NEW! Digital Edition
Warrenton Sears begins closing sale this week. Page 10
April 25, 2018
Our 201st year
|
Vol. 201, No. 17
|
Read on any device! Get started at Fauquier.com
www.Fauquier.com
|
$1.50
Fauquier overdose deaths drop to 13 in 2017 Opioids still ‘driving force’ behind drug fatalities in Virginia
By Amanda Heincer Times Staff Writer
Fatal drug overdoses remain the leading cause of unnatural death in Virginia and claimed at least 13 lives in Fauquier County in 2017, according a Virginia Department of Health report released this week. Though 2017 numbers are not yet final, a state health department report released April 20 shows that 1,534 Virginians died of drug overdoses in
2017, up from 1,428 people in 2016. At the time of the report, about 40 cases from 2017 remained open, awaiting additional reports to determine cause and manner of death. According to the preliminary numbers, Fauquier County had 13 overdose deaths in 2017, down from 25 in 2016. Prince William County had 59 overdose deaths in 2017, compared to 58 in 2016. Manassas had 14 overdose deaths in 2017, up from seven in 2016; while Manassas Park had four
Times Staff Writer
TIMES STAFF PHOTO/CHRISTOPHER SIX Both Grace Rigby, left, and Carter Nevill, right, are on the ballot in the Warrenton mayoral race. The two answered questions and discussed town issues in a forum for town council candidates Wednesday, April 18, at Taylor Middle School.
Pages 19-20
INSIDE Calendar.............................................30 Classified............................................33 Communities......................................29 Faith...................................................15
Farming..............................................14 Opinion.................................................8 Obituaries...........................................16 Public Safety.........................................3
See OVERDOSE, page 6 By James Ivancic
Candidates talk Old Town economy, parking at forum
GIRLS LACROSSE: Kettle Run begins region play with dominant win. Page 21
overdose deaths in 2017, up from one in 2016. The Virginia Department of Health reports that fatal drug overdose has been the leading method of unnatural death in Virginia since 2015 and the leading method of accidental death since 2014. Opioids continued to represent the largest percentage of fatal overdoses in Virginia in 2017. Opioids accounted for 1,227 fatal overdoses in Virginia in 2017, up from 1,138 deaths in 2016.
Parking, revitalizing Old Town, the need for safety improvements on Broadview Avenue and the Walker Drive development were among the hot-button issues Warrenton Town Council candidates discussed April 18 during a two-hour forum at Taylor Middle School. Candidates for mayor Macdonald claims he is and two at-large coundropping out of Warrenton cil seats are on the ballot Town Council race. Page 4 May 1. In the Warrenton mayoral race, voters must decide between Grace Rigby, 19, and Carter Nevill, 47, both of whom are vying to succeed Mayor Powell Duggan, who isn’t running for re-election. Four candidates were initially vying for two at-large council seats, including incumbent Town Council members Sean Polster, 47, Vice Mayor Sunny Reynolds, 74, and challengers Renard Carlos, 29, and Keith Macdonald, 56. Macdonald has since claimed he is dropping out of the race.
See FORUM, page 5
Candidates seek new businesses, activities in Remington. Page 12
Puzzles...............................................27 Real Estate..........................................28 Sports.................................................21
RE-ELECT
SEAN POLSTER The Quality of Life Paid for and Authorized by Friends of Sean Polster
Three incumbents, one challenger vie for three seats in The Plains. Page 13
Council Member
VOTE MAY 1ST W W W.SEANPOLSTERVA .COM @SEANFORWARRENTON