted to see if it was possible to wait to publish the names until another notice could be sent out with the December personal property tax bills.
Madison District Supervisor Wayne Acors supported publishing the 500 names, but was concerned about errors on the list.
“I want to make sure we are doing it for the right reasons,” Acors said. “I want to make sure it will be beneficial. I am not interested in embarrassing people.”
Bowling Green Supervisor Jeff Sili supported the publishing of the names.
“I think we need to start somewhere,” he said. “The top 500 will give us a data sample. If we collect 10 percent from that list, it’s worth doing a second round.”
Board Chairman and Mattaponi Supervisor Floyd Thomas noted that the county is trying to be fair to the people who do pay their taxes, and that it wants the people who don’t to shoulder their fair share.
Reedy Church Supervisor Reggie Underwood said he wanted to make sure the list was cleaned up—with no potential mistakes—before it’s published.
Thomas said the county would give Curran’s office a few weeks to “scrub” the list—that is, double-check all the names and amounts—before publication.
To publish the entire list, it would cost the county about $31,000 to print it once. It would comprise about 5 pages in The Free Lance–Star and eight or nine pages in The Caroline Progress.
The county will publish the entire list of tax delinquents on its website.
Publication is not the only method the county has used to try to collect delinquent taxes.
Other methods used to collect taxes have been withholding registration at the Department of Motor Vehicles, offsetting income tax refunds and putting tax liens against wages or bank accounts.
According to state law, people who owe more than $20 in taxes are subject to having their names published.
Curran has already sent “warning letters” to those people who owe money, telling them that if they did not pay, their names would be published.
Those who owe taxes from before this year were notified at least three times with letters: last summer, in January and just recently.
It was in the most recent letter that they were notified their names would be made public.
Robyn Sidersky: 540/374-5413; rsidersky@freelancestar.com
↧
Board approves plan for mine in Caroline
There may soon be another sand and gravel mine in Caroline County.
Aggregate Industries asked for permission to expand an existing mine in King William County to 200 acres in Caroline County. Because the land is zoned agricultural preservation, a special-exception permit is needed for the mine to open.
The mine would be on 200 acres near Frog Level Road at the King William border, in the Bowling Green district.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the mine but it has been deferred by the Board of Supervisors previously. On Tuesday night, the Board approved plans for the mine. It will be one of several in the county.
A representative from Aggregate told the board that there are 5.6 million tons of sand and gravel on the land and about 400,000 tons are excavated each year.
John Lain, an attorney representing Aggregate, told the board that $52,000 per year is estimated to be paid in machine and tools taxes.
The mine will open under several conditions, including that it can operate only between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 26 Saturdays per year. It would close on major holidays.
Another of the conditions is that a 100-foot natural buffer must be built on the western and northern sides of the property, along with a 10-foot berm with an adjacent landscaped buffer to include evergreen trees and plantings 25 feet wide.
At a previous board meeting when the mine was discussed, an adjoining property owner expressed concerns. The Aggregate representative said that the company has worked with the resident to address his concerns and they have compromised on some things, which led to some of the conditions.
Robyn Sidersky: 540/374-5413
↧
Wanted man found in Caroline County
A Richmond man who police say was wanted for escaping from police custody was captured in Caroline County.
Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said a call came in Monday about a fugitive reportedly staying in a house in Port Royal.
After a short investigation, Lippa said deputies went to the house and arrested 43-year-old Kevin Lee Richmond without incident.
He was wanted in Henrico County for escape. Richmond was serving time on a felony conviction there. Details were unavailable.
While under the supervision of the Henrico County Sheriff’s Department Work Release Program, Richmond failed to return from his job assignment, according to a wanted flyer issued on Sept. 18.
Lippa said Richmond was transported to Pamunkey Regional Jail without bond.
Virginia State Police and a K–9 unit from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest, he said.
