track and field
Holiday happenings
outdoor learning
King george squads are primed to have another good season. Page 5
First-of-its-kind event coming to the king george courthouse in early december. Page 4
Wildlife biologist helps students better understand their surroundings. Page 7
T he
Volume 38, Number 48
POSTAL CUSTOMER
King George
Wednesday, November 26, 2014 50 Cents
helping you relate to your community
getting a jump on holiday shopping
County workers to get 2% pay raise Phyllis Cook
Richard Leggitt
Carolyn Bland, above left, and Danielle Johnson were among the exhibitors at the King George Craft Fair with their Starr Lites candles. Patty Jaynes, below, of Mary’s Cakery in King George displayed a wide variety of candy and pastries at the event.
Annual King George Craft Fair attracts vendors and big crowds Richard Leggitt Christmas shoppers and visitors from throughout the area mingled with local artists and crafters Nov. 22-23 at the annual King George Craft Fair. In addition to music and shopping, there was plenty of good food. “It was a great community event,” said King George Parks and Recreation Program Supervisor Janine Paulson. “People could come together and socialize, and there were well over 500 people who attended. Most of the crafters were busy and happy.” From Jennifer Cohen of Stafford County, who catered to an excited line of youngsters seeking to get their faces
painted, to Patty Jaynes of Mary’s Cakery, who served sweets to appreciative crowds, vendors at the craft fair were active both days. More than 36 vendors were available this year, featuring King George crafts ranging from the hand-painted Christmas ornaments of Sue Konopta, to the homemade jewelry of Christine Haskins, to the yarn art of Heidi Davis. Barbeque sandwiches, hot dogs, snacks, fruit and drinks were available to the constant stream of shoppers and visitors to the two-day craft fair. One of the crafters, Richard Compton of King George, who operated a booth selling handmade wooden buckets of all sizes, kept crowds entertained with his guitar.
Alleged gunman has bond denied King George man facing murder, other charges Richard Leggitt King George Circuit Court Judge Horace A. Revercomb, III has denied an attempt by a Maryland man to be released from the Rappahannock Regional Jail on bond in connection with the April 28 death of a King George man and the wounding of another man.
“He does constitute a strong danger to others,” Revercomb said in response to a motion filed by the attorney for 30-year-old Anthony Goodman of Upper Marlboro. Goodman’s attorney, James Llijevich, filed the motion, which was opposed by the office of KG Commonwealth’s Attorney Keri Gusmann. “The commonwealth rightly argued for the defendant to be held without bond and to remain incarcerated until his trial,” Gusmann said. “This is a very serious case, and the defendant has no ties to the King George community. The Commonwealth feels that no amount of
bond can protect the community and ensure the defendant’s presence at trial.” Goodman and a Colonial Beach woman, Tennage Michel Shanks, 42, are scheduled for trial Jan. 27 on charges of murder, attempted murder and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. A third person, Michael Andre Clinton, of Bladensburg, Md., also has been charged in the case. He is being held on other charges in Maryland and is scheduled to be tried at a later date. The killing occurred in a rural area of King George County earlier this year. Prosecutors allege Goodman and Clinton bound and shot two King George
men, Ronelle Davon Johnson, 20, and Gregory Gaines, 20. Johnson died at the scene, but Gaines, who was treated at Mary Washington Hospital, survived and testified before a grand jury, identifying the three suspects. Gaines testified the defendants tied the two victims up with duct tape, forced them on their knees and Goodman shot them multiple times. Both Gaines and Johnson, who was Gaines’ cousin, were robbed of their money and cell phones, police said. According to testimony, Shanks stayed outside during the shootings and then drove away with the suspects.
King George County employees will receive 2 percent pay raises effective Jan. 1. The King George Board of Supervisors agreed to increase the planned raises from 1 percent to 2 percent at its Nov. 18 meeting, with formal approval of a budget amendment expected at its Dec. 2 meeting. Travis Quesenberry, county administrator, brought up the topic during his report, saying the raises were estimated to cost between $40,000 and $45,000. He said the money could “The employees have come from been working very hard a portion of the expected over the past years, and s u r p l u s as a result, there is this estimated at $1.3 million budget savings. I think earlier this they deserve a little bit of month for the 2013-14 fiscal a reward for doing that.” year, which Travis Quesenberry, King George county administrator ended June 30. “The employees have been working very hard over the past years, and as a result, there is this budget savings,” Quesenberry said. “I think they deserve a little bit of a reward for doing that.” Supervisor Dale Sisson readily agreed. “I also think it puts to rest one of the concerns we had with the disparity across county organizations,” he said, referring to the school board’s 2 percent raises for division employees in the current year. Supervisors’ Chairman Joe Grzeika agreed the efficiencies by county staff and employees saved money that had been transferred from the county’s fund balance. Of higher pay for employees, he said, “they deserve it.” Quesenberry also recommended leaving the bulk of the surplus in the county’s fund balance and transferring $260,000 toward replenishing the county’s revenue stabilization fund. County officials want money available, if needed, for the current budget and for next year. “The surplus is due to good stewardship and the budget management you exerted, because it didn’t make us have to go into the fund balance,” Grzeika said. At the Nov. 4 meeting, when the surplus was announced, Grzeika pushed for replenishment of the county’s stabilization or ‘rainy day’ reserve account. A majority of supervisors are taking a cautious view toward the upcoming budget process, with possible deep cuts being forecast by state legislators in aid to local governments as the state deals with its own budget problems. Some cuts also may be made to the current year’s 2014-15 revenue from the state, with the governor’s budget recommendations due out before Christmas. Supervisors had met with local state legislators Nov. 4, with Sisson saying it was a good opportunity to get a little insight into the upcoming state budget. “The future budget pictures look worse than the past budget pictures,” Sisson said. “That trend continues.” “It’s not a really good picture for the next year. If you think this one was bad, they’re saying it’s not quite as good,” Jim Howard said after the meeting with legislators.
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