Former Fauquier High soccer star Caity Ashley shined at the Boston Marathon. Page 14
April 24, 2019
Our 202nd year | Vol. 202, No. 17 | www.Fauquier.com | $1.50
Freemans Ford Road project likely died Monday night Supervisor Chris Butler to residents: ‘I want everyone to know I heard them’ By James Ivancic Times Staff Writer
PHOTO BY ROBERT MCCLANAHAN This photo was taken in 1964 and features the old elm tree in front of the Main Street courthouse. The tree has been looking over Warrenton for more than 100 years. It comes down Tuesday, May 7.
First Friday offers a chance to say goodbye to an old friend “Plant Your Roots in Warrenton” will be the theme of the premier First Friday event on Main Street in Warrenton, from 6 to 9 p.m. on May 3. Attendees will have a chance to say farewell to the 100-plusyear-old elm tree in front of the old courthouse on Main Street before it is taken down the morning of Tuesday, May 7. Charity Furness, executive director of Experience Old Town Warrenton, said the May 3 event will be a chance to celebrate the old elm tree. Visitors are encouraged to take selfies with the tree and post them INSIDE Business.............................................11 Classified............................................32 Communities......................................29 Faith...................................................27
on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag “#warrentonroots.” She said that a photo of the tree during its glory days will be the source photo for a mosaic that uses all the hashtag pictures. She asked local photographers who have great photos of the tree in front of the courthouse to submit their photos for consideration as the source photo. They can email their best shots to charity@oldtownwarrenton.org.
See FRIEND, Page 7
Libraries.............................................26 Lifestyle..............................................23 Looking Back......................................21 Opinion.................................................8
A Virginia Department of Transportation project designed to reduce accidents at Freemans Ford Road and U.S. 15/29 likely died Monday night in the face of vocal criticism at a community meeting. Not a single hand went up when Lee District Supervisor Chris Butler asked how many in the audience supported the restricted crossing U-turn design. By the time he called for a show of hands — at the end of the twohour meeting — the original crowd of 125 people was down to about 85. “If we had this much public input before, we probably wouldn’t be sitting here today,” Butler told the audience at the Remington Lions Club. “I’ll talk to the board and let VDOT know” where the county stands on the project. But he said after the meeting that the project likely would not move forward, “based on the outcry from the community. I want everyone to know I heard them.” He said two earlier community meetings in Remington drew small numbers of listeners. Nathan Umberger, VDOT traffic engineer, said public comments at those meetings were divided about the proposal.
See ROAD, Page 7 Obituaries...........................................32 Puzzles...............................................10 Real Estate..........................................28 Sports.................................................13