↧
↧
Trip to the State Fair a learning experience
Bailey Louden (right), a first grader at Lewis and Clark Elementary School, touches a snake while visiting the Natural Resource Center area of the Virginia State Fair with classmates in Doswell on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. The youngsters visited the fair as part of the Educational Exposition program. Louden’s classmates are Taylor Koss (background center) and Desiree Krull. (PETER CIHELKA / THE FREE LANCE-STAR)
For most, the State Fair is not typically an educational experience.
It’s about the fried foods, thrilling rides and captivating entertainment.
But for some students around the state, it’s a fun field trip with hands-on learning.
The fair has an educational exposition, which includes 12 different stations and suggested activities for teachers and their classes.
On Tuesday, Nan Bandura and her first-graders from Lewis and Clark Elementary in Caroline County went for a visit.
Bandura has been taking her classes to the fair since it moved to Meadow Event Park in Caroline County six years ago.
Lewis and Clark Elementary School first grader Taylor Koss (right) takes a look at a fox while while at the Natural Resource Center area at the Virginia State Fair in Doswell on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. First graders form Lewis and Clark attended the fair as part of the Educational Exposition program. with Koss are (from left) Bailey Louden, teacher Catherine Beazley and her daughter Tinsley. (PETER CIHELKA / THE FREE LANCE-STAR)
The fair began on Friday and runs through Sunday.
About 8,500 students from around the state visit the fair each year, said Betsy Foster, the coordinator for the educational program.
She said groups from all types of communities, from rural to urban, come to the fair.
The urban schools, such as the ones from Richmond, haven’t been exposed to agricultural activities.
The students from more rural areas get to see how important the agricultural community is to the state.
“Each group sees what they haven’t seen before,” Foster said.
Bandura said the activities at the fair cover much of the content they teach for SOL tests, including animals, water, the past and present, and natural resources.
Her students got to see a calf being born at Young MacDonald’s Farm, in the Harvest Landing section of the fair.
The kids were amazed by this.
“They were like ‘ew, but cool,’” she said.
Catherine Beazley, a second-grade teacher, who went with her daughter’s first-grade class to the fair, also takes her students.
“They love seeing the mom with the baby cow and the mom helping it,” she said.
Other lessons included planting seeds, shucking corn to make grain, and watching a blacksmith and a woodcutter.
In the natural resources area of the fair, they got to hold a snake, learn about tree rings, and trace leaves.
The youngsters learned about gardening and harvesting at school, so it was neat for them to see what they learned being applied at the fair with the displays of crops.
Both teachers said they were happy to see something so great in their own backyard.
Robyn Sidersky 540/374-5413; rsidersky@freelancestar.com
↧
Caroline students to get tech training
Caroline County middle and high school students will get hands-on IT skills and training thanks to a grant from a statewide program.
The school division was granted $8,000 from Virginia Student Training and Refurbishment Program, or VA STAR, to start after-school programs that may eventually lead to classes at the schools.
Under the program, students refurbish computers, which are then given to the community.
Computers and equipment were donated by state agencies and private companies to the program, which is based in Prince William County.
It started in Prince William’s Forest Park High School. It expanded to 10 schools in the 2009–10 school year and in the 2012–13 school year it won legislative support and almost a half-million dollars in funding and expanded to 20 school districts and more than 30 schools.
Caroline has already received 50 computers for the students to work on, said Wade Murray, the supervisor of technology for the county system.
The grant money is to buy tools and testing equipment, he said. Each school will have $4,000 to spend.
Each school will have a faculty sponsor and will be responsible for promoting the program within the school.
Murray said plans call for schools to set up the workspace in the next two to three weeks and get the program running in November.
“We do have, in both schools, a handful of kids already interested,” Murray said.
The school system used to offer a computer repair class, but it doesn’t anymore.
The after-school program will offer something new to the students.
“The computer refurbishment program is good because it builds interest in computer science and allows the students the ability to practice for IT repair certification and builds other skill sets that can develop into well-paying jobs,” Murray said.
The computers that get repaired may also stay in the Caroline community.
They will be available to the students working on them, and school staff, such as custodians and maintenance employees, as well as other nonprofit organizations outside the school division.
In April, the students will present the computers to the recipients.
When the students finish working on the 50 computers that they received, they can get more, Murray said.
“They will work with as many as possible, fixing computers,” he said.
Robyn Sidersky 540/374-5413
ALSO IN STAFFORD
According to the Virginia STAR website, Brooke Point High School in Stafford County is the only other school in the Fredericksburg area that has received mini-grants in the program in which students repair and refurbish computers to be given away to individuals.
↧
Recent Caroline shootings are gang-related, police say
By PORTSIA SMITH
An arrest was made within hours of an early Thursday morning shooting that authorities say is the third gang-related shooting in Caroline County in the past month.
Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said deputies responded to a 911 call about shots fired into a residence in the Belmont subdivision in the Carmel Church area of the county around 2 a.m. Thursday.
The residents of the house were home at the time, but no one was injured, he said.
Lt. Travis Nutter of the sheriff’s office said that this crime and other recent shootings stem from a new “local homegrown neighborhood” gang called YG4. No other details about the gang were released.
After an investigation into the Belmont shooting, they were led to Ruther Glen where they arrested 20-year-old Svante Carey.
Carey is charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling, attempted aggravated malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in relation to the Belmont shooting.
He is facing more charges in connection to other offenses, which include aggravated malicious wounding by a mob in connection to a Sept. 25 shooting in Bowling Green, Lippa said.
On that night, 20-year-old McCartha “MJ” Stevens of Bowling Green, was shot on Braswell Street and suffered non life-threatening injuries. He was arrested a week later and charged with two counts of assault and a series of gang participation and gang recruitment charges, according to court records.
Jaymonie Marcell Wallace, 19, of Lake Land’Or, is charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, use of a firearm in the commission of an attempted murder, aggravated malicious wounding, conspiracy to commit malicious wounding by mob and use of a firearm in the commission of malicious wounding by mob for allegedly shooting Stevens.
While being held at Pamunkey Regional Jail on those charges, he was charged with attempted aggravated malicious wounding by a mob, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and committing a predicate act in participation of a gang in relation to another shooting that Lippa said occurred prior to the Sept. 25 shooting that had not been reported.
“The shooting incident that reportedly occurred prior to the Sept. 25th shooting incident, was not immediately reported to law enforcement,” Lippa said. “Sgt. M.M. Ellett discovered that this shooting incident allegedly occurred while investigating the Sept. 25th shooting.”
Additional charges were placed against Carey in connection to that shooting near the intersection of Edwards Road and Sarah Street, which include attempted aggravated malicious wounding by a mob and use of a firearm in commission of a felony in relation to the Edwards Road shooting and with aggravated malicious wounding by mob in relation to the Braswell Road shooting, police said.
A 17-year-old juvenile male, who was also being held at at the Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center on charges related to the Sept. 25 shooting, is now also charged with attempted aggravated malicious wounding by a mob, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and committing a predicate act in participation of a gang in relation to the shooting incident that allegedly occurred prior to Sept. 25.
“Sgt. M. M. Ellett has been diligently leading the investigation into these incidents involving what we believe to be small neighborhood gangs in Caroline County,” Lippa said. “I thank our citizens who continue to provide information that assists these investigations and the dedicated men and women of this Sheriff Office for their continued efforts in our fight against crime.”
↧
House fire in Lake Caroline considered ‘total loss’
BY ROBYN SIDERSKY
A house on the 700 block of Annapolis Drive in the Lake Caroline Subdivision burned down Tuesday afternoon, according to Caroline County Fire & Rescue.
The call came in at 4:34 p.m. Tuesday and only one occupant of the home was there at the time of the fire, said Volunteer Deputy Fire Chief Ricky Matiak.
Matiak said the fire started in the rear of the home, but the cause has not yet been determined.
There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians, he said.
The house is a “total loss” and the Red Cross will assist the family with any immediate needs, he said.
Hanover, Spotsylvania and Caroline County units all responded to the fire.
A message sent to residents of Lake Caroline from the homeowners association asks for help for the family.
It says that the family lost all their belongings and clothing in the fire and anyone wishing to make donations to the family of food, furniture or clothing, to drop them off at the Lake Caroline office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and can contact the office at 804/448-3400. The message also says that the family has a 7-year-old son, so clothing in sizes 8-10 would be appreciated.
↧
↧
Caroline County towns have just enough candidates for Nov. 4 elections
Caroline County’s two towns both have elections for the Town Council on Nov. 4.
In Port Royal, all seven seats will be up for grabs.
Five incumbents will run to reclaim their seats for another two years.
Those are:
Nancy Long, who is currently the mayor of Port Royal.
Jim Heimbach, who has been on the council for four years and is the vice mayor.
Bill Henderson, who has been on the council about 14 years.
Monica Chenault, who has been on the council for four years.
Della Mills, who was on council previously, then took a few years off, then got back on the council.
There are two write-in candidates, as well, who were appointed to fill vacancies on the council.
Phyllis Sue Carpenter, who became a resident of the town on July 1, is running as a write-in candidate. She could not submit her name to be on the ballot because as of the deadline, in June, she was not a resident of the town yet. She became a resident after the boundary expansion. She joined the council when Bill Wick resigned to become the town manager.
Gladys Fortune is also running as a write-in candidate. She has been filling in for her husband, Oliver Fortune, who passed away earlier this year, during his term.
The term to serve on the Town Council is two years.
The polling place in the town of Port Royal will be at the town hall instead of the fire hall.
In Bowling Green, three seats are up for grabs in Tuesday’s election.
Two incumbents, Jean Davis and Mary Frances Coleman, are running to keep their seats for another four years.
Matt Rowe, a member of the Bowling Green Planning Commission, will run for the seat held by Marc Bissoon, who isn’t seeking re-election. Rowe ran in the 2010 election, but lost.
Robyn Sidersky 540/374-5413
↧
Caroline officials, residents making waves over water hikes
PHOTOS BY SCOTT JULIAN / THE FREE LANCE–STAR
Nancy Kennedy of Caroline’s Lake Land’Or says she is frugal with water but still pays about $100 per bill.
Caroline County resident Nancy Kennedy does what she can to conserve water.
She uses rain barrels, limits her dishwasher and laundry loads and doesn’t flush every time she uses the toilet. Watering the lawn is not a priority for her anymore.
Despite these measures, her water and sewer bill is usually almost $100 per month—which is high for someone living alone.
Kennedy and other Lake Land’Or residents have watched their bills climb year after year.
So have hundreds of other customers of Aqua Virginia, which also supplies other Caroline developments such as Lake Heritage, Elsinore, Campbell’s Creek, Bridlewood and Countryside Apartments.
Kennedy’s neighbor, William Clark, has lived on the Heritage side of Lake Land’Or for 10 years and has watched his bills go up as well.
For he and his two young daughters, bills average between $130 and $150 per month, even though he tries to conserve.
“It’s an excessive amount of water bill that could go toward other debt or other bills,” he said.
He has stopped using his in-ground sprinkler system, so his lawn has gone brown.
William Sprouse, a Campbell’s Creek resident for the past 38 years, tries to keep his bill below $100 per month. He said he thinks the rate increases are ridiculous.
“I think it’s just like any big business. They are going to continue to do this every year and it’s going to continue to get out of control,” he said.
And bills could increase again.
For the fourth time since 2008, Aqua is asking the State Corporation Commission to approve higher rates and for the first time, a surcharge for all customers.
For Lake Land’Or, Bridlewood, Countryside Apartments and Lake Heritage, the rates would go up between 14 percent and 15 percent for water and 4 percent to 5 percent for wastewater service, depending on water usage, according to a presentation Western Caroline Supervisor Jeff Black gave to Lake Land’Or residents.
Aqua’s application says the increase will “ensure that rates will recover the investment that is necessary to systematically replace aging infrastructure prior to its failure and to address water quality standards.”
The company is also petitioning the SCC to establish a water and wastewater infrastructure service charge.
Aqua Virginia CEO Shannon Becker said in an interview that the service charge will allow “efficient replacement of critical infrastructure.” By having it in place, there would probably be smaller rate increases further apart.
Such surcharges are used in 12 to 15 other states, Becker said.
But Caroline County officials are trying to help residents by opposing the rate increase and service charge. They are also encouraging other localities where Aqua does business to do the same. Unlike many Fredericksburg-area localities, which operate their own water and sewer services, some of Caroline’s utilities are run by a private utility company. Like Dominion Power, utility officials need state approval to raise rates and assess surcharges.
The Caroline Board of Supervisors has adopted two resolutions opposing Aqua’s SCC applications.
Black, who lives in Lake Land’Or, has been holding meetings to explain the changes to encourage residents to submit comments to the SCC.
“This is a major concern with constituents,” he said. “Their rates are regulated by the government and it’s not like there is competition and people have a choice. This is a government-regulated entity and people are suffering under water and sewer bills.”
The resolution against the rate increase says “the proposed rate will have significant impact on county government as the proposed increase will affect the economic health of the county as a whole.”
It also says that the Board of Supervisors finds the rate increase “unreasonable and unjust.”
The supervisors also passed a resolution against the proposed surcharge.
“After due consideration, the Board of Supervisors finds that the Petition for Rulemaking to establish a Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Service Charge filed by Aqua Virginia is not in the best interest of residents of Caroline County served by Aqua’s facilities, is unfair, unjust, unauthorized by current law, and unsupported by ay legislative intent sanctioned by the General Assembly,” the resolution says.
Caroline officials are encouraging other localities to oppose Aqua’s proposed increases.
County Administrator Charles Culley wrote a letter and sent it to all the county administrators in the state and members of the General Assembly where Aqua does business.
Aqua serves 75,000 customers in Virginia and 34 counties.
The town of Port Royal is considering selling its system to Aqua, among other options, because improvements are direly needed.
The company recently acquired the water system in Lake Caroline, another Caroline County subdivision, but those customers will not have their rates increased yet.
Culley’s letter asks that other county administrators and boards of supervisors work with their county attorneys to file comments to the SCC to be heard in the pending proceedings.
He also asks that counties request a hearing in front of the SCC to oppose the rate increases and be participants in the case.
So far, the Lancaster County Board of Supervisors adopted a pair of resolutions opposing Aqua’s proposals similar to Caroline County’s.
Robyn Sidersky: 540/374-5413
↧
Caroline farrier charged after crash kills horses
A Caroline County farrier convicted of seven counts of animal cruelty in 2009 faces a new charge after two horses he was transporting died after a crash.
Michael Anthony Wilkerson Sr., 51, of Ruther Glen is charged with driving on a suspended license in Hanover County.
According to Hanover Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Mike Trice, deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash around 1:30 p.m. Sunday on U.S. 1 near the Caroline County line.
A 1994 Chevrolet pickup was traveling north when the horse trailer’s hitch became unattached, police said. It caused the trailer to roll off of the road and into trees, police said.
One of the horses died in the crash and a second horse had to be euthanized at the scene, police said. No other injuries were reported.
Wilkerson, who is a blacksmith by trade, was sentenced to 14 months in prison in 2010 after being convicted of seven counts of animal cruelty in Caroline Circuit Court.
The case began in January 2008 when county Animal Control officers said they warned Wilkerson that he needed to do a better job of feeding and caring for nine of his horses. They returned about two weeks later and seized five of the horses because they didn’t see any improvement. Four other horses were no longer on the farm.
Wilkerson was convicted in February 2008 of four counts of cruelty involving the seized horses. He was not convicted of cruelty against the fifth horse because he did not own the horse for more than six months.
He appealed that decision and, after several postponements, Spencer added more charges of animal cruelty after the four missing horses were discovered, in the same condition, with a friend of Wilkerson’s in Lunenburg County.
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
psmith@fredericksburg.com
↧